2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE battery

2-16
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
in OFF).
This light on the instrument
panel cluster reminds you to
activate the theft
-deterrent
system when leaving
your vehicle.
To activate 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.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. See your dealer for service.
Once the theft system is armed, the THEFT light on the
Twilight Sentinel

dimmer switch will flash to indicate
the system is armed.
If a door is opened without the key or remote keyless
entry transmitter, or if the door key cylinders are
damaged, the alarm will go off. The exterior lamps will
flash and the horn will sound for 30 seconds, 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 the button with the unlock symbol on the
remote keyless entry transmitter. The alarm won't stop
if you try to unlock a door any other way.

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START (D): This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to RUN for normal driving.
Even if the engine is not running, ACCESSORY and
RUN are positions that allow you to operate your
electrical accessories.
Key Reminder Warning
If you leave your key in the ignition, in the LOCK
position, you will hear a warning tone when you open
the driver's door.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
After you turn the ignition off and even remove the key,
you will still have electrical power to such accessories
as the radio, sunroof (if equipped) 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 position other 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 vehicle
is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
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.

2-22
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. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.
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.
NOTICE:
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 ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
In very cold weather, 0
F (-18
C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You'll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm
-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.

2-43
At night, you can turn off all exterior lamps when you
are in PARK (P) by turning the Twilight Sentinel knob
all the way to OFF. If the knob was already in OFF, it
must be cycled to ON then back to OFF, to turn the
exterior lighting off. The lamps will come back on when
you turn the knob clockwise.
If the Twilight Sentinel lighting is active, it can be
disabled by turning on the manual parking lamps. This
lighting will be disabled until the key is turned from
RUN or until the manual park lamps are turned OFF.
Also, it's possible that your headlamps may go out if
you drive from a dark area into a bright area like a
lighted parking lot. If this happens, turn on your
headlamps with the regular headlamp switch.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the manual lamp control has been left on, the exterior
lamps will turn off approximately 10 minutes after the
ignition is turned to OFF and any door has been opened.
This protects against draining the battery in case you
have accidentally left the headlamps or parking lamps
on. If you need to leave the lamps on for more than
10 minutes, use the manual control to turn the lamps
back on after turning the ignition to OFF and opening
any door. To delay the lamps from turning off,
see ªTwilight Sentinel

º in the Index.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel/Brightness Control
When it is dark outside, you can brighten or dim your
instrument panel cluster lights by turning the DIM knob in
the light control. Turn the knob clockwise to brighten the
instrument panel 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 panel
cluster lights and displays and to turn off the courtesy lamps.
Courtesy Lamps
If it is dark enough outside, when any door is opened,
several lamps will come on. They make it easier for you
to enter and leave the vehicle. Turn the dimmer knob all
the way clockwise to turn the interior courtesy lamps on.
Illuminated Entry
If it is dark enough outside and you press the button with
the unlock symbol on the remote keyless entry transmitter,
the interior courtesy lamps will come on and stay on for
approximately 40 seconds. The lamps will turn off
immediately by pressing the button with the lock symbol
on the remote keyless entry transmitter, turning the ignition
key to RUN or activating the power door locks.
If a door is left ajar, your interior lamps will turn off
after 10 minutes to save your battery.

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4. Press the instant alarm on the transmitter again. Perimeter
lighting is disabled and the horn will chirp once.
5. Release the door lock switch. The perimeter lighting
feature is now off.
To turn the feature on:
1. Keep all doors closed, vehicle in PARK (P) and the
ignition on throughout this procedure.
2. Press and hold LOCK on the power door lock switch
throughout this procedure. All the doors will lock.
3. Press the instant alarm on the transmitter. Perimeter
lighting remains off at this time and the horn will
chirp once.
4. Press the instant alarm on the transmitter again.
Perimeter lighting is now enabled and the horn will
chirp twice.
5. Release the door lock switch. The perimeter lighting
feature is now on.
This procedure only changes the mode for the
transmitter used to change this setting. The procedure
will need to be repeated for the second transmitter.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you must program this feature through the
DIC. See ªDriver Information Center Personalization
Programmingº in the Index.Front Reading Lamps
The front reading lamps will come on as courtesy lamps
when you open any of the doors while it is dark outside.
They will also come on as part of the interior lighting
features listed previously.
To turn on a reading lamp when the doors are closed,
press either switch. Press it again to turn the lamp off.
To avoid draining your vehicle's battery, be sure to turn
off the reading lamps when leaving your vehicle. See
ªInadvertent Power Battery Saverº later in this section
for more information.

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Rear Reading Lamps
The rear reading lamps will come on as courtesy lamps
when you open any of the doors while it is dark outside.
They will also come on as part of the interior lighting
features listed previously.
To turn on a reading lamp when the doors are closed,
press either switch. Press it again to turn the lamp off.
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver
This feature is designed to protect your vehicle's battery
against drainage from the interior lamps, trunk lamp,
glove box lamp or cigarette lighters. When the ignition
is turned off, the power to these features will
automatically turn off after 10 minutes. Power will be
restored for an additional 10 minutes if any door is
opened, the trunk is opened or the courtesy lamp switch
is turned on. To restore power back to the cigarette
lighters the ignition must be turned back to RUN.
Battery Load Management
The battery load management feature is designed to
monitor the vehicle's electrical load and determine when
the battery is in a heavy discharge condition. During
times of high electrical loading, the engine may idle at
higher revolutions per minute (rpm) than normal to
make sure the battery charges. High electrical loads may
occur when several of the following are on: headlamps,
high beams, fog lamps, rear window defogger, high
blower fan, heated seats and engine cooling fans.

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If your vehicle's battery remains in a heavy discharge
condition for a long period of time, the blower fan, rear
defogger, heated seats and heated mirrors will be
disabled and the DIC will display BATTERY SAVER
ACTIVE. This can happen either under long periods of
idling or low speed driving with high electrical loading,
or in the event of a charging system fault.
Monitor the battery voltage when in the BATTERY
SAVER ACTIVE mode.

If the voltmeter remains in the red area (below
11 volts) when driving then have the charging
system serviced immediately.

If the voltage increases above 12 volts then the battery
needs to be recharged. Try driving on the highway
with as few electrical accessories on as possible.
Mirrors
Inside Day/Night Manual Rearview Mirror
When you are sitting in a comfortable driving position,
adjust the mirror so you can see clearly behind your
vehicle. Grip the mirror in the center to move it up or
down and side to side. The day/night adjustment allows
you to adjust the mirror to avoid glare from the lamps
behind you. Push the tab away from you for daytime
use; pull it toward you for night use.
Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
(If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have an automatic electrochromic
day/night rearview mirror.
When this feature is turned on, the mirror automatically
changes to reduce glare from headlamps behind you.
A photocell on the mirror senses when it is becoming
dark outside. Another photocell built into the mirror face
senses when headlamps are behind you.
At night, when the glare is too high, the mirror will
gradually darken to reduce glare (this change may take a
few seconds). The mirror will return to its clear daytime
state when the glare is reduced.

2-53
The accessory power outlet will only operate when the
ignition key is in the RUN position and for 10 minutes
after turning the ignition OFF. If you would like the
accessory power outlet to operate regardless of ignition
position, and for unlimited periods of time, see ªEngine
Compartment Bussed Electrical Centerº in the Index or
see your dealer.
Leaving an accessory on for a long period of time, or a
fuse in the wrong place, can drain the vehicle's battery.
NOTICE:
When using the accessory power outlet, the
maximum load of any electrical equipment
should not exceed 15 amps.
OnStar
System (If Equipped)
Onstar is a vehicle communications service. The
following services are available through a subscription
with OnStar and are available 24 hours a day:
Emergency Services

Automatic Notification of Air Bag Deployment

Theft Notification and Stolen
-Vehicle Tracking

Roadside Assistance with Location

Remote Diagnostics

OnStar MED
-NET

Accident Assist
Convenience Services

Remote Door Unlock

Route Support

Concierge Services

Ride Assist
A complete user's guide is provided with the OnStar
System. For more information contact OnStar
at 1
-888-ONSTAR7.