1998 PONTIAC FIREBIRD Owners Manual

Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger’s side mirror is convex. A convex
mimr’s surface is curved so you can see more from the
driver’s seat.
I /1 CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really
are.
.If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle
on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance
over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
Storage Compartments
Glove Box
To open the glove box, lift up on the lever. Use your
door
key to lock and unlock it. The glove box has a
lamp inside.
Front Console
To use the storage area, push on the tab and pull up on
the console cover. It will open to the right. The console
will have a storage area for cassette tapes or compact
discs
if equipped.
Map Pocket
Each door has a map pocket. There may also be a map
pocket
on the back of the seats.
2-58

Close-Out Panel
The close-out panel can be closed for hidden storage in
the rear area
of your vehicle. It can also help reduce
noise in the vehicle when placed in the upright position,
closing out the rear end area.
Removing the Close-Out Panel
1. Close the panel. If the close-out panel is not closed
and resting on the trim panel, it cannot be removed.
2. Pull the panel toward you to unsnap it. Then slide the
close-out panel along the groove in the trim panel.
Reverse the steps to install the panel.
2-59

When carrying large or heavy items, it is a good idea to
open
the panel and place the items in the rear area.
I A CAUTION:
An improperly stored close-out panel could be
thrown about the vehicle during a collision
or
sudden maneuver. You or others could be
injured.
If you remove the cover, always store it
outside your vehicle. When you put it back,
always be sure that it is securely reattached.
Ashtray and Lighter
Lift up the cover to open the ashtray. To remove it, lift
up on either side of the ashtray.
If you have an automatic
transmission, the ashtray is near the front
of your
console.
If you have a manual transmission, the ashtray
is near your cupholder.
NOTICE:
Don’t put papers and other things that burn into
your ashtray. If you do, cigarettes or other
smoking materials could set them on fire,
causing damage.
To use the lighter, push it in all the way and let go.
When it’s ready, it will
pop back by itself.
2-60

NOTICE:
Don’t hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand while it is heating.
If you do, it won’t 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 compressors, these accessories
should have a rated current
of less than 15 amps.
Exceeding this limit will result in a blown fuse.
Sun Visors
I
To block out glare, you can swing down the visors. You
can
also swing them to the side.
Visor Vanity Mirror
Pull down the sun visor and lift the cover to expose the
vanity mirror.
2-61

Accessory Plug
This plug is located inside the front section ahead of the
shift lever in the console. The plug can be used to
connect electrical equipment such
as a cellular phone or
CB radio. Be sure to follow the installation instructions
included with the equipment.
I NOTICE:
When using the accessory plug:
0 The maximum load of any electrical
equipment should not exceed
3 amps.
Be sure to turn off any electrical equipment
when not
in use. Leaving electrical
equipment on
for extended periods can
drain your battery.
We recommend that you see a qualified technician or your
dealer for the proper installation of your equipment.
Floor Mats
Your vehicle’s floor mats are custom-fitted to the floor
wells. Be sure the driver’s floor
mat is in place. If it
isn’t, it could interfere with the accelerator, clutch or
brake pedal.
Twin Lift-off Roof Panels
(If Equipped)
Don’t try try to remove the T-top panels while
the vehicle
is moving. Trying to remove the T-top
panel while the vehicle is moving could cause an
accident. The panel could fall into the
vehicle and
cause you to lose control, or it could
fly off and
strike another vehicle. You or others could be
iqjured. Remove
T-top panels only when the
vehicle is parked.
2-62

The door key unlocks the panels. The lock is over the
front door window. Turn the key counterclockwise to
unlock the panel.
1 I I
Then push on the release handle to unlatch the panel.
Lift the outer edge of the panel and pull it toward
you. Then carry the panel to the rear of the vehicle
for storage.
2-63

If the T-top panel is not stored properly, it could
be thrown about the vehicle in
a crash or sudden
maneuver. People
in the vehicle could be injured.
Whenever
you store a T-top panel in the vehicle,
always be sure that it
is stored securely in the
correct storage slot with the T-top handle closed.
Open the close-out panel completely. Place the panel
in
the correct slot (DRIVER or PASSENGER) in the rear
area of
your vehicle. Make sure the handle is open and
facing
you when you put it in the storage slot.
2-64

Push the handle closed to secure the panel in the slot. To
lock each panel in the storage area, use your door key.
' /5 CAUTION:
An improperly installed panel may fall into or fly
off the vehicle. You or others could be injured.
After
installing a T-top panel, always check that
it is firmly attached by pushing up on the
underside
of the panel.
Reverse the steps to install the T-top panels.
When installing the panels to the roof, keep the outboard
edge
of the panel raised about three inches (8 cm) above
the roof while placing the inboard edge of the panel
under the center roof.
2-65