1997 PONTIAC FIREBIRD heating

NOTICE:
When replacing the battery, use care not to touch
any
of the circuitry. Static from your body
transferred
to these surfaces may damage
the
transmitter.
To replace the battery in the key chain transmitter:
1. Carefully pry off the cover by inserting a dime (or
2. Lift off the back cover.
3. Remove and repla’ce the battery. Use one battery,
similar object) in a slot between the covers and twist,
type CR2032, or a sirnilar type. Put the new battery
in printed side down.
tightly s0 water won’t get in.
does not work after battery replacement, it may need
to be resynchronized or matched
to your vehicle. See
“Synchronization” in the Index.
4. Replace the back cov’er. Make sure the cover is on
5. Check the transmitter operation. If the transmitter
Hatch
It can be dangerous to drive with the hatch open
because carbon monoxide
(CO) gas can come into
your vehicle. You can’t see
or smell CO, It can
cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the hatch open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections must
pass through the seal between the body and
the hatch:
Make sure all windows are shut.
Turn the fan your heating or cooling
system to
its highest speed with the setting on
VENT, That will force outside air into your
vehicle. See ‘‘Comfort Controls” in the Index.
instrument
paad, open them all the way.
If you have air outlets on or under the
See
‘(Engine Exhaust” in the Index.
2-10

Sun Visors
I NOTICE:
Don? hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it is heating.
If you do, it won9t be able to
back away
from the heating element when it’s
ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
If you plug accessories into your cigarette lighter, such
as heating devices or air ~ompressors, these accessories
should have a rated current of less than 15 amps.
Exceeding this limit will result in a blown fuse.


To block out glare, YOU can swing down the visors. You
can also swing them to the side. The elastic bands on
your visor provide extra storage for maps or papers.
Covered Visor Vanity Mirror
Full down the sun visor and lift the cover to expose the
vanity mirror.
2-60

The traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the switch
located at the front
of the console the warning light
will come on and stay on and the light on the switch
will
go out. To turn the system back on, press the
switch again. The warning light should go off.
(See “Traction Control System” in the Index
for more information.)
If the temperature of the throttle control b’egins to
rise, the system will turn off and the warning light
will come
on until the system cools down. The
system does this to prevent damage from
overheating.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period
of time when the
system
is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
Low Traction Light
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid
a braking skid,
this light will come on.
LOW
TRAC
If you have the traction control system, this light will
also come
on when the system is limiting wheel spin.
Slippery road conditions may exist if the low traction
light comes on,
so adjust your driving accordingly. The
light will stay on for a few seconds after the anti-lock
system stops a’djusting brake pressure or the traction
control system stops limiting wheel spin.
The low traction
light also comes on briefly when you
turn the ignition
key to RUN. If the light doesn’t come
on then, have
it fixed so it will be there to tell you when
the anti-lock brake system or traction control system
is active.
2-82

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the
gage pointer moves into the
red area, your engine is too
hot! It means that your
engine coolant has
overheated.
Low Coolant Light (VS Engine)
This warning light should
come on while you are
starting your engine.
If the
light doesn’t
come on, have
it repaired.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop
your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
In “Problems
on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index. Your
Firebird is equipped with
a LOW COOLANT
indicator which is designed to detect when the coolant
level drops below set limits. If the low coolant level
sensor (on the radiator) drops while the engine is
running,
the LOW COOLANT indicator will light and
remain lit until the ignition switch
is turned to the OFF
position. Check coolant level and add coolant as needed.
The LOW COOLANT light might stay on after filling
the radiator. Turn the ignition switch to the
OFF
position, then restart the engine to verify that the LOW
COOLANT light goes out. See “Engine Coolant” in
the Index.
2-83

NOTICE:
Driving with the LOW COOLANT light on could
cause your Pontiac
to overheat. See 66Engine
Overheating”
in the Index. Your Pontlac could
be damaged and
it wou1dn”t be covered by
your warranty.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
Your Pontiac is equipped with a computer which
monitors operation
of the fuel. ignition and emission
control systems. This
system is called
OBD I1 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels
for the life
of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment.
(In Canada, OBD 11 is replaced by
Enhanced Diagnostics.) The SERVICE ENGINE SOON
light comes on to indicate that there is a problem and
service
is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated
by the system before any problem is apparent. This may
prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle. This
system is also designed to assist your service technician
in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after
a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty,
2-84

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

Comfort Controls Temperature Control Knob
Turn the knob to change the temperature of the air
I flowing from the heating system, Turn it toward the
I, ,I red or clockwise for warmer air and toward the blue or
counterclockwise
for cooler air. The temperature of the
air cannot be less than the temperature
of the outside air.
Air ContL - - ____ - .b
OFF: The system is off. I
2 VENT Air flows through the upper air vents.
12 BI-LEVEL: Air is directed through the upper air
vents and the heater ducts.
With this
system, you can control the heating and
ventilation in your Pontiac.
If you have the air
conditioning option, you can also control cooling.
Your vehicle also has the flow-through ventilation
system described later in this section.
Fan Control Knob.
a FAN: Turn this knob to select the force of air
you want.
/ HEATER: This setting directs most of the air
through the heater ducts and some
of the air through the
windshield defroster vents.
'9 BLEND: Air is 'directed through the windshield
defroster vents
and the heater ducts.
9 DEFROS'G: This setting directs most of the air
through the windshield defroster vents and some of the
air through the heater ducts.
3-2

Air Conditioning (If Equipped)
I
The air conditioning system uses the same controls as
the heating system, except that the air control knob has
two extra settings, described below.
MAX: Provides maximum cooling or quick cool-down
on very hot days. This setting recirculates most of the air
inside your vehicle.
If it is used for long periods of time,
the air may become dry. This setting directs air through
the upper air vents,
A/C: Use for normal cooling on hot days. This setting
cools outside
air and c‘kts it through the upper air vents.
The i-111- conditioner cumpressor operates in MAX, AIC,
BI-LEVEL, BLEND and DEFROST when the outside
temperature is above freezing. When the
air conditioner
is on,
you may sometimes notice slight changes in
your vehicle’s engine speed and power. This is normal
because the system is designed to cycle the compressor
on and
off to keep the desired cooling and help
fuel economy.
Cooling
The air conditioner works best if you keep your
windows closed. On very
hot days, open the windows
just long enough for the hot air to escape.
1. Turn the air control knob to A/C for normal cooling.
For faster cooling, move the
knob to MAX.
2. Turn the temperature control knob to a
comfortable setting.
3. Move the fan control knob to the desired speed.