1998 PONTIAC FIREBIRD manual transmission

If a Tire Goes Flat Changing a Flat Tire
It’s unusual
for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the
flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to
go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop
-- well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely. If
a tire goes flat, avoid further
tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place.
Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
I
A CAUTION:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip
off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find
a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transmission shift lever in
PARK (P), or shift a manual transmission to
FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R).
3. I’urn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won’t move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other
side of the
vehicle, at the opposite end.
5-27

I NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as
well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transmission back and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains” in the Index.
~ Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
~ First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear
the area around your front wheels. If your vehicle
has traction control, you should turn the system
off.
(See “Traction Control System’’ in the Index.) Then shift
back and
forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward
gear (or with a manual transmission, between
FIRST (1)
or SECOND (2) and REVERSE (R)), spinning the
wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal
while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission
is in gear. If that doesn’t
get
you out after a few tries, you may need to be towed
out. If you do need to be towed out, see “Towing Your
Vehicle” in the Index.
5-42

Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about
your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6-2
6-3
6-5
6-6
6-8
6-8
6-12
6-18
6-19
6-20
6-24
6-26
6-27
6-3 1
6-32
6-33
Service
Fuel
Fuels
in Foreign Countries
Filling
Your Tank
Filling a Portable Fuel Container Checking Things Under the Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Air Filter Replacement
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Manual Transmission Fluid Hydraulic Clutch
Engine Coolant
Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid Brakes 6-37
6-38
6-44
6-53
6-56
6-56
6-57
6-59
6-60
6-6
1
6-62
6-62
6-68
6-68
6-70 Battery
Bulb
Replacement
Tires
Appearance Care
Care of Safety Belts
Cleaning Glass Surfaces
Cleaning the Outside
of Your Vehicle
Cleaning Aluminum
or Chrome Wheels
(If Equipped)
Underbody Maintenance
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Electrical System
Replacement Bulbs
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Refrigerants

3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level.
The fluid level must be in the COLD area for a
cold check or in the
HOT area or cross-hatched area
for a hot check.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of transmission fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
Add fluid only after checking the transmission fluid
while it is hot. (A cold check is used only as a
reference.) If the fluid level
is low, add only enough of
the proper fluid to bring the level up to the
HOT area
for a hot check. It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than one pint
(0.5 L). Don’t ove@ZZ.
I NOTICE:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused
by fluid other than DEXRON-I11
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check.”
When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the
way.
Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check
A good time to have it checked is when the engine
oil is changed. However, the fluid in your manual
transmission doesn’t require changing.
6-24

Capacities (Approximate)
Air Conditioning? ............. See the refrigerant
Automatic Transmission information label under the hood.
Drain and
Refill ......
Overhaul
VIN Engine Code K .
VIN Engine Code G .
Cooling System
VIN Engine Code K
....... 5 quarts (4.7 L)*
... 8.8 quarts (8.3 L)*
. 10.8 quarts (10.2 L)*
With Manual
With Automatic
VIN Engine Code G
Transmission ............ 12.5 quarts (1 1.8 L)
Transmission ............ 12.3 quarts (1 1.6 L)
With Manual
Transmission
...
With Automatic Transmission
.....
. . 15.3 quarts (14.5 L)
. . 15.1 quarts (14.3 L)
Crankcase
Oil and Filter Change
3800 V6 (VIN K) ......... 4.5 quarts (4.3 L)**
5.7L V8 (VIN G) ......... 5.5 quarts (5.2 L)**
Fuel Tank ................ 15.5 gallons (58.7 L)
Manual Transmission
Five-Speed
................ 3.4 quarts (3.2 L)*
Six-Speed ................... 4 quarts (3.8L)*
Rear Axle Lubricant ............ 1.75 quarts (1.7L)
Not all air conditioning refrigerants are the same.
If the air conditioning system in your vehicle needs
refrigerant, be sure the proper refrigerant is used. If
you’re not sure, ask your Pontiac dealer.
* Recheck fluid level after filling. See “Automatic
Transmission
Fluid” or “Manual Transmission Fluid”
in the Index.
** Recheck the oil level after filling. See “Engine Oil”
in the Index.
6-69

I Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule I
50,000 Miles (83 000 km)
0 If you haven’t used your vehicle under severe service conditions\
listed previously
and, therefore, haven’t changed your automatic transmission fluid, change both
the fluid and filter. Manual transmission fluid doesn’t require change.
51,000 Miles (85 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
54,000 Miles (90 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (a every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation” in the Index for proper
0 Change the rear axle gear lubricant if vehicle is used to pull a trailer.
An Emission Control Service.
rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote +.)
57,000 Miles (95 000 km)
Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs fist).
An Emission Control Service.
DATE I
DATE I
I I I
DATE 1
I DATE I
7-14

I Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule I
96,000 Miles (160 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Change the rear axle gear lubricant if vehicle is used to pull a trailer.
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation” in the Index for proper
An Emission Control Service.
rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote +.)
99,000 Miles (165 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs fist).
An Emission Control Service.
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
0 Inspect spark plug wires.
0 Replace spark plugs.
0 If you haven’t used your vehicle under severe service conditions listed
An Emission Control Service.
An Emission Control Service.
previously and, therefore, haven’t changed your automatic tran\
smission
fluid, change both the fluid and filter. Manual transmission fluid doesn’t
require change.
I DATE I
MILEAGE ACTUAL I SERVICED BY:
I DATE I
I
DATE I
7-20

Long Tripmighway Maintenance Schedule
90,000 Miles (150 000 km) (Continued)
0 Inspect fuel tank, cap and lines for damage or leaks. Inspect fuel cap gasket
for any damage. Replace
parts as needed.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote?.)
rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote
+.)
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation” in the Index for proper
97,500 Miles (162 500 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every 12 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation” in the Index for proper
An Emission Control Service.
rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote +.)
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
0 Inspect spark plug wires.
An Emission Control Service.
0 Replace spark plugs.
0 If you haven’t used your vehicle under severe service conditions lis\
ted
An Emission Control Service.
previously and, therefore, haven’t changed your automatic tran\
smission
fluid, change both the fluid and filter. Manual transmission fl\
uid doesn’t
require change.
DATE I
MILEAGE
I DATE I
7-30