1998 PONTIAC FIREBIRD instrument panel

Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
This switch controls the brightness of your
instrument panel lights. Turn the switch to brighten or
dim the lights.
If you turn the switch all the way up,
your courtesy lamps will come on.
Courtesy Lamps
When either door is opened, several interior lamps go
on. These lamps are courtesy lamps. They make it easier
for you to enter and leave your vehicle.
Courtesy lamps include the dome lamp and other lamps
throughout
the interior of your vehicle.
To prevent battery rundown, your interior lamps will be
disabled about
10 minutes after the ignition is turned to
OFF. The 10-minute timer will be restarted if you do
any of the following:
1. Turn the ignition on.
2. Open either door.
3. Press any button on your remote keyless entry
transmitter.
4. Turn the interior lamp switch from off to on.
5. Open the hatch.
Delayed Illumination
With delayed illumination, the courtesy lamps will stay
on for
25 seconds after you close the doors when
entering the vehicle. They will stay on for five seconds
after you close the doors when exiting the vehicle. The
times will be shortened if the ignition is turned
to RUN
or if the power locks are activated. To turn this feature
on or off, see “Feature Customization”
in the Index.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition to help you see
while exiting the vehicle. To turn this feature on or
off,
see “Feature Customization” in the Index.
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Instrument Panel
I

A. Fog Lamp Switch
B. Main Lamp Control C. Air Vents
D. Instrument Panel Cluster
E. Horn
E Audio System
G. Glove
Box
H. Comfort Controls
I. Cupholders
J. Parking Brake Lever
K. Storage Console
L. Rear Window Defogger Switch
M. Convertible Top Switch (If Equipped)
N. Traction Control System Switch (V8) or Second
Gear Start Switch (V6 Automatic)
0. Cigarette Lighter
P. Shift Lever
Q. Ashtray (Automatic Transmission)
R. Steering Wheel Controls
S. Remote Hatch Release
T. Accessory Power Outlet
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Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast
you’re going, about
how much fuel you have left and many other things you’ll need to know to drive safely
and economically.
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Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour
(km/h). Your
odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven,
in either miles (used
in the United States) or kilometers
(used in Canada).
You may wonder what happens
if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If possible, the new one has to be
set to the same reading the old one had. If it can’t be, then
it’s set at
zero, and a label on the driver’s door must show
the old reading and when the new one was installed.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell you how far your vehicle has
been driven since you last set the trip odometer to zero.
To set the trip odometer to zero, press the knob on the
instrument panel cluster.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in thousands
of revolutions per minute (rpm).
NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the red area,
or engine damage may occur.
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help
you
locate them.
Warning lights
and gages can signal that something is
wrong before
it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could alsa save YOU QT
others from injury.
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR
BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes
the air bag sensors, the air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, see “Air
Bag” in the Index.
AIR
BAG
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should
go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays
on after you start the
engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
The air bag readiness light should flash for
a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
Voltmeter
You can read battery
voltage on your voltmeter.
If it reads less than 11 volts
or more than 16 volts while
your engine is running, and
it stays there, you may have
a problem with the
electrical charging system.
Have it checked right away. Driving with the voltmeter
reading in a warning zone could drain your battery.
If you idle your engine for a while, the voltmeter
reading might move into
the yellow zone. If the reading
stays in the yellow zone while you are driving, you may
have a problem with the electrical charging system.
Have
it checked. While the voltmeter reads in the yellow
zone, your battery may not be able to power certain electrical accessories, like
ABS. (If this happens, your
ABS INOP light will come on. See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” in the Index.
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Making &rns
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.
lbrn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your Pontiac dealer. 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.
Driving On Grades
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
(D) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE @
(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. Just drive in
FOURTH
(4) gear (or drive in FIFTH (5) if you have a
six-speed manual transmission) or, as
you need
to, a lower gear.
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Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel. You may also
find a low
coolant warning light on your vehicle’s instrument panel
(5.7L V8 engine only).
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
I
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even
if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam coming
from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there
is no sign of steam or coolant before you
open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine
is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire.
You or others could be badly burned. Stop
your engine if it overheats, and get out of the
vehicle until the engine is cool.
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle
can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered
by your warranty.
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