check engine PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 2001 User Guide

2-83 Oil Pressure Gage
United States Canada
Readings above the red warning zone indicate the
normal operating range. Oil pressure may vary with
engine speed, outside temperature and oil viscosity.
A reading in the red warning zone may be caused by a
low oil level or another problem causing low oil
pressure. On vehicles with the systems monitor, the
CHECK GAGES light will come on and a warning
chime will sound.On vehicles with a DIC, a CHECK GAGES OIL
PRESSURE message will be displayed and a warning
chime will sound. See ªDIC Warnings and Messagesº in
the Index for more information.
CAUTION:
Don't keep driving if the oil pressure is low.
If you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.

2-84
Check Oil Level Warning Light
(If Equipped)
The CHECK OIL LEVEL
light is part of the systems
monitor. This light comes
on for five seconds as a bulb
check each time the ignition
key is turned to ON.
If the engine oil is more than 1 quart (0.95 L) low and
the engine has been shut off for at least eight minutes,
the CHECK OIL LEVEL light will come on and a
chime will sound the next time you start your vehicle.
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL light comes on, the engine
oil level should be checked at the dipstick then brought
up to the proper level, if necessary. See ªEngine Oilº in
the Index.
On vehicles with a DIC, the CHECK OIL LEVEL light
is replaced by an OIL LEVEL LOW message.
See ªDIC Warnings and Messagesº in the Index
for more information.
Service Vehicle Soon Light (If Equipped)
This light will come on
briefly as a bulb check
when your ignition is
turned to ON.
This light will come on and a warning chime will sound
if you have a certain non
-emissions related vehicle
problem. These problems may not be so obvious and
may not affect vehicle performance or durability.
Consult a qualified dealership for necessary repairs to
maintain top vehicle performance.
On vehicles with the supercharged engine and a DIC,
the SERVICE VEHICLE SOON light is replaced by the
SERVICE VEHICLE SOON message. See ªDIC
Warnings and Messagesº in the Index for
more information.

2-87
When the gage reads in the yellow band, a warning
chime will sound and the CHECK GAGES warning
light will come on. You still have a little fuel left, but
you need to get more fuel right away.
On vehicles with a DIC, the CHECK GAGES LOW
FUEL message will be displayed when the fuel gage
reads in the yellow band. See ªDIC Warnings and
Messagesº in the Index for more information.
Here are some things that owners ask about. None of
these show a problem with your fuel gage:

At the service station, the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads full.

It takes a little more (or less) fuel to fill up than the
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a
little more (or less) than half the tank's capacity to
fill the tank.Boost Gage (If Equipped)
Vehicles equipped with
the supercharged engine
have this boost gage that
indicates vacuum during
light to moderate throttle
and boost under
heavier throttle.
The gage displays the air pressure level going into the
engine's combustion chamber.
The gage is automatically centered at zero every time
the ignition key is turned to ON. Actual vacuum or
boost is displayed from this zero point. Changes in
ambient pressure, such as driving in mountains and
changing weather, will slightly change the zero reading.

2-91
Vehicle Data
Average Fuel Economy: Press the SELECT button
until the display shows AVG FUEL ECONOMY.
Average fuel economy is viewed as a long term
approximation of your overall driving conditions. To
learn the average fuel economy from a new starting
point, press the RESET button for five seconds while
the average fuel economy is displayed on the DIC.
Instantaneous Fuel Economy: Press the SELECT
button until the display shows INST FUEL ECONOMY.
Instantaneous fuel economy varies with your driving
conditions, such as acceleration, braking and the grade
of the road being traveled. The RESET button does not
function in this mode.
Fuel Range: Press the SELECT button until the display
shows FUEL RANGE. The fuel range will calculate the
remaining distance you can drive without refueling. This
calculation is based on the average fuel economy for the
last 25 miles (40.25 km) driven, and the fuel remaining
in the fuel tank. If the fuel range drops below 40 miles
(64.4 km), the display will show FUEL RANGE LOW.
The RESET button does not function in this mode.Fuel Used: Press the SELECT button until the display
shows FUEL USED. The value indicates how much fuel
has been used since the last reset. Don't confuse fuel
used with the amount of fuel in your tank. To learn how
much fuel will be used from a specific starting point,
press the RESET button for five seconds while the fuel
used is displayed on the DIC.
Battery Volts: On vehicles with a supercharged engine,
press the SELECT button until the display shows
BATTERY VOLTS. If the voltage is normal the display
will show BATTERY ## VOLTS. If the voltage drops
below 10.5 volts for 30 seconds, the battery volts
display will show BATTERY LOW. If the voltage is
above 16.2 volts for 30 seconds, the battery volts display
will show BATTERY HIGH. If the display shows the
high or low message, you need to have your battery
and/or electrical system checked.

2-92
GM Oil Life System
: Press the SELECT button
until OIL LIFE appears in the display. The OIL LIFE
NORMAL display will show an estimate of the oil's
remaining useful life. When the oil life index is less than
10%, an ENGINE OIL CHANGE SOON message will
be displayed and the oil life display will show OIL LIFE
CHANGE. When you have the oil changed according to
the maintenance schedule, you will have to reset the Oil
Life System. To reset the Oil Life System, see ªOil Life
Systemº in the Index. Also, see ªEngine Oil, When to
Changeº and ªMaintenance Scheduleº in the Index.
Tire Pressure Status: Press the SELECT button until
TIRE PRESSURE appears in the display. TIRE
PRESSURE NORMAL is displayed when the Check
Tire Pressure System believes your vehicle's tire
pressures are normal. If a potential problem is detected,
the display will show CHECK TIRE PRESSURE and
the tire pressure status will show TIRE PRESSURE
LOW. If you see the CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
message, you should stop as soon as you can and check
all your tires for damage. (If a tire is flat, see ªIf a Tire
Goes Flatº in the Index.) Also check the tire pressure in
all four tires as soon as you can. See ªInflation
-- Tire
Pressureº and ªCheck Tire Pressure Systemº in
the Index.
DIC Warnings and Messages
Other messages or warnings may appear in the DIC display.
For Canadian drivers, in addition to the DIC message your
DIC will display EXP with a number after it which reflects
the following messages:
EXP (Export ID) Warning Message
3 SERVICE VEHICLE SOON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9 CHECK GAGES VOLT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11 CHECK GAGES LOW FUEL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16 ENGINE HOT A/C DISABLED. . . . . . . . . . . . .
20 TURN SIGNAL ON?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
24 TRUNK AJAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25 WASHER FLUID LOW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27 BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33 STARTING DISABLED
- THEFT * . . . . . . . . . .
34 SERVICE THEFT SYSTEM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
35 CHECK GAGES OIL PRESSURE *. . . . . . . . . .
36 OIL LEVEL LOW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37 BRAKE FLUID LOW *. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
40 ALARM OCCURRED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44 CHECK GAGES TEMPERATURE *. . . . . . . . .
54 SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM. . . . . . . . . . . .
55 STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVE. . . . . . . . . . . . .
61 CHECK GAS CAP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-93
EXP (Export ID) Warning Message
81 ENGINE OIL CHANGE SOON. . . . . . . . . . . . .
83 SERVICE AIR BAG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
102 CHECK CHARGE SYSTEM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
140 DRIVER DOOR AJAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
141 FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AJAR. . . . . . . .
142 LEFT REAR DOOR AJAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
143 RIGHT REAR DOOR AJAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
144 CHECK TIRE PRESSURE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
147 PARK BRAKE SET *. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The EXP codes are used to make translation from
English to other languages easier.
Pressing any of the DIC control buttons will remove the
above messages or warnings from the DIC display,
unless noted by an asterisk (*).
SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM
- 54: If you ever
see the SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM message, it
means there may be a problem with your stability
enhancement system. If you see this message, try to
reset the system (stop; turn off the engine; then start the
engine again). If the SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM
message still comes on, it means there is a problem. You
should see your dealer for service. Reduce your speed
and drive accordingly.STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVE
- 55: You may see
the STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVE message on the
Driver Information Center. It means that an advanced,
computer
-controlled system has come on to help your
vehicle continue to go in the direction in which you're
steering. This stability enhancement system activates
when the computer senses that your vehicle is just
starting to spin, as it might if you hit a patch of ice or
other slippery spot on the road. When the system is on,
you may hear a noise or feel a vibration in the brake
pedal. This is normal.
When the STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVE message is
on, you should continue to steer in the direction you
want to go. The system is designed to help you in bad
weather or other difficult driving situations by making
the most of whatever road conditions will permit. If the
STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVE message comes on,
you'll know that something has caused your vehicle to
start to spin, so you should consider slowing down.
Tire Pressure Status
- 144: If you see the CHECK
TIRE PRESSURE message, you should stop as soon as
you can and check all your tires for damage. (If a tire is
flat, see ªIf a Tire Goes Flatº in the Index.) Also check
the tire pressure in all four tires as soon as you can. See
ªInflation
- Tire Pressureº and ªCheck Tire Pressure
Systemº in the Index.

3-42 Tips About Your Audio System
Hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable
until it is too late. Your hearing can adapt to higher
volumes of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud
and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by
adjusting the volume control on your radio to a safe
sound level before your hearing adapts to it.
To help avoid hearing loss or damage:

Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting.

Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably
and clearly.
NOTICE:
Before you add any sound equipment to your
vehicle
-- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two
-way radio -- be sure you can
add what you want. If you can, it's very
important to do it properly.
NOTICE: (Continued)
NOTICE: (Continued)
Added sound equipment may interfere with the
operation of your vehicle's engine, Delphi Delco
Electronics radio or other systems, and even
damage them. Your vehicle's systems may
interfere with the operation of sound equipment
that has been added improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your dealer and be sure to check Federal rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause
reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes or a damaged
mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their
cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight and
extreme heat. If they aren't, they may not operate
properly or may cause failure of the tape player.

4-7
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a
mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between
hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster if you
do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the
traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you're driving, brake
normally but don't pump your brakes. If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But
you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive
away, your anti
-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that your
brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.
United States Canada
If there's a problem with the anti
-lock brake system, this
warning light will stay on. See ªAnti
-Lock Brake
System Warning Lightº in the Index.

4-22
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you're ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you're not fresh
-- such as after a day's
work
-- don't plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it's ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you'll find experienced and able service experts in
Pontiac dealerships all across North America.
They'll be ready and willing to help if you need it.Here are some things you can check before a trip:

Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full?
Are all windows clean inside and outside?

Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?

Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?

Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?

Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long
-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?

Weather Forecasts: What's the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?

Maps: Do you have up
-to-date maps?

4-23
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as ªhighway hypnosisº?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with the
same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the road,
the drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind against
the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don't let it happen
to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less
than a second, and you could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis?
First, be aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:

Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.

Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to
the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently.

If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service
or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or
both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as
an emergency.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.