stop start PONTIAC G6 2008 User Guide

Antilock Brake System Warning
Light
For vehicles with the
Antilock Brake System
(ABS), this light will come
on briey when you
start the engine.
That is normal. If the light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off, if the light
comes on when you are driving, stop as soon as it
is safely possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the
engine again to reset the system. If the ABS light still
stays on, or comes on again while you are driving, your
vehicle needs service. If the regular brake system
warning light is not on, you still have brakes, but you do
not have antilock brakes. If the regular brake system
warning light is also on, you do not have antilock brakes
and there is a problem with your regular brakes. See
Brake System Warning Light on page 3-34.
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC), see
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-46for all
brake related DIC messages.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
If the traction control
warning light comes on
and stays on, there may be
a problem with the
traction control system.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-5for
more information.
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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into the red area, the light comes
on and you hear a chime, the engine is too hot! It means
that your engine coolant has overheated. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 5-33.
Tire Pressure Light
Your vehicle has a tire
pressure light.
This light comes on briey when the engine is started
and provides information about tire pressures and
the Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
When the Light is Solid
This indicates that one or more of your tires are
signicantly underinated.
A tire pressure message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC), may accompany the light. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-46for more
information. Stop and check your tires as soon as it is
safe to do so. If underinated, inate to the proper
pressure. SeeTires on page 5-60for more information. United States
Canada
3-37

This light comes on, as a check to show it is working,
when the ignition is turned ON/RUN but the engine is not
running. If the light does not come on, have it repaired.
This light also comes on during a malfunction in
one of two ways:
Light Flashing— A misre condition has been
detected. A misre increases vehicle emissions
and could damage the emission control system on
your vehicle. Diagnosis and service might be
required.
Light On Steady— An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Diagnosis and service might be required.
If the Light is Flashing
The following can prevent more serious damage to your
vehicle:
Reduce vehicle speed.
Avoid hard accelerations.
Avoid steep uphill grades.
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops ashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following.If the light continues to ash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park the vehicle.
Turn the ignition off, wait at least 10 seconds, and restart
the engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If the
Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is still ashing,
follow the previous steps and see your dealer/retailer
for service as soon as possible.
If the Light Is On Steady
You might be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. SeeFilling the Tank on page 5-9. The
diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has
been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing
fuel cap allows fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly installed should
turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your vehicle’s electrical system might be wet. The
condition is usually corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.
3-39

CHANGE OIL SOON
This message displays when the life of the engine oil
has expired and it should be changed.
When this message is acknowledged and cleared from
the display, the engine oil life system must still be
reset separately. SeeEngine Oil Life System on
page 5-24,Engine Oil on page 5-21, andScheduled
Maintenance on page 6-4for more information.
CHECK CARGO TOP
If your vehicle has a retractable hardtop, this message
displays if the cargo divider is not in place when
operating the retractable hardtop. Open the trunk and
make sure the cargo divider is secure and no objects are
on the divider. SeeTrunk on page 2-13,Lowering the
Retractable Hardtop on page 2-46, andRaising the
Retractable Hardtop on page 2-49for more information.
CHECK GAS CAP
This message displays if the fuel cap has not been fully
tightened. Recheck the fuel cap to make sure that it
is on properly. A few driving trips with the cap properly
installed should turn the message off.
CHECK TIRE PRESS (Pressure)
This message displays when the pressure in one or
more of the vehicle’s tires needs to be checked. If a tire
pressure message appears on the DIC, stop as soonas you can. Have the tire pressures checked and set to
those shown on the Tire Loading Information label.
SeeTires on page 5-60,Loading Your Vehicle on
page 4-20, andInflation - Tire Pressure on page 5-68.
The DIC also shows the tire pressure values. See
DIC Operation and Displays on page 3-43. If the tire
pressure is low, the low tire pressure warning light
comes on. SeeTire Pressure Light on page 3-37.
DOOR AJAR
This message displays if one or more of the vehicle’s
doors are not closed properly. Make sure that the
door(s) are closed completely.
ENGINE DISABLED
This message displays if the starting of the engine is
disabled. Have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer immediately.
ENG (Engine) PWR (Power) REDUCED
This message displays to inform you that the vehicle
has reduced engine power to avoid damaging the
engine. Reduced engine power can affect the vehicle’s
ability to accelerate. If this message is on, but there
is no reduction in performance, proceed to your
destination. The performance may be reduced the next
time the vehicle is driven. The vehicle may be driven
at a reduced speed while this message is on, but
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Radio Messages for XM™ Only
SeeXM Radio Messages on page 3-66later in this
section for further detail.
Playing a CD
Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The
player pulls it in and the CD should begin playing.
Press the eject button or the DISP (display) knob to
insert a CD while the ignition is off.
If the ignition or radio is turned off while a CD is in the
player, it stays in the player. When the ignition or
radio is turned on, the CD starts playing, where it
stopped, if it was the last selected audio source.
As each new track starts to play, the track number
displays.
The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm) single
CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the
smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner.
Care of Your CDs
If playing a CD-R, the sound quality can be reduced
due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the quality
of the music that has been recorded, and the way the
CD-R has been handled. Handle them carefully.
Store CD-R(s) in their original cases or other protective
cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. The
CD player scans the bottom surface of the disc.If the surface of a CD is damaged, such as cracked,
broken, or scratched, the CD does not play properly or
not at all. Do not touch the bottom side of a CD
while handling it; this could damage the surface. Pick up
CDs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the
hole and the outer edge.
If the surface of a CD is soiled, take a soft, lint free cloth
or dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent
solution mixed with water, and clean it. Make sure the
wiping process starts from the center to the edge.
Care of Your CD Player
Do not add any label to a CD, it could get caught in the
CD player. If a CD is recorded on a personal computer
and a description label is needed, try labeling the top of
the recorded CD with a marking pen.
The use of CD lens cleaners for CDs is not advised,
due to the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics
with lubricants internal to the CD player mechanism.
Notice:If a label is added to a CD, or more than one
CD is inserted into the slot at a time, or an attempt
is made to play scratched or damaged CDs, the
CD player could be damaged. While using the CD
player, use only CDs in good condition without any
label, load one CD at a time, and keep the CD
player and the loading slot free of foreign materials,
liquids, and debris.
3-60

xSEEKw:Press the down arrow to go to the start
of the current track, if more than eight seconds have
played. Press the up arrow to go to the beginning of the
next track. If either arrow is held or pressed more
than once, the player continues moving through the CD.
To scan the current CD, press and hold either arrow
for more than two seconds. The CD goes to the
next track, plays the rst 10 seconds, then goes to the
next track. Press either arrow again to stop scanning.
To scan all of the CDs loaded in the Radio with a
Six-Disc CD player, press and hold either arrow for
more than four seconds. The CD goes to the next CD,
plays the rst 10 seconds of the rst track, then goes to
the next CD. Press either arrow again to stop scanning.
DISP (Display) (Radio with Single CD):Press to see
how long the current track has been playing. T,
the track number, and the elapsed time of the track
displays. To change the default on the display, time or
elapsed time, press until you see the desired display,
then hold the knob for two seconds. The radio produces
one beep and the selected display is now the default.
Pressing this button also displays text on commercially
recorded CDs (if available).
DISP (Display) (Radio with Six-Disc CD
Player):Press to switch between time, temperature,
and the elapsed time of the track. To change the default
on the display (CD#/Track#/Time, CD#/Track#/Temperature, or Track#/Elapsed Time/Temperature),
press until the desired display appears, then hold
the knob for two seconds. The radio produces one beep
and the selected display is now the default.
AUTO TONE (Automatic Equalization):Press to
select the desired equalization setting while playing a
CD. The equalization is automatically recalled when
a CD is played. For more information, see “AUTO
TONE” listed previously in this section.
BAND:Press to listen to the radio while a CD is
playing. The inactive CD(s) remains inside the radio for
future listening.
SRCE (Source):Press to play a CD while listening to
the radio. Press again and the system searches for
an auxiliary input device such as a portable audio player.
Using Song List /RMode
The six-disc CD changer has a feature called song list.
This feature is capable of saving 20 track selections.
To save tracks into the song list feature, perform
the following steps:
1. Turn the radio on and load it with at least one CD.
See “LOAD
^” listed previously in this section for
more information.
3-63

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 vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are driving,
brake normally but do not pump the brakes. If you do,
the pedal could get harder to push down. If the
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 can take longer to stop and
the brake pedal will be harder to push.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 5-4.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Antilock Brake System (ABS), an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start the engine and begin to drive away,
ABS will check itself. You might hear a momentary
motor or clicking noise while this test is going on, and
you might even notice that the brake pedal moves
a little. This is normal.If there is a problem with
ABS, this warning light will
stay on. SeeAntilock
Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-35.
Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If
one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure faster than any
driver could. The computer is programmed to make the
most of available tire and road conditions. This can
help you steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, the computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls braking pressure
accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change the time you need to
get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle
in front of you, you will not have time to apply the brakes
4-4

This symbol will appear
when the StabiliTrak®
system is activated.
When you rst start your vehicle and begin to drive
away, the system performs several diagnostic checks to
ensure there are no problems. You may hear or feel
the system working. This is normal and does not mean
there is a problem with your vehicle.
This light is located on the
instrument panel cluster.
When the system is on, this light will come on to let you
know if there’s a problem, or if the system has been
turned off.
StabiliTrak
®comes on automatically whenever you start
your vehicle. To help assist you with directional
control of the vehicle, you should always leave thesystem on. You can turn the traction control system and
StabiliTrak
®off if you ever need to by pressing and
holding the TC (traction control) on/off button. Press the
TC button again to turn StabiliTrak
®and the traction
control system back on. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-5for more information.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the StabiliTrak
®
activates, the cruise control will automatically
disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, you may reengage the cruise control. See
Cruise Control on page 3-10for more information.
Steering
Electric Power Steering
If your vehicle has the electric power steering system
and the engine stalls while you are driving, the power
steering assist system will continue to operate until you
are able to stop your vehicle. If you lose power steering
assist because the electric power steering system is not
functioning, you can steer, but it will take more effort.
If you turn the steering wheel in either direction several
times until it stops, or hold the steering wheel in the
stopped position for an extended amount of time, you
may notice a reduced amount of power steering
assist. The normal amount of power steering assist
should return shortly after a few normal steering
movements.
4-7

Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not overdriving
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, the wheels are
not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much
throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle does not have a traction system, or if the
traction system is off, an acceleration skid is also
best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator
pedal. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-5
andStabiliTrak
®System on page 4-6.
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 Antilock 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.
4-11

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, and
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 transmission 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 5-33.
4-34