1997 PONTIAC FIREBIRD Owners Manual

1.. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
~~
battery with a negative ground system.
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
~~~ damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be
sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each oth’er.
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
I
An electric fan can start up even WLA the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing
and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
5. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on
each battery.
5-4

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.
Don’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 immediately. *
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.
1 A CAUTION:
I
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engines are running.

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
positive
(+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
5-6

9. Now connect the black negative (-) cable to the good
battery’s negative
(-) terminal.
Don’t let the other end touch anything 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 the vehicle with the
dead battery.
10. 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.
the engine for a while.
11. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
5-7

12. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery.
If it won’t start after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
13. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other
or any other metal.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing
service tow your Pontiac.
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-new by adding aftermarket items like fog
lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these
instructions may not be correct.
Before you
do anything, turn on the hazard
warning flashers.
When
you call, tell the towing service:
0 That your vehicle cannot be towed from the front or
rear with sling-type equipment.
0 That your vehicle has rear-wheel drive.
The make, model and year of your vehicle.
0 Whether you can still move the shift lever.
If there was an ac’cident, what was damaged.
When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator
know that this manual contains detailed towing
instructions and illustrations. The operator
may want to
see them.
5-8

To help avoid injury to you or others:
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
0 Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not
fully secured.
0 Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted
by the tow truck.
Always secure the vehicle on each side with
separate safety chains when towing it.
0 Never use J-hooks, Use T-hooks instead.
being towed.
A vehicle
can fall from a car car
adequately secured. This can cause a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before
it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots. Never use
J-hooks, They will damage drivetrain and
suspension components.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
turned to the
OFF position. The steering wheel should
be clamped in a straight-ahead position, with a clamping
device designed for towing service.
Do not use the
vehicle’s steering column
lock for this. The transmission
should
be in NEUTRAL (N) and the parking
brake released.

Don’t have your vehicle towed on the drive wheels
unless
you must. If the vehicle must be towed on the
drive wheels, be sure to follow the speed and distance
restrictions
later in this section or your transmission will
be damaged.
If these limits must be exceeded, then the
drive wheels have
to be supported on a dolly,
Front Towing
Tow Limits - 35 mph (56 kd), 50 miles (80 km)
NOTICE:
-
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or
fascidfog light damage will occur.
Use wheel lift or car carrier equipment.
Additional ramping
may be required for car
carrier equipment.
Use safety chains and wheel straps.
Attach T-hook chains to slots in frame rearward of front
wheels
on both sides.
I NOTICE: I
Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to
suspension components when using car
carrier
equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in the
T-hook slots,
5- 10

Attach a separate safety chain around outboard end of
each lower control
arm.
I NOTICE:
I
Take care not to damage the brake pipes and
hoses or the
ABS sensor and wiring.
NOTICE:
Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage
a vehicle. Damage can occur from
vehicle-to-ground or
vehicle-to-wheel-lift-equipment contact. To help
avoid damage, install a towing dolly and raise
vehicle until adequate clearance
is obtained
between the ground
and/or wheel-lift equipment.
5-11