Pontiac 1998 Firebird Owner's Manual page 86

A
CAUTION:
It is
dangerous
to
get out
of your
vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You
or
others could be injured.
To be
sure your
vehicle won't move, even when you're on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK
( P ) .
See "Shifting Into PARK (P)" in the Index. If
you're pulling a trailer, see "Towing a Trailer" in
the Index.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has a
Brake-Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI). You have to
fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift
from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in RUN.
If you
cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift
lever. Push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) and
also release the shift lever button on floor shift console
models as you maintain brake application. Then move
the shift lever into the gear you wish. See "Shifting Out
of PARK (P)" in this section.
REVERSE (R): Use this
gear
to back up.
I
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your
transmission. Shift to REVERSE
(R)
only after
your vehicle is stopped.
To
rock your vehicle back and forth
to get out o f snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission, see
"Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow" in the Index.
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