
2-
yellowblue
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Keys
2
-4 Door Locks
2
-10 Remote Keyless Entry (Option)
2
-14 Trunk
2
-16 Theft
2
-17 Universal Theft-Deterrent (Option)
2
-18 PASS-Key II
2
-19 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-20 Ignition Positions
2
-21 Starting Your Engine
2
-22 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-24 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-28 Computer Command Ride (Option)
2
-29 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-32 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-33 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-33 Engine Exhaust
2
-34 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-35 Windows2
-35 Horn
2
-36 Tilt Wheel
2
-36 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-43 Exterior Lamps
2
-46 Interior Lamps
2
-48 Mirrors
2
-51 Storage Compartments
2
-54 Ashtrays & Cigarette Lighter
2
-55 Sun Visors
2
-55 Air Inflator System (Option)
2
-56 Accessory Power Outlet
2
-57 Sunroof (Option)
2
-58 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-64 Tachometer
2
-64 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2
-77 Head-Up Display (Option)
2
-80 Driver Information Center (Option)
2
-82 Electronic Compass (Option)

yellowblue
2-46
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel/Brightness Control
You can brighten or dim your instrument cluster lights
by turning the headlamp knob. Turn the knob clockwise
to brighten the instrument cluster lights and displays.
Turn the knob clockwise all the way to turn on the
interior courtesy lamps. Turn the knob counterclockwise
to dim the instrument cluster lights and displays and to
turn off the courtesy lamps.
Illuminated Entry (Option)
When you press the UNLOCK button on the optional
remote keyless entry transmitter, the lamps inside your
vehicle will go on. These lamps will go off after about
25 seconds, or when you start your engine. Pressing the
LOCK button on your remote keyless entry transmitter
will turn the lights immediately off.
If a door is left ajar, your interior lamps will turn off
after 10 minutes to save your battery.
Delayed Illumination
When you open the door to enter your vehicle, the
interior lamps will come on. When you close the door
with the ignition off, the interior lamps will stay on for
25 seconds or until the ignition is turned on. Please note
that locking the doors with the power door lock switch
will override the delayed illumination feature and the
lamps will turn off right away.
Theater Dimming
This feature allows for a three to five-second fade out of
the courtesy lamps instead of immediate turn off.
Exit Lighting
With this feature, the interior lamps will come on for 25
seconds after you remove the key from the ignition. This
will give you time to find the door pull handle or lock
switches as you exit the vehicle.

yellowblue
2-63 Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h). Your
odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven,
in either miles (used in the United States) or kilometers
(used in Canada).
The odometer and trip odometer are displayed in the
Driver Information Center on vehicles so equipped.
If your vehicle is equipped with the gage cluster, it has a
tamper resistant odometer. If you see silver lines
between the numbers, you'll know that someone has
probably tried to turn it back, so the numbers may not
be true.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to the
mileage total of the old odometer, then it must be. But if
it can't, then it's set at zero and a label must be put on
the driver's door to show the old mileage reading when
the new odometer was installed.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell you how far you have driven
since you last reset it.
To set it to zero:
On vehicles with the Driver Information Center
(DIC), press the button labeled TRIP.
On vehicles with the LAMP MONITOR, the button
is next to the trip odometer. Push and release in a
smooth, continuous motion until all zeros appear.

yellowblue
2-76 Systems Monitor (Option)
If you have the Systems
Monitor, it gives you
important safety and
maintenance facts.
When you turn the ignition on, the Systems Monitor and
warning lights will briefly light up. If a problem is
detected, the warning lights will turn on.The following warning lights are displayed in the
Systems Monitor:
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. If this
light comes on, see ªWindshield Washer Fluidº in
the Index.
Check Doors: This message means that either the
driver's door or one of the passenger's doors is not
completely closed. If this light comes on, see ªCheck
Doors Lightº in the Index.
Brake: If this message comes on while you are
driving, it means there is a brake problem. See
ªBrake System Warning Lightº in the Index.

yellowblue
2-77 Boost Gage (Option)
Vehicles equipped with the supercharged engine have
this boost gage that indicates vacuum during light to
moderate throttle and boost under heavier throttle. The
gage displays the air pressure level in psi going into the
engine's combustion chamber.
The gage is automatically centered at zero psi every
time the engine is started. Actual vacuum or boost is
displayed from this zero point. Changes in ambient
pressure, such as driving in mountains and changing
weather, will slightly change the zero reading.
Head-Up Display (Option)
CAUTION:
If the HUD image is too bright, or too high in
your field of view, it may take you more time to
see things you need to see when it's dark outside.
Be sure to keep the HUD image dim and placed
low in your field of view.
If you have the optional Head-Up Display (HUD), you
can see some of the driver information also available on
your instrument panel cluster. The information may be
displayed in English or metric units and appears as a
reflection on the windshield. The HUD shows:
Speedometer reading
Turn signal indicators
High
-beam indicator symbol
CHECK GAGES message (for low oil pressure, high
coolant temperature, low oil level and low fuel)
Low fuel warning symbol

yellowblue
2-78
HUD shows these images when they are lighted on the
instrument panel.
At 70 miles per hour (113 km/h), the speedometer may
display a variance of 3 miles per hour (5 km/h) from the
HUD. This condition is normal.When you sit straight in your seat, the HUD image will
appear slightly to the right.
When the ignition key is turned to RUN, all possible
HUD images will come on, then the Head
-Up Display
will operate normally.
If you never look at your instrument panel, you may not
see something important, such as a warning light. So be
sure to scan your displays and controls and the driving
environment just as you would in a vehicle without HUD.
NOTICE:
Although the HUD image appears to be near the
front of the vehicle, do not use it as a parking aid.
The HUD was not designed for that purpose. If
you try to use it that way, such as in a parking
lot, you may misjudge distance and run
into something.

yellowblue
2-85
Sometimes, strong magnetic fields can affect the
compass. If the CALIBRATE light comes on as shown
above, try calibrating the compass as follows:
1. Drive the car to an open, flat area.
2. Press and hold the MODE button until the
CALIBRATE light reappears.
3. Release the MODE button. The heading display will
start to rotate.
4. Drive the car in small circles. Don't drive faster than
10 mph (16 km/h).
5. Drive in circles until the CALIBRATE light goes
out. It usually takes one to five circles.
6. Your compass should be calibrated. You will know
this when the direction bars are on and the
CALIBRATE light is off.Compass Accuracy
Your compass may show different headings around
bridges, power lines, large metal objects and steep hills.
This is normal and is true of compasses in general.
If you put large metal objects like golf clubs in the trunk
they could affect accuracy. If the accuracy is close, the
compass will adapt to these objects over time.
If you use an antenna with a magnetic base, it is best to
mount it away from the center of the trunk near the
rear window.
The rear defog system can affect accuracy, and the
compass corrects for the rear defog. However, if the rear
defog is turned on while making sharp turns, the
accuracy may be off. When you turn the rear defog off
again, the accuracy returns to normal.
Do not turn on the rear defog if you are trying to
calibrate. The system will not allow the calibration. You
will hear the chime, and CALIBRATE will flash for a
few seconds.
Be aware that metal objects are sometimes buried in the
ground. They can affect accuracy and you may not know
they are there. As an example, many concrete roads
have metal reinforcements inside.

First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
yellowblue
3-4
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.