PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 2001 Owners Manual
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Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
Press and hold the SET button until you get to the
speed you want, and then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, press and
release the SET button briefly. Each time you do
this, you'll go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear to
keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake takes
you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to be too
much trouble and don't use cruise control on steep hills.Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal,
move the cruise switch to OFF, or
push the cruise lever toward the driver.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
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2-45
Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
See ªTurn Signal/Multifunction Leverº in the Index.
Daytime Running Lamps
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 lights are required on all
vehicles first 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 isn't covered.
The DRL system will make your high
-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when the following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on,
the headlamp control is off, and
the transaxle is not in PARK (P).When the DRL are on, only your high
-beam headlamps
will be on at reduced intensity. The taillamps,
sidemarker and other lamps won't be on. Your
instrument panel won't be lit either.
When it's 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's 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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Fog Lamps
The fog lamps button is located below the twilight knob
to the left of the steering wheel.
An indicator light in the button will glow when the fog
lamps are on. Your parking lamps will also come on
automatically while the fog lamps are active.
If your fog lamps are on when you use your high beams
or flash
-to-pass feature, the fog lamps will be disabled
while the feature is being used.
Twilight Sentinel
Twilight Sentinel will keep your headlamps on for
up to three minutes, to light your way when you leave
your vehicle.
To operate Twilight Sentinel, turn the DELAY knob
located to the left of the steering column on the
instrument panel fully clockwise for the three
-minute
delay. Turn it counterclockwise to reduce the delay.
Turn the knob to OFF to turn Twilight Sentinel off.
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 then back to OFF, to turn the
exterior lighting off. The lamps will come back on when
you turn the knob clockwise.
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If the Twilight Sentinel lighting is active, it can be
disabled by turning on the manual parking lamps.
This lighting will be disabled until the key is turned
from ON or until the manual parking lamps are
turned off.
Also, it's possible that your headlamps may go out if
you drive from a dark area into a bright area like a
lighted parking lot. If this happens, turn on your
headlamps with the regular headlamp control.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the manual lamp control has been left on, the exterior
lamps will turn off approximately 10 minutes after the
ignition is turned to OFF and any door has been opened.
This protects against draining the battery in case you
have accidentally left the headlamps or parking lamps
on. If you need to leave the lamps on for more than
10 minutes, use the manual control to turn the lamps
back on after turning the ignition to OFF and opening
any door. To delay the lamps from turning off, see
ªTwilight Sentinel
º in the Index.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel/Brightness Control
When it is dark outside, you can brighten or dim your
instrument panel cluster lights by turning the DIM knob
in the light control. Turn the knob clockwise to brighten
the instrument panel cluster lights and displays. Turn the
knob clockwise all the way to turn on the interior
courtesy lamps. Turn the knob counterclockwise to dim
the instrument panel cluster lights and displays and to
turn off the courtesy lamps.
Courtesy Lamps
If it is dark enough outside, when any door is opened,
several lamps will come on. They make it easier for you
to enter and leave the vehicle. Turn the dimmer knob all
the way clockwise to turn the interior courtesy lamps on.
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Illuminated Entry
If it is dark enough outside and you press the button
with the unlock symbol on the remote keyless entry
transmitter (if equipped), the interior courtesy lamps
will come on and stay on for approximately 40 seconds.
The lamps will turn off immediately by pressing the
button with the lock symbol on the remote keyless entry
transmitter, turning the ignition key to ON or activating
the power door locks.
If a door is left ajar, your interior lamps will turn off
after 10 minutes to save your battery.
Delayed Entry Lighting
When you open the door to enter your vehicle, the
interior lamps will come on if it is dark outside. When
you close the door with the ignition off, the interior
lamps will stay on for 25 seconds or until the ignition is
turned on. Locking the doors with the power door lock
switch, or with the lock button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter (if equipped), will override the delayed
entry lighting and the lamps will turn off immediately.
Theater Dimming
This feature allows for a three to five-second fade out of
the courtesy lamps instead of immediate turn off after
you remove the key from the ignition.
Delayed Exit Lighting
This feature will turn on the interior lamps for 25 seconds
after you remove the key from the ignition while the doors
are closed and it is night. This will give you time to find
the door handle or lock switches as you exit the vehicle.
This lighting will only be deactivated if the key is
reinserted into the ignition switch or the power door
locks are activated.
Parade Dimming
To activate the instrument panel backlighting during the
day, turn the headlamp switch to the parking lamp or
headlamp position. Dimming of the instrument panel
display is not possible during daylight hours. The
instrument panel display can only be adjusted when the
parking lamps or headlamps are on and it is dark outside.
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2-49 Perimeter Lighting
When the button with the unlock symbol on the remote
keyless entry transmitter (if equipped) is pressed, the
DRL headlamps, parking lamps and back
-up lamps will
turn on if it is dark enough outside.
Personalization Programming
This feature can be programmed in the on or off mode
for each transmitter.
To turn the feature off do the following:
1. Keep all doors closed, the vehicle in PARK (P) and
the ignition on throughout this procedure.
2. Press and hold LOCK on the power door lock switch
throughout this procedure. All the doors will lock.
3. Press the instant alarm on the transmitter. Perimeter
lighting remains on at this time and the horn will
chirp twice.
4. Press the instant alarm on the transmitter again.
Perimeter lighting is disabled and the horn will
chirp once.
5. Release the door lock switch. The perimeter lighting
feature is now off.To turn the feature on do the following:
1. Keep all doors closed, the vehicle in PARK (P) and
the ignition on throughout this procedure.
2. Press and hold LOCK on the power door lock switch
throughout this procedure. All the doors will lock.
3. Press the instant alarm on the transmitter. Perimeter
lighting remains off at this time and the horn will
chirp once.
4. Press the instant alarm on the transmitter again.
Perimeter lighting is now enabled and the horn will
chirp twice.
5. Release the door lock switch. The perimeter lighting
feature is now on.
This procedure only changes the mode for the
transmitter used to change this setting. The procedure
will need to be repeated for the second transmitter.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you must program this feature through the
DIC. See ªDriver Information Center Personalization
Programmingº in the Index.
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Front Reading Lamps
The front reading lamps 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
ªInadvertent Power Battery Saverº later in this section
for more information.
Rear Reading Lamps
The rear reading lamps 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.
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2-51 Inadvertent Power Battery Saver
This feature is designed to protect your vehicle's battery
against drainage from the interior lamps, trunk lamp,
glove box lamp or cigarette lighters. When the ignition
is turned off, the power to these features will
automatically turn off after 10 minutes. Power will be
restored for an additional 10 minutes if any door is
opened, the trunk is opened or the courtesy lamps are
turned on. To restore power back to the cigarette lighters
the ignition must be turned back to ON.
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, high
blower fan, heated seats and engine cooling fans.If your vehicle's battery remains in a heavy discharge
condition for a long period of time, the blower 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 red 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.
Mirrors
Inside Day/Night Manual Rearview Mirror
When you are sitting in a comfortable driving position,
adjust the mirror so you can see clearly behind your
vehicle. Grip the mirror in the center to move it up or
down and side to side. The day/night adjustment allows
you to adjust the mirror to avoid glare from the lamps
behind you. Push the tab away from you for daytime
use; pull it toward you for night use.
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Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
(If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have an automatic electrochromic
day/night rearview mirror. Your vehicle's mirror may
also contain OnStar
controls.
This is the on/off button for mirrors equipped with
OnStar controls.
When this feature is turned on, the mirror automatically
changes to reduce glare from headlamps behind you.
A photocell on the mirror senses when it is becoming
dark outside. Another photocell built into the mirror face
senses when headlamps are behind you.
At night, when the glare is too high, the mirror will
gradually darken to reduce glare (this change may take a
few seconds). The mirror will return to its clear daytime
state when the glare is reduced.
Mirror Operation
To turn on the automatic dimming feature, press AUTO
(or the on/off button for mirrors equipped with OnStar
controls). To turn off automatic dimming, press OFF
(or the on/off button for mirrors equipped with OnStar
controls). The indicator light will be illuminated when
this feature is active.
Power Remote Control Mirrors
Your vehicle has a remote mirror control located on the
driver's door armrest.
Move the L/R selector switch located beneath the
control pad to choose the left or right mirror.
To adjust a mirror, press on the arrows located on the
control pad in the direction you want that mirror to go.
Leave the L/R switch in the center position to disable
mirror movement. Adjust each outside mirror so that
you can see some of the side of your vehicle and the
area behind your vehicle.
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If your vehicle is equipped with the memory seat and
mirrors feature, these mirror positions, along with the
driver's seat position can be stored in memory.
See ªMemory Seat and Mirrorsº in the Index.
Parallel Park Assist Mirror (If Equipped)
If you have the memory seat and mirrors feature, the
passenger's outside rearview mirror also includes a
tilt
-down feature that operates when the shift lever is in
REVERSE (R). When the vehicle is shifted out of
REVERSE (R), the passenger's mirror will return to its
original position after a five
-second delay. This delay
prevents movement of the mirror if multiple gear
transitions (REVERSE (R) to DRIVE (D) to
REVERSE (R)) occur during a parallel parking
maneuver. This feature can be programmed on or off
through the DIC personalization programming menu.
See ªDIC Personalization Programmingº in the
Index for programming instructions.
Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger's side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror's surface is curved so you can see more from the
driver's seat.
CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder
before changing lanes.
Heated Outside Mirror (Option)
When you operate the rear window defogger, a defogger
also warms the heated driver's and passenger's outside
mirrors to help clear them of ice and snow.