1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD Owners Manual

Cleaning Leather
Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a mild soap or
saddle so,ap.
0 For stubborn stains, use a GM VinyVLeather Cleaner
0 Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based or abrasive
or equivalent product.
cleaners, furniture polish or shoe polish on leather.
If dirt is allowed to work into the finish, it can harm
the leather.
Soiled leather should be cleaned immediately.
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel.
Sprays- containing silicones or
waxes may cause annoying reflections in the windshield
and even make it difficult to see through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
~
~~~ ~
I -
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do, it
may severely weaken them. In a crash, they
might
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Clean safety
belts only with mild soap and
lukewarm water.
Glass
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM
Part No. 1050427) or a liquid household glass cleaner
will remove normal tobacco
smoke and dust films.
Don't use abrasive cleaners
on glass, because they may
cause scratches. Avoid placing decals on the inside rear
window,
since they may have to be scraped off later.
If abrasive cleaners are used on 'the inside of the rear
window,
an^ electric defogger element may be damaged.
Any temporary license should not be attached across
the
defogger grid.
6-56
ProCarManuals.com

Cleaning the Outside of the
Windshield and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer, or if
the wiper blade chatters when running, wax
or other material may be on the blade or Windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with
GM
Windshield Cleaner, Bon-Arni Powder@ (GM Part
No. 1050011). The windshield is clean if beads do not
form ‘when you rinse it with water.
Clean the blade by wiping vigorously with a cloth
soaked in full-strength windshield washer solvent. Then
rinse the blade with water.
Wiper blades should be ‘checked
on a regular basis and
replaced when
worn. I
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth at least every six
months. During very cold, damp weather more frequent
application may be required. (See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.)
Cleaning a Removable Roof Panel
Special care is necessary when cleaning, removing
and/or storing the roof panel.
0
0
0
Flush with water to remove dust and dirt, then dry
the panel.
Clean the panel with GM Glass Cleaner. Leave the
cleaner on the panel for one minute, then wipe the
panel with a soft, lint-free cloth..
Don’t use abrasive cleaning materials.
6-57
ProCarManuals.com

Cleaning the Outside of Your Pontiac
The paint finish on your vehicle provides beauty, depth
of color, gloss retention and durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s finish is to keep
it clean by washing it often with lukewarm or cold water.
’- Don’t wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun.
Don’t use strong soaps or chemical detergents. Use
liquid hand, dish or car washing (mild detergent) soaps.
Don’t use cleaning agents that
are petroleum based, or
that contain acid
or abrasives. All cleaning agents
should be flushed promptly and not allowed to
dry on
the surface, or they could stain. Dry the finish with
a
soft, clean chamois or a 100% cotton towel to avoid
surface scratches and water spotting.
High pressure car washes
may cause water to enter
your vehicle.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your Pontiac by
hand may be necessary to remove residue from
the paint
finish. You can get GM-approved cleaning products
from your dealer.
(See “Appearance Care and Materials”
in the Index.)
Your Pontiac has a “basecoaYclearcoat” paint finish.
The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the
colored basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes
that
are non-abrasive and made for a basecoatklearcoat
paint finish.
I NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on
a basecoatklearcoat paint fbish may
dull the
finish
or leave swirl marks.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar,
tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals
from industrial chimneys, etc., can
damage your vehicle’s
finish if they remain on painted
surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible.
If
necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces
are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a period
of years. You can help to beep the paint finish looking
new by keeping your Pontiac garaged or covered
whenever possible.
6- ..
ProCarManuals.com

Cleaning Your Convertible Top
Your convertible top should be cleaned often. If you use
an automatic car wash, use one with water jets and
hanging cloths.
When you hand wash the top, do it in partial shade. Use
a
mild soap, lukewarm water and a soft sponge. A
chamois or cloth may leave lint on the top, and a brush
can chafe the threads in the top fabric. Don’t use
detergents, harsh cleaners, solvents or bleaching agents.
When you clean the top, put one hand under it to
support it. Wet the entire vehicle and wash the top
evenly to avoid spots or rings. Let the soap remain
on
the fabric for a few minutes. When the top is really dirty,
use a mild foam-type cleaner. Thoroughly rinse the
entire vehicle, then let the top
dry in direct sunlight.
To protect the convertible top:
0 After you wash the vehicle, make sure the top is
0 Don’t get any cleaner on the vehicle’s painted finish;
If you decide to go through an automatic car wash,
ask the manager if the equipment could damage
your top.
completely dry before
you lower it.
it could leave streaks.
Aluminum Wheels (If So Equipped)
Keep your wheels clean using a soft clean cloth with
mild soap and water. Rinse with clean water. After
rinsing thoroughly, dry with a soft clean towel. A wax
may then be applied.
The surface of these wheels is similar to the painted
surface of your car. Don’t use strong soaps, chemicals,
abrasive polishes, abrasive cleaners or abrasive cleaning
brushes on them because you could damage the surface.
Don’t take your vehicle through an automatic car wash
that has s.ilicon carbide tire cleaning brushes. These
brushes can also damage the surface of these wheels.
Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with a tire cleaner.
NOTICE:
When applying a tire dressing always take care
to wipe
off any overspray or splash from all
painted surfaces on the body or wheels
of the
vehicle. Petroleum-based products
may damq~e
the paint finish.
ProCarManuals.com

Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair
ox replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material to the parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired
right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop
into a major repair expense.
Minor chips
and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your dealer
or other service
outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected
in your dealer's body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control can collect an the underbody. If these are not
removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur
on
the underbody parts such as he1 lines, frame, floor
pan and exhaust system even though they have
corrosion protection.
._ A .. ~... ,....~ ~ . ., (I e*l i. .. . ' . l+. ;;yr .' . . . . ., ;?e, 134 2
.e.- .-
At Least every spring, flush these materials from the
underb'ody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect.
Dirt packed in closed areas
of the
frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your dealer or an underbody car washing system can do
this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces
on your vehicle. This damage
can take
two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped
discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched into
the paint surface.
Although
no defect in the paint job causes this, Pmtiac
will
repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces of
new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever
occurs first.
6-60
ProCarManuals.com

Appearance Care Materials Chart
6-61
ProCarManuals.com

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find this label inside your console storage
compartment. It’s very helpful if you ever need
to order
parts. On this label is:
your VIN,
the model designation,
paint information, and
a list of all production options and special equipment.
Be sure that this label is
not removed from the vehicle.
This is
the legal identifier for your Pontiac. It appears on
a plate in the front corner of the instrument panel, on the
driver’s side.
You can see5t if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The
VIN also
appears
on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts
labels and
the certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The eighth character in your VIN is the engine code.
This code will help you identify your engine,
specifications and replacement parts.
6-62
ProCarManuals.com

Electrical System Headlamps
Add-on Electrical Equipment
I NOTICE:
Don't add anything electrical to your
Pontiac unless you check
with your dealer first.
Some electrical equipment can damage your
vehicle and the damage wouldn't be covered by
your warranty. Some add-on electrical
equipment can keep other components from
working as they should.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your Pontiac, see "Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Pontiac" in the Index. The
headlamp
wiring is protected by a circuit breaker.
An electrical overload will cause the lamps to
go on and
off, or in some cases to remain off. If this happens, have
your headlamp wiring checked right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit
breaker and a fuse. If the motor overheats due to heavy
snow, etc.;the wiper will stop until the motor cools.
If
the overload is caused by some electrical problem and
not snow, etc., be sure to get it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power Options .
Circuit breakers protect the power windows and othei
power accessories. When the current load is too heavy,
the circuit breaker opens and closes, protecting the
circuit until the problem is fixed or goes away.
ProCarManuals.com