instrument panel PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1999 Owners Manual

First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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1-9
AM115006
The person keeps going until stopped by something.
In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ...
AM115007
or the instrument panel ...

First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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1-21
CAUTION:
Children who are up against, or very close to, any
air bag when it inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. This is true even though your vehicle
has Next Generation frontal air bags. Air bags
plus lap
-shoulder belts offer the best protection
for adults, but not for young children and
infants. Neither the vehicle's safety belt system
nor its air bag system is designed for them.
Young children and infants need the protection
that a child restraint system can provide. Always
secure children properly in your vehicle. To read
how, see the part of this manual called
ªChildrenº and see the caution labels on the
sunvisors and the right front passenger's
safety belt.
X±02±3429±T
There is an air bag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows AIR BAG.
The system checks the air bag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See ªAir Bag Readiness Lightº in the Index
for more information.

First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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1-22 How the Air Bag System Works
AV130037
Where are the air bags?
The driver's air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
AV130038
The right front passenger's air bag is in the instrument
panel on the passenger's side.

First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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1-24
What makes an air bag inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which
inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag and related
hardware are all part of the air bag modules inside the
steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front of the
right front passenger.
How does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near
-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. Air bags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. But air bags
would not help you in many types of collisions,
including rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts,
primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward
those air bags. Air bags should never be regarded as
anything more than a supplement to safety belts,
and then only in moderate to severe frontal or
near
-frontal collisions.What will you see after an air bag inflates?
After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag
inflated. Some components of the air bag module
-- the
steering wheel hub for the driver's air bag, or the
instrument panel for the right front passenger's
bag
-- will be hot for a short time. The parts of the
bag that come into contact with you may be warm, but
not too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust
coming from vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag
inflation doesn't prevent the driver from seeing or from
being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people
from leaving the vehicle.
CAUTION:
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can't get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.

First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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1-25
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.

Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they
inflate, you'll need some new parts for your air bag
system. If you don't get them, the air bag system
won't be there to help protect you in another crash.
A new system will include air bag modules and
possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.

Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing
and diagnostic module, which records information
about the air bag system. The module records
information about the readiness of the system, when
the sensors are activated and driver's safety belt
usage at deployment.

Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your
air bag system won't work properly. See your dealer
for service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver's or the
right front passenger's air bag, the bag may not
work properly. You may have to replace the air
bag module in the steering wheel or both the air
bag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger's air bag. Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
If your vehicle ever gets into a lot of water -- such as
water up to the carpeting or higher
-- or if water enters
your vehicle and soaks the carpet, the air bag controller
can be soaked and ruined. If this ever happens, and then
you start your vehicle, the damage could make the air
bags inflate, even if there's no crash. You would have to
replace the air bags as well as the sensors and related
parts. If your vehicle is ever in a flood, or if it's exposed
to water that soaks the carpet, you can avoid needless
repair costs by turning off the vehicle immediately and
disconnecting the battery cables. Don't let anyone start
the vehicle under any circumstances. See your dealer
for service.

2-
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2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Keys
2
-4 Door Locks
2
-10 Remote Keyless Entry (Option)
2
-14 Trunk
2
-16 Theft
2
-17 Universal Theft-Deterrent (Option)
2
-18 PASS-Key
II
2
-19 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-20 Ignition Positions
2
-21 Starting Your Engine
2
-22 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-24 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-28 Computer Command Ride (Option)
2
-29 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-32 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-33 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-33 Engine Exhaust
2
-34 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-35 Windows2
-35 Horn
2
-36 Tilt Wheel
2
-36 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-43 Exterior Lamps
2
-46 Interior Lamps
2
-48 Mirrors
2
-51 Storage Compartments
2
-54 Ashtrays & Cigarette Lighter
2
-55 Sun Visors
2
-55 Air Inflator System (Option)
2
-56 Accessory Power Outlet
2
-57 Sunroof (Option)
2
-58 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-64 Tachometer
2
-64 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2
-77 Head-Up Display (Option)
2
-80 Driver Information Center (Option)
2
-82 Electronic Compass (Option)

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2-15 Remote Trunk Release Lockout (Option)
The trunk release lockout
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 keyless entry
transmitter opens the trunk even if the remote trunk
release lockout switch is activated.
Trunk Lid
CAUTION:
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:
1. Make sure all other windows are shut.
2. Turn 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
ªComfort Controlsº in the Index.
3. If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
See ªEngine Exhaustº in the Index.

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2-37 Turn and Lane Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is finished, the lever will
return automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel will flash in the
direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.If the arrows just stay on as you signal a turn or a lane
change, a signal bulb may be burned out and other
drivers won't see your turn signal. If you have the
Driver Information Center, it will tell you if you have a
burned out bulb. See ªDriver Information Centerº in
the Index.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don't go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the fuse and for burned-out bulbs.
See ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the Index.
Turn Signal On Chime
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each flash of the turn
signal. To turn off the chime, move the turn signal lever
to the off position.

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2-38 Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high beam
or high beam to low beam, pull the turn signal lever
toward you. Then release it.
When the high beams
are on, this light on the
instrument panel will
also be on.
Flash-To-Pass Feature
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass. It
works even if your headlamps are off.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you a little,
but not so far that you hear a click.
If your headlamps are off or on low beam, your
high
-beam headlamps will turn on. They'll stay on as
long as you hold the lever toward you and the
high
-beam indicator on the dash will come on. Release
the lever to turn the high
-beam headlamps off.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wipers are controlled by turning the
band marked WIPER.
For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to MIST. Hold
it there until the wipers start, then let go. The wipers will
stop after one cycle. If you want more cycles, hold the
band on MIST longer.
For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band away
from you to the LO position. For high
-speed wiping turn
the band further, to HI. To stop the wipers, turn the band
to OFF.

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2-42
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 two ways to turn off the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal; or

Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
Pull the knob to the first
stop to turn on the:

Parking Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Taillamps

Instrument Panel
Lights
Pull the knob out all the way to turn on the headlamps,
as well as the other operating lamps. Push the knob in all
the way to turn all the lamps and lights off.