
First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
CAUTION
POSSIBLE
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BATTERY
ACID COULD
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS OR
FLAMES
SPARK OR
FLAME
COULD
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
AIR BAG
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
MASTER
LIGHTING
SWITCH
TURN
SIGNALS
PARKING
LAMPS
HAZARD
WARNING
FLASHER
DAYTIME
RUNNING
LAMPS
FOG LAMPS
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD
WASHER
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
REAR
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
ENGINE
COOLANT
TEMP
BATTERY
CHARGING
SYSTEM
BRAKE
COOLANT
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
HORN
SPEAKER
FUEL
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.

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2-19
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 II 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 II system,
however, is not working properly and must be serviced
by your dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by the
PASS
-Key II system.
If you lose or damage a PASS
-Key II ignition key, see
your dealer or a locksmith who can service PASS
-Key II
to have a new key made. In an emergency, call the Pontiac
Roadside Assistance Center at 1
-800-ROADSIDE or
1
-800-762-3743. In Canada, call 1-800-268-6800.
New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
Your vehicle doesn't need an elaborate ªbreak-in.º
But it will perform better in the long run if you follow
these guidelines:
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 ªTowing a
Trailerº in the Index for more information.

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2-27
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 (1), the transaxle won't
shift into first gear until the vehicle is going
slowly enough.
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.
Performance Shifting (Option)
Press PERFORM SHIFT to
allow the transaxle to shift
at higher engine speeds,
increasing acceleration
performance. An indicator
light on the switch will
glow when performance
shifting is in operation.
Downshifts will occur at a lower percentage of
accelerator application while you're in the
PERFORM SHIFT mode.
Press NORMAL SHIFT to have the transaxle shift at
lower engine speeds, increasing fuel economy. An
indicator light on the switch will glow when normal
shifting is in operation.

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2-28
Computer Command Ride (Option)
Vehicles equipped with computer command ride provide
improved passenger ride comfort under a variety of road
and driving conditions.
For normal driving conditions, press the
TOURING RIDE button to get a more refined
comfortable ride. When driving conditions require
improved handling, press the PERFORM RIDE button
to get a firm ride. This mode minimizes how much the
passenger compartment leans in turns, and decreases the
up
-and-down motion of the front and rear of the vehicle
during acceleration or braking.
Even in the TOURING RIDE mode, the system will
adjust to rapid cornering, acceleration or braking.
If the computer command ride detects a problem in the
system, the lights on the TOURING RIDE and
PERFORM RIDE buttons will both come on. If this
happens, have your vehicle serviced.
Parking Brake
Your vehicle has a PUSH
TO RELEASE parking
brake. To set the parking
brake, hold the regular
brake pedal down with your
right foot. Push down the
parking brake pedal with
your left foot. If the ignition
is on, the brake system
warning light will come on
and a single chime will
be heard.
If you start to drive with the parking brake set, a chime
will sound after the vehicle has traveled approximately
40 feet (12 m).

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2-29
To release the parking brake, use the PUSH TO
RELEASE parking brake pedal. Hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot and push the parking
brake pedal with your left foot. This will release the
parking brake pedal. When you lift your left foot, the
parking brake pedal will follow it to the release position.
If you try to drive with the parking brake on, the brake
light stays on and a chime sounds until you release the
parking brake.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
Shifting Into PARK (P)
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll. If
you have left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle won't move, even when
you're on fairly level ground, use the steps that
follow. If you're pulling a trailer, see ªTowing a
Trailerº in the Index.

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2-42
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don't use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal; or
Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
Pull the knob to the first
stop to turn on the:
Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
Instrument Panel
Lights
Pull the knob out all the way to turn on the headlamps,
as well as the other operating lamps. Push the knob in all
the way to turn all the lamps and lights off.

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2-67 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 is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
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 ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.)
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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2-68 Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
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.
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 ªBrake System
Warning Lightº earlier in this section.
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.
Traction Control System Warning
Light (Option)
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. 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.