1997 PONTIAC FIREBIRD bulb

Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the,lever all the way up or down.
When the turn
is finished, the lever will return
automatically.
An arrow
on the instrument
panel will flash in the
direction of the turn
or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release
it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows don’t
flash but just stay on,
a signal bulb may be burned out
and other drivers won’t see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don’t go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the
fuse (see “Fuses and Circuit
Breakers” in the Index).
Headlamp High/Low Beam
To change the headlamps
from low beam to high or
high to low, pull the turn
signal lever all the way
toward
you. Then release it.
When the high beams are
on, this light
on the
instrument panel also will
be on.
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Driving On Grades Making Turns
I NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal. Do
this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a nailer
The green arrows on your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers
behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working. Reduce
speed and shift
to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much
that they would get hot and
no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transmission overheating.
If you are towing a trailer and you have an automatic
transmission with overdrive, you may prefer to drive in
THIRD
(3) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (a)
(or, as you need to, a lower gear). Or, if you have a
manual transmission with FIFTH
(5) or SIXTH (6) gear
and you are towing a trailer, it’s better not to
use FIFTH
(5) or SIXTH (6) gear. Just drive in
FOURTH
(4) (drive in FIFTH (5) if you have a
six-speed manual transmission) or, as you need to,
a lower gear.
4-37

Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your Pontiac. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check imDortant fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your I
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6-2 Service
6-3 Fuel
6-5 Fuels in Foreign Countries
6-6 Filling Your Tank
6- 8 Checking Things Under the Hood
6- 12 Engine Oil
6-18 Air Cleaner
6-22 Automatic Transmission Fluid 6-27 Manual Transmission Fluid
6-29 Engine Coolant
6-3
3 Power Steering Fluid
6-35 Windshield Washer Fluid
6-36 Brakes
6-40 Battery
6-4
1 Bulb Replacement 6-49
6-58
6-5
8
6-6 1
6-63
6- 64
4-65
6-66
6- 67
6-68
6-68
6-68
6-73
6-73
Tires
Appearance Care Cleaning the Inside
of Your Pontiac
Care
of Safety Belts
Cleaning the Outside
of Your Pontiac
Aluminum
or Chrome Wheels
Tires
Underbody Maintenance
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Service Parts Identification Label
Electrical System
Replacement
Bulbs
Capacities and Specifications
6-1

Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement bulb, see
“Replacement
Bulbs” in the Index.
Halogen Bulbs
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
can burst if you drop
or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb package.
Headlamps
To replace a headlamp:
1. Open the headlamp door by hand. See “Headlamp
Doors” in the Index.
2. Unscrew the bezel with a screwdriver and remove it.
6-41

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3. Remove the screws and pull out the bulb housing. 4. Full out the bulb and Idisconnect the
5. Reverse the steps with a new bulb.
electrical
connector.
6-42

Front Turn Signal
1. Using a screwdriver, remove the plastic screws from
the deflector under the vehicle. Move the deflector
out
of the way.
2. Turn and pull out the socket and the bulb.
3. Pull out the bulb.
4. Reverse the steps with a new bulb.
6-43

Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
To replace the bulb:
1. Remove the two screws in the stoplamp lens.
2. Gently pull the assembly out and remove the bulb
from the back of the assembly.
3. Reverse the steps with a new bulb.
6-44

Rear Lamps
To change any rear bulb, you have to remove the
entire housing.
1. Remove the trim panel from the side that you are
replacing the bulb.
2. Pull the carpet back.
4.
5.
6.
7.
3. Remove the wing nuts.
Pull off the assembly from the outside.
To remove a socket with a tab, press the tab and turn
the socket counterclockwise.
To remove a socket
without a tab, turn the socket counterclockwise.
To remove the bulb, push in and turn it
counterclockwise, then pull it out.
Reverse the steps with
a new bulb.
6-45