1995 Pontiac Formula Firebird issues

My stepson recently purchased a 1995 Pontiac Formula Firebird. When he turns off his headlights, the driver's side headlight motor keeps running for about 5 seconds after the headlight has already returned to the down/closed position. Has anyone else had to deal with this type of problem before? If so, what was the root cause of the problem--and what was the corresponding fix?

A couple of other issues that concern me for him, at least to some degree, is that the oil pressure doesn't seem to be high enough. Maybe the oil pressure guage's sending unit is faulty. I sure hope that's all there is going on there. The oil pressure is only showing about 15-20 p.s.i. when the car is sitting there idling in park. When you rev the engine a bit, it still only jumps up to about 25 p.s.i. max. Anyone know if the oil pressure guage sending units for these vehicles are highly likely to give problems?

Lastly, when he took me for a ride today and got on it a bit, the transmission didn't seem to want to shift into automatic 2nd fast enough. There just seemed to be too long of a shift point between 1st and 2nd. I think he should have his transmission fluid changed as soon as possible. Since he just recently bought the car and doesn't really know if, or when, the previous owner changed the transmission fluid, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to go ahead and change the transmission fluid to see if that has a positive effect on the shifting.

V.H.

Reply to
V.H.
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No dash gage or sending unit can be trusted as absolute gospel. Check the pressure with a mechanical gage in place of the sending unit for a true reading. GM is tricky on specs for years/engines, though.

Yes, changing trans fluid and filter on a used car are a good idea.

Just be glad the headlight closes and opens, lol. GW

Reply to
Geoff Welsh

corresponding

Reply to
Joe

It is indeed his first "worn out pile of junk". I've only had 10 different cars over the course of 27 years of driving. 7 of them were purchased brand new, and the other 3 were a minimum of 3 years old when I bought them. You're right. Hard/bang shifts aren't uncommon with older, used vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. Extended shift points aren't really all that uncommon as well. At least in my experience.

The kid promises his mother and I that he's not going to drive the car hard--but we both know better. ;-) He'll probably drive like I did at 16. Like a wannabe race car driver! After the first 2 traffic tickets I learned my lesson. I just hope he's as quick, or quicker, of a study than I was.

V.H.

Reply to
V.H.

cancellation?

Looking at the schematic here it's either traction control or 2nd gear start. Since there's a different button on there for TC I'm going to assume it's for the 2nd gear start.

Reply to
Phillip Schmid

down/closed

I just looked at what the oil PSI is supposed to be and it says 6 PSI @ 1000 RPM, 18 PSI @ 2000 RPM, 24 PSI @ 4000 RPM. Can't really help you out with the headlight motor problem here. The long shift from 1st to 2nd could be

2nd to 3rd if he had the transmission performance button pushed on. Just out of curiousity, how many miles does it have on it?
Reply to
Phillip Schmid

down/closed

Oh, and the young man didn't get an owner's manual with his '95 Formula Firebird, so he is wondering what the 'Transmission Perform' button on the console actually controls? Is it for overdrive activation and cancellation?

V.H.

Reply to
V.H.

corresponding

Hi Phillip,

His Formula Firebird was purchased Sat. with 87,000 miles on it. The car is amazingly clean inside and out. The interior is virtually flawless. This car runs and handles really well. The asking price was $6,700.00--but my stepson picked it up for $5,000.00. If it were mine, I would take it to an auto glass shop and see if they could buff/compound out the fine scratches in the windshield. It appears as though the previous owner may have neglected to replace their wiper blade inserts in time to prevent some light scratching.

I just hope that my stepson has spent his money on a car that will last him for a long time if he maintains it properly.

Thanks for the info Phillip!

V.H.

Reply to
V.H.

if there are 2 buttons, 1 thats traction control, and for tranny, the tranny

1 changes the shift points in the car. kinda like a trans go shift kit system. its there for a litlle more performance if ur into racing. out of curiosity, is this formula a lt1 or v6? when i had my 96 lt1 TA, the oil pressure was always at 3/4 of the way. ( cant remember what psi that is right now cuz i have traded that car off and now drive a ls1 trans am). the headlight motor is going in that car also. that is a very common thing in f-bodys, and no big deal to change. as for shifting, in both my 99 and the 96, both cars shift firm, practically slaming into gear, which is nice ( : at WOT the 96 would shift into 2nd at around 6000 rpm. it was also a 4600le tranny.
Reply to
Rastan

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