
The 2003 Pontiac Bonneville Owner Manual
Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-7
Child Restraints
....................................... 1-27
Air Bag Systems
...................................... 1-47
Restraint System Check
............................ 1-56
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
...................................... 2-10
Windows
................................................. 2-1 9
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................ 2-21
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
........... 2-25
Mirrors
.................................................... 2-38
OnStap
.................................................. 2-40
HomeLink@ Transmitter
............................. 2-42
Storage Areas
......................................... 2-46
SlJnroof
................................................. 2-47
Vehicle Personalization
............................. 2-48
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
...................................... 3-25
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
......... 3-34
Systems Monitor
...................................... 3-55
Driver Information Center (DIC)
.................. 3-57 Secondary
Information Center (SIC)
............ 3-68
Audio System(s)
....................................... 3-71
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
................................................... 4-32
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
............... 5-12
Headlamp Aiming
..................................... 5-52
Bulb Replacement
.................................... 5-56
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
......... 5-61
Tires
...................................................... 5-62
Appearance Care
..................................... 5-82
Vehicle Identification
................................. 5-90
Electrical System
...................................... 5-91
C8pa.citigs
and Specifications ......... 5-100
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts .... 5-101
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information
.................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
............................ 7-8
index ................................................................ 1
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1

Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box and the word
CAUTION to tell you about
things that could hurt you
if you were to ignore the
warning.
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
I I
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is.
Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions.
If you don’t, you
or others could be hurt.
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Don’t,’’
“Don’t do this” or “Don’t let
this happen.’’
... Ill

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice will tell you about something that can damage
your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be
covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the
notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the
damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION
and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different
words.
You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
Your vehicle may be equipped with components and
labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols, used
on your vehicle, are shown along with the text
describing the operation or information relating to a
specific component, control, message, gage
or indicator
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage or indicator reference the following
topics in the Index:
“Engine Compartment Overview’’
“Instrument Panel Overview”
“Climate Controls”
“Audio Systems”
Also see
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators on
page 3-34.
iv

OFF: This is the only position from which you can
remove the key. This position locks your ignition and
transaxle. It’s a theft-deterrent feature.
ACC (Accessory): In this position you can operate
your electrical accessories such as power windows,
sunroof (option), audio system and windshield wipers.
ON: This is the position the switch returns to after
you start your engine and release the switch. Even when
the engine is not running, you can use ON
to operate
your electrical accessories and to display some
instrument panel cluster warning lights. This is the
position for driving your vehicle.
START: This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to
ON for normal driving.
Even
if the engine is not running, ACC and ON are
positions that allow you to operate your electrical
accessories.
Key Reminder Warning
If you leave your key in OFF you will hear a warning
tone when you open the driver’s door.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
After you turn the ignition off and remove the key, you
will still have power to such accessories as the
radio, sunroof (option) and power windows for up to
10 minutes. Power is turned off if you open a door.
Always leave your key in
OFF. If you leave your key in
any position other than
OFF, 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. With your foot off 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.
2-26

SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy.
You can use SECOND (2) on
hills. It can help control your speed as you go down
steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to
use your brakes
off and on.
Notice: Don’t drive in SECOND (2) for more than
5 miles (8 km), or at speeds over 55 mph (98 km/h),
or you can damage your transaxle. Use AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE
(@) or THIRD (3) as much as
possible.
Don’t shift into SECOND
(2) unless you are going
slower than
65 mph (105 km/h), or you can damage
your engine.
FIRST
(1): This position gives you even more power
but lower fuel economy than SECOND
(2). You can use
it on very steep hills, or
in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in
FIRST (l), the transaxle won’t shift
into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
Notice: If your front wheels won’t turn, don’t
try to drive. This might happen if you were stuck
in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transaxle.
Also,
if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold your
vehicle there with only the accelerator pedal. This
could overheat and damage the transaxle. Use your
brakes to
hold your vehicle in position on a hill.
Parking Brake
Your vehicle has a PUSH
TO RELEASE parking
brake. To set the parking
brake, hold the regular
brake pedal down
with your right foot. Push
down the parking brake
pedal with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on and four chimes will be heard.
If you start to drive with the parking brake set, a chime
will sound after the vehicle has traveled approximately
40 feet (1 2 m)
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot and push the parking
brake pedal with your left foot. When you lift your
left foot, the parking brake pedal will follow it to the
release position.
2-3 1

Section 3 Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview ............................... 3.4
Hazard Warning Flashers
................................ 3.5
Other Warning Devises
................................... 3.6
Horn
............................................................. 3.6
Tilt Wheel
..................................................... 3.6
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
......................... 3.7
Exterior Lamps
............................................. 3.13
Interior Lamps
.............................................. 3.16
Head-Up Display (HUD)
................................. 3-21
Accessory Power Outlets
............................... 3.23
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
........................ 3.24
Ciimate Controls ............................................ 3.25
Climate Control System ................................. 3.25
Automatic Climate Control System
................... 3.28
Outlet Adjustment
......................................... 3.32
Climate Controls Personalization
..................... 3.33
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ............. 3.34
Instrument Panel Cluster
................................ 3-35
Speedometer and Odometer
-8-38
Tachometer ................................................. 3.39
Safety Belt Reminder Light
............................. 3.39
. -- ..........................
Air Bag Readiness Light ............................. 3.40
Battery Warning bight
.................................... 3-41
Voltmeter Gage
............................................ 3-41
Brake System Warning Light
.......................... 3-42
Warning Light
........................................... 3-43
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light
...... 3-43
Low Traction Active Light ............................... 3-44
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
.................. 3-45
Tire Pressure Light
....................................... 3-46
Anti-Lock
Brake System
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
....... ............... 3-46
Oil Pressure Gage
.................. ............... 3-49
Check Oil Level Light
J-50
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light ..................... 3-51
n ....................................
Security Light ............................................... 3-51
Check Gages Warning Light
........................... 3-51
Door Ajar Light
............................................. 3-52
Trunk Ajar Light
............................................ 3-52
............... 3-53
Fuel Gage
............................. ............... 3-53
Boost Gage
....................... ................... 3-54
Cnnrirn vu, Y . "1 \!nhirlo I . ..-.- Snnn - - - . lizht . ~
3- 1

Section 3 Instrument Panel
Systems Monitor ............................................ 3.55
Driver Information Center (DIC) ....................... 3.57
DIC Controls and Displays
............................. 3.57
DIC Warnings and Messages
........................ -3-60
Driver Identifier DIC Display
........................... 3.61
DIC Vehicle Personalization
............................ 3.62
Center (SIC) ................................................ 3.68
Electronic Compass
...................................... 3.68
Audio System(s) ............................................. 3.71
Setting the Time
........................................... 3.71
Secondary Information
Radio with CD .............................................. 3.72
Radio with Cassette and CD
.......................... 3.82
Trunk-Mounted
CD Changer ........................... 3-94
Theft-Deterrent Feature
.................................. 3.98
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
....................... 3.98
Understanding Radio Reception
...................... 3.99
Care
of Your Cassette Tape Player ............... 3-100
Care of Your
CDs ....................................... 3.100
Care of Your CD Player ............................... 3.101
Diversity Antenna System
............................. 3.101
XM Satellite Radio Antenna System ............... 3.101
Chime Level Adjustment
............................... 3.101
3-2

The main components of your instrument panel are the
following:
A. Air Outlets
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
C. Audio System Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
D. Windshield Wiper Lever
E. Steering Column Shift Lever
F. Driver Information Center (DIC) Controls
G. Audio System
H. Hazard Warning Flashers Control
I. Twilight Sentinel@ Controls and Fog Lamps Button
J. Ignition Switch
K. Comfort Control System
L. Heated Seat Switches (Option)
M. Traction Control Button (If Equipped)
N. Cigarette Lighter
u. Giove Eox
(If Equipped)
Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others.
They also let police know you have a probiem. 'Your
front and rear turn signal lamps will flash on and
off.
3-5