Fiero Owner`s Manual Supplement

Dear Fiero Owner:
Thi s booklet contains important maintenance and servi ce information.
Proper maintenance and service is very importan t for your Fiero. There have
been engine fires in some Fieros - fires that have destroyed th e cars - because
th ey didn't get proper maintenance and service.
Although we're aware of engine fires in fewer than one percent of 1985-1987
Fieros, it is importan t and we want
YOll
to know wha t should be done.
We're sending you this booklet because we believe you own a 1985, 1986 or
1987 Pontiac Fiero. If YOll don't now own one, p lease do us a favor and fill out
and mail the enclosed postcard. We' ll then send a copy o f this bookle t to the
present owner.
Most of th e inforrnation in thi s
special booklet is already in your
Owner's Manual and Main tenance
Schedule. But with this full-color
booklet, we' re making a special effort to
tell
YOli
about th e situ ation and w hat to
do about it.
This booklet will fit easily into the
place alongside your Fiero sea t w here
the Owner's Manual and other irnpor-
tant documen ts go. We hope you will
d ecide to keep it in this ha nd y place. If
you sell your Fiero, please leave this
booklet so the nex t owner ca n have thi s
important information.
We've also sent to you a plate with
a self-adhesive backing. Please put this
plate on your Fiero's console, as shown
he re.
That way, anyone who drives your
Fiero will know to read this booklet and
get the important information.
THE RECALL CAMPAIGN
LISTENING
Recently, Pontiac announced a
reca Il ca mpaign for Fieros like
yours, It's Campaign 87-C-ll.
As with any car, listen for any unusual changes in the sound of
your Fiero engine. With any car, if
you began to hear a new sound ,
like a ticking, hissing, rattling or
other unusual engine noise, you'd
want to have it checked. That's
also true for your Fiero. The same
thing goes for new, unusual
vibrations, odors or steam. This is
important with your Fiero.
Has your Fiero had the campaign
work? If it has, you ca n tell by this
sticker, near the rear deck lid.
If your Fi ero has not had this
work, please ca ll your authorized
Pontiac dealer now . It's free, so
please get an appointment and
have the campaign completed.
If you follow the steps in this
booklet, you're not likely to have
these things happen . But if you
ever do, be sure to take your Fiero
in as soon as possible. They are
signs of possible engine trouble.
Many of the owners who have had
these engine fires had signs of
trouble like this for some time, but
they ignored them . Don't keep
driving your Fiero (or any car)
with signs like that, or a minor
engine probl em cou ld d evelop
into a major one.
If your engine is warmed up, and
the needle on tllis gage ever gets
into the red zone, (250 · F. or
higher) your engine is too hot.
Stop your engine, and then see
your owner's manu al, which says
w ha t to do.
CHECKING YOUR FIERO
ENGINE TEMPERATURE
Your Fiero has a temperature gage
on the instrument panel:
YOUR ENGINE OIL
OIL
As your Owner's Manual says, it's
very important to have enough of
the correct kind of oil in your
Fiero engine.
Checking the Oil Level
Every time you fill the fu el tank,
check your oil level. Be sure your
engine is at normal operating
temperature. If your Fiero isn' t
fully warmed up, you may get a
fa lse reading.
The Fiero engine operates at
between 195 · to 230· F. Don't
worry about w hat the gage shows
as your engine is warming up. It
may even swing back and forth
for a few minutes. (How ever, if
the needle keeps swinging back
and forth longer than a few minutes, your Fiero need s service.) See
what the gage shows after a few
minutes, when your engine is
wa rmed up.
So, once you r Fiero is at its normal
operating temperature, turn off
the engine. Wait 3 to 5 minutes to
let the oil drain back to the oil pan,
and then:
- O pen the engine compartment;
- Locate the dipstick; (cont. pg. 3)
2
In the picture above, the oil is at a
correct level. But if the oil is below
the arrow that's closer to the tip of
the dipstick - or if there is no oil on
the dipstick at all - it mea ns your
engine needs oil. Add some of the
correct kind of oil (see below) at
once. Add only enough to bring
the level into the proper operating
range.
·Get a paper towel, cloth or rag;
• Pull out the dipstick and wipe
it clean;
Here's why this is so important. If
your engine d oesn't have enough
oil, the engine can get too hot. If it
does, engine parts can break up,
and pieces can be thrown through
the side of the engine block. The
exhaust ma nifold is there. If it is
hot enough, the escaping engine
oil ca n catch fire, causing an
engi ne fire.
• Push it back all the way;
• Pull it out, keeping the tip
down, and see what it shows.
3
Don' t add too mu ch oil. If your
engine has so much oil tha t the oil
level gets much above the proper
operating ra nge, your engine
could be d amaged. Just check the
dipstick and keep the oil level
somewhere in the proper o perating ra nge.
you'll have fresh, clea n oil to help
keep your engine running
smoothly.
Oil: Signs of Trouble
Here a re some possible trouble
signs having to do with your car' s
engine oil:
oOil -- even a little -- collects
und er your ca r when it's parked .
oThere are signs of oil lea kage
around the engine. For exa mple,
you see oil stains or other signs
of oil leakage around an engine
valve cover:
The engine oil you choose must
say on its container SG, or SFICC,
or SF ICD. And, we recommend
SAE 5W30 viscosity, Energy
Conserving oil.
Make sure you use th e correct
engine oil. If you d on' t. your
engine ca n be badly d amaged , and
you might not know abou t it until
the d amage is done.
P ush the dipstick back in all the
way when you 're throu gh checking it.
oa r, you see signs of oil leakage
around the oil filler cap, or rcv
valve and grommet:
Changing the Oil and Oil Filter
It's very important to have the oil
and filter in your Fiero cha nged
regularly. See your Maintenance
Schedule. The driving patterns of
many owners mea n that the oil
and filter should be changed every
3000 miles. With regular changes
!
I
4
1
j
If you ever see any of these trouble
signs, take your Fiero to your
authorized Pontiac dealer's service
department or another fully
qualified service center, one that
has the proper knowledge and
tools to do the work. They w ill be
able to correct a minor problem
before it becomes a m ajor one.
engine is at normal operating
temperature (about 195 ' to 230 ' F.)
A conveni ent time to check your
coolant tank is when you fill up
with fuel. If you need to add a
little coolant, add it to the coolant
recovery tank. If you have to add
coolant often, take your Fiero in to
have it checked for a poss ibl e leak.
If for any reason the cooling
system is drain ed or a lot of
coolant needs to be added, your
Fiero has a special coolant filling
procedure. Your Owner's Manual
explains it.
YOUR COOLING SYSTEM
As your Owner's Manual says, it's
also importa nt to have the correct
coolant in your Fiero. It helps keep
your engine from getting too hot.
Wha t to use? Always use a 50/50
mix of clea n water and a correct
antifreeze like GM Specification
1825-M. This mix provides maximum performance in a ll kind s of
w ea ther.
If you use an improper coolant
mix, or if you don't have enou gh
coolant, your Fiero's engine could
overheat.
Check Your Coolant Level
There's a coolant recovery tank at
the front of your Fiero. The proper
coolant level is FU LL, when your
5
Checking Your Cooling
System Hoses
The hoses that carry coolant
around your Fiero are important
parts of your cooling system, too.
You don't want them to develop
leaks, because if coolant falls on
hot exhaust system parts, it can
ignite and start an engine fire.
And, of course, coolant leaks
sooner or later will bring the
coolant below the level your
engine needs to stay at its normal
operating temperature.
These in the engine compartment:
Make a point to have your cooling
system hoses checked once or
twice a year. Have them checked
at your Pontiac dealer's service
department or another fully
qualified service center.
And these heater hoses, in the
Or, you may decide to do this
yourself. If you do, though, be
sure to wait until your Fiero is cold
before you touch these hoses. When
your engine is at or even near its
normal operating temperature,
these hoses are HOT. If you touch
them then, you cou ld be burned.
Here are the hoses that especially
need to be checked:
6
nance Schedule and have all the
correct service for a Fiero done as
it's required, by competent technicians. For example, as the Schedule
shows, your Fiero needs to have
the air and fuel filters replaced at
the recommended intervals, and
they must be the correct filters.
Competent technicians will be able
to replace things like spark plug
wires with the proper replacement
parts, and then route them
correctly.
All of these hoses should be
pliable when they a re squeezed.
Worn-out hoses feel stiff or brittle.
Have them replaced. Also, hoses
that are swollen or have splits,
cracks or signs of leakage should
be replaced .
Finally, it's important to look
around the engine for coolant
leaks, especially here, around the
cylinder head area:
If your Fiero has no Maintenance
Schedule booklet, you can ask your
Pontiac dealer for one, or you can
write us at:
Pontiac Customer
Assistance Center
One Pontiac Plaza
Pontiac, MI 48053
or call us at 1-800-PM-CARES, and
w e'll send you one. Your Fiero
Owner's Manual offers tips on how
to service and maintain your Fiero.
If your Fiero no longer has its
Owner's Manual, please write us at
the address above or call us, and
we'll send you one.
If you ever think you have a
coolant leak, have your Fiero
serviced. Do it to keep a minor
problem from becoming a major
problem.
OTHER REGULAR
MAINTENANCE
Be sure you follow the Mainte7
CONCLUSION
Regular maintenance and prop er service are very important for
your Fi ero. There have been d estru ctive engine fires in some
Fieros beca use they didn' t get pro per ma intenance and serv ice.
Don' t let this happen to your Fiero '
If you have any questions, we or your Pontiac dea ler wou ld be
glad to answer them. You can see your Pontiac dea ler, or ca ll us
at 1-800-PM-CA RES.
Thank you,
PONT IAC MOTO R DIVISION
GENERAL MOTO RS COR PORAT ION
8
MAINTENANCE RECORD
Whenever service is performed, record the da te, the odometer
reading, and who perform ed the service. We recom mend that you
retain all your service receipts.
DATE
ODOMETER
READING
SERVICED
BY
M A INTENANCE
PERFORMED