1998 PONTIAC FIREBIRD Owners Manual

&I NOTES
4-40

Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5-2
5-3
5-8
5-15
5-17
5-21
Hazard Warning Flashers Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating
Cooling System
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
(3800 V6 Engine) 5-24
How to
Add Coolant to the Radiator
(V8 Engine Only)
5-27 If a Tire Goes Flat
5-27 Changing a Flat Tire
5-40 Compact Spare Tire
5-4 1 If You’re Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
5-1

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off.
Press the button in to
make your front and rear
turn signal lamps flash
on and off.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key is in, or even if the key isn’t in.
5-2

To turn off the flashers,
pull out on the collar.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your
turn
signals won’t work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of
the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start
your vehicle. But please use the following steps to
do
it safely.
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to burn you.
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some or a]
of these things can hurt you.
NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle
by pushing or pulling
it won’t work, and it could damage your vehicle.
I
5-3

1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
I NOTICE:
I
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
2.
3.
Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other.
If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to
start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter.
Turn off all lamps that aren’t needed as well
as radios.
This will avoid sparks and help save both
batteries. In addition, it could save your radio!
I Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered
by
your warranty.
I
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
A CAUTION:
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not
running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools
away from any underhood
electric fan.
Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on
each battery.
5-4

A CAUTION:
-
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded.
Use a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You don’t
need to add water to the ACDelco Freedom@ battery installed in every new
GM vehicle. But if
a battery has filler caps, be sure the right amount
of fluid is there. If it is low, add water to take
care of that first.
If you don’t, explosive gas could
be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get it on you.
If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged,
too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some basic
things you should know. Positive
(+) will go to
positive
(+) and negative (-) will go to negative (-)
or a metal engine part. Don’t connect positive (+) to
negative (-) or you’ll get a short that would damage
the battery and maybe other parts, too.
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away &om moving parts
once the engine is running. I
5-5

to the positive (+)
vehicle with the dead
battery.
Use a remote
positive
(+) terminal if
Don't use the junction
block on your vehicle.
I terminal of the
~ the vehicle has one.
7. Don't let the other end
touch metal. Connect it
to the positive
(+)
terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote
positive
(+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the black
negative
(-) cable to
the
good battery's
negative
(-) terminal.
Don't
let the other end
touch anything until
the next step.
The other
end
of the negative (-)
cable doesn't go to the
dead battery.
It goes to a heavy unpainted metal
part on the engine of
the vehicle with the dead battery.
5-6

9. Attach the cable at least
18 inches
(45 cm) away
from the dead battery,
but not near engine
parts that move. The
-
electrical connection is
just as good there, but
the chance
of sparks
getting back to the
battery
is much less.
10.
11.
12.
Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery.
If it won’t start after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting.
Take care that they don’t touch
each other or any other metal.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
5-7