Pontiac 1998 Firebird User manual

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owner's manual
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The 1998 Pontiac Firebird Owner’s Manual
1-1
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5-1
Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SRS” system.
Features and Controls
This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.
Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
Problems on the Road
This section tells what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.
6-1 ServiceandAppearanceCare
Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good.
7-1
8-1
Maintenance Schedule
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
Customer Assistance Information
This section tells you how to contact Pontiac for assistance and how to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects”
on page 8-10.
9-1 Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can useit to quickly find
something you want to read.
i

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
PONTIAC,the PONTIAC Emblem and the name
F’IREBIRD are registered trademarks of General
Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest informationat the time it
was printed.We reserve the right to make changesin the
product
after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors
of Canada Limited”forPontiac
Division whenever
it appears in this manual.
WE SUPPORT
VOLUNTARY
TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION THROUGH
National Institute for
AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Pleasekeepthismanual in yourvehicle, so it will be Aux propri6taires cmdiens: Vous pouvez vous
there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you procurer un exemplairede ce guideen fransais chez
sell the vehicle, please leave this manualin it
so the new votre concessionaireouau:
owner canuse it.
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1577 MeyersideDr.
Mississauga,Ontario
L5T 1B9
Lithoin U.S.A. ‘Copyright GeneralMotorsCorporation 1997
Part No. 10417104 A Second Edition All RightsReserved
ii
. ?)::Y-. ! ; ,
. ~. ~~ ~~-~

How to Use this Manual
Many people read their owner’s manualfrombeginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle.
If you
do this, it will help you learn about the features and
controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find
that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.
Index
A good place to lookfor what you need is the Indexin
back
of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of what’s in
the manual, and the page number where you’ll findit.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a numberof safety cautions in this book.
We use a
box and the word CAUTION to tell you
about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore
the warning.
for othye. - 1
These mean thereis something that could hurt
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then
we tell you what todo to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions.
If you don’t, youor
others could be hurt.
You will also find
a circle
with a slash through it
in
this book. This safety
symbol means“Don’t,’’
“Don’t dothis’’ or “Don’t
let this happen.”
iii

Vehicle Damage Warnings
In the notice area, we tell youabout somethingthat can
I
i Butthe notice will tell you what todo to help avoid
damage your vehicle.
Many times, this damage would
Also, in this bookyou will find these notices: not be coveredbyyourwarranty,and it couldbecostly.
NOTICE:
the damage.
When you read other manuals, you
might see CAUTION
I
These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
l
and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in
different words.
I I You’ll also seewarninglabels on yourvehicle. Theyuse
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
iv

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
FOGLAMPS
$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
ENGINEOIL
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here aresome
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
P
LIGHTER -
HORN )d.
SPEAKER
k
FUEL la
V

b NOTES
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Section 1 SeatsandRestraintSystems
Here you’ll find information about the seats in your Pontiac and how to use your safety belts properly.You can also
learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.
1-2 Seats and SeatControls
1- 13 Here Are QuestionsMany PeopleAskAbout
1-14 How toWear SafetyBeltsProperly
1-8 SafetyBelts: They’refor Everyone
Safety
Belts -- and the Answers
1-14 Driver Position
1-21 SafetyBeltUseDuringPregnancy
1-22 RightFrontPassengerPosition
1-22
1-28
1-31
1-34
1-44
1-47
1-47
1-47
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
Rear Seat Passengers
Children
ChildRestraints
LargerChildren
Safety BeltExtender
CheckingYour Restraint Systems
Replacing RestraintSystem
Parts After
a Crash
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Seats and Seat Controls
This section tells you about the seats -- how to adjust
them and also about reclining front seatbacks, seatback
latches and the folding rear seatback.
Manual Front Seat
I A CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle
is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you
don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle
is not moving.
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Move the lever under the passenger’s front seat to
unlock it.
Slide the seat to where
you want it.Then release the
lever and
try to move the seat with your body to make
sure the seat is locked into place. Be sure the lever
returns to its original position after moving the seat.
1-2

4-Way Manual Seat
Thereare two levers atthe front of the seat.The left
lever adjusts the seatforwardand back.
The right lever
adjusts the angleof the front of the seat.
6-Way Power Seat (If Equipped)
To adjust the seats forward and rearward, lift the lever
under the left front of the seat. Slide the seat to where you
want it. Then release the lever and try to move the seat
with your body to make sure the seat is locked into place.
To raise or lowerthe entire seat, lift the lever underthe
right frontof the seat and
lean forward or backward.
The driver's seat has three controls onthe left side.
A: The front control makes the front of the seat go up
and down.
B: The center control makes the whole seat go up and
down or forward andbackward.
C: Theback control makes the rear of the seat go up
and down.
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