Pontiac 1998 Firebird - Why Safety Belts Work

To Next Page

To Previous Page

Why

Safety

Belts

Work

When you

ride

on anything, you

fast

goes.

Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat

wheels.

Put someone on it.

1-10

Main Page

For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual3
How to Use this Manual4
Safety Warnings and Symbols4
Vehicle Damage Warnings5
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems8
Seats and Seat Controls9
Manual Front Seat9
Reclining Front Seatbacks12
Head Restraints14
Folding Rear Seatback15
Safety Belts: They're for Everyone15
Why Safety Belts Work17
About Safety Belts and the Answers20
Driver Position21
Lap-Shoulder Belt21
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy28
Right Front Passenger Position29
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)29
How the Air Bag System Works31
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle34
Rear Seat Passengers35
Smaller Children and Babies38
Child Restraints41
Where to Put the Restraint45
Top Strap46
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position47
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position49
Larger Children51
Safety Belt Extender54
Checking Your Restraint Systems54
Replacing Restraint System Parts after a Crash54
Section 2 Features and Controls56
Door Locks59
Power Door Locks - if Equipped60
Leaving Your Vehicle61
Remote Keyless Entry System61
Operation63
Matching Transmitter(S) to Your Vehicle64
Battery Replacement65
Hatch Release66
Key in the Ignition68
Parking at Night68
Parking Lots68
Content Theft-Deterrent System (if Equipped)69
Shock Sensor69
Arming the System70
Disarming the System71
Feature Customization (if Equipped)73
Leaving Programming Mode78
Ignition Positions79
Key Release Button80
Starting Your Engine81
Engine Coolant Heater (Canada Only)84
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater84
Automatic Transmission Operation85
Manual Transmission Operation90
Shift Speeds92
Shifting into PARK (P) :Automatic Transmission Only)94
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)95
Shifting out of PARK (P) (Automatic Transmission)96
Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission)96
Parking over Things that Burn97
Engine Exhaust97
Running Your Engine While You're Parked (Automatic Transmission)98
Limited-Slip Rear Axle99
Parking Brake99
Manual Windows100
Power Windows - if Equipped100
Tilt Steering Wheel101
Turn Signavmultifunction Lever101
Headlamp High/Low-Beam102
Windshield Wipers103
Windshield Washer104
Cruise Control104
Exterior Lamps107
Headlamps on Reminder107
Daytime Running Lamps108
Fog Lamps109
Interior Lamps110
Front Map Lamps111
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)111
Storage Compartments113
Ashtray and Lighter115
Sun Visors116
Visor Vanity Mirror116
Accessory Plug117
Floor Mats117
Twin Lift-Off Roof Panels117
Convertible Top124
Installing the Boot Cover126
Instrument Panel131
Instrument Panel Cluster133
Speedometer and Odometer134
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators134
Safety Belt Reminder Light135
Airbag Readiness Light136
Brake System Warning Light137
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light138
Low Traction Light139
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage139
Oil Pressure Gage143
Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems146
Comfort Controls147
Air Conditioning148
Defogging and Defrosting149
Rear Window Defogger (if Equipped)150
Ventilation System151
Audio Systems152
Setting the Clock152
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Equalizer (if Equipped)152
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Equalizer (if Equipped)156
Monsoon AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Equalizer (if Equipped)157
Trunk Mounted CD Changer (if Equipped)159
Theft-Deterrent Feature162
Audio Steering Wheel Controls (if Equipped)164
Understanding Radio Reception165
Tips about Your Audio System165
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player166
Care of Your Compact Disc Player167
Power Antenna Mast Care167
Section 4 Your Driving and the Road170
Defensive Driving171
Drunken Driving172
Control of a Vehicle174
Anti-Lock Brakes (Abs)176
Braking in Emergencies179
Power Steering179
Steering Tips179
Steering in Emergencies180
Off-Road Recovery181
Loss of Control183
Driving at Night184
Night Vision185
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads186
Driving through Deep Standing Water188
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips188
City Driving189
Freeway Driving190
Before Leaving on a Long Trip191
Highway Hypnosis192
Hill and Mountain Roads192
Winter Driving194
Driving on Snow or Ice195
If You're Caught in a Blizzard197
Loading Your Vehicle199
Towing a Trailer201
Weight of the Trailer202
Weight of the Trailer Tongue203
Total Weight on Your Vehicle's Tires204
Safety Chains204
Trailer Brakes204
Driving with a Trailer205
Following Distance205
Driving on Grades206
Section 5 Problems on the Road210
Hazard Warning Flashers211
Other Warning Devices212
Jump Starting212
Towing Your Vehicle217
Front Towing219
Rear Towing222
Engine Overheating224
If Steam Is Coming from Your Engine224
If no Steam Is Coming from Your Engine225
Cooling System226
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator (3800 V6 Engine)230
If a Tire Goes Flat236
Changing a Flat Tire236
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire241
Compact Spare Tire249
If You're Stuck: in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow250
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It out251
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care254
Doing Your Own Service Work255
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle256
Fuels in Foreign Countries258
Filling Your Tank259
Filling a Portable Fuel Container261
Checking Things under the Hood261
Engine Oil265
When to Add Engine Oil267
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use267
Engine Oil Additives270
When to Change Engine Oil270
What to Do with Used Oil270
Air Cleaner271
Air Filter Replacement272
Automatic Transmission Fluid273
When to Check and Change273
How to Check274
Manual Transmission Fluid277
When to Check277
How to Add Fluid279
Hydraulic Clutch279
When to Check and What to Use279
Engine Coolant280
What to Use281
Checking Coolant282
How to Check Power Steering Fluid284
Windshield Washer Fluid285
Adding Washer Fluid285
Brake Fluid286
What to Add288
Brake Wear288
Brake Pedal Travel289
Brake Adjustment289
Replacing Brake System Parts290
Vehicle Storage290
Bulb Replacement291
Halogen Bulbs291
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp293
Rear Lamps294
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement295
Wiper Blade Element Replacement296
Tire Inspection and Rotation299
Buying New Tires302
Uniform Tire Quality Grading303
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance304
Wheel Replacement304
Tire Chains305
Appearance Care306
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle307
Special Fabric Cleaning Problems307
Care of Safety Belts309
Cleaning Glass Surfaces309
Cleaning the Outside of the Windshield and Wiper Blades309
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle310
Washing Your Vehicle310
Finish Care311
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome Wheels (if Equipped)312
Cleaning Tires312
Sheet Metal Damage312
Finish Damage313
Underbody Maintenance313
Chemical Paint Spotting313
Appearance Care Materials Chart314
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)315
Service Parts Identification Label315
Electrical System315
Power Windows and Other Power Options316
Fuses and Circuit Breakers316
Capacities (Approximate)322
Vehicle Dimensions323
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts323
Air Conditioning Refrigerants323
Section 7 Maintenance Schedule326
Your Vehicle and the Environment327
How this Section Is Organized328
Using Your Maintenance Schedule329
Selecting the Right Schedule329
Short Trip/City Definition330
Short Tripkity Intervals330
Long Tripmighway Intervals331
Short Tripkity Maintenance Schedule341
Long Tripmighway Maintenance Schedule353
At each Fuel Fill357
At Least Once a Month357
At Least Twice a Year358
At Least Once a Year358
Throttle System Inspection362
Rear Axle Service362
Brake System Inspection362
Maintenance Record365
Section 8 Customer Assistance Information368
Pontiac Cares369
What Makes up Pontiac Cares370
Customer Satisfaction Procedure370
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users372
Pontiac Roadside Assistance Program373
Security While You Travel373
Canadian Roadside Assistance374
Pontiac Courtesy Transportation375
GM Participation in an Alternative Dispute Resolution Program376
Warranty Information377
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government377
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government378
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors378
Ordering Service and Owner Publications in Canada378
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools402
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools403

Pontiac 1998 Firebird - Why Safety Belts Work

Table of Contents

Related product manuals