2000 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE air condition

Table of Contents (cont'd)
Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving
Control of a Vehicle
Braking
SteeringDriving Tips for Various Road Conditions
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer Heating and Air Conditioning
Setting the Radio Clock
Radio/Cassette Player/CD PlayerRadio Theft-Deterrent Feature
Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
Hazard Warning Flashers
Jump Starting
Towing Your VehicleEngine Overheating
Changing a Flat Tire
If You're Stuck
Problems on the Road
iii
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
Your Driving and the Road
Section
3
Section
4
Section
5

2-70

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.

2-72
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
NOTICE:
Modifications made to the engine, transaxle,
exhaust or fuel system of your vehicle or the
replacement of the original tires with other than
those of the same Tire Performance Criteria
(TPC) can affect your vehicle's emission controls
and may cause the SERVICE ENGINE SOON
light to come on. Modifications to these systems
could lead to costly repairs not covered by your
warranty. This may also result in a failure to pass
a required Emission Inspection/Maintenance test.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn't come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:

Light Flashing
-- A misfire condition has been
detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.

Light On Steady
-- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:

Reducing vehicle speed.

Avoiding hard accelerations.

Avoiding steep uphill grades.

If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.

3-2
Comfort Controls
This section tells you how to make your air system work
for you.
With these systems, you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation in your vehicle. Your vehicle also has a
flow
-through ventilation system described later in
this section.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a passenger
compartment air filter. For more information, see
ªPassenger Compartment Air Filterº in the Index.
Comfort Controls Personalization
(If Equipped)
This feature allows two different drivers to store and
recall their own climate control settings for temperature,
air delivery mode and fan speed. The personal choice
settings recalled are determined by the transmitter used
to enter the vehicle. After the button with the unlock
symbol on a remote keyless entry transmitter is pressed,
and the ignition is in RUN, the climate control will
adjust to the last settings of the identified driver. The
settings can also be changed by pressing one of the
memory buttons (1 or 2) located on the driver's door,
until you hear two beeps. When adjustments are made,
the new settings are automatically saved for that driver.
Standard Climate Control System
Fan Knob
The left knob regulates the force of the air coming
through the system. Turn the knob clockwise to increase
the fan speed and counterclockwise to decrease the fan
speed. Push the knob to turn the fan off. The fan must
be on to run the air conditioning compressor.
Temperature Knob
The right knob regulates the temperature of the air
coming through the system. Turn it toward the blue area
for cooler air. Turn it toward the red area for warmer air.

3-3
Mode Buttons
You may choose the direction of air delivery by
selecting one of the five mode control buttons.
PANEL: This setting directs airflow through the
upper air outlets located in the instrument panel.
BI-LEVEL: This setting directs airflow through
both the upper air outlets and the lower floor outlets.
There is also a small amount of air directed to the front
defroster and the side window defrosters.
FLOOR: This setting directs most of the airflow
to the lower floor outlets with some airflow directed to
the side window defrosters. There is also a small amount
of airflow directed to the front defroster.
DEFOG: This setting directs most of the airflow
to the lower floor outlets and the front windshield
defroster. A small amount of airflow is directed to the
side window defroster outlets. This mode can be useful
to remove the moisture from the inside of the windshield
when the outside temperature is cold or the humidity
is high.
FRONT: This setting directs most of the airflow
to the front windshield defroster with some airflow to
the side window defrosters and lower floor outlets.
To improve windshield clearing performance when you
select FRONT defrost, your air conditioning compressor
will run automatically above approximately 40
F (4
C).
This dehumidifies the air to help dry the windshield.
Even though the compressor may be running, the A/C
light will not come on in FRONT defrost unless you
select A/C.
Recirc Button
RECIRC: Press this button to limit the amount
of outside air entering your vehicle. This is helpful when
you are trying to quickly cool the interior of the vehicle
or to limit odors entering the vehicle. RECIRC may be
selected in all manual airflow modes except FRONT
defrost. If you select RECIRC while in defrost, the
RECIRC light will flash to let you know that this is
not allowed. This is to help prevent fogging.

3-4
When the weather is cool or damp, operating in
RECIRC for extended periods of time may cause
fogging of the vehicle's windows. To clear the fog,
switch back to outside air by turning off RECIRC, select
either DEFOG or FRONT defrost mode and increase the
fan speed. To avoid refogging of the windows, minimize
your use of RECIRC under these conditions and turn the
A/C on to help dehumidify the air.
A/C Button
A/C: Press this button to turn the air conditioning
compressor on and off. The system will cool and
dehumidify the air inside your vehicle. If your comfort
control system is off, you can also turn it back on in
PANEL mode by selecting the A/C button.
Even though A/C is not selected, in FRONT defrost
mode the A/C compressor will run automatically at
temperatures over approximately 40
F (4
C) to
improve windshield clearing performance.
Electronic Climate Control System (Option)
Temperature Knob (Driver's Side)
The driver's side knob changes the temperature of the
air coming through the system on the driver's side.
Turn the knob toward the blue area to decrease the
set temperature. Turn the knob toward the red area to
increase the set temperature. When this knob is adjusted,
the word DRIVER will be displayed under the set
temperature. When the passenger's set temperature is
not active, this knob controls both the driver's and
passenger's side, and both DRIVER and PASS will be
displayed under the set temperature.

3-6
Automatic Operation
When the system is set for AUTO, your climate control
system will control the air delivery mode, fan speed,
A/C and RECIRC operations. Air will come from
the floor, panel or windshield outlets. The fan speed
will vary as the system maintains the selected
temperature setting.
When AUTO is selected, the A/C operation and air inlet
will be automatically controlled. The air conditioning
compressor will run at outside temperatures over
approximately 40
F (4
C). The air inlet will normally
be set to outside air. If it's hot outside, the air inlet will
automatically switch to recirculated inside air to help
quickly cool down your vehicle.
To find your comfort zone, start with 75
F (24
C)
temperature setting and allow about 20 minutes for the
system to regulate. Turn the TEMP knob up or down to
adjust the temperature setting if necessary. If you choose
the temperature setting of 60
F (15
C), the system will
remain at the maximum cooling setting and fan speed.
If you choose the temperature setting of 90
F (33
C),
the system will remain at the maximum heat setting and
fan speed. Choosing either maximum setting will not
cause the system to heat or cool any faster.Be careful not to cover the sensor located on the top of
the instrument panel near the windshield. This sensor
regulates temperature based on sun load.
The EXT (exterior) temperature sensor is located in the
front of the vehicle behind the grille. The displayed
temperature is most accurate after the vehicle has been
moving for a few minutes. If the vehicle is stopped and
then restarted within 2 1/2 hours, the sensor will be hot
from the engine heat. In this case, the temperature first
displayed will continue to be the previous temperature.
The display will update after the vehicle has been
moving for a few minutes and the sensor has a chance
to cool down to the actual temperature.
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 engine coolant
temperature. Pushing the fan button will override this
delay and change the fan to a selected speed.

3-7
Manual Operation
You may also manually adjust the air delivery mode or
fan speed.
FLOOR: Manually selecting FLOOR mode by
cycling through the MODE settings will deliver air to
the floor outlets.
DEFOG: Manually selecting DEFOG by cycling
through the MODE settings will deliver air to the floor
and windshield outlets.
BI-LEVEL: Manually selecting BI-LEVEL
by cycling through the MODE settings will deliver
warm air to the floor and cooler air to the instrument
panel outlets.
PANEL: Manually selecting PANEL by cycling
through the MODE setting will deliver air to the
instrument panel outlets.
DRIVER PUSH OFF: Press this knob to turn the
system off. Some fresh air will continue to flow through
the vehicle from the FLOOR outlets, and the system will
try to maintain the previously chosen comfort setting.PASSENGER PUSH OFF: Press this knob to cancel
the passenger's set temperature. The passenger's set
temperature will be set equal to the driver's set
temperature. Both the words DRIVER and PASS will be
displayed under the set temperature in the display area.
A/C: Press this button to turn the air conditioning
compressor on and off. When A/C is selected or in
AUTO mode, the system will run the A/C automatically
to cool and dehumidify the air inside the vehicle. If you
select A/C OFF while in FRONT defrost, the A/C OFF
text will flash to let you know this is not allowed. This is
to prevent fogging.
RECIRC: Press this button to limit the amount
of outside air entering your vehicle. You may use this
setting to limit odors entering your vehicle. Press
RECIRC to recirculate inside air until the RECIRC
button is pressed again or the OUTSIDE AIR button
is pressed.
If you select RECIRC while in defrost the RECIRC light
will flash to let you know this is not allowed. This is to
prevent fogging.