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FUNCTION MONITOR: This lets you know if
you are low on fluids or have a problem with a
vehicle function:
CHECK OIL LEVEL: This message could mean
your oil level is low. If it comes on for more than
three seconds, see ªCheck Oil Level Warning Lightº
in the Index.
WASHER FLUID: This message means your
washer fluid tank is less than about 30 percent full.
The windshield portion of the vehicle outline will
also glow. If these come on, see ªWindshield Washer
Fluidº in the Index.
LOW COOLANT: This message means your
coolant level has fallen to about half full. If it comes
on, see ªEngine Coolantº in the Index.
CHECK GAGES: If this light comes on and stays
on while you are driving, check your gages for fuel,
coolant temperature, oil pressure or battery voltage.
SECURITY MONITOR: The vehicle outline will
illuminate to let you know the following information:
DOOR AJAR: This message means a door is not
fully closed. The vehicle outline will show you
which door it is.TRUNK AJAR: This message appears if the trunk is
not fully closed. The vehicle outline will illuminate.
HOOD AJAR: This message appears if the hood is
not fully closed. The vehicle outline will illuminate
if the hood is not latched properly.
LAMP MONITOR: Whenever you try to use one of
the following lamps, the LAMP MONITOR will tell you
if a bulb is out.
Headlamp (Low and High Beam)
Parking Lamp/Sidemarker
Turn Signal/Parking/Stop
Back
-Up Lamp
Taillamp/Turn/Sidemarker/License
Brake Lamp and Center High
-Mounted Stoplamp
If a bulb is out, you will see a message, such as PARK
LAMP, and you will also see where the problem is on
the vehicle outline. The message stays on until the
problem is fixed. See ªReplacement Bulbsº in the Index
for bulb details.
First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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Mode Button
Press this button to deliver air through the floor, middle
or windshield outlets. The system will stay in the
selected mode until the MODE or AUTO button is
pushed. Press the up arrow to cycle through the
available modes.
Automatic Operation
When the system is set for AUTO, sensors will control
the air delivery mode. Air will come from the floor,
middle and windshield outlets. The fan speed will vary
as the system maintains the selected temperature setting.
To find your comfort zone, start with 75 F (24 C)
temperature setting and allow about 20 minutes for the
system to regulate. Press the TEMP button up or down to
adjust the temperature setting if necessary. If you choose
the temperature setting of 60F (15C), the system will
remain at that maximum cooling setting and will not
regulate the fan speed. If you choose the temperature
setting of 90F (33C), the system will remain at that
maximum heating setting and will not regulate the fan
speed. Choosing either maximum setting will not cause the
system to heat or cool any faster.Pressing the AUTO button will display the requested
temperature, fan speed and air delivery mode for
five seconds, then change to display the outside air
temperature. Be careful not to put anything over the
sensor located in the middle of the instrument panel near
the windshield, or over the sensor in the grille above the
radio. These sensors are used by the automatic system to
regulate temperature.
The exterior temperature display sensor is in front of the
vehicle, near the radiator. The displayed temperature is
most accurate when the vehicle is moving. During stops,
or while idling, the display shows the previous driving
temperature for best system control.
To avoid blowing cold air in cold weather, the system
will delay turning on the fan until warm air is available.
The length of delay depends on outside air temperature,
engine coolant temperature, and time since the engine
was last started. Pushing the fan button will override this
delay and change the fan to a selected single speed.
If you leave your vehicle, the system will remember the
control setting the next time you start your engine.
First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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Ventilation Tips
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.
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.
Keep the air path under the front seats clear of
objects. This helps air to circulate throughout
your vehicle.
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.When you start your vehicle and the EXT TEMP
display flashes (electronic system only) for some
time, the system may need repair. See your dealer.
Defogging and Defrosting
On cool, humid days, use DEFOG to keep the
windshield and side windows clear. Use DEFROST to
remove fog or ice from the windshield quickly in
extremely humid or cold conditions.
If you have the standard system, use DEFOG and adjust
the fan speed to your comfort level. Use DEFROST
with the temperature toward the red area and the fan
control toward high.
If you have the electronic system, press the DEFOG
button and adjust the fan speed by pressing the fan
button up or down to your comfort level. If you select
DEFROST from AUTO, the system will control the fan
speed. Adjust the temperature to your comfort level by
pressing the TEMP up or down button
First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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Audio Systems
Your Delco Electronics audio system has been designed
to operate easily and give years of listening pleasure.
You will get the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint
yourself with it first. Find out what your Delco
Electronics system can do and how to operate all its
controls, to be sure you're getting the most out of the
advanced engineering that went into it.
Setting the Clock for AM-FM Stereo
Press SET. Within five seconds, press and hold the
SEEK down arrow until the correct hour appears on the
display. Press and hold the SEEK up arrow until the
correct minute appears on the display.
Setting the Clock for All Systems Except
AM-FM Stereo
Press and hold HR until the correct hour appears. Press
and hold MIN until the correct minute appears. There
will be a two
-second delay before the clock goes into
time
-set mode, and the colon on the display will blink
while in this mode.
AM-FM Stereo
DE±23±0001±V
Playing the Radio
PWR
-VOLUME: This knob turns the system on and
off and controls the volume. To turn the radio on and to
increase volume, turn the knob clockwise. Turn it
counterclockwise to decrease volume and to turn the
radio off.
RCL: Press this knob to recall the station being played
or to display the clock.
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To help avoid hearing loss or damage:
Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting.
Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably
and clearly.
NOTICE:
Before you add any sound equipment to your
vehicle
-- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two
-way radio -- be sure you can
add what you want. If you can, it's very
important to do it properly. Added sound
equipment may interfere with the operation of
your vehicle's engine, Delco Electronics radio or
other systems, and even damage them. Your
vehicle's systems may interfere with the
operation of sound equipment that has been
added improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your dealer and be sure to check Federal rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause
reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes or a damaged
mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their
cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight and
extreme heat. If they aren't, they may not operate
properly or may cause failure of the tape player.
Your tape player should be cleaned regularly after every
50 hours of use. Your radio may display CLN to indicate
that you have used your tape player for 50 hours without
resetting the tape clean timer. If this message appears on
the display, your cassette tape player needs to be
cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as
soon as possible to prevent damage to your tapes and
player. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, try a
known good cassette to see if it is the tape or the tape
player at fault. If this other cassette has no improvement
in sound quality, clean the tape player.
The recommended cleaning method for your cassette
tape player is the use of a scrubbing action,
non
-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which scrub
the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn.
The recommended cleaning cassette is available through
your dealership (GM Part No. 12344789).
First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic.
This is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to
cool between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out
much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you
keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following
distances, you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary
braking. That means better braking and longer
brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you're driving, brake
normally but don't pump your brakes. If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But
you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive
away, your anti
-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that your
brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.
X±02±3421±T
If there's a problem with the
anti
-lock brake system, this
warning light will stay on.
See ªAnti
-Lock Brake
System Warning Lightº in
the Index.
First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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Remember: Anti-lock doesn't change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you won't have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have
anti
-lock brakes.
Using Anti
-Lock
Don't pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
firmly and let anti
-lock work for you. You may feel a
slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise, but
this is normal.
Traction Control System (If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have a traction control system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that one or both of the front wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system works the front brakes and reduces engine power
to limit wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
reengage the cruise control. (See ªCruise Controlº in
the Index.)
X±02±0039±T
This light should come on
briefly when you start the
engine. If it stays on or
comes on while you are
driving, there's a problem
with your traction
control system.
See ªTraction Control System Warning Lightº in the
Index. When this warning light is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin,
especially in slippery road conditions, you should
always leave the system on. But you can turn the
traction control system off if you ever need to. (You
should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck
in sand, mud, ice or snow. See ªRocking Your Vehicleº
in the Index.)
First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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H±24±2258±S
To turn the system off,
press the TRACTION
CONTROL button located
on the console next to the
gear shift selector. An
indicator light in the
switch will turn off when
you turn TRACTION
CONTROL off.
The traction control system warning light will come on
and stay on. If the system is limiting wheel spin when
you press the button, the warning light will come
on
-- but the system won't turn off right away. It will
wait until there's no longer a current need to limit
wheel spin.
You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing
the button again. The traction control system warning
light should go off.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Magnasteer (Option)
Your vehicle may be equipped with GM Magnasteer, a
steering system that continuously adjusts the effort you
feel when steering at all vehicle speeds. It provides ease
when parking, yet a firm, solid feel at highway speeds.
Your steering can be adjusted for an easier or more firm
setting. See your dealer for information.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It's important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the ªdriver lost controlº accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here's why: