2005 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE cooling

Trunk
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You cannot see or
smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness and
even death. If you must drive with the trunk lid
open or if electrical wiring or other cable
connections must pass through the seal
between the body and the trunk lid:
Make sure all other windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed and select the
control setting that will force outside air
into your vehicle. See Climate Control
System in the Index.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 2-34.
Trunk Lock Release
To unlock the trunk from the outside, insert the master
key into the trunk lock cylinder and turn it.
Remote Trunk Release
If your vehicle has this
feature, press the trunk
release button located in
the glove box to open
the trunk lid.
The key does not have to be in the ignition for the
remote trunk button to work. The transaxle must be in
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). The system also works with
the remote keyless entry system, if equipped.
In order to secure items in the trunk, lock the glove box
with the master key and take your key and remote
keyless entry transmitter with you. The valet key,
if equipped, cannot open the trunk or the glovebox.
2-15

Front Reading Lamps
The front reading lamps, located on the headliner, will
come on as courtesy lamps when you open any of
the doors while it is dark outside. They will also come
on as part of the interior lighting features listed
previously.
To turn on a reading lamp when the doors are closed,
press either button. Press it again to turn the lamp off.
To avoid draining your vehicle’s battery, be sure to
turn off the reading lamps when leaving your vehicle.
See “Inadvertent Power Battery Saver” later in this
section for more information.
Rear Reading Lamps
The rear reading lamps, located over each rear door,
will come on as courtesy lamps when you open
any of the doors while it is dark outside. They will also
come on as part of the interior lighting features listed
previously.
To turn on a reading lamp when the doors are closed,
press either button. Press it again to turn the lamp off.
Battery Load Management
The battery load management feature is designed to
monitor the vehicle’s electrical load and determine when
the battery is in a heavy discharge condition. During
times of high electrical loading, the engine may idle at
higher revolutions per minute (RPM) than normal to make
sure the battery charges. High electrical loads may occur
when several of the following are on: headlamps, high
beams, fog lamps, rear window defogger, fan on high
speed, heated seats, and engine cooling fans.
If your vehicle’s battery remains in a heavy discharge
condition for a long period of time, the fan, rear
defogger, heated seats and heated mirrors will be
disabled and the DIC will display BATTERY SAVER
ACTIVE. This can happen either under long periods of
idling or low speed driving with high electrical loading,
or in the event of a charging system fault.
Monitor the battery voltage when in the BATTERY
SAVER ACTIVE mode.
If the voltmeter remains in the shaded area, below
11 volts, when driving then have the charging
system serviced immediately.
If the voltage increases above 12 volts then the
battery needs to be recharged. Try driving on
the highway with as few electrical accessories on
as possible.
3-20

To open a rear ashtray, lift the cover.
Notice:If you put papers or other ammable items
in the ashtray, hot cigarettes or other smoking
materials could ignite them and possibly damage
your vehicle. Never put ammable items in the
ashtray.
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:Holding a cigarette lighter in while it is
heating will not allow the lighter to back away from
the heating element when it is hot. Damage from
overheating may occur to the lighter or heating
element, or a fuse could be blown. Do not hold a
cigarette lighter in while it is heating. Do not
use anything other than the cigarette lighter in the
heating element.Climate Controls
Climate Control System
With this system you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation for your vehicle.
FAN:Turn the left knob clockwise or counterclockwise
to increase or decrease the fan speed. Push this
knob to turn the fan on and off. The fan must be on in
order for the air conditioning compressor to run.
TEMP (Temperature Control):Turn the right knob
clockwise or counterclockwise to manually increase or
decrease the temperature inside your vehicle.
3-25

Automatic Climate Control System
With this system you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation for your vehicle.
Automatic Operation
AUTO (Automatic):Press the AUTO button for
automatic control of the inside temperature, the air
delivery mode and the fan speed.
1. Press the AUTO button. Whenever this button is
pressed, the display will show the current settings
for ve seconds before returning the display to
the exterior temperature.2. Adjust the temperature to 75° F (24° C).
Choosing the coldest or warmest temperature
setting will not cause the system to cool or heat any
faster. If you set the system at the coldest or
warmest temperature setting, the system will remain
at the maximum cold or hot setting and fan speed.
In cold weather, the system will start at reduced fan
speeds to avoid blowing cold air into your vehicle
until warmer air is available. The system will
start out blowing air at the oor but may change
modes automatically as the vehicle warms up
to maintain the chosen temperature setting. The
length of time needed for warm up will depend on
the outside temperature and the length of time
that has elapsed since your vehicle was last driven.
3. Wait for the system to regulate. This may take from
10 to 30 minutes. Then adjust the temperature, if
necessary.
Do not cover the solar sensor located in the center of
the instrument panel, near the windshield. For more
information on the solar sensor, see “Sensors” later in
this section.
3-28

If you are in city traffic, and your vehicle is stopped and
idling, or the weather is hot, the system may switch
from the OUTSIDE AIR mode to the recirculation mode.
To prevent the air inside of your vehicle from becoming
too stale, be sure to return to the outside air mode
periodically.
?RECIRC (Recirculation):Press this button to
limit the amount of outside air coming into the vehicle.
It can be used to prevent outside air and odors from
entering your vehicle or to help heat or cool the
air inside your vehicle more quickly. Press this button to
turn the recirculation mode on or off. When the button
is pressed, an indicator light will come on. The
recirculation mode cannot be used with the FRONT
defrost mode.
#A/C (Air Conditioning):Press this button to
override the automatic system and turn the air
conditioning system on or off. When A/C is pressed, an
indicator light in the button will come on to let you
know that it is activated. When in AUTO, the air
conditioning compressor will come on automatically, as
necessary. The air conditioning compressor will also
run when you select the FRONT defrost mode and
outside temperatures are above freezing.On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside air
escape; then close them. This helps to reduce the time
it takes for your vehicle to cool down. It also helps
the system to operate more efficiently.
For quick cool down on hot days, press the AUTO
button and the system will automatically enter
recirculation mode and the temperature will be at the full
cold position for maximum cooling.
Using these settings together for long periods of time
may cause the air inside of your vehicle to become too
dry. To prevent this from happening, after the air in
your vehicle has cooled, turn the recirculation mode off.
The air conditioning system removes moisture from
the air, so you may sometimes notice a small amount of
water dripping underneath your vehicle while idling or
after turning off the engine. This is normal.
Sensors
The solar sensor on your vehicle monitors the solar
radiation and the air inside of your vehicle, then uses the
information to maintain the selected temperature by
initiating needed adjustments to the temperature, the fan
speed and the air delivery system. The system may
also supply cooler air to the side of the vehicle facing the
sun. The recirculation mode will also be activated, as
necessary. Do not cover the solar sensor located in the
center of the instrument panel, near the windshield,
or the system will not work properly.
3-30

If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all uid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system,
and transaxle. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of
the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
{CAUTION:
If you do not shift down, your brakes could get
so hot that they would not work well. You
would then have poor braking or even none
going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down
to let your engine assist your brakes on a
steep downhill slope.
{CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing down. They could
get so hot that they would not work well. You
would then have poor braking or even none
going down a hill. You could crash. Always
have your engine running and your vehicle in
gear when you go downhill.
Know how to go uphill. Drive in the highest gear
possible.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Do not swing wide
or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds
that let you stay in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There
could be something in your lane, like a stalled car or
an accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that
warn of special problems. Examples are long
grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks
area, or winding roads. Be alert to these and take
appropriate action.
4-23

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine.
Shift into a gear.
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you are
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for
more on this. Things that are especially important in
trailer operation are automatic transaxle uid (do
not overll), engine oil, drive belt, cooling system and
brake system. Each of these is covered in this manual,
and the Index will help you nd them quickly. If you
are trailering, it is a good idea to review this information
before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. SeeEngine Overheating
(3.8L V6 Engine) on page 5-36orEngine Overheating
(4.6L V8 Engine) on page 5-38.
4-43

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...........................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling Your Tank............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-16
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-20
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter (3.8L V6 Engine).......5-22
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter (4.6L V8 Engine).......5-23
Automatic Transaxle Fluid (3.8L V6 Engine).....5-25
Automatic Transaxle Fluid (4.6L V8 Engine).....5-28
Engine Coolant (3.8L V6 Engine)....................5-31
Engine Coolant (4.6L V8 Engine)....................5-34
Radiator Pressure Cap (3.8L V6 Engine)..........5-36
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
(4.6L V8 Engine).......................................5-36Engine Overheating (3.8L V6 Engine)...............5-36
Engine Overheating (4.6L V8 Engine)...............5-38
Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode (4.6L V8 Engine)..............................5-40
Cooling System (3.8L V6 Engine)....................5-40
Cooling System (4.6L V8 Engine)....................5-47
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-52
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-53
Brakes........................................................5-54
Battery........................................................5-57
Jump Starting (3.8L V6 Engine)......................5-59
Jump Starting (4.6L V8 Engine)......................5-63
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-67
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-67
Headlamps..................................................5-68
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps..............5-69
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-71
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-72
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-73
Tires..............................................................5-74
Tire Sidewall Labelling...................................5-75
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-77
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-80
Check Tire Pressure System..........................5-83
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-85
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1