1994 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE Owners Manual

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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Computer Command
Ride
(OPTION SSEBSEi)
Vehicles equipped with Computer
Command Ride provide improved
passenger ride comfort under
a variety of
road and driving conditions.
For normal driving conditions, press the
“TOURING RIDE” button
to get a more
refined comfortable ride. When driving
conditions require improved handling,
press the “PERFORM RIDE” button to
get a
firm ride. This mode minimizes how
much the passenger compartment leans
in
turns, and decreases the up-and-down
motion of the front and rear of the vehicle
during acceleration or braking. Note that even
in the
“TOURING RIDE”
mode, the system
will adjust to rapid
cornering, acceleration or braking. Parking Brake
To Set the Parking Brake:
Hold the regular brake pedal down with
your right foot. Push down the parking
brake pedal with
your left foot. If the
ignition is on, the brake system warning
light
will come on.
If you start to drive off with the parking
brake set, a chime will sound after the
vehicle has traveled
46 feet (14 meters).
r
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Features & Controls
Parking Brake (CONT.)
To Release the Parking Brake:
This vehicle has a “push to release” park
brake pedal. Hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot and push the
park brake pedal with your left foot. This
will unlock the pedal. When you lift your
left foot, the park brake pedal will follow
it to the released position. If you try to
drive
off with the parking brake on, the
brake light stays on and a chime sounds
until you release the parking brake or
recycle the ignition.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on
can cause your rear brakes to
overheat. You may have
to replace
them, and you could also damage
other parts
of your vehicle.
F You are Towing a Trailer and are
larking
on Any Hill:
ee “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. Tha
xtion shows what
to do first to keep the
+ailer from moving.
Shijiting Into “P”
(Park)
Steering Column Shift
Lever
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your
right foot and set the parking brake.
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2. Move the shift lever into “P,’ (Park)
position like this:
Pull the lever toward you.
0 Move the lever up as far as it
will go.
3. Move the ignition key to “LOCK”
4. Remove the key and take it with you.
If you can walk away from your
vehicle with the ignition key
in your
hand, your vehicle is
in “P” (Park).
Console Shift Lever
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your
right foot and set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into “P” (Park)
position like this:
0 Hold in the button on the lever.
0 Push the lever all the way toward
the front of the vehicle.
3. Move the ignition key to “LOCK”.
4. Remove the key and take it with you.
If you can walk away from your
vehicle with the ignition key
in your
hand, your vehicle is
in “P” (Park).
c
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