1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE warning

Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
Pull the switch to the first
stop to turn on the:
Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
Pull the switch out all the way to turn on the:
Headlamps
0 Parking Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
0 Taillamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
Push the switch
in all the way to turn all the lamps and
lights
off.
Lamps On Reminder
If you open the driver’s door while leaving the headlamps
or parking lamps switch on and the key is removed
from
the ignition, you will hear a warning chime.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DIU) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful
in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel monitors
the exterior light level for the operation
of DRL and
twilight sentinel,
so be sure it isn’t covered. The DRL
system
will make your low-beam headlamps come on at
a reduced brightness when:
0 The ignition is on,
0 The headlamp switch is off and
The transaxle is not in PARK (P).
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1. Tbilight SentineVHeadlamp Switch
2. Turn SignaVMultifunction 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. Glove Box
10. Audio System
1 1. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
12. Hood Release

Instrument Panel Clusters
Your instrument panel clusters are designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how
fast you’re going, how much fuel you’re using, and many
other things you’ll need to drive safely and economically.
Your vehicle is equipped with one
of these instrument panel clusters, which includes indicator warning lights and
gages that are explained on the following pages.
Cluster with Gages
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Tachometer
x 1000
n
’ The tachometer shows your
engine speed
in revolutions
per minute
(rpm). Do not
run your engine at speeds in
the red area.
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.
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.
Warning 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 also save you or
others from injury.
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 system
that works along with the warning lights and gages. See “Driver Information System’’
in the Index.
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Battery Light (If Equipped)
This light will come on
briefly when you start the
vehicle, as a check to
show
should go out. VOLT F+I you it is working; then it
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the electrical charging 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
certain 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.
Voltmeter
I You have a voltmeter
unless you have the
supercharged engine.
When the engine is running, the gage shows the
condition
of the charging system. Readings outside the
red
warning zone indicate the normal operating range.
Readings
in the red warning zone indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system.
On vehicles with the
optional DIC,
the CHECK GAGES light will also come
on, and
a warning chime will sound. Have your vehicle
serviced immediately.
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Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
BRAKE (0)
This light should come on
when you turn the key to
START. If it doesn’t come
on then, have it fixed so it
will be ready to warn you
if there’s a problem.
If the light and chime come on while you are driving,
pull
off the road and stop carefully. You may notice that
the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer
to the floor. It may take longer to stop.
If the light is still
on, have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.)
A CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on.
Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you’ve
pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake.
The light will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t
release
fully. If you try to drive off with the parking
brake set, a chime will also come on until you release
the parking brake. If the light and chime stay on after
your parking brake is fully released. it means you have
a brake problem.
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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
ANTILOCK (@)
With the anti-lock brake system,
the light(s) will
come on when
you start
your engine and may stay
on for several seconds.
That’s normal.
llraction Control System Warning
Light (Option)
TRACTION
OFF
This warning light should
come on briefly as you
start the engine.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if the
light comes on when you’re driving, stop as soon as
possible
and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system.
If the light still stays on, or
comes on again while you’re driving, your vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light isn’t
on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock
brakes.
If the regular brake system warning light is also
on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes and there’s a
problem with your regular brakes. See “Brake System
Warning Light” earlier in
this section.
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. If it
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 anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready to
warn you if there is a problem.

The traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
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.)
Low Coolant Warning Light (If Equipped)
LOW
COOLANT
’ If you have this light and it
comes on, your system may
be low on coolant and the
engine may overheat.
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.
engine-related problem, the system will
turn off and
the warning light will come on.
0 If the traction control system is affected by an
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. 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 bulb 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.
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