1994 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE engine

Features & Controls
Shifting the Automatic Transaxle
Your automatic transaxle may have a shift
lever located on the console between the
seats or
on the steering column. Both are
shown
in this section.
1
There are several different positions for
your shift lever. In this manual, these are
referred to by the commonly used
symbols in the right column below:
Park
Reverse
Neutral
Overdrive
Drive Second
First P
R
N
@
D
2
1
Park
P (Park): This locks your front wheels.
It’s the best position
to use when you start
your engine because your vehicle can’t
move easily.
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Ensure the shift lever is fully in “P”
(Park) range before starting the engine.
Your Pontiac has a brake-transaxle shift
interlock.
You have to fully apply your
regular brakes before you can shift from
“P,’ (Park) when the ignition key is in the
“On” position. If you cannot shift
gut of
“P’ (Park), ease pressure on the shift
lever-push the shift lever all the way
into
“P” (Park) 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. (Press the shift lever button before
moving the shift lever on floor shift
console models.) See “Shifting Out
of
‘P’ (Park)” later in this section.
Reverse
R (Reverse): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to “R” (Reverse) while
your vehicle is moving forward
could damage your transaxle. Shift
to “R” only after your vehicle is
stopped.
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Features & Controls
I
Reverse (CONT.)
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get
out of
snow, ice or sand without
damaging your transaxle, see
“If You’re
Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice
or Snow” in the
Index.
Neutral
N (Neutral): In this position, your engine
doesn’t connect with the wheels.
To
restart when you’re already moving, use
“N” (Neutral) only. Also, use “N’ when
your vehicle is being towed.
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I NOTICE: I
Damage to your transaxle caused by
shifting out of
“P” (Park) or “N”
(Neutral) with the engine racing
isn’t covered by your warranty.
Forward Gears
Automatic Overdrive: This position
IS for normal driving. If you need more
power for passing, and you’re:
- Going less than about 35 mph
(56 km/h), push your accelerator pedal
about halfway down.
- Going about 35 mph (56 km/h) or
more, push the accelerator all the
way
down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and
have more power.
NOTICE:
If your vehicle seems to start up
rather slowly, or if it seems not to
shift gears as you go faster,
something
may be wrong with a
transaxle system sensor. If
you drive
very far that way, your vehicle can
be damaged.
So, if this happens,
have your vehicle serviced right
away.
Until then, you can use “2”
(Second Gear) when you are driving
less than
35 mph (56 km/h) and @
(Overdrive) for higher speeds.
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Features & Controls
Forward Gears (CONT)
D (Third Gear): This is like @ , but you
never
go into Overdrive.
Here are some times you might choose
“D’ instead of @ :
- When driving on hilly, winding roads
- When towing a trailer, so there is less
shifting between gears
- When going down a steep hill
2 (Second Gear): This position gives you
more power but lower
fuel economy. You
can use “2” on hills.
It can help control
your speed as you
go down steep
mountain roads, but
then you would also
want
to use your brakes off and on.
NOTICE:
Don’t drive in “2” (Second Gear) for
more than
5 miles (8 km), or at
speeds over
55 mph (88 km/h), or
you can damage your transaxle. Use
@ or “D’ as much as possible.
Don’t shift into “2” unless
you are
going slower than
65 mph
( 105 km/h), or you can damage
your engine.
1 (First Gear): This position gives you
even more power (but lower fuel economy) than
“2.” You can use it on
very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud.
If the selector lever is put
in “1,” the
transaxle won’t shift into first gear until
the vehicle is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate,
don’t try to drive. This might
happen
if you were stuck in very
deep sand or mud or were up
against a solid object. You could
damage your transaxle.
Also,
if you stop when going uphill,
don’t hold your vehicle there with
only the accelerator pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transaxle. Use your brakes or shift
into
“P’ (Park) to hold your vehicle
in position on a hill.
Performance Shiftins
(OPTION)
Press “PERFORM SHIFT” to allow the
transaxle to shift at higher engine speeds,
increasing acceleration performance.
An
indicator light on the switch will glow
when performance shifting is in
operation.
Downshifts
will occur at a lower
percentage of accelerator application while
you’re
in the “PERFORM SHIFT” mode.
Press “NORMAL
SHIFT” to have the
transaxle shift at lower engine speeds,
increasing fuel economy.
An indicator
light on the switch will glow when normal
shifting
is in operation.
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Features & Controls
Leaving Your Vehicle With
the Engine Running
If you have to leave your vehicle with the
engine running, be sure your vehicle is
in
“P” (Park) and your parking brake is
firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the
“P”
(Park) position, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Then, see
if you can move
the shift lever away from
“P” (Park)
without first pulling it toward you (or,
if
you have the console shift lever, without
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first pushing the button). If you can, it
means that the shift lever wasn’t fully
locked into
“P” (Park).
T~rque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t
shift your transaxle into
“P” (Park)
properly, the weight of the vehicle may
put too much force on
the parking pawl in
the transaxle. You may find it difficult to
pull
the shift lever out of “F’ (Park). This
is called “torque lock.” To prevent torque
lock, set the parking brake and then shift
into
“P” (Park) properly before you leave
the driver’s seat.
To find out how, see
“Shifting Into ‘P’ (Park)”
in the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the
shift lever out of
“P’ (Park) BEFORE you
release the parking brake.
If “torque lock” does occur, you may
need to have another vehicle push yours a
little uphill to take some of the pressure
from the transaxle,
so you can pull the
shift lever out of
“P’ (Park).
Shifting Out of “P”
(Park)
Your Pontiac has a brake-transaxle shift
interlock. You have to fully a& your
regular brakes before you can shift from
“P” (Park) when the ignition is in the
“On” position. See “Shifting the
Automatic Transaxle” in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of “P” (Park), ease
pressure
on the shift lever - push the
shift lever ail the way into “P’ (Park) and
also release the shift lever button
on floor
shift models as you maintain brake
application. Then move the shift lever
into the gear you want. (Press the shift
lever button before moving the shift
lever.) If you ever hold the brake pedal
down but still can’t shift out of
“P’
(Park), try this:
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1. Turn the key to “Off”. Open and close
the driver’s door to turn off the
Retained Accessory Power Feature.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end
of Step 4.
3. Shift to “N” (Neutral).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the
drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you
can.
Parking Over Things
That Burn
Engine Exhaust
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Features & Controls
Engine Exhaust (CONT.) Running Your Engine
While You’re Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine
running. But
if you ever have to, here are
some things to know.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your
vehicle won’t move. See “Shifting Into
‘P’ (Park)” in the Index.
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