PONTIAC G6 2008 Owners Manual

Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in
a situation like this, please notify General Motors.
Call 1-800-762-2737, or write:
Pontiac Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33172
Detroit, MI 48232-5172
In Canada, call 1-800-263-3777 (English) or
1-800-263-7854 (French), or write:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, CA1-163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins’ give additional technical service
information needed to knowledgeably service General
Motors cars and trucks. Each bulletin contains
instructions to assist in the diagnosis and service of
your vehicle.
Owner Information
Owner publications are written specically for owners
and intended to provide basic operational information
about the vehicle. The owner manual includes the
Maintenance Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner Manual, and
Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee
Without Portfolio: Owner Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee
Current and Past Model Order Forms
Technical Service Bulletins and Manuals are available
for current and past model GM vehicles. To request
an order form, specify year and model name of
the vehicle.
7-15

ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on the
World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com
Or you can write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
checks payable in U.S. funds.
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy
Your GM vehicle has a number of sophisticated
computers that record information about the vehicle’s
performance and how it is driven. For example,
your vehicle uses computer modules to monitor and
control engine and transmission performance, to monitor
the conditions for airbag deployment and deploy
airbags in a crash and, if so equipped, to provideantilock braking to help the driver control the vehicle.
These modules may store data to help your
dealer/retailer technician service your vehicle. Some
modules may also store data about how you operate the
vehicle, such as rate of fuel consumption or average
speed. These modules may also retain the owner’s
personal preferences, such as radio pre-sets, seat
positions, and temperature settings.
Event Data Recorders
This vehicle has an Event Data Recorder (EDR). The
main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or
near crash-like situations, such as an airbag deployment
or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist in
understanding how a vehicle’s systems performed. The
EDR is designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time,
typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle
is designed to record such data as:
How various systems in your vehicle were operating
Whether or not the driver and passenger safety
belts were buckled/fastened
How far, if at all, the driver was pressing the
accelerator and/or brake pedal
How fast the vehicle was traveling
7-16

This data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.
Important:EDR data is recorded by your vehicle only
if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data is
recorded by the EDR under normal driving conditions
and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age,
and crash location) is recorded. However, other parties,
such as law enforcement, could combine the EDR
data with the type of personally identifying data routinely
acquired during a crash investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is
required, and access to the vehicle or the EDR is
needed. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer, other
parties, such as law enforcement, that have the special
equipment, can read the information if they have
access to the vehicle or the EDR.
GM will not access this data or share it with others
except: with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the
vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee; in
response to an official request of police or similar
government office; as part of GM’s defense of litigation
through the discovery process; or, as required by
law. Data that GM collects or receives may also be used
for GM research needs or may be made available to
others for research purposes, where a need is shown
and the data is not tied to a specic vehicle or
vehicle owner.OnStar®
If your vehicle has OnStar and you subscribe to the
OnStar services, please refer to the OnStar Terms and
Conditions for information on data collection and
use. See alsoOnStar
®System on page 2-41in this
manual for more information.
Navigation System
If your vehicle has a navigation system, use of the system
may result in the storage of destinations, addresses,
telephone numbers, and other trip information. Refer to
the navigation system operating manual for information
on stored data and for deletion instructions.
Radio Frequency
Identication (RFID)
RFID technology is used in some vehicles for functions
such as tire pressure monitoring and ignition system
security, as well as in connection with conveniences
such as key fobs for remote door locking/unlocking and
starting, and in-vehicle transmitters for garage door
openers. RFID technology in GM vehicles does not use
or record personal information or link with any other
GM system containing personal information.
7-17

✍NOTES
7-18

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-4
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-73
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-8
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-109
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal..................2-25
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-26
Air Conditioning......................................3-19, 3-23
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-31
Readiness Light..........................................3-30
Airbag System................................................1-59
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-66
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-64
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-62
Airbag Systems
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-73
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-66
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-68
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-72
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-65
Antenna, Backglass.........................................3-69
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-68
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System......................................................3-69
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-4Antilock Brake, System Warning Light................3-35
Appearance Care
Aluminum Wheels......................................5-106
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-103
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-107
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-104
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-101
Finish Care...............................................5-104
Finish Damage..........................................5-107
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................5-103
Interior Cleaning........................................5-100
Leather
....................................................5-102
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-106
Tires........................................................5-106
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-107
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials...............5-108
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-104
Weatherstrips............................................5-103
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-105
Appointments, Scheduling Service....................... 7-9
Audio System.................................................3-52
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-67
Backglass Antenna......................................3-69
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-68
Radio Reception..........................................3-68
Setting the Clock.........................................3-53
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-67
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-69
1

Audio System(s).............................................3-54
Automatic Climate Control System.....................3-23
Automatic Door Lock.......................................2-11
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-15
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..................................................5-27, 5-30
Operation...................................................2-27
B
Backglass Antenna..........................................3-69
Battery..........................................................5-45
Run-Down Protection...................................3-18
Bench Seat, Split (60/40).................................1-11
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-5
Brakes..........................................................5-42
System Warning Light..................................3-34
Braking........................................................... 4-3
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-5
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-21
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-51
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........5-54
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-52
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-52Bulb Replacement (cont.)
License Plate Lamps....................................5-58
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-58
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Back-Up Lamps.................5-55, 5-56, 5-57
Buying New Tires...........................................5-79
C
Calibration.............................................2-37, 2-39
California Fuel.................................................. 5-7
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements....... 5-5
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-5
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-119
Carbon Monoxide...................2-13, 2-35, 4-15, 4-28
Care of
Safety Belts..............................................5-103
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-44
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-54
Chains, Tire...................................................5-85
Charging System Light....................................3-33
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-38
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-12
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-107
2

Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-39
Infants and Young Children...........................1-36
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-44
Older Children.............................................1-33
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Seat Position...........................................1-53
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position...........................................1-56
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-42
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels......................................5-106
Exterior Lamps/Lenses................................5-104
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-101
Finish Care...............................................5-104
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................5-103
Interior.....................................................5-100
Leather....................................................5-102
Tires........................................................5-106
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-107
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-104
Weatherstrips............................................5-103
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-105
Climate Control System...................................3-19
Automatic...................................................3-23
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-26
Clock, Setting.................................................3-53
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-11Compact Spare Tire........................................5-99
Compass...............................................2-37, 2-39
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-18
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-3
Convenience Net............................................2-44
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-37
Heater, Engine............................................2-25
Cooling System..............................................5-36
Courtesy Lamps.............................................3-16
Cruise Control................................................3-10
Cruise Control Light........................................3-42
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-44
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-9
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users............................... 7-5
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-5
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-6
Reporting Safety Defects to General
Motors....................................................7-15
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government............................................7-14
Reporting Safety Defects to the United
States Government...................................7-14
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-6
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-15
3

D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-14
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Delayed Headlamps........................................3-14
Delayed Locking.............................................2-11
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-5
Dome Lamp...................................................3-17
Door
Automatic Door Lock....................................2-11
Delayed Locking..........................................2-11
Door Ajar Reminder.....................................2-11
Locks........................................................2-10
Power Door Locks.......................................2-10
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock............2-12
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-12
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-43
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-43
DIC Vehicle Personalization..........................3-50
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-46
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-12
Before a Long Trip......................................4-13
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Highway Hypnosis.......................................4-14
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-14
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-12
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-20
Winter........................................................4-15
E
Easy Entry Seat............................................... 1-9
EDR .............................................................7-16
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment.....................................5-109
Engine Compartment Fuse Block.................5-112
Fuses......................................................5-110
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-110
Power Windows and Other Power Options....5-110
Rear Compartment Fuse Block....................5-116
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-110
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-26
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-38
Coolant......................................................5-30
Coolant Heater............................................2-25
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-37
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-15
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-14
Exhaust.....................................................2-35
Oil .............................................................5-21
Oil Life System...........................................5-24
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...........5-35
Overheating................................................5-33
Running While Parked..................................2-36
Starting......................................................2-23
Entry/Exit Lighting...........................................3-17
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-16
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-32
4

F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-26
Finish Damage.............................................5-107
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-68
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-6
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-8
Flat Tire........................................................5-86
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-86
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-96
Fluid.....................................................5-27, 5-30
Power Steering...........................................5-40
Windshield Washer......................................5-41
Fog Lamp
Fog ...........................................................3-16
Fuel............................................................... 5-6
Additives...................................................... 5-8
California Fuel.............................................. 5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-11
Filling the Tank............................................. 5-9
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-8
Gage.........................................................3-42
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-6
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-7
Low Warning Light.......................................3-42Fuses..........................................................5-110
Engine Compartment Fuse Block.................5-112
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-110
Rear Compartment Fuse Block....................5-116
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-110
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-37
Fuel..........................................................3-42
Speedometer..............................................3-29
Tachometer.................................................3-29
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-6
Specications............................................... 5-7
Glove Box.....................................................2-44
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-6
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-7
Headlamps....................................................3-13
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-51
Daytime Running Lamps...............................3-14
5

Headlamps (cont.)
Delayed.....................................................3-14
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-8
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-52
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-52
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
On Reminder..............................................3-14
Headlamps Off in Park (P)...............................3-14
Heated Seats................................................... 1-4
Heater...................................................3-19, 3-23
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-42
High-Speed Operation, Tires.............................5-70
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-14
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-14
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-12
Release.....................................................5-12
Horn............................................................... 3-6
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-18
I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-22
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-36
Ination - Tire Pressure...................................5-68Instrument Panel
Overview..................................................... 3-4
Instrument Panel (I/P)
Brightness..................................................3-16
Cluster.......................................................3-28
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-46
K
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-3
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................5-62
Lamps
Courtesy....................................................3-16
Dome........................................................3-17
Overhead Console Reading..........................3-17
Trunk.........................................................3-17
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-26
6