1997 PONTIAC FIREBIRD steering wheel

NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn
it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. But turn the key only with your hand.
Using
a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch. If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
Starting Your Engine
Automatic Transmission
Move your snm lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
~~
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Pontiac is
moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to
PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
2-25

Windows
Manual Windows
Rotate the window crank handle to open and close each
door
window.
Power Windows (If Equipped)
With power windows, switches on the door control each
window when
the ignition is on or when RAP is present.
(See “Retained Accessory P’ower’’ in the Index.) You
can open the passenger’s window any amount by
pressing the switch and releasing it when the window
has lowered to the position
you want.
The switch for the driver’s window has an express-down
feature. Quickly press and release the switch for the
driver’s window and the window will lower completely.
You can also open the driver’s window any
amount by
pressing the switch again while the window is in the
express-down mode when
it has lowered to the position
you want.
Horn
To sound the horn, press either horn symbol on your
steering wheel.
If your horn sounds two or three chirps when unlocking
your vehicle with the transmitter (if you have that
option), the alarm was triggered while
you were away.
Check the vehicle before entering.
2-43

Tilt Steering Wheel Thrn SignaVMultifunction Lever
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before
you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when
you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever. Move the steering wheel to
a comfortable level,
then release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes your:
0 Turn Signal and Lane Chaaage Indicator
0 Headlamp HighLow Beam Changer and
Passing Signal
Windshield Wipers
Windshield Washer
Cruise Control (Option)
2-44

A. Fog Lamp Switch (If Equipped)
B. Main Lamp Control
C. Air Vent
D. Instrument Cluster
E.
Horn
E Audio System
G. Glove Box
H. Comfort Controls
I. Cupholder
J. Parking Brake Lever
K.
Storage Console
L. Rear Window Defogger Switch
M. Convertible Top Switch (Automatic) (If Equipped)
N. Traction Control System Switch or Second Gear
0. Cigarette Lighter
P. Shift Lever
Q. Ashtray (Automatic Transmission)
R. Convertible Top Switch (Manual) (If Equipped)
S. Steering Wheel Controls
T. Remote Hatch Release
Start
Switch (If Equipped)

Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section, you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your Pontiac.
Be sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.
3-2
3-3
3-3
3-4
3-4
3-4
3
-4
3-5
3-5
3-6
3 -6
3-7
Comfort Controls
Air Conditioning
Cooling
Heating
Bi-Level Heating
Ventilation
Defogging and Defrosting
Rear Window Defogger
Ventilation System
Audio Systems Setting the Clock
for All Systems
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player
3-10
3- 14
3-16
3-19
3-2
1
3-22
3-22
3-23
3-23
3-24 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette
Tape Player
and Equalizer
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player
and Equalizer
Trunk Mounted
CD Changer
Theft-Deterrent Feature
Steering Wheel Controls
Understanding Radio Reception
Tips About Your Audio System
Care
of Your Cassette Tape Player
Care
of Your Compact Discs
Power Antenna Mast Care
3-1

Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this feature, you can control certain
radio and compact disc functions using the buttons on
your steering wheel.
VOLUME: Press the up or down arrow to increase or
decrease volume.
PLAY: Press this button to play a cassette tape or
compact disc when the radio is playing.
MUTE: Press this button t'o silence the system. Press it
again to turn
on the sound.
SEEK: Press the up arrow to tune to the next radio
station and the down arrow to tune to the previous radio
station. If a cassette tape
or compact disc is playing, the
player will advance with the
up arrow and rewind with
the down arrow.
PRESET Press this button to hear the radio stations
that are set on your pushbuttons. Pressing this button
while playing
a tape will cause the tape to change sides.
If it is pressed while playing a CD, the CD random
feature can be turned
off and on. If this button is pressed
when using the optional 12-disc changer, the changer
will select the next
,disc available.
AM-FM: Press this button to select AM, FM1 or FM2.
If a cassette tape or compact disc is playing, the tape or
disc will stop playing and
the radio will play. If this
button is pressed with a CD in the CD changer, the disc
will go to the next selection.
3-21

To turn the system off, press
the button located at the
front
of the console.
The light on
the switch will go off, and the traction
control system warning light will come on and stay on.
If the traction control system is limiting wheel spin
when
you press the switch, the light on the switch will
go off and the warning light will come on -- but the
system won’t turn
off right away. It will wait until
there’s
no longer a current need to limit wheel spin.
You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing
the switch again. The light
on the button should come
on, and the traction control system warning light should
go off. If
your car is equipped with P245/5OZR16 tires, the
traction control system will automatically turn
off at
speeds above 108 mph
(174 km/h). (The traction control
system warning light will not come on.) When the
vehicle speed drops below
103 mph (166 kmh) the
system will automatically come on again.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
4- 10

A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each
of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction
of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you’ve ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you’re
in a curve, speed is
the one factor you can control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate. Both control systems -- steering and
acceleration
-- have to do their work where the tires meet
the road. Unless you have traction control and the system
is on, adding the sudden acceleration can demand too
much of
those places. You can lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up
on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it
to
go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are based
on good weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach
a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed
so you can “drive” through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example, you come over a hill and
find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can
avoid these problems by braking
-- if you can stop
in time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t
room.
That’s the time for evasive action -- steering around
the problem.
Your Pontiac can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes. (See “Braking in
Emergencies” earlier in this section.)
It is better to
remove as much speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem,
to the left
or right depending on the space available.
4-11