1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE heater

Engine CoolantKeater (Option)
In very cold weather, 0" F (- 18 O C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater
can help. You'll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should
be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting you vehicle.
To use the coolant heater:
'' 1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 1 10-volt AC outlet.
A. CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock.
Also, the wrong
kind
of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into
a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won't reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least 15 amps.
,
4. After you've used the coolant heater? be sure to store
the cord as it was before to keep it away fiom moving
engine parts.
If you don't, it could be damaged.
How long should YQU keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your Pontkc dealer
in the area where you'll be parking
your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for
that particular mea.
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To operate twilight sentinel, turn the control to MAX for
the three minute delay.
Turn it the other way to reduce
the delay. Turn the control to MIN to turn twilight
sentinel
off.
,. Also, it's possible that your headlamps my go out if
': ,_ .:'. * , . :' you drive from a dark area into a bright area like a
' lighted parking lot. If this happens, turn on your
headlamps with the regular headlamp switch.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel .Intensity/Brightness
Control
You can brighten or dim your instrument cluster lights
by
turning the headlamp switch. Turn the switch
clockwise to brighten the instrument cluster lights
and
displays. Turn the switch clockwise all the way t'o turn
on the interior courtesy lamps. Turn the switch
counterclockwise to dim the instrument cluster lights
and displays and to turn off the courtesy lamps.
Delayed Illumination
When you open the door, the interior lamps will come
on. When you
close the door with the ignition off, the
interior lamps will stay on
for 25 seconds or until the
ignition
is turned to an on position. Please note that locking the doors
will override the delayed illumination
feature and the lamps will
turn off right away.
Theater Dimming
This feature allows for a thee to five-second fade out of
the courtesy lamps instead of immediate turn off.
Exit Lighting
With this feature, the interior lamps will come on for
25 seconds after you remove the key from the ignition.
This will give you time to fhd the door pull handle or
lock switches.
Illuminated Entry (Option)
When you lift the handle of either front door, a Imp
will glow around the door lock. This will help you insert
the door key at night.
The lamps inside your vehicle will also go on. These
lamps will
go off after about 25 seconds, or when you
start
your engine. These lamps will also go on when
you press any button on the optional Remote Keyless
Entry transmitter.
If a door is left ajar, your interior lamps will turn off
after 10 minutes to save your battery.
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Temperature Knob 12 BI-LEVEL: This setting directs air into your
The center control regulates the temperature
of the air vehicle in two ways. Cool air is directed to the upper
coming through the system. Turn it toward the blue area
portion of your body through the middle instrument
for cooler
air. Turn it toward the red area for wmer air. panel outlets while warmed. air is directed to the floor. CI
Mode Knob
The right control has settings for air conditioning and
non-air conditioning modes. The mode control allows
you to choose the direction of air delivery.
MAX: This setting provides maximum cooling with the
least amount of work. MAX recircdates much of the air
inside your vehicle so it cools quickly.
Mc: his setting cools the air entering your vehicle
and directs it through the instrument panel outlets.
The
air conditioning compressor operates in all air
conditioner positions.
d VENT: This setting directs airflow through the
middle instrument panel outlets. The air conditioning' compressor is not
working when VENT is selected.
I! HEATER: This se&ng directs warmed air through
the floor outlets. Some warm
air is' diverted to the
windshield to minimize fogging.
w.
+H DEFOG: his setting directs &to ~e HEATER
outlets and toward the windshield.
9 DEFROST: This setting directs most of the air
toward the windshield.' . .. . .. . ,' i
3-2
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Heating
If you have the standard system, on cold days use
HEATER with the temperature knob in the red area. If
you have the electronic system, press AUTO and adjust
the temperature by
p;essing the TEMP up or down
arrow. You may also adjust the electronic system
manually by pressing the
MODE button and selecting
HEAT. Again, adjust the temperature by pressing the
"EMF up or down arrow.
With each system, outside air
will be brought in and sent
through the
floor outlets. The heater works best if you
keep your windows closed while using it.
Ventilation System
For mild outside temperatures when littkheating or
cooling is needed, use
VENT (on the standard system)
to direct outside air through your vehicle. Air will flow
through the middle instrument panel outlets.
Your vehicle's flow-through ventilation system supplies
outside
air into the vehicle when it's moving. When the
vehicle
is not moving, you can get outside air to flow
through
by selecting any air choice (except the rear
,window defogger) and any fan speed. Your
vehicle has air outlets that allow
you to adjust
the direction and amount
of airflow inside the vehicle.
Push the outlet up or down to direct airflow to your
preference. Increase or reduce the amount of airflow by
opening and closing the louvers. Opening and closing
the louvers will
also direct airflow from side-to-side.
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If you have the rear seat passenger outlet, it's attached to
the back
of the console. You can adjust the airflow
toward either seating area, the floor or upward. Turn the
end
knobs up and down to direct airflow. Increase or
reduce
the amount of airflow by opening and closing the
louvers. Opening and closing the louvers will also direct airflow from side-to-side.
Ventilation Tips
0 Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction such as leaves. The heater and
defroster will work better, reducing the chance of
fogging your windows.
0 When you enter a vehicle with the standard system in
cold weather, select
HEATER to supply air through the
floor outlets. Then
turn the fan on high for a few
moments before driving away. This will blow moist air
from the intake outlets toward the floor, not the
windshield. It reduces
the chance of fogging your
windows. If you have the electronic system, the AUTO
setting will do this for you. Manual operation of the
electronic system in the
HEAT' mode will also supply
air through the floor outlets.
0 Keep the air path under the front seats clear of objects.
This helps air to circulate throughout your vehicle.
0 When the engine idles for a long time, the exterior
temperature sensor may cause the system to blow
air
that is too cool. Once the vehicle is moving again the
system will
try to maintain the set temperature inside
your vehicle.
display flashes (electronic system only) for some time,
the system may need repair. See
your Pontiac dealer.
/
0 When you start your vehicle and the EXT TEMP
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_I .
-- 1. <. i - .
A CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide)'gas
to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill
you. Youxan't see
it or smell it, so you might not
~QW it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle, especially any
that is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time to time to be sure snow
doesn't
collect there.
Open
a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle
that's away from the wind. This will help
keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it
go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly.
This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling
later OIZ
with your headlamps. Let the heater run for awhile.
Then, shut the engine
off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat
this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can.
To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
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If No Steam ]Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be
too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get
a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
0 Stop af'ter high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
0 Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of stem,
try this for a minute or so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
driv'e. Just to be
safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If
the warning doesn't come back on, you can
driv'e normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there's still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for'two or three minutes while you're parked, to see
if the warning stops. But then, if you still have the
warning, turn oJjcthe engine and get everyone out of
the vehicle until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
2. Turn on,your heater to full hot at the 'highest fan
3. If you're in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
speed and open the window as necessary.
otherwise, shift to
the highest gear while
or DRIVE (D).
driving -- AUTUMbaTz[c OVERDRIVE (@)
5-16 ProCarManuals.com

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‘The coolant level should be at or above the FULL
% COLD mark. If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the
. radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump or
somewhere else in the cooling system.
A CAWTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be
very hot. Don’t touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t mn the engine
if there is a leak. If you run
’ the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine
fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
I NOTICE:
I
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
I
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fans are running. If the engine
is overheating, both fans should be running. If they
aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
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