1997 PONTIAC FIREBIRD Owners Manual

We prefer you utilize the Customer Satisfaction
Procedure before you resort to AUTO
LINE, but you
may contact the BBB at any time. The BBB will attempt
to resolve
the complaint serving as an intermediary. If
this mediation is unsuccessful, an informal hearing will
be scheduled where eligible customers may present their
case to an impartial third-party arbitrator.
The arbitrator will make a decision which you may
accept or reject. If you accept the decision, GM will be
bound by that decision. The entire dispute resolution
procedure should ordinarily take about 40 days from the
time
you file a claim until a decision is made.
Some state laws may require you to use this program
before filing
a claim with a state-run arbitration program
or in the
courts. For further information, contact the
BBB at 1-800-955-5100 or the Pontiac Customer
Assistance Center at
1 -800-PM-CARES .
Warranty Information
Your vehicle comes with a separate warranty booklet
that contains detailed warranty information.
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS
TO
THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could
cause a crash or lcould cause injury or death, you should
immediately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA), in addition to
notifying General Motors.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an
investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in
a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However,
NHTSA cannot become involved
in individual problems between
you, your dealer or
General Motors.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety
Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or
366-0123 in
the Washington, D.C. area) or write to:
NHTSA, US. Department of Transportation
Washington,
D.C, 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety
from the Hotline,
8-10

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE CANADIAN
GOVERNMENT
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle
has a safety defect, you should immediately notify
Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General
Motors of Canada Limited. You may write to:
Transport Canada
Box 8880
Ottawa, Ontario K1G 352
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTIS
TO
GENERAL MOTORS
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada)
in
a situation like this, we certainly hope you’ll notify
us. Please call
us at 1-800-PM-CARES or write:
Pontiac Division Customer Assistance Center
One Pontiac Plaza
Pontiac, MI 48340-2952 In Canada, please call
us at 1-800-263-3777 (English)
or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write:
General
Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre,
163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
Ordering Service and Owner
Publications in Canada
Service manuals, service bulletins, owner’s manuals and
other service literature
are available for purchase for all
current and past model General Motors vehicles.
The toll-free telephone number for ordering information
in Canada is 1-800-668-5539.

1997 PONTIAC SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ORDERING INFORMATION
The following publications covering the operation and servicing of your vehicle can be purchased by filling out
the Sewice Publication Order Form in this book and mailing it in with your check, money order,
or credit card information to Helm, /ncorporated (address below.)
CURRENT PUBLICATIONS FOR 1997 PONTIAC
SERVICE MANUALS
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair information
on engines, transmission, axle, suspension, brakes,
electrical, steering,
body, etc.
RETAIL
SELL PRICE: $90.00
TRANSMISSION, TRANSAXLE, TRANSFER CASE UNIT
REPAIR MANUAL
This manual provides information on unit repair service
procedures, adjustments and specifications for €he
1997 GM transmissions, transaxles and transfe:r cases.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $40.00
SERVICE BULLETINS
Service Bulletins give technical service information needed
to knowledgeably service General Motors cars and trucks.
Each bulletin contains instructions
to assist in the
diagnosis and service
of your vehicle.
OWNER’S INFORMATION
Owner publications are written directly for Owners and
intended
to provide basic operational information about the
vehicle. The owner’s manual will include the Maintenance
Schedule for
all models,
In-Portfolio: Includes
a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual and
Warranty Booklet. RETAIL SELL
PRICE: $1 5.00
Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $1 0.00
CURRENT & PAST MODEL ORDER FORMS
Sewice Publications are available for current and past
rno’del
GM vehicles. To request an order form, please
specify year and
model name of the vehicle.

ORDER TOLL FREE (NOTE: For Credit Card Holders Only)
(Monday-Friday
8:OO AM - 6:OO PM EST)
FAX Orders Only 1-31 3-865-5927
1 -800-782-4356
Orders will be mailed within 10 days of receipt. Please allow ade uate time for postal
service. If further information is needed, write to the address s 7l own below or call
1-800-782-4356. Material cannot be returned for credit without packing slip with return
information within 30 days of delivery. On returns, a re-stocking fee may
be applied
against the orlglnal order.

& NOTES
8-14

Section 9 Index
Accessory Plug ............................. 2-61
AirBag
....................................... 1-21
How Does it Restrain .......................... 1-25
How it Works ................................ 1-23
Location
.................................... 1-23
Readiness Light
......................... 1.22. 2.78
What Makes it Inflate
.......................... 1-24
What Will
You See After it Inflates ............... 1-25
When Should it Inflate
......................... 1-24
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-18
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-3
Air Conditioning Refrigerants ..................... 6-74
Air Control. Climate Control System ................. 3-2
Alarm. Content Theft-Deterrent ................... 2- 13
Alarm/PanicMode ............................... 2-7
Alignment and Balance. Tire
...................... 6-55
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
...................... 6-64
Antenna. Power
................................ 3-24
Antifreeze
..................................... 6-29
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
................ 2-80. 4-7
Brakes
...................................... 4-7
Anti-Theft. Radio
.............................. 3- 19
Appearance Care ............................... 6-58
Servicing ................................... 1- 26 Appearance Care Materials
...... .......... 6-67
Arbitration Program
.............................. 8-9
Ashtrays ...................................... 2-59
Audio Controls. Steering Wheel Touch Control ....... 3-21
Audio Equipment. Adding ........................ 3-22
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-6
Automatic Overdrive ............................ 2-30
Automatic Transmission
Check
...................................... 7-45
Fluid
....................................... 6-22
Operation ................................... 2-28
Park Mechanism Check
........................ 7-47
Shifting ..................................... 2-28
Starting Your Engine .......................... 2-25
Axle. Limited-Slip Rear ......................... 2-36
Axle. Rear
.................................. 6-29
Battery ...................................... 6-40
Jump Starting ................................. 5-3
Warnings
................................ 5-3. 5-5
BBB Auto Line ................................. 8-9
Better Business Bureau Mediation ................... 8-9
Blizzard . . ... ................. 4-28
Replacement. Remote Keyless Entry ............... 2-9

Brake
Adjustment .................................. 6-39
Master Cylinder .............................. 6-36
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-40
System Warning Light
......................... 2-79
Transmission Shift Interlock
.................... 2-40
Brakes, Anti-Lock
............................... 4-7
Braking
........................................ 4-6
Braking in Emergencies.
.......................... 4- 10
Break-In, New Vehicle .......................... 2-23
Brightness Control
.............................. 2-54
BTSI ......................................... 2-40
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-4 1
Fluid ....................................... 6-36
Parking
..................................... 2-37
PedalTravel
................................. 6-39
Trailer
...................................... 4-35
Wear
....................................... 6-38
BTSICheck
................................... 7-46
CalipedKnuckle Maintenance Inspections .......... 7-49
Canadian Roadside Assistance
...................... 8-8
Capacities and Specifications ...................... 6-73
Carbon Monoxide
.......... 2- 10.2-41.2-42.4-29. 4-35
Cassette Deck Service
........................... 7-44
Cassette Tape Player ............ ......... 3-7. 3-10
Errors .................................. 3-8. 3-12
CD Player Theft-Deterrent Feature ................. 3 - 19
Certification Label .............................. 4-30
Care
....................................... 3-23
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp Bulb Replacement
.... 6-44
Chains. Safety ................................. 4-35
Chains. Tire ................................... 6-57
Changing
a Flat Tire ............................. 5-26
Check Gauges Light
............................. 2-89
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-41
Chemical Paint Spotting .......................... 6-66
Child Restraints'
................................ 1-32
Securing in a Rear Seat Position
................. 1-34
Securing
in the Right Front Seat Position .......... 1-36
Cigarette Lighter ............................... 2-59
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-69
Aluminum Wheels
............................ 4-64
Convertible Top .............................. 6-64
Glass
....................................... 6-61
Inside of Your Pontiac
......................... 6-58
Instrument Panel ............................. 6-61
Outside of Your Pontiac ........................ 6-63
Removable
Roof Panel ......................... 6-62
Special Problems ............................. 6'-59
Vinyl
....................................... 6-60
Windshield and Wiper Blades ................... 6-62
Climate Control System ........................... 3-2
Clock. Setting the ................................ 3-6
TopStrap ................................... l-33
WheretoPut ................................ 1-32
Cleaner. Air
................................... 6-18
Cleaning Fabric
...................................... 6-59
Leather ..................................... 6-60
Stains
...................................... 6-59
Tires ....................................... 6-65
Wheels ..................................... 6-64
9-2

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