2005 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE Owners Manual

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that may
be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briey when you start the
engine just to let you know they are working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there is a problem with your vehicle.When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly — and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They are a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a DIC that works along with
the warning lights and gages. SeeDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 3-59.
The volume of your vehicle’s warning chimes can be
adjusted. For information seeChime Level Adjustment
on page 3-103.
Instrument Panel Cluster
The instrument panel clusters are designed to let you
know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You
will know how fast you are going, how much fuel you
are using, and many other things you will need to drive
safely and economically.
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Your vehicle is equipped with one of these instrument panel clusters, which includes indicator warning lights and
gages that are explained on the following pages.
3.8L V6 Engine Standard Cluster (United States version shown, Canada similar)
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3.8L V6 Engine Cluster with Driver Information Center (DIC) (United States version shown, Canada similar)
3-35

4.6L V8 Engine Cluster with Driver Information Center (DIC) (United States version shown, Canada similar)
3-36

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in miles per
hour (mph) or kilometers per hour (km/h). Your
odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven,
in either miles, used in the United States, or kilometers,
used in Canada.
Your vehicle is equipped with a tamper resistant
odometer. If you see ERROR displayed, you will know
that someone has probably tried to turn it back.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to
the mileage total of the old odometer, then it must
be. But if it cannot, then it is set at zero and a label must
be put on the driver’s door to show the old mileage
reading when the new odometer was installed.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell you how far you have driven
since you last reset it.
To set it to zero, press the
trip reset button next to the
instrument panel cluster
on the right side.
3-37

Tachometer
The tachometer shows your engine speed in revolutions
per minute (rpm).
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON or START, a chime will
come on for several seconds to remind people to fasten
their safety belts.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for several seconds,
then ash for several more.
If the driver’s belt is already buckled, the light will come
on briey, but the chime will not sound.
Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows airbag or the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag’s electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. The system check includes the airbag
sensors, the airbag modules, the wiring and the crash
sensing and diagnostic module. For more information on
the airbag system, seeAirbag System on page 1-47. V6 Engine
V8 Engine
3-38

This light will come on when you start your vehicle, and
it will ash for a few seconds. Then the light should
go out. This means the system is ready.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your
airbag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the airbag system
may not be working properly. The airbags in
your vehicle may not inate in a crash, or they
could even inate without a crash. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others, have your
vehicle serviced right away if the airbag
readiness light stays on after you start your
vehicle.
The airbag readiness light should ash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
light does not come on then, have it xed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
On vehicles with the DIC, a SERVICE airbag message
will be displayed when there is a problem with the
airbag system. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 3-62for more information. United States and V6 in
Canada
Canada (V8 Only)
3-39

Voltmeter Gage
When your engine is not running, but the ignition key is
turned to ON, this gage shows the state of the battery
charge in DC volts.When the ignition is running, the gage shows the
condition of the charging system. Readings between the
shaded warning zones indicate the normal operating
range. Readings in the shaded warning zones indicate a
possible problem in the electrical system.
On vehicles with the systems monitor, the CHECK
GAGES light will also come on, and a warning chime
will sound if there is a problem in the electrical system.
Have your vehicle serviced immediately.
On vehicles with a DIC, a CHECK CHARGE SYSTEM
message will be displayed and a warning chime will
sound if there is a problem in the electrical system. Have
your vehicle serviced immediately. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-62for more information.
V6 Engine
V8 Engine
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