1997 PONTIAC FIREBIRD Owners Manual

Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at
a steady speed. So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you cauld lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
0 Cruise control ‘can be dangerous on
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the optional
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin,
the
cruise control will automatically disengage. (See
“Traction Control System” in the Index.) When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may turn
the cruise control
back on.
Setting Cruise Control
~ ~~~
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you’re not using cruise, you might
hit a button and
go into cruise when you don’t want to. You could
be startled and even lose control. Keep the cruise
control switch OFF until you want to use it.
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1. Move the cruise control switch to ON. Resuming a Set Speed
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Push in the SET button at the end of the lever and
release
it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal. Suppose
you set your cruise control at
a desired speed
and then apply
the brake or clutch pedal. This, of course,
shuts off the cruise control. But you don't need to reset
it. Once you're going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can move the cruise control switch from ON to'
R/A (Resume/Accelerate) for about half a second.
You'll go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.

Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
0
0
rn
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Push the button at the end of the lever, then release
the button and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now
cruise at the higher speed.
To increase your speed in very small amounts, move
the switch to
WA for less than half a second and then
release it. Each time you do this, your vehicle will
go
about 1 rnph (1.6 kmh) faster.
Move the cruise switch from
ON to WA. Hold it
there until you get up
to the speed you want, and
then release the switch.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
0
e
Push in the button at the end of the lever until you
reach the lower speed you want, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, push the
button for less than half a second. Each time you do
this, you’ll
go 1 mpk (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot
off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness
of the hills.
When going up steep hills,
you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal
to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to
a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes
you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be
too much trouble and don’t use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Out of Cruise Csntrol
There are several ways to turn off the cruise control:
rn Step lightly on the brake pedal or push the clutch
pedal, if
you have a manual transmission ; OR
rn Movk the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
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Lamps
II
The main lamp control is a knob that works these lamps:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking lamps
License lamps
Sidemarker lamps
Instrument panel lights
-'Q- , This setting turns on your headlamps and other
operating lamps.
pi This setting turns on your parking lamps without
your headlamps.
Turn the knob to OFF to turn off the lamps.
0
Headlamps On Reminder
If you turn the ignition off and leave the lamps on, you
will hear
a chime lasting up to 5 seconds. If the lamps
are still on when you open the driver's door, the chime
will sound again.
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Headlamp Doors
The headlamp doors are designed to open when you turn
the headlamps on and close when you turn the
headlamps off. The headlamp doors can be opened
without turning
on the headlamps by turning the
headlamps on, then turning the switch back
to the
parking lamps position. The headlamp doors should
be open when
driving in
icy or snowy conditions to prevent the doors from
freezing closed and when washing the vehicle to help
clean the headlamps.
You can open the headlamp doors manually:
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the plastic cover from the retractor
motor knob.
3. Turn the retractor motor knob counterclockwise until
the headlamp door
is fully open. The knob will get
harder
to turn when the headlamp door is all the
way up.
motor
knob.
4. Replace the plastic cover on the retractor
To manually close the headlamp doors, turn the lamps
o€€ and turn the knob clockwise. If the headlamp doors
aren’t working properly, see your Pontiac dealer
for help.
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Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
In Canada, a light sensor on top of the instrument
panel automatically turns the headlamps on,
so be
sure it isn’t covered.
The DRL system will make your front turn signal lamps
come on when:
The ignition is on,
The headlamp switch is OFF and
0 The parking brake is released.
When
the DRL are on, only your front turn signal lamps
will be on. The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps
won’t be on.
Your instrument panel won’t be lit up either.
For Canadian vehicles when it’s dark enough outside,
your front turn signal lamps will go out and your
headlamps will come on. The other lamps that come on
with your headlamps will also come on. When it’s bright
enough outside, the regular lamps will go off, and your
front turn signal lamps will come on. On a non-Canadian vehicle the headlamps have
to be
turned on manually when you need them. When the
headlamps are turned
on, the front turn signal lamps
will go out. When you use your turn signals, the front
turn signal lamp and the taillamp on the desired side
will flash.
As with any vehicle, you should turn OM the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Fog Lamps (If Equipped)
Use your fog lamps for better vision in foggy or misty
conditions. Your parking lamps must be on or your fog
lamps won’t work.
0s To turn the fog lamps on, push the right side of the
fog lamp switch. Push the left side of the switch to turn
the fog lamps
off. A light on the switch will come on
when the fog lamps are on.
Fog lamps will go off whenever your high beams come
on. When the high beams
go off, the fog lamps will
come on again.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Vehicle and Content
Theft-Deterrent System and your fog lamp switch is on,
the fog lamps may flash to indicate operation of the
Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System. See “Vehicle
and Content Theft-Deterrent System” in the Index.
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Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
This switch controls the brightness of your
instrument panel lights. Turn the switch upward
to
brighten or dim the lights, If you turn the switch all the
way up, your courtesy lamps will come on.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several interior lamps go on.
These lamps are courtesy lamps. They make
it easier for
you
to enter and leave your vehicle.
Courtesy lamps include the dome lamp and other lamps
throughout the interior
of your vehicle.
To prevent battery rundown, your interior lamps will be
disabled about
10 minutes after the ignition is turned to
OFF. The 10 minute timer will be restarted if you do any
of the following;
1, Turn the ignition on.
2. Open either door.
3. Press any button on your Remote. Lock
Control transmitter.
4. Turn the int’erior lamp switch from off to on.
5. Open the hatch.
Delayed Illumination
With delayed illumination, the courtesy lamps will stay
on for
25 seconds after you close the doors when
entering the vehicle. They will stay
on for five seconds
after you close the doors when exiting the vehicle. The
times will
be shortened if the ignition is turned to the
RUN position or if the power locks are activated. To
turn this feature on or off, see “Feature Customizatian”
in the Index.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition
to help you see
while exiting the vehicle.
To turn this feature on or off,
see “Feature Customization” in the Index,
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Front Map Lamps
Your inside rearview mirror includes two map lamps.
Each lamp has its own switch. Use the switch closest to
the lamp to turn it on. The lamps will also
go on when a
door
is opened.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Your vehicle is equipped with a Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) feature which will allow certain features
of your vehicle to continue to work up to
10 minutes
after the ignition key is turned to
OFF.
Your convertible top, power windows, and audio system
will work when the ignition key is in the
RUN or ACC
positions. Once the key is turned from RUN to OFF,
these features will continue to work for up to 10 minutes
or until either door is opened.
Your power door unlock and remote hatch release
features will work when the ignition key is in the RUN
or
ACC positions or if either door is open. Once the key
is turned to OFF, these features will continue to work €or
up to 10 minutes. If either door is open and the ignition
key
is OFF, these features will continue to work until
both doors have been closed for about
30 seconds or
until the theft-deterrent system arms. At that time, both
the power door unlock and remote hatch release features
will be disabled to enhance the security
of the vehicle.
The power door lock function will work at all times
except during Lockout Prevention (if this feature is
enabled). See “Lockout Prevention’’ in
the Index.
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