1997 PONTIAC FIREBIRD Owners Manual

2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
You can be burnet 'you spimm 2oolant 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.
3. After the engine cools, open the coolant air
bleed valve.
3800 V6 (VIN Code M): There is one bleed valve. It
is located on the thermostat housing.
4. Fill.the radiatorwith the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture, up to the base of the filler neck.
If you see a! stream of coolant coming from an air
bleed valve, close the valve. Otherwise,
close the
valve after the radiator is filled.
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5. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to FULL HOT
6. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap
off.
7. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine fan( s).
8. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator
filler neck
may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper DEX-COOL@ coolant mixture
through the filler neck until the level reaches the
base
of the filler neck.
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9. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during
this procedure if coolant begins to
flow out of the
filler neck, reinstall
the pressure cap. Be sure the
arrows on the pressure cap line up like this.
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
(V8 Engine Only)
NOTICE:
~~ ~
The LT1 Engine (Code P) has a specific radiator
fill procedure. Failure to follow this procedure
could cause your engine to overheat
and be
severely damaged.
~~
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1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure cap
and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot. Turn the
pressure cap slowly counterclockwise until it first
stops. (Don’t press down while turning the
pressure cap
.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there
is still some pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down
as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
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.
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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.
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8. Start the engine and allow it to run in idle for
approximately four minutes. By this time, the
coolant level inside the radiator will be lower. Add
more of the proper mix through the filler neck until
the level reaches the base
of the filler neck.
9. Shut the engine off and replace the pressure cap. Be
sure the arrows on the cap line up like this.
10. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the
For a complete drain,
flush and refill, see your Pontiac
dealer or a Pontiac Firebird Service Manual.
To
purchase a service manual, see “Service and Owner
Publications” in the Index.
proper
level.
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If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to ‘‘blow out’’ while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But
if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and
grip the steering wheel firmly,
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a st,ot, well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control
by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go, It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake
to a stop -- well off the road if possible,
If
a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly t,o a level place.
Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
Cham- ng a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can
slip off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find
a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly,
2. Put an automatic transmission shift lever in
PARK (P), or shift a manual transmission tu
FIRST (1) or REWRSE (R).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle wan? move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would
be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle, at the opposite ~ end,
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On convertible models, you must also remove the
convertible top protection panel. It’s
at the upper back of
the trunk. Turn the two screw knobs under the trunk
edge
a quarter turn left (counterclockwise) to remove
the panel.
The following steps will tell you
how to use the jack and
change a tire.
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you’ll need is in the right (passenger)
rear area behind the trim panel.
First you must remove the close-out panel. See
“Close-Out Panel” in the Index. Find the plastic screw
heads in the trim panel over
the
spare tire. (See “Compact Spare Tire” later in this
section for more information about the compact spare.)
Use a coin or a key to turn the screw heads until the
slots point front and back. Gently
Iift the trim panel and
move
it out of the way.
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