1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD engine

Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That
is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the heater
run for awhile.
Then, shut the engine
off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or
so until help comes.
Loading Your Vehicle
'@I OCCUPANTS VEHICLE CAP. WT.
TIRE-LOADING INFORMATION
FRT. CTR.
RR. TOTAL LBS. KG
MAX. LOADING & GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
CAPACITY
WEIGHT XXX COLD TIRE
TIRE SIZE SPEED PRESSURE
RTG PSI/KPa
FRT.
RR.
SPA.
IF TIRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PS1/28KPa
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL
( INFORMATION
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label
found on the driver's door tells you the proper size,
speed rating and recommended inflation pressures for
the tires on your vehicle.
It also gives you important
information about the number of people that can be in
your vehicle and the total weight
that you can carry.
This weight is called the vehicle capacity weight and
includes
the weight of all occupants, cargo and aLI
nonfactory-installed options.
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Your car can tow a trailer if it is equipped with proper
trailer towing equipment.
To identify what the vehicle
trailering capacity
is for your vehicle, you should read
the infrwmakion in “Weight of the Tr~ler” that appears
later in this section. But trailering
is different than* just
driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes
in handling, durability, and fuel economy. Successful,
safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has
to be
used properly.
That’s the reason for this part. In it are
many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that
of
your passengers. So please read this section carehlly
before you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the engine,
transmission, rear axle, wheel assemblies and tires
are
forced to work harder against the drag of the added
weight. The engine is required
to operate at relatively
higher speeds and under greater loads, generating extra
heat. What’s more, the trailer adds,considerably to wind
resistance, increasing the pulling requirements.
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If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here,are some important points:
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There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will
be legal, not only where you live but
also where you’ll be driving.
A good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using
a sway control. You can ask a hitch
dealer about sway
controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 1,000 miles
(1 600 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your eng-k,
axle or 0ther.part.s could be damaged.
Then, during the first
500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, don’t drive ov’er 50 mph (80 km/h) and
don’t make starts
at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer.
Don’t drive faster than the maximum posted speed
for trailers (or no more than
55 mph (90 km/h)) to
save wear on your vehicle’s parts.
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Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different ‘turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your Pontiac dealer.
The arrows
on your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind you
are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s important
to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are
still working.
1 ’ Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade.
If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On
a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transmission overheating.
If YOU are towing a trailer and you have an automatic
transmission with Overdrive, you may prefer to drive in
THIRD (D) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (0)
(or, as you need to, a lower gear). Or, if you have a
manual transmission with
FJFTH (5) (or SIXTH (6)) gear
and you are towing a trailer, it’s better not to use FIFTH
(5) (or SIXTH) (6) gear. Just drive in FOURTH (4) (drive
in
FIFTH (5) if you have a six-speed manual transmission)
or,
as you need to, a lower gear.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load..
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4. Reapply the regular brakes, Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift to
PARK (P), or REVERSE (R)
for a manual transmission.
5. Release the regular brakes.
PARK (P) yet, or into gear for a manual transmission.
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.. ' When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a €Till
' ' 1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while
you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
0 Release the parking brake.
2. Let .up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you're
pul1ing.a trailer. See
the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation
are automatic: transmission fluid (don't
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system
and brake adjustment. Each
of these is covered in this
manual, and the Index will heip you find them quickly.
If you're trailering, it's a good idea to review these
sections befcn-e
you start yam trip.
Check;periodically
to see that all hitch nuts and bolts .
are tight.
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NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Trying to start your Pontiac by pushing or
pulling
it could damage your vehicle, even if you
have a manual transmission.
And if you have an
automatic transmission, it won’t start that way.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want.
You wouldn’t be able to start
your Pontiac, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter. Turn
off all lamps that aren’t needed as well
as radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both
batteries. In addition, it could save your radio!
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
(CE:
r
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
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An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
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5. Find the positive (+) ad negative (-) terminals on
each battery.
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have
been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You don't
need to add water to the Delco Freedom@ battery
installed in every new GM vehicle. But if a
battery has filler caps, be sure the right amount
of fluid is there. If it is low, add water to take-
care
of that first. If you don't, explosive gas
could be present.
Battery
fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Dan't get it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water
and get medical help immediitely.
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6. Check that the jumper cables don't have loose or
missing insulation.
If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before
you connect the cables, here are some basic
things
you should know. Positive (+) will go to
positive
(+) and negative (-) will go to negative (-)
or a metal engine part. Don't connect positive.(+) to
negative
(-) or you'll get a short that would damage
the battery
and maybe other parts, too.
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away
from moving parts
once the engines are running.
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7. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+)
terminal of the vehicle with the dead battery. Use a
remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Don’t use the junction block on your Pontiac.
8. Don’t let the other end
touch metal. Connect
it
to the positive (+)
terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote
9. Now connect the
black negative
(-) cable
to the
good battery’s
negative
(-) terminal.
Don’t let the other end touch anythmg until the
next step. The other end
of the negative (-) cable
doesn’t
go to the dead
battery. It goes to a heavy
unpainted metal part on
the engine of&e vehicle
with the dead battery.
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13. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other or any other metal.
10.
11.
12.
Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away
from the dead battery, but not near engine parts that
move. The
electrical connection is just as good
there, but the chance of sparks getting back to the
battery is much less.
Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery.
If it won’t start after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B, Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
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