Hey Guys and Gals
New to the forum and looking forward to learning more about this car. I purchased a 2005 Pontiac Bonneville SE for my mother in law and am slowly working out the bugs in it. I currently have two issues I need some assistance with.
1.. When I start the car up, it stats compass needs calibration. Now from what I can find, it states, press Mode button, follow some other steps, set zone, etc. Easy to follow right??!! WELL I don't have a MODE button! LOL The only three buttons on dash module are K/M, Trip Reset, and Tire pressure. SO I am at a loss on that one! Assistance GREATLY appreciated.
2..Upon start up, I also recieve an air bag light. I am assuming it is PROBABLY the Impact Sensor right behing the radiator and I should just get a new one and swap out. If there is any other inputs, let's hear them.
Thanks in advance and slowly but surely I am getting this car whipped into shape. Whoever owned it previously neglected it and I am working hard getting the bugs worked out.
Keith

Did you get the owner's manual with the car? It should say in that how to reset it. If not, someone with an SE will have to chime in on directions.

While the front impact sensor is a real possibility as the culprit, may other things can set the airbag light. It would be best to have the car scanned with a tool that can read those codes in order to narrow down the problem.

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*Gone, but not forgotten* - Black 2000 SSEi, HIR Headlights, Angel Eyes fogs, 3rd brake light overlay, hi-flo cat, 180 degree thermostat, HS 1.9 rockers, LSx yellow springs, Intense FWI, PCM, shift kit, push rods, and 3.4 Pulley. ZZP Power Log.

No owner's manual came with the car and the PDF ones I find online all reference using the mode button, reset, etc. Which my car doesn't have. LOL. I tried going to the local auto parts store (Advance Auto) but their scan tool wouldn't pick up air bag system codes?! So, trying to figure my next steps.
Just ordered a new intermediate steering shaft, so hopefully that takes care of the crappy noises during slow speed turns. I tried greasing it first, but no joy! Also ordered two new tie rod ends, since one had a torn boot. Decided to just replace both.
Transmisison filter and fluid this week, as well as draining and refilling all other fluids and bleeding brakes! Man I got a long to do list before my mother in law comes to pick up the car. Want to make sure it is in the best shape for her.

A standard code reader like those used at Advance will not be able to read the codes for the air bag. You may want to check with a local service shop (other than the dealer) who may even read the code for you for free...if you're lucky.

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*Gone, but not forgotten* - Black 2000 SSEi, HIR Headlights, Angel Eyes fogs, 3rd brake light overlay, hi-flo cat, 180 degree thermostat, HS 1.9 rockers, LSx yellow springs, Intense FWI, PCM, shift kit, push rods, and 3.4 Pulley. ZZP Power Log.

Move the front seat(s) as far forward as possible and look under the back of the seats both right and left for the yellow 2 wire connector for the side air bags. Perhaps one of them has a broken wire or was disconnected.

I am thinking that the original instrument cluster in your car went bad and someone replaced the instrument cluster in your car with one from an SLE because the SE cluster does not have the compass. That is why you do not have the mode button. And you probably do not have the compass module under the back package shelf either so the compass will not work. This also suggests the mileage of you car may not be the actual mileage shown on the odometer. If it is annoying to have the compass message then try to find a used SE cluster to replace yours.

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bobgto65

2004 Bonneville GXP 62,000 miles purchased 04/13
2009 G8 GXP PBM, M6 9580 miles, no mods, sold 08/15
2009 G8 GT SBM 36,000 miles, modded 430 whp
2002 Bonneville SSEi 203,200 miles (sold 3/2014)

BOBGTO65
Thanks for the advice. You are probably right about the instrument cluster. Now that I am thinkng about it, I also have a boost guage on the instrument panel for this car too, which didn't make too much sense to me, since it isn't supercharged. However whoever did the cluster change hooked it up to something, since it will go from -10 boost up to about 0 when accelerating. This is the first Bonny that I have ever driven, so I didn't know maybe if they all used the same instrument cluster for cost effectiveness. Apparently not. So *dang*! LOL As far as the seats go, I found NO wires at all under the passenger seat. I recently removed it to shampoo the carpets and no wires at all under that seat. Under the driver's seat, all wires I can see seem to be attached as they should.
Hmmm--time to figure out next step. Maybe a trip to a salvage yard for instrument cluster and try to find a nice mechanic to scan the car for free. LOL