1998 PONTIAC FIREBIRD automatic transmission

SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use
SECOND (2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you
go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want to use
your brakes off and on.
NOTICE:
Don’t drive in SECOND (2) for more than
25 miles (40 km), or at speeds over 55 mph
(88 km/h), or you can damage your transmission.
Use AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(a) or
THIRD (3) as much as possible.
Don’t shift into
SECOND (2) unless you are going
slower than
65 mph (105 kmh), or you can
damage your engine. FIRST
(1): This
position (if equipped) gives you
even more power (but lower fuel economy) than
SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills, or in
deep snow
or mud. If the gear shift lever is put in first
gear, the transmission won’t shift into
FIRST (1) until
the vehicle is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud
or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transmission. Use your brakes or shift into
PARK (P) to hold your vehicle in position
on a hill.
Maximum engine speed is limited to protect driveline
components
from improper operation.
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Shifting Into PARK (P)
:Automatic Transmission Only)
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If
you have left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even when
you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps that
follow. If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a
Trailer” in the Index.
0 Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the
parking brake.
0 Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by holding in the
button on the lever and pushing the lever all the way
toward the front of your vehicle.
0 Move the ignition key to LOCK.
0 Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave the vehicle with the ignition key in your hand,
your vehicle
is in PARK (P).
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Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission
Only)
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even
catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into
PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may find
it difficult to pull the
shift lever out
of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into
PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
When you are ready
to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push
yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl
in the transmission, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
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Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission) Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
Your
vehicle has a Brake-Transmission Shift Interlock Before you get out of your vehicle, put your manual
(BTSI). You have to fully apply your regular brake transmission in REVERSE \
(R) and firmly apply the
before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is parking brake.
in RUN. See “Automatic Transmission” in the Index.
If
you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on a Trailer” in the Index.
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK
(P) and release the shift lever button as you
maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever
button and move the shift lever into the gear you wish. If
your vehicle
is equipped to tow a trailer, see “Towing
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
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Running Your Engine While You’re
Parked (Automatic Transmission)
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
A CAUTION: I
Idling the engine with the climate control
system
off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle (see the earlier Caution under
“Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is
a garage. Exhaust -- with
CO
-- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
(See “Blizzard” in the Index.)
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK
(P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is
running unless you have to. If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You
or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK
(P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer, also see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
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When you apply your brakes or push the clutch pedal
(manual transmission), the cruise control shuts off.
Setting Cruise Control
A CAUTION:
- -
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at
a steady speed. So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding
roads or
in heavy traffic.
slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the optional
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin, the
cruise control will automatically disengage. (See
“Traction Control System”
in the Index.) When road
conditions allow
you to safely use it again, you may turn
the cruise control back on.
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you’re not using cruise, you might hit
a button
and
go into cruise when you don’t want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch off until you want to use it.
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Push in the SET button at the end of the lever and
release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
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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.
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Convertible Top
The following procedures explain the proper operation
of your convertible top.
Lowering Your Convertible Top
I NOTICE:
I I
I
It is not recommended that you raise or lower the
top while the vehicle is moving.
I
I
I 1
NOTICE:
Don’t leave your convertible out with the top
down for any long periods
of time. The sun and
the rain can damage your seat material and other
things inside
your vehicle.
1. It is recommended that you park on a level surface.
Set the parking brake firmly and shift an automatic
transmission into
PARK (P) or a manual
transmission into
REVERSE (R). The ignition must
be in
ACC or RUN. Lower both sun visors.
NOTICE:
Don’t lower the top if it is damp or wet. When
the top
is down, trapped water can cause stains,
mildew and damage
to the inside of your vehicle.
Be sure to dry off the top before you lower it.
I NOTICE:
It is not recommended to lower the top if your
vehicle
is out in cold weather, (0°F (-18OC) or
lower), or you may damage top components.
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