1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE key

Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it’s best to lock it up and take your keys.
But what if you have to leave your ignition key?
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If possible, park in a busy, well lit area.
Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
trunk or glove box. Be sure to close and lock the
storage area.
Close all windows.
Lock the glove
box.
Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
Then take the door key and remote keyless
entry
transmitter with you.
Universal Theft-Deterrent (Option)
If your vehicle has this option, it has a theft-deterrent
alarm system. With this system, the SECURITY light
will flash as you open the door (if your ignition is OFF).
SECURITY
This light reminds you to
activate the theft-deterrent
system when leaving
your vehicle.
Activating the system:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch while
the door is open,
or use the remote keyless entry
transmitter. The
SECURITY light should come on
and stay
on.
3. Close all doors. The SECURITY light should go
off after about 30 seconds and the system will then
be armed.
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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, or if the door key
cylinders are damaged, 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 one minute, then
will go off in order 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 while
the door is open, or the remote keyless entry transmitter.
Avoid setting
off the alarm by accident.
Always unlock
a door with a key, or use the remote
keyless entry system transmitter. Unlocking
a door any
other way will set
off 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 UNLOCK on the remote keyless entry
transmitter. The alarm won’t stop if you
try to unlock a
door any other way.
Testing the Alarm
1. From inside the vehicle, roll down the window.
2. Activate the system by locking the doors with the
power door lock switch while the door is open, or
with the remote keyless
entry transmitter.
3. Get out of the car, close the door and wait for the
SECURITY light to
go out.
4. Then, reach in through the window, unlock the door
with the manual door lock and open the door.
This
should set off the alarm.
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.
If the alarm does not sound,
or the vehicle’s lamps do
not flash, the vehicle should be serviced by an authorized service center.

PASS-Key@ I1
Your vehicle is equipped
with the PASS-Key
11
(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
11 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.
If someone
tries
to start your vehicle again or uses another key during
this time, the vehicle will not start. This
discourages someone from 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,
Clean and dry the key. Wait about three minutes and try
again. 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 dealer
or a
locksmith who can service
the PASS-Key II.
If you accidentally use a key that has a damaged or
missing resistor pellet, the starter won’t work. The
SECURITY light will flash. But you don’t have to wait
three minutes before trying another ignition
key.

See your dealer or a locksmith who can service the
PASS-Key
I1 to have a new key made.
If you’re ever driving and the SECURITY light comes
on and remains on, you will be able to restart your
engine if you turn it off. Your PASS-Key
I1 system,
however, is not working properly and must be serviced by your dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by the
PASS-Key I1 system.
If you lose or damage a PASS-Key I1 ignition key,
see your dealer
or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key
11 to have a new key made. In an
emergency, call the Pontiac Roadside Assistance Center
at
1 -800-ROADSIDJ or 1-800-762-3743.
In Canada, call 1-800-268-6800.
New Vehicle “Break-In”
NOTICE:
Your vehicle doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better in the
long run
if you follow these guidelines:
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Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow a trailer during break-in.
See “Towing
a Trailer’’ in the Index for
more information.
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Ignition Positions
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch to five positions.
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A E
ACCESSORY (A): In this position you can operate
your electrical power accessories. Press
in the ignition
switch as you turn the top of it toward you.
LOCK (B): The only position in which you can
remove the key.
This locks your steering wheel, ignition
and transaxle.
OFF' (C): Unlocks the steering wheel, ignition and
transaxle, but does not send electrical power to any
accessories. Use
this position if your vehicle must be
pushed or towed, but never
try to push-start your
vehicle.
A warning chime will sound if you open the
driver's door when the ignition is
OFF and the key is in
the ignition.
RUN @): This is the position the switch returns to after
you start your engine and release the switch. The switch
stays in
RUN when the engine is running. But even
when the engine is not running,
you can use RUN to
operate your electrical power accessories, and to display
some instrument panel warning lights.
START (E): Starts the engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch will return to
RUN
for normal driving.
Note that even if
the engine is not running, the positions
ACCESSORY and RUN are on positions that allow you
to operate your electrical accessories, such as the radio.
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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 the
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 Equipped)
If you have this option, after you turn the 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. Power is turned off if
you open a door.
Always leave your key in LOCK. If you leave your key
in any other position than LOCK, your battery will discharge prematurely.
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.
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.
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Starting Your V6 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. If 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 or
damaging your starter.
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 normal starting procedure.
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Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
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 “T~wing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
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Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has a brake-transaxle shift
interlock. You have to fully apply your regular brakes
b#ore you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition key
is
in an on position. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P),
ease pressure on the shift lever -- push the shift lever all
the way into PARK (P) and also release the shift lever
button on floor
shift console models as you maintain brake
application. Then move the
shift lever into the gear you
wish. (Press the
shift lever button before moving the shift
lever on floor shift console models.) See “Shifting Out of
PARK (P)” later in this section.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transaxle.
Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see
“Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index.
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.
A CAUTION:
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine is “racing” (running at
high speed) is
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:
Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
racing isn’t covered
by your warranty.
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