Pontiac Firebird: Bad MAF Sensor → Symptoms & Causes

  The mass airflow sensor (commonly abbreviated to MAF) is one of the most important engine management sensors.  A bad mass airflow sensor can leave your Pontiac Firebird’s engine running rough, or even inoperable. A MAF sensor measures the density of the air entering the intake manifold.  It passes this information onto your Firebird’s ECU. … Read more

Pontiac Firebird: Won’t Start When Cold → Diagnosis

Extreme weather can be very difficult on your Pontiac Firebird.  If there is an issue it often make itself known when conditions are at their worst.  When it’s extremely hot. it’s the cooling system that is put to the test.  In the winter, the vehicle won’t start when it is cold.   There are a … Read more

Pontiac Firebird:  Bad Timing Belt or Chain Symptoms

A bad timing belt or timing chain can be a serious issue.  If it jumps a tooth or breaks entirely, it can lead to permanent engine damage.  Knowing the symptoms of a bad timing belt or chain is vital so this doesn’t happen to your Pontiac Firebird. Timing belts are made out of rubber and … Read more

Pontiac Firebird: Key Stuck in Ignition → Diagnosis

There are a few easy to fix reasons why your Pontiac Firebird’s key might get stuck in the ignition.  It’s often easy to unstick the key.  Whatever you do, don’t start trying to rip it out of the ignition.  That can cause bigger problems. This article is written with the assumption that your key is … Read more

Pontiac Firebird Steering Wheel Hard to Turn: Common Causes

If your Pontiac Firebird’s steering wheel is hard to turn, it’s almost always going to be caused by an issue with the power steering system.  But there can be other causes as well. Your car’s power steering system is responsible for taking energy from the engine, converting it to hydraulic pressure, and using that pressure … Read more

Pontiac Firebird:  Blue Smoke → Causes & Diagnosis

  A very common problem that affects all vehicles (including the Pontiac Firebird) is blue smoke coming from the exhaust.  Reasons for blue exhaust smoke include bad valve seals, valve train wear in general, the PCV valve, burning transmission fluid and more. Blue smoke indicates that your Firebird’s engine is burning oil.  The question is … Read more

Pontiac Firebird Whining Sound: Identification + How to Fix

If your Pontiac Firebird is experiencing a whining noise, determining where and when the noise is happening is coming from is key to diagnosing and tracking down the cause.   With that in mind, this page is divided by when you hear the whining noise and common causes under those conditions. Is the whining noise … Read more