ignition PONTIAC G8 2008 User Guide

Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
The vehicle has a manual rearview
mirror with a compass display
and OnStar
®control buttons located
at the bottom of the mirror. See
your dealer/retailer for more
information on the system and how
to subscribe to OnStar. See
OnStar
®System on page 4-36for
more information about the services
OnStar provides.
Adjust the mirror to see clearly
behind your vehicle. Hold it in the
center to move it up or down
and side to side.
Headlamp Glare
1. To reduce headlamp glare from
vehicles following from behind,
pull the lever toward you.
The rear view clarity is reduced
when the mirror is set to
reduce headlamp glare.2. Return the lever back to its
original position as soon as
the glare has disappeared to
restore the rear view.
Cleaning the Mirror
Do not spray glass cleaner directly
on the mirror. Use a paper towel
or similar material dampened
with glass cleaner.
Compass
Compass Display
Y(On/Off):Press to turn the
compass on or off. The compass
display can show a maximum of two
characters. For example, NE is
displayed for north-east.
When the ignition and the compass
feature are on, a character box
displays for about two seconds.
After two seconds, the mirror
displays the direction the vehicle is
facing.
Compass Calibration
When on, the compass automatically
calibrates as the vehicle is driven. If,
after two seconds, the display does
not show a compass direction, (N for
North, for example), there may be a
strong magnetic eld interfering with
the compass. Interference can be
caused by a magnetic antenna
mount, magnetic note pad holder, or
a similar magnetic item. If CAL
should ever display in the compass
window, the compass might need
calibration.
Press and hold
Yfor several
seconds to activate the compass
calibration mode. CAL displays
in the compass window on
the mirror.
The mirror can be calibrated by
driving the vehicle in circles
at 5 mph (8 km/h) or less until the
display shows a direction.
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2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Compass Variance
The mirror is set to zone eight.
Adjust the compass to compensate
for compass variance if you live
outside zone eight. Under certain
conditions, such as during a
long-distance, cross-country trip, it
is necessary to adjust for compass
variance. If the variance is not
adjusted, the compass could give
false readings.
To adjust for compass variance:
1. Find the current location
and variance zone number on
the following zone map.2. Press and hold
Yuntil zone
displays.
3. Once zone displays, press
Y
repeatedly until the correct
zone number displays. If CAL
displays in the compass window,
the compass might need
calibration. See “Compass
Calibration” explained previously.
Outside Power Mirror(s)
With the ignition on, move the
selector switch located on the center
console to the left or right to choose
either the driver or passenger
side mirror.
To adjust a mirror, use the arrows
located on the four-way control
pad to move the mirror in the
desired direction. The mirror moves
right or left, up or down. Adjust
each mirror to see the side of your
vehicle and the area beside and
behind your vehicle. Keep the
selector switch in the center position
when not adjusting either outside
mirror.
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2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Manually fold the mirrors inward to
prevent damage when going
through an automatic car wash. To
fold, push the mirror toward the
vehicle. Push the mirror outward, to
return to its original position.
Outside Convex Mirror
{CAUTION
A convex mirror can make
things (like other vehicles) look
farther away than they really
are. If you cut too sharply into
the right lane, you could hit a
vehicle on your right. Check
your inside mirror or glance
over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
The passenger side mirror is convex
shaped. A convex mirror’s surface
is curved so more can be seen from
the driver seat. It also makes
things, like other vehicles, look
farther away than they really are.
Sunroof
The sunroof control is located
between the sun visors. It works
when the ignition is in ON/RUN. The
sunroof will not operate after the
engine is turned off.
From the closed position
9, turn
the control clockwise to one of
the six open positions. The
sunshade opens with the sunroof.
Tilt the sunroof by turning the control
counter-clockwise.
Obstruction Detection
When the sunroof encounters an
obstruction while closing, it
immediately returns to the fully open
or tilt position. The sunroof will
not move again until the control is
pressed upward, or a different
position is selected.
2-18 Keys, Doors and Windows
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

The main components of the
instrument panel are the following:
A.Turn Signal/Multifunction
Lever on page 4-4 .
B. Audio Steering Wheel Controls
on page 6-23 andDIC Operation
and Displays on page 4-23 .
C. Instrument Panel Cluster on
page 4-11 .
D. Audio Steering Wheel Controls
on page 6-23 .
E. Windshield Wipers on page 4-8 .
F. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 4-4 .
G. Voltmeter, Oil Gage. Voltmeter
Gage on page 4-15 .
H. Outlet Adjustment on page 7-8 .I.
Exterior Lamps Controls on
page 5-1 .Instrument Panel
Brightness on page 5-3 .Fog
Lamps on page 5-3 (If Equipped).
J. Hood Release on page 9-5.
K. Tilt Wheel on page 4-4 .
L. Horn on page 4-4.
M. Ignition Positions on page 8-2 .
N. Climate Control System on
page 7-1 .Automatic Climate
Control System on page 7-4
(If Equipped).
O. Shift Lever. Automatic
Transmission Operation on
page 8-6 . P.
Power Door Locks on page 2-9 .
Q. Outside Power Mirror(s) on
page 2-17 .
R. Power Windows on page 2-15 .
S. Traction Control System (TCS) Disable Button. Electronic
Stability Program on page 8-16 .
T. Heated Seats on page 1-5
(If Equipped).
U. Accessory Power Outlet(s) on
page 4-9 .
V. Audio System(s) on page 6-1 .
W. Glove Box on page 3-1 .
Instruments and Controls 4-3
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works on
hills depends upon the vehicle
speed, load, and the steepness of
the hills.
When going up steep hills, you
might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain the
vehicle speed.
When going downhill, you might
have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep the vehicle speed down.
When the brakes are applied
the cruise control is turned off.
Ending Cruise Control
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
When the cruise control is
deactivated, the CRUISE
INACTIVE message appears in
the instrument panel cluster.
Press theOQbutton at the
end of the lever two times.Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory
is erased when the cruise control or
the ignition is turned off.
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
An arrowGon the instrument
panel cluster ashes in the direction
of the turn or lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all
the way up or down.
To signal a lane change, slightly
raise or lower the lever until
the arrow starts to ash and release
the lever. The turn signal ashes
automatically three times.
The lever returns to its starting
position when it is released.
To cancel the lane change, move
the lever back to the starting
position.
Headlamp
High/Low-Beam Changer
The headlamps must be on for
this feature to work.
Push the turn signal lever away
from you to turn the high beams on.
The fog lamps turn off automatically
when high beam is selected.
This instrument panel cluster light
3comes on while the high
beam headlamps are on.
Pull the lever towards you to return
to low beams.
To ash the high beams, pull the
lever towards you. The lamps
remain on high beam as long as the
lever is held.
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2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper/washer lever
is located on the right side of
the steering column.
The ignition must be turned to the
ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY
position to use the windshield
wipers.Move the lever to the following
positions:
z(Mist):Hold the lever in this
position for continuous wiping
cycles.
((Off):Turns the wipers off.
&(Intermittent):For a delayed
wiping cycle. Turn the
&band
forward or rearward for more
frequent or less frequent wipes.
The frequency of wipes also
depends on the vehicle speed. As
the vehicle speed increases, so
does the wiper rate.
1 (Low):For steady wiping at low
speed.
2 (High):For steady wiping at high
speed.
Never use the wipers on dry glass,
as this could damage the wiper
blade inserts and scratch the glass.Be sure to clear ice and snow from
the wiper blades before using
them. If the blades are frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or
thaw them. If they become
damaged, get new blades or blade
inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the
wipers. A circuit breaker stops
them until the motor cools. Clear
away snow or ice to prevent
an overload.
Windshield Washer
Pull the lever toward you to spray
washer uid on the windshield.
The spray continues until the lever
is released. The wipers will run
a few times. SeeWindshield Washer
Fluid on page 9-22for information
on lling the windshield washer uid
reservoir.
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2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

{CAUTION
In freezing weather, do not use
your washer until the
windshield is warmed.
Otherwise the washer uid can
form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
Accessory Power
Outlet(s)
The accessory power outlets can be
used to connect auxiliary electrical
equipment, such as a cellular phone.
The vehicle has two accessory
power outlets. One accessory power
outlet is located under the climate
controls and the other is located
inside the center oor console.
To use the outlet, the ignition
must be in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY. Pull down the
small cover to access the outlet.Notice:Leaving electrical
equipment on for extended
periods will drain the battery.
Always turn off electrical
equipment when not in use and
do not plug in equipment that
exceeds the maximum amperage
rating.
This circuit is protected by a fuse
and has a maximum current
level. Do not use equipment
exceeding the maximum amperage
rating.
Certain power accessory plugs may
not be compatible to the power
accessory outlet and could result
in blown vehicle or adapter fuses.
If you experience a problem see
your dealer/retailer for additional
information on the power
accessory plugs.Notice:Adding any electrical
equipment to the vehicle
may damage it or keep other
components from working as they
should. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not use equipment
exceeding maximum amperage
rating of 10 amperes. Check with
your dealer/retailer before
adding electrical equipment.
When adding electrical equipment,
be sure to follow the proper
installation instructions included with
the equipment.
Notice:Improper use of the
power outlet can cause damage
not covered by your warranty. Do
not hang any type of accessory
or accessory bracket from
the plug because the power
outlets are designed for
accessory power plugs only.
Instruments and Controls 4-9
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

{CAUTION
Even though the passenger
sensing system is designed to
turn off the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag if the
system detects a rear-facing
child restraint, no system is
fail-safe, and no one can
guarantee that an airbag will
not deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though it is
turned off. We recommend that
rear-facing child restraints be
secured in the rear seat, even if
the airbag is off.
If the word OFF or the off symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the
passenger sensing system has
turned off the right front passenger
frontal airbag. SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 1-26for
more information, including
important safety information.If, after several seconds, both status
indicator lights remain on, or if
there are no lights at all, there may
be a problem with the lights or
the passenger sensing system. See
your dealer/retailer for service.
{CAUTION
If the airbag readiness light in
the instrument panel cluster
ever comes on and stays on, it
means that something may be
wrong with the airbag system.
If this ever happens, have the
vehicle serviced promptly,
because an adult-size person
sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat may not have
the protection of the airbag(s).
SeeAirbag Readiness Light on
page 4-13for more on this,
including important safety
information.
Voltmeter Gage
The voltmeter shows the voltage
output of your battery.
It is located in the center of the
instrument panel.
Charging System Light
This light will come on briey when
you turn on the ignition, and the
engine is not running, as a check to
show it is working. Then it should
go out when the engine is started.
If the light comes on and an
Alternator message on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) stays
on, you may have a problem with
the electrical charging system. Have
it checked by your dealer/retailer.
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2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Driving while this light is on could
drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance
with the light on, be sure to turn off
all accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
The Alternator message will remain
until
3(Trip/Fuel) or8(Enter)
are pressed, but the light will remain
until the problem is xed. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on
page 4-27for more information.
Brake System Warning
Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake
system is divided into two parts. If
one part is not working, the
other part can still work and stop
you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there
is a brake problem. Have your
brake system inspected right away.If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes,
this light should come on when
you turn the key to START. If it does
not come on, have it xed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is
a problem.
When the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will also
come on when you set your parking
brake. The light will stay on if
your parking brake does not release
fully. If it stays on after your
parking brake is fully released, it
means you have a brake problem.
If the light comes on and Brake
message comes on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), while you
are driving, pull off the road and
stop carefully. You may notice that
the pedal is harder to push or
the pedal may go closer to the oor.It may take longer to stop. If the
light is still on, have the vehicle
towed for service. SeeAntilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
on page 4-17andTowing Your
Vehicle on page 9-84.
{CAUTION
Your brake system may not be
working properly if the brake
system warning light is on.
Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to an
accident. If the light is still on
after you have pulled off the
road and stopped carefully,
have the vehicle towed for
service.
The Brake message will remain until
3(Trip/Fuel) or8(Enter) are
pressed, but the brake light will
remain until the problem is xed. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on
page 4-27for more information. United States
Canada
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2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
For vehicles with the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), this light will come
on briey, as a check, when
you start your vehicle.
If it does not, have your vehicle
serviced so that the light works
properly when it needs to.
If the light and a message in the
DIC stays on longer than a few
seconds after you start your engine,
or comes on and stays on while
you are driving, try resetting
the system. To reset the system:
1. If you are driving, pull over when
it is safe to do so.
2. Place the vehicle in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the ignition.
4. Then restart the engine.If the light remains on after resetting
the system or comes on again
while driving, your vehicle needs
service. If the ABS light is on,
but the regular brake system
warning light is not on, the antilock
brakes are not working properly,
but the regular brakes are still
functioning. Have your vehicle
serviced right away. If both brake
lights are on, you do not have
antilock brakes, and there’s a
problem with your regular brakes as
well. Have your vehicle towed for
service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle
on page 9-84.
The ABS Fault message will remain
until
3(Trip/Fuel) or8(Enter)
are pressed, but the warning
light will remain until the problem is
xed. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 4-27for more
information.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant
temperature. If the gage pointer
moves into the red area, the engine
is too hot. It means that the engine
has overheated. Pull off the road,
stop the vehicle, and turn off the
engine as soon as possible. See
Engine Overheating on page 9-16.
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2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual