2001 PONTIAC FIREBIRD fuel

6-6
The cap is located behind a hinged door on the driver's
side of your vehicle.While refueling, hang the cap from the hook on the
hinge. The lip of the cap will fit into the groove on
the hook.
To remove the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). The cap has a spring in it; if you let
go of the cap too soon, it will spring back to the right.

6-7
CAUTION:
If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any ªhissº noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See ªCleaning the
Outside of Your Vehicleº in the Index.When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until you hear a clicking sound. Make sure
you fully install the cap. The diagnostic system can
determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly
installed. This would allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. See ªMalfunction Indicator Lampº in
the Index.
NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for you. If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit properly. This may
cause your malfunction indicator lamp to light
and your fuel tank and emissions system may be
damaged. See ªMalfunction Indicator Lampº in
the Index.

6-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
CAUTION:
Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the gasoline vapor. You can
be badly burned and your vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others:

Dispense gasoline only into
approved containers.

Do not fill a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle's trunk, pickup bed or
on any surface other than the ground.

Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the
inside of the fill opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the filling is complete.

Don't smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under the Hood
CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.

6-12
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are on.
Then pull the hood down and close it firmly.
Engine Oil
If the LOW OIL light
appears on the instrument
panel, it means you need
to check your engine oil
level right away. For more
information, see ªLow Oil
Lightº in the Index.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It's a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is the yellow loop near the
back of the engine. See ªEngine Compartment Overviewº
in the Index for more information on location.
Do not check the 5.7L V8 engine oil level after the engine
has been sitting overnight. A higher than normal reading
might be obtained. Check oil level with the oil warm.
Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don't, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.

6-45 Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on
the rear edge of the driver's door, shows the correct
inflation pressures for your tires when they're cold.
ªColdº means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
three hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
If you'll be driving at high speeds (e.g., speeds of
100 mph (160 km/h) or higher), where it is legal,
set the cold inflation pressure to the maximum
inflation pressure shown on the tire sidewall, or to
38 psi (265 kPa), whichever is lower. See the example
below. When you end this high
-speed driving, return to
the cold inflation pressure shown on the Tire
-Loading
Information label.
Example:
You'll find maximum load and inflation pressure
molded on the tire's sidewall, in small letters, near the
rim flange. It will read something like this: Maximum
load 690 kg (1521 lbs.) @ 300 kPa (44 psi) Max. Press.
For this example, you would set the inflation pressure
for high
-speed driving at 38 psi (265 kPa).
NOTICE:
Don't let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation is all right. It's not. If your tires
don't have enough air (underinflation), you can
get the following:

Too much flexing

Too much heat

Tire overloading

Bad wear

Bad handling

Bad fuel economy.
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:

Unusual wear

Bad handling

Rough ride

Needless damage from road hazards.

6-60
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch
-up
materials available from your dealer or other service
outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected
in your dealer's body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control can collect on the underbody. If these are not
removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on
the underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame,
floor pan and exhaust system even though they
have corrosion protection.At least every spring, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect. Dirt packed in closed areas
of the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your dealer or an underbody car washing system can do
this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create
a chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon
and attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This
damage can take two forms: blotchy, ringlet
-shaped
discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched
into the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this, Pontiac
will repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces of
new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever occurs first.

6-67
Underhood Electrical Center
Fuse and Relay Center 1
Fuse Usage
ABS BAT SOL Anti
-Lock Brake System
TCS BAT Traction Control System
COOL FAN Cooling Fan Control
PCM BAT Powertrain Control Module (PCM)Fuse Usage
FUEL PUMP Fuel Pump
AIR PUMP A.I.R. Pump Relay and Bleed Valve
LH HDLP DR Left Headlamp Door Module
RH HDLP DR Right Headlamp Door Module
HORN Horn Relay
ABS BAT
-1 Anti-Lock Brake System Module
H/L DR HORN Horn and Headlamp Doors
ABS BAT
-2 Anti-Lock Brake and Traction
Control System
COOL FAN Cooling Fan Relays
Relay Description
FOG LAMP Fog Lamps
HORN Horn
FAN #3 Cooling Fans
FAN #2 Cooling Fans
FAN #1 Cooling Fans

6-68
Fuse and Relay Center 2
Fuse Usage
INJ
-2 Fuel Injectors (Not used for V6)
(LH Injectors for V8 and
Ignition Module)
INJ
-1 Fuel Injectors (All for V6)
(RH Injectors for V8 and
Ignition Module)Fuse Usage
ENG SEN Mass Air Flow Sensor, Heated
Oxygen Sensor, Skip Shift
Solenoid (V8 Only), Reverse
Lockout Solenoid, Brake Switch
STRTR Powertrain Control Module (PCM),
Clutch Pedal Switch
ABS IGN Anti
-Lock Brake System Module
PCM IGN Powertrain Control Module (PCM)
ETC Electronic Throttle Control
(V6 Only)
ENG CTRL Ignition Module (V6 Only),
Automatic Transmission,
Charcoal Canister Purge Solenoid
A/C CRUISE Air Conditioning Compressor
Relay, Cruise Control Switches
and Module
ENG CTRL Engine Controls, Fuel Pump,
Powertrain Control Module (PCM),
A.I.R. Pump and Cooling Fans