cooling PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1997 Owners Manual

Remote Trunk Release Lockout (Option)
The trunk release lockout valet switch in the trunk
allows you to secure items
in the trunk. By pressing the
left side
of the valet switch, the remote trunk release
button below the driver’s door armrest will be disabled.
Push the right side
of the valet switch to enable the
remote trunk release button to work again.
Trunk Security Override (Option)
Pressing the trunk symbol on the remote transmitter
opens the trunk even if the remote
trunk release lockout
switch is activated.
Trunk Lid
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle.
You can’t 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 windows are shut.
”urn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
on
ECON or VENT. That will force outside
air into your vehicle. See “Comfort
Controls” in the Index.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
See “Engine Exhaust’’ in the Index.
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Comfort Controls
This section tells you how to make your air system
work for
you. Your comfort control system uses
ozone-friendly
R- 134a refrigerant.
With these systems, you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation
in your Pontiac. Your vehicle also has a
flow-through ventilation system described later in
this section.
Standard Climate Control System
Fan Knob
The left knob is the fan knob and selects the force of
air you want. Turn the knob clockwise to increase fan
speed
and counterclockwise to decrease fan speed. The
fan will always
run unless the right control knob is
turned to
OFF. The fan must b'e on to run the air
conditioning compressor.
Temperature Knob
The center control regulates the temperature of the air
coming through the system. Turn it toward the blue area
for cooler air. Turn it toward the red area for warmer air.
Mode Knob
The right control has settings for air conditioning and
non-air conditioning modes. The mode control allows
you to choose
the direction of air delivery.
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MAX: This setting provides maximum cooling with the
least amount
of work. MAX recirculates much of the air
inside your vehicle
so it cools quickly. The air is
directed through the instrument panel outlets.
A/C: This setting cools the air entering your vehicle
and directs
it through the instrument panel outlets.
The air conditioning compressor operates in all air
conditioner positions.
12 BI-LEVEL: This setting directs air into your
vehicle in two ways. Cool air is directed to the upper
portion of your body through the middle instrument
panel outlets while warmed air is directed to the floor.
2 VENT This setting directs airflow through the
middle
instrument panel outlets. The air conditioning
compressor is not working when
VENT is selected.
'I! HEATER: This setting directs warmed air through
the floor outlets. Some warm air is diverted to the
windshield to minimize fogging.
+# DEFOG: This setting directs air to the HEATER
outlets and toward the windshield.
w.
DEFROST This setting directs most of the air
toward the windshield.
Electronic Climate Control System (Option)
Fan Button
The button with the fan symbol adjusts the fan speed.
Press the up arrow to increase fan speed and the down
arrow to decrease fan speed.
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Tempmerature Button
The TEMP button changes the temperature of the air
coming
through the system. Press the up arrow for
warmer air-and the down arrow for cooler air.
Mode Button
Press this button to deliver air through the floor, middle
or windshiel'd outlets. The system will stay in the
selected mode until the
MODE or AUTO button is
pushed. Press the up arrow to cycle through the
available modes.
Automatic Operation
When the system is set for AUTO, sensors will control
the air delivery mode. Air will come from the floor,
middle and windshield outlets. The fan speed will vary
as the system maintains the selected temperature setting.
To find your comfort zone, start with 75 O F (24" C)
temperature setting and allow about 20 minutes for the
system to regulate. Press the TEMP button up or down
to adjust the temperature setting if necessary. If you
choose the temperature setting of 60°F (15 O C), the
system
will remain at that maximum cooling setting
and will not regulate the fan speed.
If you choose the
temperature setting
of 90°F (33 "C), the system will remain at that maximum heating setting and will not
regulate the
fan speed. Choosing either maximum
setting will not cause the system to heat or cool
any faster.
Pressing the
AUTO button will display the requested
temperature, fan speed and
air delivery mode for five
seconds, then change to display the outside air
temperature. Be careful not
to put anything over the
sensor located in the middle of the instrument panel near
the windshield, or over the sensor in the grille above the
radio. These sensors are used by the automatic system to
regulate temperature.
The exterior temperature display sensor is in front
of the
car, near the radiator. This displayed temperature is most
accurate when the vehicle is moving. During
stops, or
while idling, the display shows the previous dsaving
temperature
for best system control.
To avoid blowing cold air in cold weather, the system
will delay turning on the fan until warm air
is available.
The length
of delay depends on outside air temperature,
engine coolant temperature,
and time since the engine
was last started. Pushing the fan button will override this
delay and change the fan to a selected single speed.
If you leave your vehicle, the system will remember the
control setting the next time you start your engine.
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Air Conditioning
On hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot
inside
air escape. This reduces the time it takes for your
vehicle to cool down. Then keep your windows closed
for the air conditioner to work its best.
If
you have the standard system, for 'quick cool-down on
very hot days, use
MAX with the temperature knob in
the blue
area. If this setting is used for long periods of
time, the air in your vehicle may become too cold and
dry. For normal cooling on hot
days, use A/C with the
temperature
knob in the blue area. This setting cools the
air entering your vehicle and directs it through the
instrument panel outlets.
If you have the electronic system, press the A/C button
to turn
the system on. The system will cool and
dehumidify the air inside the vehicle.
Also while in
AUTO mode, the system will use RECIRC as necessary
to cool the air.
On cool but
sunny days, with the standard system or
through manual operation
of the electronic system, use
BI-LEVEL to deliver warm air to the floor and cooler air
to the middle instrument panel outlets. To warm or cool
the air delivered, push
the TEMP button up or down.
When the air conditioning system is in
AUTO mode,
the
A/C light will always be on. When the ambient
-/
temperature outside the vehicle reaches 40°F (4" C),
the compressor will remain on continuously.
Heating
If you have the standard system, on cold days use
HEATER with the temperature knob in the red area. If
you have the electronic system, press AUTO and adjust
the temperature by pressing the
TEMP up or down
arrow. You may also adjust the electronic system
nmnually
by pressing the MODE button and selecting
HEAT. Again, adjust the temperature by pressing the
TEMP up or down arrow.
With each system, outside air will
be brought in and sent
through the floor outlets. The heater works best if you
keep your windows closed while using it.
Ventilation System
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling
is needed, use VENT (on the standard system)
to direct outside air through your vehicle. Air will flow
through the middle instrument panel 'outlets.
Your vehicle's flow-through ventilation system supplies
outside air into the vehicle when
it's moving, When the
vehicle is not moving, you can get outside air to flow
through by selecting any air choice (except the rear
window defogger) and any fan
speed.
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If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re
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 fluid
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.
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get so
hot that they wouldn’t 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. 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 wouldn’t 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
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
gear possible.
roads in hills or mountains.
Don’t 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.
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Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down
a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down,
you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well,
Parking on Hills
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.
But
if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to
do it:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet.
Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift
to PARK (P).
Release the regular brakes.
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; and
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’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belts, cooling system and brake adjustment.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s
a good idea to review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
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Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5-2
5-3
5-3
5-8
5-16 Hazard Warning
Flashers
Other Warning Devices
Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating 5-18
Cooling System
5-26 Changing a Flat Tire
5-38 Compact Spare Tire
5-39 If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
5-26 If a Tire Goes Flat
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Cooling System
you’ll see:
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
E. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Electric Engine Fans
1
’ A CAUTION:
r
An electric fan under the hood can start up even
when the engine
is not running and can injure
you. Keep hands, clothing and tools away from
any underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don’t do anything
else until it cools down.
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The coolant level should be at or above the FULL
COLD mark.
If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator, water
pump or somewhere else in
the cooling system. Heater and radiator
hoses, and other engine
parts, can be
very hot. Don’t touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine if there is
a leak. If you run
the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
I NOTICE: I
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
If there seems to
be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fans are running. If the engine
is overheating, both
fans should be running. If they
aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
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