In June of 2006, my family was preparing to take a trip up to Norfolk, Virginia. My nephew, Michael, was graduating from high school and my sister-in-law & husband were selling us an RV! So, we were driving up to Norfolk to do the graduation activities, then driving the RV back home … doing a bit of camping along the way.

On the home front my eldest daughter was having some problems with her old diehard Accord. My wife, being the generous soul that she is, offered my Fiero to her while we were to be off on our trip! I was very reluctant to allow her the use of my little Fiero, but was quickly shamed into submission. Well, after all, she is my daughter, she needs the car for a while, it will be available, and she can actually drive (and even prefers to drive) a manual transmission car.

O.K., I relented to the arrangement, but knowing the car’s quirks, I wrote these driving instructions (yes, I call the car Pearl):

How to Drive Pearl

Read in it’s entirety, there will be a quiz.

• Keys in jewelry box on my bed.
• Silver #1 Dad keychain, two GM keys, round for trunk & door, square for ignition.
• Driver’s door will not work with key … open passenger side and reach across to unlock.
• Front compartment release is on left side of dash, under edge of front panel.
• Before driving, I ALWAYS check the oil (rear compartment – gray dipstick handle) and the coolant overflow level (front compartment).
• Should not need either for the week.

Emergency brake:

• Brake indicator light on dash shows if on.
• To release, lift handle (left side of driver’s seat) to full up position – while pressing button, lower to the floor (dash light should extinguish).
• To set – just pull handle to full up position (you will hear “ratcheting”) then lower the handle to the floor (without pressing the button) – leave in 1^st gear as well.

Driving:

• Should crank quickly (must depress clutch) … usually will initially idle high … let it sit for a moment. It will stumble a bit as you start out .. smooths out in a minute or two, idle will drop to about 1K. After 2 – 5 minutes the Service Engine light will come on (O2 sensor needs replacement).
• Yes, the shift light will come on as an indication of when to optimally shift (yeaah, yeah).
• Be aware of any smells / smoke, etc.
• While driving …. KEEP AN EYE ON THE ALTERNATOR GAUGE … should stay in the charging range > 12 volts.
• it is not .. the belt is slipping (squealing) or broken … the alternator belt also drives the water pump … so the engine WILL overheat. Don’t let it overheat, shut it down.
• (Roadside emergency technique … just FYI – the alternator belt is fairly easy to replace, bolt on lower side of alt to loosen, loosen upper bolt and use big screwdriver through square hole to loosen/tension the belt … BUT AC belt is in the way (requires under car work). In an emergency …. Cut the AC belt to replace the alternator belt and get it home.)
• The clutch will slip if you step on it … (engine revs up RPM, but you’re not accelerating) … so be gentle ….
• Avoid sitting in a long line of traffic, holding position with the clutch …
• When I stop, I usually pop the engine compartment for a quick check …
• Little lever below key must be pressed to turn key to lock position and remove.
• Set e-brake, put in first gear, lock doors.
• Gas cap release is on inside of roof pillar just behind the drivers seat … have to help it open with a fingernail, regular unleaded … dry it holds about 6 gallons.
• Oil and antifreeze in rear compartment. …if you think you need either, CALL ME.

DAD

Well, I think it might have been a WHOLE day before I got the first phone call. “Hi, just calling to see if you made it up there,” she starts out. A few exchanges about the trip then, “By the way,I noticed a funny smell driving the Fiero.”

“What sort of funny smell, something overheating or burning?”, I inquired. “No, just a funny smell like you smell on the highway sometimes.”

OK, so since nothing is noticeably getting hot and smoking, I’m realizing she must be riding that slipping clutch!

The next day the fateful call comes, “Dad, your car won’t go!”

I am shamed to admit that was a year ago last June! Pearl has sat in some state of disrepair on jackstands or ramps for over a year awaiting the big clutch operation. Her slippage into disuse did force me to work on my other 1984 mid-engined non-Fiero car and she (Berta) has been a dependable (most days) car during all this time. But, now even Berta is due some jackstand time. Her exhaust downpipe has separated from the mounting flange, so she sounds like a very loud razzy truck, even rivaling the noisiest rice burner tuner car running a fart can exhaust, and her rear struts have just gotta be replaced!

So it is time to get Pearl back in service!

A definite goal in all this is to have both of my 1984 mid-engined rides in service for the end of the year Polar Bear Run, the first year for this event as sponsored by a local car club. So, the adventure has to start this weekend dependent on time and dollars, I’ll get her back on the road!

Meeting Pearl at the Swap Meet

Fiero Fever will chronicle my ownership experience with a 1984 Pontiac Fiero SE sports car. I’ll post entries about activities I’ve participated in with the car, and document any technical issues addressed in keeping her on the road.

And, being VERY familiar with the definitive acute symptom of full-blown Fiero Fever of always searching for the next Fiero to acquire, or just looking for parts to keep your current ride(s) on the road, I will make efforts to keep postings of current Fieros and related items that I find for sale available.

Enjoy the site, enjoy the Pontiac Fieros!

Jeff