check oil PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 2004 Owners Manual

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn.............................................................3-7
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Windshield Wiper Lever.................................3-13
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-14
Interior Lamps..............................................3-18
Head-Up Display (HUD).................................3-22
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-25
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-26
Climate Controls............................................3-27
Climate Control System.................................3-27
Automatic Climate Control System...................3-29
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-34
Climate Controls Personalization.....................3-35
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-36
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-37
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-39
Tachometer.................................................3-40
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-40
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-41
Voltmeter Gage............................................3-42Brake System Warning Light..........................3-42
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-44
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light......3-45
Low Traction Active Light...............................3-46
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-47
Tire Pressure Light.......................................3-48
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-48
Oil Pressure Gage........................................3-52
Check Oil Level Light....................................3-53
Security Light...............................................3-53
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light.....................3-53
Check Gages Warning Light...........................3-54
Door Ajar Light.............................................3-54
Trunk Ajar Light............................................3-55
Service Vehicle Soon Light............................3-55
Fuel Gage...................................................3-56
Systems Monitor............................................3-57
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-58
DIC Controls and Displays.............................3-58
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-61
Driver Identier DIC Display...........................3-63
DIC Vehicle Personalization............................3-64
Secondary Information Center (SIC).................3-70
Electronic Compass......................................3-70
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

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.
Head-Up Display (HUD)
{CAUTION:
If the HUD image is too bright, or too high in
your eld of view, it may take you more time to
see things you need to see when it is dark
outside. Be sure to keep the HUD image dim
and placed low in your eld of view.
If you have the optional Head-Up Display (HUD), you
can see some of the driver information also available on
your instrument panel cluster. The information may
be displayed in English or metric units and appears as a
reection on the windshield. The HUD shows the
following:
Speedometer Reading
Turn Signal Indicators
High-beam Indicator Symbol
CHECK GAGES Message (for low oil pressure,
high coolant temperature, low oil level, high/low
battery, brake, ABS and air bag)
Low Fuel Warning Symbol
Radio Frequency and Playback Mode (with the
exception of the XM™ radio)
3-22

Oil Pressure Gage
Readings above the shaded warning zone indicate the
normal operating range. Oil pressure may vary with
engine speed, outside temperature and oil viscosity.
A reading in the shaded 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. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-61for more information.
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches re. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance may
damage the engine. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule in this manual for changing
engine oil. United States
Canada
3-52

Check Oil Level Light
If your vehicle has the
systems monitor, the
CHECK OIL LEVEL light
comes on for ve seconds
as a bulb check each
time the ignition key
is turned to ON.
If the engine oil is more than 1.0 quart (0.9 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. SeeEngine Oil on
page 5-16.
On vehicles with a DIC, the CHECK OIL LEVEL light is
replaced by an OIL LEVEL LOW message. See DIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-61for more
information.
Security Light
This light on the instrument
panel cluster reminds you
to activate the
theft-deterrent system
when leaving your vehicle.
SeeUniversal Theft-Deterrent on page 2-21for more
information.
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
If your vehicle has the
systems monitor, this light
will come on and a
warning chime will sound
when the washer uid
container is less than
one-third full.
On vehicles with a DIC, the WASHER FLUID light is
replaced by the WASHER FLUID LOW message. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-61for more
information.
3-53

Check Gages Warning Light
If your vehicle has the
systems monitor, this light
will come on briey as a
bulb check when your
ignition is turned to ON.
If this light comes on and stays on while you are driving,
check your gages for fuel, coolant temperature, oil
pressure and voltage.
Door Ajar Light
If your vehicle has the
systems monitor, this light
will come on and a warning
chime will sound when the
driver’s door or one of the
passenger’s doors is not
completely closed.
On vehicles with a DIC, the door that is ajar will be shown
as an icon next to the vehicle outline and a message will
appear on the display. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-61for more information.
3-54

Systems Monitor
If you have the systems
monitor, it gives you
important safety and
maintenance facts about
your vehicle.
When you turn the ignition on, the systems monitor and
warning lights will briey light up. If a problem is detected,
the warning lights will turn on and a chime will sound.The following warning lights are displayed in the
systems monitor:CHECK OIL LEVEL:This message could mean
your oil level is low. If it comes on for more than
ve seconds, seeCheck Oil Level Light on
page 3-53.
WASHER FLUID:This message means your
washer uid tank is less than about 30 percent full.
If this light comes on, seeLow Washer Fluid
Warning Light on page 3-53.
DOOR AJAR:This message means that either the
driver’s door or one of the passenger’s doors is not
completely closed. If this light comes on, see
Door Ajar Light on page 3-54.
TIRE PRESS:This message means one or more of
your tires may be low. SeeCheck Tire Pressure
System on page 5-68.
CHECK GAGES:This means one or more of your
gages may be in their respective warning bands. If
this light comes on, seeCheck Gages Warning
Light on page 3-54.
TRUNK AJAR:This message means your trunk is
not completely closed.
3-57

EXP
(Export ID) Warning Message
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
81 ENGINE OIL CHANGE SOONEXP
(Export ID) Warning Message
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 (*).
3-62

Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance.
Expect to move slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do
not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive
on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
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 are ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you are not fresh — such as after
a day’s work — do not plan to make too many miles that
rst 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 is ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course, you
will nd experienced and able service experts in GM
dealerships all across North America. They will 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 inated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is 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

But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here is
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but do not shift into
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift to PARK (P).
5. 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.
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 on
page 5-29.
4-45

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling Your Tank............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-11
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-12
Hood Release..............................................5-13
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-14
Engine Oil...................................................5-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-21
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-23
Engine Coolant.............................................5-26
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-28
Engine Overheating.......................................5-29
Cooling System............................................5-31
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-39
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-40
Brakes........................................................5-42Battery........................................................5-45
Jump Starting...............................................5-47
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-52
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-52
Headlamps..................................................5-53
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps..............5-54
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-56
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-57
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-57
Tires..............................................................5-58
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-67
Check Tire Pressure System..........................5-68
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-70
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-72
Buying New Tires.........................................5-72
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-74
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-75
Wheel Replacement......................................5-75
Tire Chains..................................................5-77
Accessory Inator.........................................5-78
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-79
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-80
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-90
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1