2005 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE warning light

Headlamps on Reminder
If you open the driver’s door while leaving the
headlamps or parking lamps on and the key is in OFF,
you will hear a warning chime.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
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 lamps are required on all vehicles
rst 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 is not covered. The DRL
system will make your low-beam headlamps come on
at a reduced brightness. In order for the DRL system to
be activated, the following conditions must be met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamp control is off.
The transaxle is not in PARK (P).When the DRL are on, only your low-beam headlamps
will be on at reduced intensity. The taillamps,
sidemarker and other lamps will not be on. Your
instrument panel will not be lit either.
When it is 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 is 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.
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HUD shows these images when they are lighted on the
instrument panel.
The speedometer may display a difference of 1.5 mph
(2.4 km/h) from the HUD image. This is normal.
When the ignition key is turned to ON, all possible HUD
images will come on, then the HUD will operate
normally.
If you never look at your instrument panel cluster, you
may not see something important, such as a warning
light. So be sure to scan your displays and controls and
the driving environment just as you would in a vehicle
without HUD.
Notice:If you try to use the HUD image as a
parking aid, you may misjudge the distance and
damage your vehicle. Do not use the HUD image as
a parking aid.The HUD controls are located to the left of the steering
column.
1. Start your engine and turn the HUD INTENSITY
knob all of the way clockwise to MAX (Maximum).
The brightness of the HUD image is determined
by ambient light, and where you have set the HUD
INTENSITY knob.
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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)
3-34

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
3-40

Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts. If one part is not working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briey when you turn the
ignition key to ON. If it does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a
problem.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake.
The light will stay on if your parking brake does
not release fully. If you try to drive off with the parking
brake set, a chime will also come on until yourelease the parking brake. If the light stays on after your
parking brake is fully released, it means you have a
brake problem.
If you have the optional Driver Information Center (DIC),
a PARK BRAKE SET message will be displayed
while the parking brake is set.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the
oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-34.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning light
on can lead to an accident. If the light is still
on after you have pulled off the road and
stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed for
service. United States
Canada
3-41

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
With the anti-lock brake system, the light(s) will come
on when your engine is started and may stay on
for several seconds. That is normal.If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. If the light
comes on when you are driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the light still stays on,
or comes on again while you are driving, your vehicle
needs service. If the regular brake system warning light
is not on, you still have brakes, but you do not have
anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, you do not have anti-lock brakes
and there is a problem with your regular brakes. See
Brake System Warning Light on page 3-41.
The anti-lock brake system warning light will come on
briey when you turn the ignition key to ON. This is
normal. If the light does not come on then, have it xed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem. United States
Canada
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