1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE check

Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts
properly. It also tells you some things you should not do
with safety, belts.
And it explains the Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS), or air bag system
I-
Your vehicle has a light that
comes on as a reminder to
buckle up. (See “Safety Belt
Reminder Light” in the
Index.)
Don’t let anyone ride where he
or she can’t wear
a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and
you’re not wearing a safety belt, your injuries
can be much worse.
You can hit things inside the
vehicle or be ejected from it.
You can be seriously
injured or killed. In the same crash, you might
not be
if you are buckled up. Always fasten your
safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts
are fastened properly too.
In most. states and Canadian provinces, the law says to
wear safety belts. Here’s why:
They work.
You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, .you don’t know if
it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are rnild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up a person wouldn’t survive.
But most crashes are
in between. In many of them, people
who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away.
Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed.
After more than
25 years of safety belts in vehicles, the
facts are clear.
In most crashes buckling up does matter
... a lot!
1-5
ProCarManuals.com

Air bags inflate with great force, faster than the
blink of an eye.
If you’re too close to an inflating
air bag, it could seriously injure you. Safety belts
help keep you in position for an air bag inflation
in
a crash. Always wear your safety belt, even
with an
air bag. The driver should sit as far back
as possible while still maintaining control of the
vehicle.
I A CAUTIO,. :
An inflating air bag can seriously injure small
children. Always secure children properly in your
vehicle.
To read how, see the part of this manual
called “Children” and the caution label on the
right front passenger’s safety belt.
I
L
There is an air bag readiness
light on the instrument
panel, which shows
AIR
The system checks the air bag’s electrical systemfor
malfunctions. The light tells
you if there is an electric-al
problem. See
“Air Bag Readiness Light” in the Index
for more information.
.. ,.-
ProCarManuals.com

Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it.
But
if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your
dealer
will order you an extender. It’s free. When you go
in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear,
so the
extender
will be long enough for you. The extender will
be just for you, and just for the seat
in your vehicle that
you choose. Don’t let someone else use it, and use it
only for the seat it is made to fit.
To wear it, just attach it
to the regular safety belt.
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts.
If you see
anything that might keep
a safety belt system from
doing its
job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is
tom or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened OF broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The
air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
i
Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash
If you’ve had a crash, do you need new belts?
After a
very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But
if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn
during a more severe crash, then you need new belts.
If b’elts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you
will need to have safety belt
or
seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs
may be necessary even if the belt wasn’t being used at
the time
of the collision.
If your seat adjuster won’t work after a crash, the special
part
of the safety belt that goes through the seat to the
adjuster may need,to be replaced.
If
an air bag inflates, you’ll need to replace air bag
system parts, See the part
on the air bag system earlier in
this section.
ProCarManuals.com

Remote Keyless Entry (Option)
If your Pontiac has this option, you can lock and unlock
your doors or unlock your trunk from up to
30 feet (9 m)
away using the key chain transmitter supplied with
your vehicle.
Your Remote Keyless
Entry System operates on a radio frequency
subject to Federal
Comrinunications
Commission (FCC)
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject
to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause hannful interference, and
(2) This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation. Should interference to this system occur,
try this:
0
0
0
0
Check to determine if battery replacement is necessary.
See the instructions on battery replacement.
Check the distance. You may be
too far from your
vehicle.
This product has a maximum range.
Check the location. Other vehicles
dr objects may be
blocking the signal.
See your Pontiac dealer or a qualified technician
for service.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than
an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
Operation
The driver’s door will unlock when UNLOCK is pressed.
If UNLOCK is pressed again within five seconds, all
doors
will unlock. Pressing the UNLOCK button will
also illuminate the interior lamps. See “Illuminated
Entry” in the index.
All doors
will lock when LOCK is pressed.
The
trunk will unlock when the opened trunk symbol is
pressed when the ignition is OFF. The trunk symbol will
also work when the ignition is
on, but ody while in
PARK (P).
ProCarManuals.com

Universal Theft-Deterrent (Option)
If your Pontiac has this option, it has a theft-deterrent
alm system. With this system, the SECURITY light
will flash as you open the door (if your ignition is OFF).
This light reminds you to activate the theft-deterrent
system when leaving
your vehicle.
Activating the
sys tern:
1.
2.
3.
Open the door.
Lock the door with
the power door lock switch or
Remote Keyless
Entry transmitter. The SEC-Y
light should come on and stay on.
Close
all doors. The SECUFUTY light should go afT after
about
30 seconds and the system will then be armed.
If the SECURITY light comes on for one minute and
then shuts
off while the ignition is on, the security
system has detected a problem with itself. See your
dealer for service.
If a door ‘or the trunk is opened without the key or
Remote Keyless Entry transmitter, the
alarm will go off.
It will also go off if the trunk lock is damaged. Your
vehicle’s lamps will flash and the horn will sound for
three minutes, then will
go off to save battery power.
Remember, the theft-deterrent system won’t activate if
you lock the doors with
a key or manual door lock. It
activates only if you use a power door lock
switch ox
Remote Keyless Entry transmitter.
Avoid setting
bff the alarm by accident.
Always unlock
a door with a key, or use the Remote
Keyless Entry transmitter. Unlocking a door any other
way will set
off the alarm.
Stopping the alarm: If you set off the alarm by accident,
unlock
any door with your key. You can also turn off the
alarm by pressing the
UNLOCK button on the Remote
Keyless
Entry transmitter. The alarm won’t stop if you
try to dock a door any other way.
Testing the alarm: Open the, window, then follow the
directions for activating the system described earlier.
Once the alarm is set, reach through the window and
manually uvlock the door
from the inside or turn on the
ignition.
The alarm should sound.
If the alarm does not sound when it should, check to see if
the horn works. The horn fuse may be blown. To replace
the fuse, see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the Index.
To reduce the possibility of theft, always activate the
theft-deterrent
system when leaving your vehicle.
ProCarManuals.com

PASS-Key@ I1
Your vehicle is equipped
with the PASS-Key
II
(Personalized Automotive
Security System)
theft-deterrent system.
PASS-Key
II is a passive
theft-deterrent system.
It works when you insert
or remove the key from
the ignition.
PASS-Key
II uses a resistor pellet in the ignition key
that matches a decoder
in your vehicle.
When the PASS-Key
11 system senses that someone is
using the wrong key, it shuts
down the vehicle’s starter and
fuel systems. For about three minutes, the starter won’t
work and fuel won’t go to
the engine. Lf someone tries to
start your vehicle again or uses another key during
this
time, the vehicle will not start. This discourages someone
fiom randomly trying different keys with different resistor
pellets
in an attempt to make a match.
The ignition key, must be clean and dry before it’s
inserted in the ignition
or the engine may not start. If the
engine does not start and the SECURITY light
is on, the
key may be dirty or wet. Turn the ignition off.
Ciean and dry the key. Wait about three minutes and try
again. The SECURITY light may remain on during this
time. If the starter still won’t work, and the key appears
to be clean and dry, wait about three minutes and try
another ignition key. At this time, you may also want to
check the fuse (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the
Index). If the starter won’t work with the other key, your
vehicle needs service. If your vehicle does start, the first
ignition key may be faulty.
See your Pontiac dealer or a
locksmith who can service the PASS-Key
Q.
If you accidentally use a key that has a damaged or
missing resistor pellet, the starter won’t work and the
SECURITY light will flash. But you don’t have to wait
three minutes before trying another ignition key.
! 2-15
ProCarManuals.com

Starting Your 3.8 Liter Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to
START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor.
2. I€ it doesn’t start right away, hold your key in
START for about three to five seconds at a time until
your engine
starts. Wait about 15 seconds between
each
try to help avoid draining your battery.
3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
stops), it could
be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the same thing, but
this time keep the pedal down for five or
six seconds.
This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.
After waiting about 15 seconds, repeat the nomd
starting procedure.
NOTICE:
I
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your y,ehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before
adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer.
If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle”
m the Index.
ProCarManuals.com

As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows don’t
flash but just stay on, a signal bulb may be burned out
and other drivers won’t see your turn signal. If you have
the Driver Information Center, it
will tell you if you
have a burned out bulb. See “Driver Information
Center” in the Index.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident.
If the arrows don’t go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the fuse and for burned-out bulbs.
See “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the Index.
nrn Signal On Chime
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each flash of the turn
signal. To turn
off the chime, move the turn signal lever
to the
off position.
Headlamp HighlLow Beam Changer
To change the headlamps
from
low b’eam to high
beam or high beam
to low
beam, pull the turn
signal
lever toward you. Then
release it. When the high
beams are
on, this light 011.
the instrument panel will also be on.
Flash-To-Pass Feature
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver
in front of you that you want to pass. It
works even if your headlamps are off.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you a little,
but not
so far that you hear a click.
If your headlamps are off or on low beam, your
high-beam headlamps
will turn on. They’ll stay on -
as long as you hold the lever toward you and the
high-beam indicator
on the dash will come on. Release
the lever to turn the high-beam headlamps
off.
I-
ProCarManuals.com