2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE warning light

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Instrument Panel Clusters
The instrument panel clusters are designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You'll know how
fast you're going, how much fuel you're using, and many other things you'll need to drive safely and economically.
Your vehicle is equipped with one of these instrument panel clusters, which includes indicator warning lights and
gages that are explained on the following pages.
Standard Cluster (United States version shown, Canada similar)

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Warning Lights, Gages
and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle's functions. As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they're working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle's functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there's a problem with your vehicle.When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual's advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They're a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a Driver Information Center
that works along with the warning lights and gages.
See ªDriver Information Centerº in the Index.
The volume of your vehicle's warning chimes can be
adjusted. For more information see ªChime Level
Adjustmentº in the Index.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts.
The safety belt light will
also come on and either stay
on for about 20 seconds,
then flash for about
55 seconds, or stay on for
about 65 seconds.

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If the driver's belt is already buckled, the light will
come on briefly, but the chime will not sound.
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag's electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the air bag sensors, the air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, see ªAir
Bagº in the Index.
This light will come on
when you start your vehicle,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they
could even inflate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the air bag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds 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.
On vehicles with the optional DIC, a SERVICE AIR
BAG message will be displayed when there is a problem
with the air bag system. See ªDIC Warnings and
Messagesº in the Index for more information.

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Battery Warning Light (If Equipped)
This light will come on
briefly when you start the
vehicle, as a check to show
you it is working; then it
should go out.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the electrical charging system.
It could indicate that you have a generator problem or
another electrical system problem. Have it checked right
away. Driving while this light is on could drain
your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and comfort control system.
Some instrument panel clusters with a voltmeter gage do
not have a battery warning light. They have a CHECK
GAGES warning to indicate a problem.
On vehicles with the optional DIC, a CHECK CHARGE
SYSTEM message will be displayed and a warning
chime will sound. See ªDIC Warnings and Messagesº in
the Index for more information.
Voltmeter (If Equipped)
You have a voltmeter
unless you have the
supercharged engine.
When the ignition is running, the gage shows the
condition of the charging system. Readings between the
red warning zones indicate the normal operating range.
Readings in the red warning zones indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system.
On vehicles with the systems monitor, the CHECK
GAGES light will also come on, and a warning chime
will sound if there is a problem in the electrical system.
Have your vehicle serviced immediately.
On vehicles with the optional DIC, a CHECK CHARGE
SYSTEM message will be displayed and a warning chime
will sound if there is a problem in the electrical system. Have
your vehicle serviced immediately. See ªDIC Warnings and
Messagesº in the Index for more information.

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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.
United States Canada
This light should come on briefly when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. 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 comes 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 stays on after your parking brake is
fully released, it means you have a brake problem.
If you have the optional Driver Information Center, a
PARK BRAKE SET message will be displayed while
the park brake is set.

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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
United States Canada
With the anti
-lock brake system, the light(s) will come
on when you turn the key to RUN and may stay on for
five 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.

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The traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:

If you turn the system off by pressing the
TRACTION CONTROL button located on the
center console, the warning light will come on and
stay on. To turn the system back on, press the
button again. The warning light should go off.
(See ªTraction Control Systemº in the Index for
more information.)

If there's a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control system
will turn off and the warning light will come on.
If your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control
system will turn off and the warning light will come
on until your brakes cool down.

If the traction control system is affected by an
engine
-related problem, the system will turn off and
the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
Low Traction Active (LOW TRAC) Light
Your LOW TRAC (Low
Traction Active) light may
come on for one of the
following reasons:

An advanced computer
-controlled system called
Stabilitrak (if equipped) has come on to help your
vehicle continue to go in the direction in which
you're steering. This stability enhancement system
activates when the computer senses that your vehicle
is just starting to spin, as it might if you hit a patch
of ice or other slippery spot on the road. When the
system is on, you may hear a noise or feel a vibration
in the brake pedal. This is normal.
In these situations when the LOW TRAC light is on
and the system is engaged, you should continue to
steer in the direction you want to go. The system is
designed to help you in bad weather or other difficult
driving situations by making the most of whatever
road conditions will permit.

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The optional Traction Control System is active and is
limiting wheel spin. You may feel the system
working, but this is normal. Slippery road conditions
may exist, so adjust your driving accordingly.
If the LOW TRAC light comes on, slippery road
conditions may exist, so you should consider slowing
down and adjusting your driving accordingly.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
United States Canada
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.To prevent engine overheating, the air conditioning
compressor will turn off automatically just prior to the
gage pointer entering the red area. As the engine cools
down, the air conditioning compressor will
automatically turn back on. On vehicles equipped with
the DIC, the message ENGINE HOT... A/C DISABLED
will appear in the DIC display and a warning chime
will sound.
If the gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine
is too hot. On vehicles equipped with the systems
monitor, the CHECK GAGES light will come on and a
warning chime will sound.
On vehicles with the optional DIC, a CHECK GAGES
TEMPERATURE message will be displayed and a
warning chime will sound. See ªDIC Warnings and
Messagesº in the Index for more information.
The section ªProblems on the Road,º in this manual
explains what to do if your engine overheats.
See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.