headlamp PONTIAC G6 2007 User Guide
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Delayed Headlamps
The delayed headlamps feature will continue to
illuminate the headlamps for 20 seconds after the
key is turned to OFF, then the headlamps will
automatically turn off.
To override the 20 second delayed headlamp
feature while it is active turn the turn signal/
multifunction lever up one position and then back
to AUTO.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during
the day. DRL can be helpful in many different
driving conditions, but they can be especially
helpful in the short periods after dawn and before
sunset. Fully functional daytime running lamps
are required on all vehicles rst sold in Canada.
The vehicle has a light sensor on top of the
instrument panel. Make sure it is not covered, or
the head lamps will be on when not needed.The DRL system will make your low-beam
headlamps come on at a reduced brightness when
the following conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps control is in AUTO.
The exterior lamps control is in the parking
lamps only position (this applies only to
vehicles that are rst sold in Canada).
The light sensor detects daytime light.
The parking brake is released (manual
transaxle) or the vehicle is not in PARK
(automatic transaxle).
When the DRL system is on, the taillamps,
sidemarker lamps, parking lamps, and instrument
panel lights will not be illuminated unless you
have turned the exterior lamps control to
the parking lamp position.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the
regular headlamp system when you need it.
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Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, your automatic
headlamp system will turn on your headlamps
at the normal brightness along with other lamps
such as the taillamps, sidemarker, parking
lamps and the instrument panel lights. The radio
lights will also be dim.
Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on
top of the instrument panel, make sure it is
not covered or the automatic headlamp system
will be on when it is not needed.
There is a delay in the transition between the
daytime and nighttime operation of the DRL and
the automatic headlamp systems so that
driving under bridges or bright overhead street
lights does not affect the system. The DRL
and automatic headlamp systems will only be
affected when the light sensor sees a change in
lighting lasting longer than this delay.If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the
automatic headlamp system will come on
immediately. Once you leave the garage, it will
take approximately one minute for the automatic
headlamp system to change to DRL if it is
light outside. During that delay, your instrument
panel cluster may not be as bright as usual. Make
sure your instrument panel brightness control is
in the full bright position. See “Instrument
Panel Brightness Control” underInstrument Panel
Brightness on page 178.
To idle your vehicle with the automatic headlamp
system off, turn the ignition on and set the
exterior light switch to the off/on position. For
Canadian vehicles, the transaxle must stay
in PARK (P) for this function.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the
regular headlamps when you need them.
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Fog Lamps
If your vehicle has fog
lamps, the fog lamp
button is located on the
instrument panel, to
the left of the steering
wheel.
The ignition must be on for the fog lamps to work.
Push the button to turn the fog lamps on. An
indicator light in the button will glow when the fog
lamps are on. Push the button again to turn
the fog lamps off.
The parking lamps will automatically turn on and
off when the fog lamps are turned on and off.
The fog lamps will turn off while the high-beam
headlamps are turned on.
Some localities have laws that require the
headlamps to be on along with the fog lamps.
Instrument Panel Brightness
The control for this
feature is located on the
instrument panel to
the right of the steering
wheel.
Turn the knob clockwise to brighten the lights or
counterclockwise to dim them.
Courtesy Lamps
If your vehicle has a retractable hardtop, it will
have courtesy lamps in the rear passenger area of
the vehicle. These lamps come on to make it
easier to see while entering and exiting the vehicle.
These lamps will come on when any door is
opened and will only turn off when all doors are
closed.
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Parade Dimming
The instrument panel has an added feature called
parade mode. This feature prohibits the dimming
of your instrument panel displays during the
daylight while the headlamps are on so that you
will still be able to see the displays.
Overhead Console Reading Lamps
The vehicle may have reading lamps on the
overhead console. These lamps will turn on when
the doors are opened if the lamp switch is not
in the OFF position. When the doors are closed,
press the side of each lamp to turn them on
and off. The reading lamps will also turn on if the
dome lamp switch is in the ON position.
Trunk Lamp
The trunk lamp comes on when the trunk is open
and the lamp turns off when the trunk is closed.
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Be careful not to cover the sensor located on
the top of the instrument panel near the
windshield. This sensor regulates air
temperature based on sun load, and also turns
on your headlamps.
Also be careful not to cover the sensor grille
on the lower right side of the climate
control faceplate. This senses the inside
vehicle temperature needed for proper
regulation.
To avoid blowing cold air at start-up in cold
weather, the system delays turning on the fan
until warm air is available. The length of
delay depends on the engine coolant
temperature. Turning the fan knob overrides
this delay and change the fan to a selected
speed.
If your vehicle has the remote start feature, the
climate control display initially shows “AS” in place
of the temperature to indicate the remote start
has been activated. The remote start system turns
on using the last temperature selected before
the vehicle was last turned off.For best performance, turn the fan and mode
knobs to the AUTO position. The fan speed and
air delivery modes will change to achieve the best
comfort.
If the outside air temperature is below 45°F and
the air delivery mode knob is set to AUTO,
the automatic climate control system starts in the
defrost mode to clear the window.
The automatic climate control changes back to
manual operation by turning the vehicle on with
the key.
Manual Operation
You can manually adjust the air delivery mode or
fan speed.
9(Off):Select this position on the fan knob to
turn off the entire climate control system.
Outside air will still enter the vehicle, and be
directed to the oor. This direction can be changed
by changing the mode position. The temperature
can also be adjusted using either the up or
down arrow temperature buttons.
9(Fan):Turn the knob with the fan symbol to
manually adjust the fan speed.
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Cruise Control Light
This light comes on
whenever you set the
cruise control.
The light goes out when the cruise control is
turned off. SeeCruise Control on page 171for
more information.
Highbeam On Light
This light comes on
when the high-beam
headlamps are in use.
SeeHeadlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on
page 169.
Fuel Gage
The fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you
have left, when the ignition is on. SeeLow
Fuel Warning Light on page 208for more
information.
Low Fuel Warning Light
This light, on the fuel gage, comes on when the
fuel tank is low on fuel. To turn if off, add fuel
to the fuel tank.
United StatesCanada
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AV (Average) SPEED:Press the information
button until AV SPEED is displayed. This shows the
vehicle’s average speed in miles per hour (mph) or
kilometers per hour (km/h).
Press and hold the enter button while AV SPEED is
displayed to reset the average vehicle speed.
OIL LIFE:Press the information button until
OIL LIFE is displayed. The engine oil life system
shows an estimate of the oil’s remaining useful life.
It shows 100% when the system is reset after
an oil change. It will alert you to change the oil on
a schedule consistent with your driving conditions.
Always reset the engine oil life system after an oil
change. SeeEngine Oil Life System on page 328.
In addition to the engine oil life system monitoring
the oil life, additional maintenance is recommended
in the Maintenance Schedule in this manual. See
Scheduled Maintenance on page 431andEngine
Oil on page 325.Personalization
MENU:Press this button while the ignition is ON to
scroll through each of the personalization options in
the following order. To avoid excessive drain on the
battery, it is recommended that the headlamps are
turned off. If the vehicle is moving faster than 2 mph
(3 km/h), the personalization menu options are not
available, except for the UNITS option. All of the
personalization options may not be available on
your vehicle. Only the options available display on
the DIC.
Oil Life Reset
Units Selection (English/Metric)
Remote Start Capability
Horn Chirp During Remote Keyless Entry
Locking
Horn Chirp During Remote Keyless Entry
Unlocking
Exterior Light Flash During Remote Keyless
Entry Locking or Unlocking
Delayed Locking
Automatic Vehicle Unlocking: Speci c Doors
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Automatic Vehicle Unlocking: When Key is Off
or When Shift To Park
Exterior Perimeter Lighting During Remote
Keyless Entry Unlock
Select Language: (English, French, Spanish or
German)
When the desired option is reached, press the
enter button to toggle between the modes of that
option. To make a selection, press the MENU
button again.
If no selection is made within 10 seconds, the
display reverts back to the previous information
displayed.
The MENU mode is exited when the information
button is pressed, a 10 second time period
has elapsed, the ignition is turned to OFF, or the
end of the MENU list is reached.
SeeDIC Vehicle Personalization on page 216for
more information on the personalization options.
Enter
ENTER/r(Enter):Press this button to reset
certain functions and to turn off or acknowledge
messages on the DIC display. This button
also toggles through the options available in each
personalization menu.
DIC Warnings and Messages
These messages appear if there is a problem
detected in one of your vehicle’s systems.
A message will clear when that condition is no
longer present on the vehicle. To acknowledge a
message and clear it from the display, press
any of the three DIC buttons. If the condition is
still present, the warning message will come back
on the next time the vehicle is turned off and
back on. With most messages, a warning chime
sounds when the message displays. Your
vehicle may have other warning messages.
AUTO (Automatic) LIGHTS OFF:This message
displays if the automatic headlamp system is
disabled with the headlamp switch.
AUTO (Automatic) LIGHTS ON:This message
displays if the automatic headlamp system is
enabled with the headlamp switch.
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If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off
the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the
way you want the vehicle to go. If you start
steering quickly enough, your vehicle may
straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid
if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other material is on the road.
For safety, you will want to slow down and adjust
your driving to these conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control
more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or
braking, including reducing vehicle speed by
shifting to a lower gear. Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the
surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding.
Learn to recognize warning clues — such as
enough water, ice, or packed snow on the road to
make a mirrored surface — and slow down when
you have any doubt.If you have the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS),
remember: It helps avoid only the braking skid. If
you do not have ABS, then in a braking skid,
where the wheels are no longer rolling, release
enough pressure on the brakes to get the wheels
rolling again. This restores steering control.
Push the brake pedal down steadily when you
have to stop suddenly. As long as the wheels are
rolling, you will have steering control.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to
be impaired — by alcohol or drugs, with night
vision problems, or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Adjust the inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you cannot see as well, you may need
to slow down and keep more space between
you and other vehicles.
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Slow down, especially on higher speed roads.
Your vehicle’s headlamps can light up only so
much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe
place and rest.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime.
But as we get older these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as
much light to see the same thing at night as a
20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your
night vision. For example, if you spend the
day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear
sunglasses. Your eyes will have less trouble
adjusting to night. But if you are driving, do not
wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down on
glare from headlamps, but they also make a
lot of things invisible.You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or
even several seconds, for your eyes to re-adjust
to the dark. When you are faced with severe glare,
as from a driver who does not lower the high
beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlamps,
slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into
the approaching headlamps.
Keep the windshield and all the glass on your
vehicle clean — inside and out. Glare at night is
made much worse by dirt on the glass. Even
the inside of the glass can build up a lm caused
by dust. Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and
ash more than clean glass would, making the
pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that the headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it is easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as the headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim, so should your
eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer
from night blindness — the inability to see in dim
light — and are not even aware of it.
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