2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE ignition

2-33 Console Shift Lever (Option)
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:

Hold in the button on the lever.

Push the lever all the way toward the front of
the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don't leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you've moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the
regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the
shift lever away from PARK (P) without first pulling it
toward you (or, if you have the console shift lever,
without first pushing the button). If you can, it means
that the shift lever wasn't fully locked into PARK (P).

2-34
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don't shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P). This is called ªtorque lock.º To
prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift
into PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver's
seat. To find out how, see ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in
the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transaxle, so you
can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock control
system. You have to fully apply your regular brake before
you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in ON.
See ªAutomatic Transaxleº in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you want (if you have
the console shift lever, press the button first). If you ever
hold the brake pedal down but still can't shift out of
PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Take your vehicle to an authorized service center as
soon as you can.

2-39 Headlamps
The headlamp control is located on the left steering
column lever.
Turn the control to this symbol to turn on
the following:

Parking Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Taillamps

License Plate Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights
Turn the headlamp control to this symbol to turn
on the following:

Headlamps

Parking Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Taillamps

License Plate Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights
Turn the headlamp control back to the off position to
turn all of the lamps and lights off.
Wiper
-Activated Headlamps
This feature turns on the low
-beam headlamps,
instrument panel cluster backlighting and taillamps
when the Twilight Sentinel
 is in day mode and after
the windshield wipers have been in use for
approximately six seconds.
To operate the wiper
-activated headlamps, the Twilight
Sentinel must be on. If the wiper
-activated headlamps
are on and the ignition switch is turned to ON, the
wiper
-activated headlamps will continue. When you
turn the key to OFF, the wiper
-activated headlamps will
immediately turn off. The wiper
-activated headlamps
will also turn off if you turn off the Twilight Sentinel or
the windshield wipers.

2-44
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:

Press and hold the SET button until you get to the
speed you want, and then release it.

To slow down in very small amounts, press and
release the SET button briefly. Each time you do
this, you'll go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
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 three ways to turn off the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal,

move the cruise switch to OFF, or

push the cruise lever toward the driver.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.

2-45
Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
See ªTurn Signal/Multifunction Leverº in the Index.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully
functional daytime running lights are required on all
vehicles first sold in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel monitors
the exterior light level for the operation of DRL and
Twilight Sentinel

, so be sure it isn't covered.
The DRL system will make your high
-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when the following
conditions are met:

The ignition is on,

the headlamp control is off, and

the transaxle is not in PARK (P).When the DRL are on, only your high
-beam headlamps
will be on at reduced intensity. The taillamps,
sidemarker and other lamps won't be on. Your
instrument panel won't be lit either.
When it's dark enough outside, your regular intensity
headlamps will come on at full brightness and the DRL
lighting will turn off. The parking lamps that normally
come on with your headlamps will also come on. When
it's bright enough outside, the regular intensity
headlamps and parking lamps will turn back off, and the
reduced brightness DRL lighting will turn back on.
To idle your vehicle during the day with the DRL off,
shift the transaxle into PARK (P). The DRL will stay off
until you shift out of PARK (P).
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 and back to OFF. Turn the knob clockwise to turn
the exterior lighting back on. The lamps will come back
on automatically when you put the transaxle in gear.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.

2-47
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 ON or until the manual parking 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 control.
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.

2-48
Illuminated Entry
If it is dark enough outside and you press the button
with the unlock symbol on the remote keyless entry
transmitter (if equipped), 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 ON 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.
Delayed Entry Lighting
When you open the door to enter your vehicle, the
interior lamps will come on if it is dark outside. 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. Locking the doors with the power door lock
switch, or with the lock button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter (if equipped), will override the delayed
entry lighting and the lamps will turn off immediately.
Theater Dimming
This feature allows for a three to five-second fade out of
the courtesy lamps instead of immediate turn off after
you remove the key from the ignition.
Delayed Exit Lighting
This feature will turn on the interior lamps for 25 seconds
after you remove the key from the ignition while the doors
are closed and it is night. This will give you time to find
the door handle or lock switches as you exit the vehicle.
This lighting will only be deactivated if the key is
reinserted into the ignition switch or the power door
locks are activated.
Parade Dimming
To activate the instrument panel backlighting during the
day, turn the headlamp switch to the parking lamp or
headlamp position. Dimming of the instrument panel
display is not possible during daylight hours. The
instrument panel display can only be adjusted when the
parking lamps or headlamps are on and it is dark outside.

2-49 Perimeter Lighting
When the button with the unlock symbol on the remote
keyless entry transmitter (if equipped) is pressed, the
DRL headlamps, parking lamps and back
-up lamps will
turn on if it is dark enough outside.
Personalization Programming
This feature can be programmed in the on or off mode
for each transmitter.
To turn the feature off do the following:
1. Keep all doors closed, the 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 on at this time and the horn will
chirp twice.
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 do the following:
1. Keep all doors closed, the 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.