The 1997 Pontiac Firebird Owner’s Manual 1-1 Seats and Restraint Systems This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains“SRS” the system. 2-1 Features and Controls This section explains how to start and operate your Pontiac. 3-1 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system. 4-1 Your Driving and the Road Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions. 5-1 Problems on the Road This section tells what to doif you have a problem while driving, such as a flat or tire overheated engine, etc. 6-1 Service and Appearance Care Here the manual tells you how to keep your Pontiac running properly and looking good. 7-1 Maintenance Schedule This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use. 8-1 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 informationon “Reporting Safety Defects” on page8-10. 9-1 Index Here’s an alphabetical listingof almost every subject in this manual.You can use it to quickly find something you want to read. We support voluntary I technician certification. GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, WE SUPPORT PONTIAC, the PONTIAC Emblem and the name VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN FIREBIRD are registered trademarks of General CERTIFICATION THROUGH Motors Corporation. National institute for AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE This manual includes the latestinformation at the time it EXCELLENCE was printed. We reserve theright to make changes inthe product after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitutethe name “General Motors of Canada Limited” forPontiac For Canadian OwnersWho Prefer a Division whenever it appears in this manual. French Language Manual: Please keep thismanual in your Pontiac, so it willbe Aux propri6taires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous there if you ever need itwhen you’re on the road. If you procurer un exemplaire dece guide en frangais chez sell the vehicle, please leave this manual inso it the new votre concessionaire ou au: owner can use it. DGN Marketing Services Ltd. 1500 Bonhill Rd. Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1C7 Litho in U.S.A. @CopyrightGeneral Motors Corporation 1996 Part No. 10293226 B First Edition All Rights Reserved How to Use this Manual Many people read their owner’s manualfrom beginning I A CAUTION: I to endwhen they first receive theirnew vehicle. If you do this, it will helpyou learn about the features and These mean thereis something thatcould hurt controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find you or other people. that pictures and words work togetherto explain things quickly. In the caution area, we tell youwhat the hazard is. Then Index we tellyou what to do to help avoid or reducethe A good place to look for wh,atyou need is the Index in hazard. Please read these cautions.If you don’t, you or the backof the manual.It’s an alphabetical listof all others couldbe hurt. that’s in the manual,and the page number where you’ll find it. You will also finda circle with a slash throughit in Safety Warnings and Symbols this book. Thissafety symbol means“Don’t,’’ You will find a number of safety cautions inthis book. “Don’t do this,” or “Don’t We use a box and the word CAUTION to tellyou let this happen.” about things that could hurtyou if you were to ignor;e the warning. iii Vehicle Damage Warnings In thenotice area, wetell YOU aboutsomething that lean damage your vehicle. Many times, this damagewould Also, in this bookyou will findthese notices: not becovered by your warranty, andit could be costly. But the notice will tellyou what t’odo to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION These mean there is something thatcould and NOTICE warningsin different colors or in different words. damage your vehicle. You’ll also see warning labelson your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTIONor NOTICE. iv Vehicle Symbols These aresome of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. For example, These symbols These symbols These symbols These symbols Here are some these symbols are important have to do with are on some of are used on other symbols are used on an for you and your lamps: your controls: warning and you may see: original battery: your passengers indicator lights: whenever your vehicle is CAUTION driven: POSSIBLE A FUSE INJURY COOLANT - TEMP - DOOR LOCK TURN PROTECT UNLOCK SIGNALS EYES BY 6 BATTERY LIGHTER 1 SHIELDING CHARGING SYSTEM PARKING PC CAUSTIC LAMPS WINDSHIELD HORN BATTERY FASTEN DEFROSTER )cT ACID COULD SEAT BRAKE (0) CAUSE BELTS BURNS COOLANT SPEAKER AVOID WINDOW b SPARKS OR DEFOGGER a FLAMES ENGINE OIL w, PRESSURE FUEL p3 FLAME .i) VENTILATING AIR BAG p\ FOG LAMPS FAN ANTI-LOCK (@) EXPLODE $0 BRAKES BATTERY b NOTES vi v Section 1 Seatsand Restraint Systems Here you’ll find information about the seatsyour in Pontiac andhow to use your safety beltsproperly. You can also learn about some things youshould not do with air bags and safety belts. 1-2 Seats and Seat Controls 1-27Rear Seat Passengers 1-7 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone Children1-30 1-12 Here Are QuestionsMany People Ask 1-32Child Restraints About Safety Belts-- and the Answers 1-38 LargerChildren 1-13 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly 1-41Safety Belt Extender 1-13 Driver Position 1-41Checking Your RestraintSystems 1-20 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy 1-41 ReplacingRestraint System Parts After a 1-21 Right Front Passenger Position Crash 1-21 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Seats and Seat Controls This section tellsyou about the seats-- how to adjust them and also about reclining front s’eatbacks, seatback latches and the folding rearseatback. M-rual Front +at You can lose controlof the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicleis moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you,or make you push a pedal when you Move the lever under the passenger’s front seatto don’t want to. Adjust the driver’sseat only when unlock it, the vehicle is not moving, Slide the seat to whereyou want it. Then release the lever and try to move the seat with yourbody to make sure theseat is locked into place. Be sure the lever returns to its original position after movingthe seat. 4-Way Manual Seat 6-Way Power Seat (If Equipped) There are two levers at the frontof the seat. The left The driver’s seat has three controls on the leftside. lever adjusts the seat forwardand back. The right lever A. The front control makes the frontof the seat goUP adjusts the angleof the frontof the seat. and down. To adjust the seats forwardand rearward, lift the lever B. The center controlmakes the whole seat go up and under the left frontof the seat. Slide the seat to where down or forward and backward. you want it. Then release the lever and tryto move the seat withyour body to make sure the seatis locked C. The back control makes the backof the seat go up into place. and down. To raise or lower the entire seat, lift the lever underthe right frontof the seat and lean forward or backward. 1-3 Fully Articulating Sport Seat (If Equipped) The two buttons without dot inflateand deflate the lumbar (lower back areaof the seatback) support.To If your Pontiac hasthese seats, the driver’s seat has the inflate, press the raised button.To deflate, pressthe four-way manual seatadjuster. See “4-Way Manual indented button. Seat” earlierin this part. The passenger seat has thetwo way manual seat adjuster.See “Manual Front Seat” Reclining Front Seatbacks earlier in this part. I To adjust the seatback, lift the leveron the outer sideof The switch padson the outer sideof the seats “inflate” the seat. Release the lever lockto the seatback where and “deflate” parts of your seatback. you want it. Pull upon the lever and the’seatwill go to The two buttons that have“dots” inflate and deflate the its original upright position. side bolster of the seatback.To inflate, press the raised button. To deflate, press the indented button. 1-4 If you have fully articulating sport seats, yourrecliner lever looks likethis. But don’t havea seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. I /r\ CAC JON: Sitting in a reclined position whenyour vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle CAUTION: (Continued) 1-5 Front Seatback Latches r - The front seatbacksfold up, your safety beltscan’t do their job when forward to let peopleget you’re reclined like this. into the back seat,To fold a The shoulder belt can’t do its job. In a crash you seatback forward, lift the could go into it, receiving neck orother injuries. latch locatedon the lower backside of the seatback. The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash the Then the seatback will belt couldgo up over your abdomen. The belt fold forward. forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle isin motion, have the seatback upright. Then sitwell When you return the seatback to its original position, back in the seatand wear your safety belt properly. make ,surethe seatbackis locked. The latch must be down for the seat towork properly, Head Restraints Slide thehead restraint up or downso that the topof the restraint is closest to the top of your ears.