2004 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE check engine light

Oil Pressure Gage
Readings above the shaded warning zone indicate the
normal operating range. Oil pressure may vary with
engine speed, outside temperature and oil viscosity.
A reading in the shaded warning zone may be caused
by a low oil level or another problem causing low oil
pressure. On vehicles with the systems monitor,
the CHECK GAGES light will come on and a warning
chime will sound.On vehicles with a DIC, a CHECK GAGES OIL
PRESSURE message will be displayed and a warning
chime will sound. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-61for more information.
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches re. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance may
damage the engine. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule in this manual for changing
engine oil. United States
Canada
3-52

Check Oil Level Light
If your vehicle has the
systems monitor, the
CHECK OIL LEVEL light
comes on for ve seconds
as a bulb check each
time the ignition key
is turned to ON.
If the engine oil is more than 1.0 quart (0.9 L) low and
the engine has been shut off for at least eight minutes,
the CHECK OIL LEVEL light will come on and a
chime will sound the next time you start your vehicle.
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL light comes on, the engine oil
level should be checked at the dipstick then brought
up to the proper level, if necessary. SeeEngine Oil on
page 5-16.
On vehicles with a DIC, the CHECK OIL LEVEL light is
replaced by an OIL LEVEL LOW message. See DIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-61for more
information.
Security Light
This light on the instrument
panel cluster reminds you
to activate the
theft-deterrent system
when leaving your vehicle.
SeeUniversal Theft-Deterrent on page 2-21for more
information.
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
If your vehicle has the
systems monitor, this light
will come on and a
warning chime will sound
when the washer uid
container is less than
one-third full.
On vehicles with a DIC, the WASHER FLUID light is
replaced by the WASHER FLUID LOW message. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-61for more
information.
3-53

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is
a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much
faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace
with the traffic and allow realistic following distances,
you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking.
That means better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you are driving, brake
normally but do not pump your brakes. If you do,
the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist.
But you will use it when you brake. Once the power
assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and
the brake pedal will be harder to push.Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. ABS is an advanced
electronic braking system that will help prevent a
braking skid.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive
away, your anti-lock brake system will check itself.
You may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that
your brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with the anti-lock brake system,
this warning light will stay on. SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light on page 3-44. United States
Canada
4-7

Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance.
Expect to move slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do
not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive
on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed
according to your speedometer, not to your sense
of motion. After driving for any distance at higher
speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower
than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you are ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you are not fresh — such as after
a day’s work — do not plan to make too many miles that
rst part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing
and shoes you can easily drive in.Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it is ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course, you
will nd experienced and able service experts in GM
dealerships all across North America. They will be ready
and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-23

Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you.
If you have no blankets or extra clothing, make
body insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags,
oor mats — anything you can wrap around
yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
{CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your
vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
overcome you and kill you. You can not see it
or smell it, so you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from around the
base of your vehicle, especially any that is
blocking your exhaust pipe. And check around
again from time to time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the wind. This will
help keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little
faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and
it keeps the battery charged. You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly
for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
4-29

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal asher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your dealer. All of the electrical circuits required for
your trailer lighting system can be accessed at the
left rear lamp connector. This connector is located under
the carpet on the driver’s side in the rear corner of
your trunk compartment. The arrows on your instrument
panel will ash whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also
ash, telling other drivers you are about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It
is important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Your vehicle has bulb warning lights. When you plug a
trailer lighting system into your vehicle’s lighting
system, its bulb warning lights may not let you know if
one of your lamps goes out. So, when you have a trailer
lighting system plugged in, be sure to check your
vehicle and trailer lamps from time to time to be sure
they are all working. Once you disconnect the trailer
lamps, the bulb warning lights again can tell you if one
of your vehicle lamps is out.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbeforeyou start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you do not shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down to THIRD (3) and
reduce your speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to
reduce the possibility of the engine and transaxle
overheating.
Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle, with a
trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People
can be injured, and both your vehicle and the
trailer can be damaged.
4-44

Engine Oil
If the OIL LEVEL LOW
message appears on the
DIC, or the CHECK OIL
LEVEL light appears on the
instrument cluster, it means
you need to check your
engine oil level right away.
For more information, seeCheck Oil Level Light on
page 3-53orDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 3-61.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
5-16

Check
Engine Light...............................................3-48
Gages Warning Light...................................3-54
Tire Pressure System...................................5-68
Checking Coolant............................................5-27
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-16
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-12
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-97
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-35
Infants and Young Children...........................1-32
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-42
Older Children.............................................1-29
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System........................................1-44
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position..................................................1-44
Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Front
Seat Position...........................................1-47
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position...........................................1-47
Top Strap...................................................1-40
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-41
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-38
Chime Level Adjustment.................................3-109
Choosing Your Zone Number............................3-71
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-26Cleaning
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-91
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-94
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-97
Weatherstrips..............................................5-94
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.....5-96
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-95
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-91
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-93
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components.................5-93
Cleaning Leather............................................5-93
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel...........5-93
Cleaning Tires................................................5-96
Cleaning Vinyl................................................5-93
Cleaning Windshield and Wiper Blades..............5-95
Climate Control System...................................3-27
Automatic...................................................3-29
Climate Controls Personalization....................3-35
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-34
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-90
Compass Accuracy..........................................3-72
Compass, Electronic........................................3-70
Console Shift Lever.........................................2-34
Content Theft-Deferrent....................................2-22
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-6
Convenience Net............................................2-49
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-47
Heater, Engine............................................2-28
3