1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE check engine

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.
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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.
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Tachometer (Option)
The tachometer shows your
engine speed in revolutions
per minute (rpm).
Do not
run your engine at speeds
in
the red area.
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle.
The pictures will help you
locate them.
Waming lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning
lights and gages could &so save YOU or
others from iniurv.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they’re working.
If you are
familiar with
this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages
can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one
of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let
you know when
there’s
a problem with your vehicle.
When one
of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to
do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to
do repairs can be costly -- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re
a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a driver information center
that works along with the
w,arning lights and gages. See
“Driver Information Center’’
in the Index.
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Battery Light Voltmeter
This light will come on
briefly When you start the
vehicle: as a check'to show
you it is working; thenlit
should
go .out.
If it stays on, or comes on while you axe driving, you
may have a problem with the electrical ,chatging system.
It could indicate that you have
a generator problem or
another electrical system problem. Have it checked
right away. Driving while
this light is on could drain
your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
oertain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and, climate control system;
Some clusters with gages
do not have a battery warning
light. They have a CHECK GAGES warning to indicate
a problem. Vehicles with- the supercharged enginealso
have
a similar battery warning light.
<-fi 18
You may have a voltmeter
unless you have the
supercharged engine.
When the engine is
running, the gage shows the
coqdition of the charging system. Readings outside the '
red warning zone indicate the normal operating range.
Readings
in the red warning zone indicate a pos'sible
problem
in the electrical system. The CHECK GAGES
light will also come on, and a warning chime will sound.
Have your vehicle serviced immediately.
when your engine is not running, but the ignition is on
(in the RUN position), the gage shows your battery's
state
of charge in DC volts.
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Low Coolant Warning Light
LOW
COOLANT
If you have this light and it
comes on, your system may
be low on coolant and the
engine may overheat.
Check to see
if the level is low at the recovery tank, and
add coolant if necessary. If the level is not low, have
your low
coolant warning system serviced. See “Engine
Coolant”
in the Index.
The
LOW COOLANT warning light will also come on
when you
turn on the ignition, but your engine is not
running, as a check to show you it is working. If it
doesn’t come on then, have
it fixed right away.
After the buIb check, the light will go out for 20 seconds.
If the light comes back on after 20 seconds, the system
may
be low on ,coolant. See “Engine Coolant’’ in
the Index.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves
into the red
,area, your
engine
is too hot! The
CHECK GAGES light
will
go on and a warning
chime
will sound, if you
have this option.
It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you
have been ‘operating your vehicle under
normal driving
conditions,
you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle
and turn ,off the engine as soon as possible.
In the section “Problems on the Road,” this manual
explains what to do. See “Engine Overheating”
in
the Index.
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Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light)
CHECK
Your Pontiac is
equipped with.a
, ' .
computer which
monitors operation of
the fuel, ignition and
emission control systems.
This system is called OBD 11 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended
to assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for
the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment.
(In Canada, OBD 11 is replaced by
Enhanced Diagnostics.) The CHECK ENGINE light
comes on to indicate that there is a problem and service
is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated by the
system before any problem is apparent, which may
prevent more serious damage to your vehicle.
This
system is also designed to assist your service technician
in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.
NOTICE: 1.
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run
as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running.
If ,the light doesn't come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:
0
0
Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and service is required.
Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
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Are you low on fuel?
As your engme starts to run out of fuel, your engine may
not run as’ efficiently as designed since small- amounts
of
air are sucked into the fuel line causing a misfire. The
system can detect this. Adding fuel should correct this
condition. Make sure to install the fuel cap properly. It
will take a few driving ,trips
to turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
“Fuel”
in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run as efficiently as designed.
You may
notice
this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you
put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on
acceleration or
stumbling on acceleration. (These ’
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the light
to
Imn on.
If you experience this condition, change the fuel brand
you use. It will require at least one full tank of the
proper fuel
to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your dealer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment.
and
diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
Engine Oil Pressure 1,ig.ht
If you have a problem with
your oil, this light may
stay
on after you start your
engine,
or come on when
you are driving.
This may indicate that oil is not going through your
engine quickly enough to keep it cool. the engine could
be low on oil, or could have some other oil problem.
If you are driving, carefully pull over to a safe location
and stop to check the oil level. See “Checking Engine
Oil” in the Index.
If the engine oil is low, add oil as required. See “Adding
Engine
Oil” in the Index.
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I /r CAUTION:
Don't keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do,. your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire.
You or others could be burned.
Check your oil
as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE: Ir
r
~ ~~
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
- '
Check Oil Level Warning Light
CHECK OIL
LEVEL
This light indicates when
the engine
oil level is 1 to
1 1/2 quarts (0.95 L to
1.4 L) low. It will go on for
one to three seconds when
the ignition
is turned to the
RUN position, as a bulb
check to show you that the
system
is working.
If the light doesn't come on, have your oil level warning
svstem serviced.
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