1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE wheel

NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn
it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. But turn the key only with your hand.
Using
a tool to force it could break the key or th’e
ignition switch.
If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
Key Reminder Warning
If you leave your key in the ignition, in the OFF
position, you will hear a warning tone when you open
the driver’s door.
Retained Accessory Power
If you have this option, after you turn your ignition off
and even remove the key, you will
still have electrical
power to such accessories as the radio and power
windows for up
to 10 minutes. But if you open a door,
the power is turned off.
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position
-- that’s a
safety feature.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use
NEUTRAL (N) only.
I
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Pontiac
is moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to
PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Starting Your 3800 Series I1 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.
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4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts.
If you don’t, it could
be damaged.
How long should you 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 Pontiac dealer in the area where you’ll be parking
your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for
that particular
area.
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Your automatic transaxle may have a shift lever
located on the console between the seats or
on the
steering column.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P): 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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NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine
doesn’t connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re
already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
I
Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out
of
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
Shifting
out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine is
“racing” (running at high speed) is I
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the
brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly.
You could lose control and hit people
or objects. Don’t shift out
of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is racing.
NOTICE:
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (a): 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.
0 Going about 35 mph (56 h/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 vehi’cle serviced right away. Until then, you
can
use SECOND (2) when you are driving less
than
35 mph (56 kmh) and AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (0) for higher speeds.
DRIVE
(D): This position is also used for normal
driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@).
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Here are some times you might choose DRIVE (D)
instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@):
0 When driving on hilly, winding roads.
0 When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between gears.
When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You
can use SECOND (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 SECOND (2) for more than 5 miles
(8 km), or at speeds over 55 mph (88 km/h),
or you can damage your transaxle. Use
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@) or DRIVE (D)
as much as possible.
Don’t shift into SECOND
(2) unless you are going
s‘lower than 65 mph (105 km/h), or you can
damage
your engine.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than
SECOND (2). You can
use it
on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If
the selector lever is put in FIRST (I ), the transaxle
won’t shift into first gear until the vehicle is going
slowly enough.
I 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 PARK (P)
to hold your vehicle in position on a hill.
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Express-Down Window
When the driver’s window switch is held rearward for
more than a half a second, the window will lower
completely. The window can be opened
in smaller
amounts by pressing the switch rearward and releasing
it immediately.
TO stop the window while it
is lowering, press the
switch again, then
release. To raise the window, hold the
switch forward.
Horn
Nearly the entire surface of the center pad of the
steering wheel is an active horn switch. Press anywhere
on the pad to
sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before
you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when
you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever. Move the steering wheel to
a comfortable level,
then release the lever to lock the wheel into place,
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Setting Cruise Control
0
0
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at
a steady speed. So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the optional
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin,
the cruise control will automatically disengage. (See
“Traction Control System” in the Index.) When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may turn
the cruise control back
on.
A CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you’re not using cruise,
you might hit a button
and go into cruise when
you don’t want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep
the cruise control switch
OFF until you want to
use it.
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3.
4.
Push in the SET button
at the end
of the lever
and release it.
’
Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
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1. Twilight Sentinel/Headlamp Switch
2. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
3. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever
4. Instrument Cluster/Gages
5. Audio System Steering Wheel Controls
6. Ignition Switch
7. Air Outlet
8. Climate Control System
9. Passenger’s Side Air Bag
10. Glove Box
11. Audio System
12. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
13. Driver’s Side SRS Air Bag
14. Hood Release
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Traction Control System Warning Light (Option)
TRACTION
OFF
This warning light should
come on briefly as you start
the engine.
If the warning
light doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you
if
there’s a problem.
Hit stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, there
may be a problem with your traction control system and
your vehicle may need service. When this warning light
is on, the system will not limit wheel
spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly. The
traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
0
a
0
If you turn the system off by pressing the button
located on the center console, the warning light will
come on and stay on.
To turn the system back on,
press the button again. The warning light should go
off. (See “Traction Control System” in the Index for
more information.)
If there’s a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control system
will turn off and the warning light will come on.
If
your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control
system will turn off and the warning light will come
on until your brakes cool down.
If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will turn off and
the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
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