1997 PONTIAC FIREBIRD heater

Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them.
If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine if there is a leak.
If you run
the engine,
it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered
by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fans are running. If the engine
is overheating, both fans should be running. If they
aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at
FULL COLD add a 50/50 mixture of clean water
(preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free)
antifreeze at the coolant recovery tank. (See “Engine,
Coolant’’
in the Index for more information.)
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water,
or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain
water or the wrong mix, your engine could
get too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheat
warning. Your engine could catch fire and you
or
others could be burned. Use a 50/50 mix of clean
water and DEX-COOL@coolant.
5-17

NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core
and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant
mix.
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene
glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine. 1
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at
FULL COLD start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there’s one more
thing you can try. You can add the proper coolant mix
directly to
the radiator but be sure the cooling system is
cool before you do it.
~
1 A CAUTION:
Steam and sc’alding liquids from a hot cooling
system can
blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and
if you turn the pressure
cap
-- even a little I- they can come out at high
speed. Never turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and pressure cap to
cool if
you ever have to turn the pressure cap.
5-18

3. After the engine cools, open the air bleed valves on
the heater return hose and water pump inlet.
4. Fill with the proper DEX-COOL' coolant mixture.
Add
coolant until you see a steady stream of coolant
coming from the bleed valves.
5. Close the bleed valves.
6. Continue to fill the radiator up to the base of the
7. Rinse or wipe the spilled coolant from the engine
filler neck.
and compartment.
5-24

NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you
use only DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) c’oolant.
If silicated coolant is added to the system,
premature engine, heater core
or radiator
corrosion may result. In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever
occurs first,
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half ckan water (preferably
distilled)
and one-half DEX-COOL@ coolant which
won’t damage aluminum parts. If you use this mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
I
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper coolant mix will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set
for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wrong mix, your engine could
get too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheat
warning. Your engine could catch fire and
you or
others could be burned. Use a 50J50 mix of clean
water and DEX-COOL’coolant.
6-30

NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine
could overheat and
be badly damaged. The
repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the mix can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system.
These can be harmful.
Checking Coolant
When your engine is cold, check the dipstick on the cap
of the coolant recovery tank. The coolant level should
be at
COLD, or a little higher. When your engine is
warm, the level on the dipstick should be up to HOT, or
a little higher.
6-31

Part C: Periodic Maintenance
Inspections
Listed below are inspections and services which should be
performed at least twice a year (for instance, each spring
and fall).
You should let your GM dealer’s service
department
or other qualified service center do these jobs.
Make sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Proper procedures to perform these services may be
found in a GM service manual. See “Service and Owner
Publications” in the Index.
Steering and Suspension Inspection
Inspect the front and rear suspension and steering
system for damaged, loose or missing
parts, signs of
wear or lack of lubrication. Inspect the power steering
lines and hoses for proper
hook-up, binding, leaks,
cracks, chafing, etc.
Exhaust System Inspection
Inspect the complete exhaust system. Inspect the body near
the exhaust system. Look for broken, damaged, missing
or
out-of-position parts as well as open seams, holes, loose
connections or other conditions which could cause a heat
build-up in the
floor pan or could let exhaust fumes into
the vehicle. See “Engine Exhaust”
in the Index.
Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection
Inspect the hoses and have them replalced if they are
cracked, swollen
or deteriorated. Inspect all pipes,
fittings and clamps; replace as needed.
Throttle Linkage Inspection
Inspect the throttle linkage for interference or binding, and
for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts as needed.
Replace any cables that have
high effort or excessive wear.
Do not lubricate accelerator and cruise conbd cables.
Wear Axle Service
Check the gear lubricant level in the rear axle and add if
needed. See “Rear Axle” in
the Index. A fluid loss may
indicate
a problem. Check the axle and repair it if needed.
Brake System Inspection
Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and
hoses
for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks,
chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors
for surface condition.
Also inspect drum brake linings
for wear and cracks. Inspect other
brake parts, including
drums, wheel cylinders, calipers, parking brake, etc. The
parking brake is self-adjusting and no manual
adjustment
is required. You may need to have your
brakes inspected more often if
your driving habits or
conditions result in frequent braking.

Close-Out Panel ... .............. 2-58
Clutch. Hydraulic
. . ... ............ 6-28
Comfort Controls
............ ............. 3-2
Compact Disc Care
.................. .............. 3-23
Player Errors ................................ 3 - 15
Trunk Mounted Player ......................... 3-16
Compact Spare Tire
............................. 5-38
Content Theft-Deterrent
......................... 2- 13
AlarmRanicMode
............................. 2-7
Feature Customization ......................... 2- 17
Control
of a Vehicle .............................. 4-5
Convertible
Top ................................ 2-68
Convex Outside Mirror
.......................... 2-57
Coolant
....................................... 6-29
Bleed Valves ............................ 5-20, 5-24
Heater, Engine ............................... 2-27
Recovery Tank . . .......................... 5-17
Cooling System ................................ 5- 16
Courtesy Lamps
................................ 2-54
Courtesy Transportation
........................... 8-8
Cruise Control
................................. 2-47
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone Users ......... 8-5
Customer Assistance Information ................... 8- 1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
.................... 8-3
Damage, Finish .............. .............. 6-65
Damage, Sheet Metal ............................ 6-65
Daytime Running Lamps ......................... 2-53
Dead Battery
................................... 5-3
Defects, Reporting Safety ........................ 8- 10
Player
...................................... 3-14
Defensive
Driving
.......... .............. 4-2
Defogger. Rear Window
.......................... 3-5
Defogging
..................................... 3-4
Defrosting ..................................... 3-4
Delayed Illumination ....................... 2- 18, 2-54
Dimensions, Vehicle
............................ 6-75
Dolby' B Noise Reduction ........................ 3-9
Door
Last Door Closed Locking Feature
........... 2-5, 2-19
Lockout Prevention
....................... 2-5, 2-19
Locks
....................................... 2-4
Downshifting .................................. 2-36
Driver Position
................................. 1-13
Driver's Door Alarm Delay/Shock Sensor Enable
..... 2-22
Driving
City
........................................ 4-20
Defensive
.................................... 4-2
Drunken
..................................... 4-2
Freeway .................................... 4-21
InaBlizzard
................................. 4-28
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-5
IntheRain .................................. 4-17
Night ...................................... 4-15
On Curves .................................. 4-10
On Grades While Towing a Trailer ............... 4-37
On Hill
and Mountain Roads .................... 4-23
On Snow and Ice
............................. 4-26
Throughwater
............................... 4-19
WetRoads
.................................. 4-17
Winter
...................................... 4-25
With a Trailer
................................ 4-36
Drunken Driving
................................ 4-2
9-3

Electrical Equipment. Adding .......... 2.26.3.22. 6.68
Electrical System ............................... 6-68
Coolant Heater ............................... 2-27
Coolant Level Check .......................... 7-44
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-83
Identification ................................ 6-68
Overheating
................................. 5-14
RunningWhileParked
......................... 2-42
Specifications
................................ 6-73
Engine .................................. 6-10. 6-11
Coolant
..................................... 6-29
Exhaust
..................................... 2-41
FuseBlocks
................................. 6-70
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-44
StartingYour ................................ 2-25
Engineoil
.................................... 6-12
Adding
..................................... 6-14
Checking ................................... 6-13
Used ....................................... 6-18
Ethanol
........................................ 6-5
Additives ................................... 6-1'7
Pressure Gage
................................ 2-87
Whentochange
.............................. 6-17
Exhaust. Engine
................................ 2-4 1
Exit Lighting ............................. 2-18. 2-54
Exit Lightingmelayed Illumination ................. 2- 18
Express-Down Window .......................... 2-43
Fabric Cleaning ............................... 6-59
Fan Control. Climate Control System
................ 3-2
Feature Customization ........................... 2- 17
Exit Lighting ................................ 2-18
Last Door Closed Locking
...................... 2-19
Lockout Prevention
........................... 2-19
Remote Keyless
Entry Control Verification ......... 2-19
Theft-Deterrent Arming Method
................. 2-20
Theft-Deterrent Arming Verification
.............. 2-21
Fifth Gear. Manual Transmission
.............. 2-32. 2-34
Filling Your Tank
................................ 6-6
Filter. Engine Oil
............................... 6-17
Finishcare
.................................... 6-63
Finish Damage ................................. 6-65
First
Gear. Automatic Transmission ................ 2-31
First Gear. Manual Transmission .............. 2-32. 2-33
Flashers. Hazar'd Warning
......................... 5-2
Flat Tire. Changing ............................. 5-26
Fluids and Lubricants ............................ 7-50
Folding Rear Seatback ............................ 1-7
Foreign Countries. Fuel ........................... 6-5
Fourth Gear. Manual Transmission
............ 2-32. 2-34
Four-Way Manual Seat
........................... 1-3
Frontconsole .................................. 2-58
Delayed 11.lumination
Driver's
Door Alarm Delay/Shock Sensor Enable ... 2-22 2-18
..........................
Filter. Air ..................................... 6-20
FloorMats
.................................... 2-61
FogLamps
.................................... 2-53
French Language Manual 11
FrontTowing .................................. 5-10
Front Turn Signal Lamp Bulb Replacement .......... 6-43
.. ...........................