steering PONTIAC G6 2009 Owners Manual

Vehicle Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or information
relating to a specic component, control, message,
gage, or indicator.
M:This symbol is shown when you need to see your
owner manual for additional instructions or information.
*:This symbol is shown when you need to see a
service manual for additional instructions or information.
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that may be found on
the vehicle and what they mean. For more information
on the symbol, refer to the index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls or OnStar®
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.:Fuel Gage
+:Fuses
i:Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
j:LATCH System Child Restraints
*:Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
F:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
iv

If a child restraint has been installed and on indicator is
lit, see “If the On Indicator is Lit for a Child Restraint”
underPassenger Sensing System on page 1-69
for more information.
To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle
safety belt and let it return to the stowed position.
If your seat has a safety belt guide, insert the safety belt
into the guide on the head restraint by sliding the
webbing through the opening on the guide.
Airbag System
The vehicle has the following airbags:
A frontal airbag for the driver.
A frontal airbag for the right front passenger.
A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the driver.
A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the right front
passenger.
The vehicle may also have the following airbags:
A roof-rail airbag for the driver and the passenger
seated directly behind the driver.
A roof-rail airbag for the right front passenger and
the passenger seated directly behind the right
front passenger.All of the airbags in your vehicle will have the word
AIRBAG embossed in the trim or on an attached label
near the deployment opening.
For frontal airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear on the
middle part of the steering wheel for the driver and
on the instrument panel for the right front passenger.
With seat-mounted side impact airbags, the word
AIRBAG will appear on the side of the seatback closest
to the door.
With roof-rail airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear
along the headliner or trim.
Airbags are designed to supplement the protection
provided by safety belts. Even though today’s airbags
are also designed to help reduce the risk of injury
from the force of an inating bag, all airbags must inate
very quickly to do their job.
1-61

{CAUTION:
Children who are up against, or very close to, any
airbag when it inates can be seriously injured or
killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer
protection for adults and older children, but not for
young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s
safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed
for them. Young children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint system can provide.
Always secure children properly in your vehicle. To
read how, seeOlder Children on page 1-36or
Infants and Young Children on page 1-39.
There is an airbag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 3-32
for more information.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver frontal airbag is in the middle of the steering
wheel.
1-63

If the vehicle has roof-rail airbags for the driver, right
front passenger, and second row outboard passengers,
they are in the ceiling above the side windows.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the airbag might not inate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
inating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put
anything between an occupant and an airbag, and
do not attach or put anything on the steering
wheel hub or on or near any other airbag
covering.
Do not use seat accessories that block the
ination path of a seat-mounted side impact
airbag.
Never secure anything to the roof of a vehicle with
roof-rail airbags by routing a rope or tie down
through any door or window opening. If you do,
the path of an inating roof-rail airbag will be
blocked. Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar
1-65

In any particular crash, no one can say whether an
airbag should have inated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs
were. For frontal airbags, ination is determined by
what the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, and how
quickly the vehicle slows down. For seat-mounted
side impact and roof-rail airbags, deployment is
determined by the location and severity of the side
impact.
What Makes an Airbag Inate?
In a deployment event, the sensing system sends an
electrical signal triggering a release of gas from the
inator. Gas from the inator lls the airbag causing the
bag to break out of the cover and deploy. The inator, the
airbag, and related hardware are all part of the airbag
module.
Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steering
wheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with
seat-mounted side impact airbags, there are airbag
modules in the side of the front seatbacks closest to the
door. For vehicles with roof-rail airbags, there are
airbag modules in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the
side windows that have occupant seating positions.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel
or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection provided by safety
belts. Frontal airbags distribute the force of the impact
more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping
the occupant more gradually. Seat-mounted side impact
and roof-rail airbags distribute the force of the impact
more evenly over the occupant’s upper body.
But airbags would not help in many types of collisions,
primarily because the occupant’s motion is not toward
those airbags. SeeWhen Should an Airbag Inflate? on
page 1-66for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded as anything more
than a supplement to safety belts.
1-67

Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to or change
about the vehicle that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change the vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, height, front end or side
sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or moving any parts
of the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing
and diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument
panel, roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner
or pillar garnish trim, front sensors, or airbag wiring
can affect the operation of the airbag system.
In addition, the vehicle has a passenger sensing
system for the right front passenger position, which
includes sensors that are part of the passenger’s
seat. The passenger sensing system may not
operate properly if the original seat trim is replaced
with non-GM covers, upholstery or trim, or with GM
covers, upholstery or trim designed for a different
vehicle. Any object, such as an aftermarket seat
heater or a comfort enhancing pad or device,
installed under or on top of the seat fabric, could also
interfere with the operation of the passenger sensingsystem. This could either prevent proper deployment
of the passenger airbag(s) or prevent the passenger
sensing system from properly turning off the
passenger airbag(s). SeePassenger Sensing
System on page 1-69.
If you have any questions, call Customer
Assistance. The phone numbers and addresses for
Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the
Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual.
SeeCustomer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.
Q:Because I have a disability, I have to get
my vehicle modied. How can I nd out whether
this will affect my airbag system?
A:If you have questions, call Customer Assistance.
The phone numbers and addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See
Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.
In addition, your dealer/retailer and the service manual
have information about the location of the airbag
sensors, sensing and diagnostic module and airbag
wiring.
1-75

Driver Shift Control (DSC)
To use this feature,
1. Move the shift lever from DRIVE (D) rearward to
MANUAL (M).
While driving in manual mode, the transmission
will remain in the driver selected gear. When coming
to a stop in the manual position, the vehicle will
automatically shift into FIRST (1) gear.
2. Press the + (plus) paddle located on top of
the steering wheel controls forward to upshift,
or push the backside of the shift paddle rearward
to downshift.The Driver Information Center (DIC) in the instrument
cluster will change from the currently displayed message
to the letter “M”, For MANUAL position, and a number
indicating the requested gear range when moving
the shift lever forward or rearward.
While using the DSC feature the transmission will have
rmer shifting and sportier performance. You can use
this for sport driving or when climbing hills to stay in gear
longer or to downshift for more power or engine braking.
The transmission will only allow you to shift into gears
appropriate for the vehicle speed and engine revolutions
per minute (RPM):
The transmission will not automatically shift to the
next higher gear if the vehicle speed or engine
RPM is too high.
The transmission will not allow shifting to the next
lower gear if the vehicle speed or engine RPM is
too high.
2-30

Security Light...............................................3-41
Cruise Control Light......................................3-41
Highbeam On Light.......................................3-41
Fuel Gage...................................................3-42
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-42
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-42
DIC Operation and Displays...........................3-43
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-46
DIC Vehicle Personalization............................3-50Audio System(s).............................................3-52
Setting the Clock..........................................3-53
Radio(s)......................................................3-54
XM Radio Messages.....................................3-66
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-68
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-68
Radio Reception...........................................3-69
Fixed Mast Antenna......................................3-69
Backglass Antenna.......................................3-70
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System.............3-70
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-2

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A.Outlet Adjustment on page 3-28.
B.Outlet Adjustment on page 3-28.
C.Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
D.Cruise Control on page 3-10(If Equipped).
Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-42.
E.Instrument Panel Cluster on page 3-29.
F.Audio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-68
(If Equipped).
G.Windshield Wipers on page 3-8andWindshield
Washer on page 3-9.
H.Ignition Positions on page 2-21.
I.Outlet Adjustment on page 3-28.
J.Hazard Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
K.Audio System(s) on page 3-52.L.Instrument Panel Brightness on page 3-16.
M.Fog Lamps on page 3-15(If Equipped).
N.Hood Release on page 5-13.
O.Horn on page 3-6.
P.Automatic Climate Control System on page 3-24
orClimate Control System on page 3-20.
Q. Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation
on page 2-26.
R.Accessory Power Outlet(s) on page 3-19.
S.Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-7
(If Equipped).StabiliTrak
®System on page 4-6
(If Equipped).
T.Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-33.
U.Glove Box on page 2-43.
3-5

Hazard Warning Flashers
|(Hazard Warning Flasher):Press this button
located on the instrument panel, to make the front and
rear turn signal lamps ash on and off. This warns
others that you are having trouble.
Press
|again to turn the ashers off.
Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on the steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt and telescope wheel allows you to adjust the
steering wheel before you drive. Raise the steering
wheel to the highest level to give your legs more room
when you enter and exit the vehicle.The lever that allows you to tilt and telescope the steering
wheel is located on the left side of the steering column.
To tilt and telescope the wheel, pull down the lever.
Then move the wheel up or down or back and forth to a
comfortable driving position. Pull up the lever to lock
the wheel in place.
3-6