2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE tires

2-59
The cigarette lighter is located next to the storage tray.
To use a lighter, just push the center in all the way and
let it go. When it is ready, the center will pop back out
by itself. Pull out the entire unit to use it.
NOTICE:
Don't hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it is heating. If you do, it won't be able to
back away from the heating element when it's
ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
The cigarette lighter will only operate when the ignition
key is in ON and for 10 minutes after turning the
ignition OFF. If you would like the lighter to operate
regardless of ignition position, and for extended periods
of time, see ªEngine Compartment Fuse Blockº in the
Index or see your dealer.
Sun Visors
To block out glare, you can swing down the visors. You
can also remove them from the center mount and swing
them to the side, while the auxiliary sunshade remains to
block glare from the front.
Visor Vanity Mirror
Open the cover to expose the vanity mirror.
If your vehicle has the optional lighted vanity mirrors,
the lamps come on when you open the cover.
Air Inflator System (Option)
Some vehicles have an air inflator located in the trunk
for use in maintaining proper air pressure for the tires.

2-86
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD II (On
-Board
Diagnostics
-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life
of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The SERVICE ENGINE SOON light
comes on to indicate that there is a problem and service
is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated by the
system before any problem is apparent. This may
prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. This
system is also designed to assist your service technician
in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.
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, intake 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.

2-94
Systems Monitor (If Equipped)
If you have the systems
monitor, it gives you
important safety and
maintenance facts about
your vehicle.
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 and a chime
will sound.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
five 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 ªLow Washer Fluid Warning
Lightº in the Index.

DOOR AJAR: 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 ªDoor
Ajar Lightº in the Index.

TIRE PRESS: This message means one or more of
your tires may be low. See ªCheck Tire Pressure
Systemº in the Index.

CHECK GAGES: This means one or more of your
gages may be in their respective warning bands. If
this light comes on, see ªCheck Gages Warning
Lightº in the Index.

TRUNK AJAR: This message means your trunk is
not completely closed.

2-98
Fuel Range: Press the SELECT button until the display
shows FUEL RANGE. The fuel range will calculate the
remaining distance you can drive without refueling. This
calculation is based on the average fuel economy for the
last 25 miles (40.25 km) driven, and the fuel remaining
in the fuel tank. If the fuel range drops below 40 miles
(64.4 km), the display will show FUEL RANGE LOW.
The RESET button does not function in this mode.
Fuel Used: Press the SELECT button until the display
shows FUEL USED. The value indicates how much fuel
has been used since the last reset. Don't confuse fuel
used with the amount of fuel in your tank. To learn how
much fuel will be used from a specific starting point,
press the RESET button for five seconds while the fuel
used is displayed on the DIC.
Battery Volts: On vehicles with a supercharged engine,
press the SELECT button until the display shows
BATTERY VOLTS. If the voltage is normal the display
will show BATTERY ## VOLTS. If the voltage drops
below 10.5 volts for 30 seconds, the battery volts
display will show BATTERY LOW. If the voltage is
above 16.2 volts for 30 seconds, the battery volts display
will show BATTERY HIGH. If the display shows the
high or low message, you need to have your battery
and/or electrical system checked.GM Oil Life System
: Press the SELECT button until
OIL LIFE appears in the display. The OIL LIFE
NORMAL display will show an estimate of the oil's
remaining useful life. When the oil life index is less than
10%, an ENGINE OIL CHANGE SOON message will
be displayed and the oil life display will show OIL LIFE
CHANGE. When you have the oil changed according to
the maintenance schedule, you will have to reset the Oil
Life System. To reset the Oil Life System, see ªOil Life
Systemº in the Index. Also, see ªEngine Oil, When to
Changeº and ªMaintenance Scheduleº in the Index.
Tire Pressure Status: Press the SELECT button until
TIRE PRESSURE appears in the display. TIRE
PRESSURE NORMAL is displayed when the Check
Tire Pressure System believes your vehicle's tire
pressures are normal. If a potential problem is detected,
the display will show CHECK TIRE PRESSURE and
the tire pressure status will show TIRE PRESSURE
LOW. If you see the CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
message, you should stop as soon as you can and check
all your tires for damage. (If a tire is flat, see ªIf a Tire
Goes Flatº in the Index.) Also check the tire pressure in
all four tires as soon as you can. See ªInflation
-- Tire
Pressureº and ªCheck Tire Pressure Systemº in
the Index.

2-100
STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVE - 55: You may see
the STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVE message on the
Driver Information Center. It means that an advanced,
computer
-controlled system 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.
When the STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVE message is
on, 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. If the
STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVE message comes on,
you'll know that something has caused your vehicle to
start to spin, so you should consider slowing down.
Tire Pressure Status
- 144: If you see the CHECK
TIRE PRESSURE message, you should stop as soon as
you can and check all your tires for damage. (If a tire is
flat, see ªIf a Tire Goes Flatº in the Index.) Also check
the tire pressure in all four tires as soon as you can. See
ªInflation
- Tire Pressureº and ªCheck Tire Pressure
Systemº in the Index.
Electronic Compass
If your vehicle has a DIC,
it also is equipped with an
electronic compass. As with
all compasses, this unit
senses the earth's magnetic
field to show the direction
the vehicle is pointing.
The earth's magnetic field is not always the same
direction as true north as we know it. So, you must enter
a zone number to tell the compass the difference
between magnetic and actual north. This tells the
compass where in the country you are driving.
The compass remembers your zone, so you only have to
change it if you drive to a new zone on the map. The
compass adjusts only a small amount for each zone, so
you may not notice a difference if you drive from one
zone to the next one, until you cross several zones.

4-6
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you're driving on snow or ice, it's
easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. That means you can lose control
of your vehicle. Also see ªTraction Control Systemº in
the Index.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That's perception time. Then you have to bring up
your foot and do it. That's reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But
that's only an average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle
moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m).
That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and others
is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it's pavement or
gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the
vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.

4-11 Magnetic-Speed Variable Assist
Steering (Option)
Your vehicle may have this optional steering system that
continuously adjusts the effort you feel when steering at
all vehicle speeds. It provides ease when parking, yet a
firm, solid feel at highway speeds.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It's important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the ªdriver lost controlº accidents mentioned
on the news happen on curves. Here's why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there's no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you've ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you'll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle
at which the curve is banked, and your speed. While
you're in a curve, speed is the one factor you
can control.Suppose you're steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems
-- steering and acceleration -- have to do
their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the
sudden acceleration can demand too much of those
places. You can lose control. Refer to ªTraction Controlº
in the Index.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it
to go, and slow down.
If you have Stabilitrak

, you may see the STABILITY
SYSTEM ACTIVE message on the Driver Information
Center. See ªStability System Active Messageº in
the Index.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are
based on good weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you'll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can ªdriveº through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.

4-15
Loss of Control
Let's review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don't have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don't give up. Keep trying to
steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not ªoverdrivingº
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle's
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren't rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If you have the traction control system, remember:
It helps avoid only the acceleration skid.
If you do not have traction control, or if the system is
off, then an acceleration skid is also best handled by
easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
If you have Stabilitrak

, you may see the STABILITY
SYSTEM ACTIVE message on the Driver Information
Center. See ªStability System Active Messageº in
the Index.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you'll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.