1998 PONTIAC FIREBIRD oil pressure

Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BURNS
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD
FLAUE
EXPLODE BAllERY
These symbols are important
for you and
your passengers whenever your
vehicle
is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
BELTS
e?
AIR BAG p
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS @ 9
TURN
PARKING
pf
LAMPS
RUNNING
' 0
DAYTIME * 0
LAMPS
FOG LAMPS
$0
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WIPER 9
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
'*
FAN '-d
These symbols are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT
TEMP
-
CHARGING I-1
BATTERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(a)
COOLANT a
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
P
LIGHTER -
HORN )d.
SPEAKER
k
FUEL la
V

Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
“Fuel” in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you
put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on
acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the light
to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your dealer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
Oil Pressure Gage
\*
0
/
0 120
3800 V6 Engine 5.7L VS Engine
One of these gages may tell you there could be a
problem with
your engine oil pressure.
The engine oil pressure gage shows the engine oil pressure
in psi (pounds per square inch) in the United States, or kpa
(kilopascals)
in Canada, when the engine is running. On
the 5.7L V8 engine, oil pressure should be 20 to 80 psi
(140 to 550 Pa). On the 3800 V6 engine, the oil pressure
should be between 20 and 120 psi (140 to 827 Wa). It
may vary with engine
speed, outside temperature and oil
viscosity, but readings above the red area show the normal
operating range. Readings
in the red area tell you that the
engine is low
on oil, or that you might have some other oil
problem. See “Engine Oil” in the Index.

A CAUTION:
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
I Low Oil Light
I NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered
by
your warranty.
LOW
OIL
Your vehicle is equipped
with an oil level monitoring
system. When you start
your engine, the warning light will come on briefly.
If
the light doesn’t come on,
have it repaired.
If the light stays on after starting your engine, your
engine oil level may be too low. You may need to add
oil.
See “Engine Oil” in the Index.
NOTICE:
The oil level monitoring system only checks the
oil level when you are starting your engine.
It
does not keep monitoring the level once your
engine
is running. Also, the oil level check only
works when the engine has been turned
off long
enough for the oil to drain back into the oil pan.
2-89

Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When
you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do not,
under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to
the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed
is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to
your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to
think you are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh
-- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that fiist part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily
drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long
trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready
to go. If it needs service, have
it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts
in
Pontiac dealerships all across North America. They’ll be
ready and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you
can check before a trip:
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free
trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires
all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time
to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-22

Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Electric Cooling Engine Fans
A CAUTION: I
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood 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.
I I
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don’t do anything else until it cools down.
5-17

Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your vehicle by
hand
may be necessary to remove residue from the paint
finish. You can get GM-approved cleaning products
from your dealer. (See “Appearance Care and Materials”
in the Index.)
Your vehicle has a “basecoatlclearcoat” paint finish.
The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the
colored basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes
that are non-abrasive and made for a basecoatlclearcoat
paint finish.
I NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on
a basecoatlclearcoat paint finish
may dull the
finish or leave swirl marks.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc., can
damage your vehicle’s finish if they remain on painted surfaces.
Wash the vehicle as soon as possible. If
necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that
are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces
are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a period
of years. You can help to keep the paint finish looking
new by keeping your vehicle garaged
or covered
whenever possible.
Cleaning Your Convertible Top
Your convertible top should be cleaned often. If you use
an automatic car wash, use one with water jets and
hanging cloths. High pressure car washes may cause
water
to enter your vehicle.
When you hand wash the top, do it in partial shade.
Use a mild soap, lukewarm water and
a soft sponge. A
chamois or cloth may leave lint
on the top, and a brush
can chafe the threads in the top fabric. Don’t use
detergents, harsh cleaners, solvents or bleaching agents.
Wet the entire vehicle and wash the top evenly to avoid
spots or rings. Let the soap remain on the fabric for a
few minutes. When the top is really
dirty, use a mild
foam-type cleaner. Thoroughly rinse the entire vehicle,
then let the top dry in direct sunlight.
6-58

Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which
should be performed at the intervals specified to help
ensure the safety, dependability and emission control
performance
of your vehicle.
Be sure
any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants
are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in Part D.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important for you or a service station attendant to
pe$orm these underhood
checks at each fuel fill.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. See “Engine Oil” in the Index for
further details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture if necessary. See “Engine Coolant” in
the Index for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the
windshield washer
tank and add the proper fluid if
necessary. See “Windshield Washer Fluid” in the
Index for further details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Inflation Check
Make sure tires are inflated to the correct pressures.
See “Tires”
in the Index for further details.
Cassette Deck Service
Clean cassette deck. Cleaning should be done every
50 hours of tape play. See “Audio Systems” in the
Index for further details.
7-32

Filter. Air ..................................... 6-18
Filter. Engine Oil ............................... 6-70
Finish Care .................................... 6-58
Finish Damage ................................. 6-60
Flashers. Hazard Warning ......................... 5-2
Flat Tire. Changing ............................. 5-27
RoorMats .................................... 2-62
Fluids and Lubricants ............................ 7-38
FOgLamps .................................... 2-54
Folding Rear Seatback ............................ 1-8
Foreign Countries, Fuel ........................... 6-5
Four-Way Manual Seat ........................... 1-3
French Language Manual ........................... ii
Front Console
.................................. 2-58
Front Seatback Latches ........................... 1-7
FrontTowing .................................. 5-10
Front Tuni Signal Lamp Bulb Replacement .......... 6-39
Fuel .......................................... 6-3
FillingYourTank .............................. 6-6
Gage ....................................... 2-90
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-5
Fuses and Circuit Breakers ....................... 6-63
Gages Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-84
Fuel ....................................... 2-90
Oil Pressure ................................. 2-88
GAWR ..................................4-30. 4-31
Gear Positions. Automatic Transmission ............. 2-30
Gear Positions. Manual Transmission ............... 2-35
Glove Box .................................... 2-58
Graphic Equalizer ......................... 3.11. 3.12
Gross Axle Weight Rating ................... 4.30. 4.31
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ................. 4.30, 4.31
Guide en Franqais ................................. ii
GVWR ................................ 4.30. 4.31
Halogen Bulbs ................................ 6-38
Hatch ........................................ 2-11
Hatch Release .................................. 2-11
Hatch Release, Remote .......................... 2-12
Hazard Warning Flashers .......................... 5-2
Head Restraints ................................. 1-7
Headlarnp Bulb Replacement ...................... 6-38
Headlamp Doors ............................... 2-53
High/Low Beam Changer ...................... 2-47
On Reminder ................................ 2-52
Wiring ..................................... 6-63
Hearing Impaired, Customer Assistance .............. 8-5
Headlarnps
Heating
........................................ 3-4
High-Beam Headlamps .......................... 2-47
Highway Hypnosis .............................. 4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads ......................... 4-23
Hitches. Trailer ................................. 4-35
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-8 ~~
Release ...................................... 6-9
Horn ......................................... 2-45
Hydraulic Clutch ............................... 6-26