battery PONTIAC G8 2008 Owners Manual

Servicing Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Airbags affect how your vehicle
should be serviced. There are parts
of the airbag system in several
places around your vehicle. Your
dealer/retailer and the service
manual have information about
servicing your vehicle and the airbag
system. To purchase a service
manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 12-15.
{CAUTION
For up to 10 seconds after the
ignition is turned off and the
battery is disconnected, an
airbag can still inate during
improper service. You can be
injured if you are close to an
airbag when it inates. Avoid
yellow connectors. They are
probably part of the airbag
system. Be sure to follow
proper service procedures, and
make sure the person
performing work for you is
qualied to do so.
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,
the inside rearview mirror, ceiling
headliner or pillar garnish trim,
front sensors, or airbag wiring can
affect the operation of the airbag
system.
1-30 Seats and Restraints
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
system operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
Rules and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is
subject to the following two
conditions:
1. This device may not cause
interference.
2. This device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause
undesired operation of the
device.This device complies with RSS-210
of Industry Canada. Operation is
subject to the following two
conditions:
1. This device may not cause
interference.
2. This device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause
undesired operation of the
device.
Changes or modications to this
system by other than an authorized
service facility could void
authorization to use this equipment.If there is a decrease in the RKE
operating range, try this:Check the distance. The
transmitter may be too far from
the vehicle. Stand closer
during rainy or snowy weather.
Check the location. Other
vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal. Take a few
steps to the left or right, hold
the transmitter higher, and
try again.
Check the transmitter’s battery.
See “Battery Replacement”
later in this section.
If the transmitter is still not
working correctly, see your
dealer/retailer or a qualied
technician for service.
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-3
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

L(Vehicle Locator/Panic
Alarm):Press and release one time
to locate your vehicle. The exterior
lamps will ash and the horn
will chirp.
Press and hold
Lfor at least
two seconds to sound the panic
alarm. The horn will sound and the
turn signals will ash until
Lis
pressed again or the key is placed
in the ignition and turned to
ON/RUN.
/(Remote Vehicle Start):If the
vehicle has this feature, press
/to start the engine from outside
the vehicle using the RKE
transmitter. SeeRemote Vehicle
Start on page 2-6for additional
information.
Personal Identity Keys
This system stores electronic
settings for two different keys. The
settings are stored when a
personal identity key is removed
from the ignition and recalled when
Qon the RKE transmitter is
pressed. For information on storing
climate control settings, radio
settings and trip computer settings,
see “Personal Identity Memories”
underRadio(s) on page 6-3,
“Ignition Keys” underClimate
Control System on page 7-1and
“Trip Computer” underDIC Vehicle
Customization on page 4-32.
Matching Transmitter(s) to
Your Vehicle
Each RKE transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter from
unlocking your vehicle. If a
transmitter is lost or stolen, a
replacement can be purchased
through your dealer/retailer. Bringany additional transmitters so they
can also be re-coded to match
the new transmitter. Once your
dealer/retailer has coded the new
transmitter, the lost transmitter
will not unlock your vehicle.
Battery Replacement
The RKE transmitter has a lithium
battery which should last about
three years.
Have the battery replaced if the
Replace Battery in Remote
Key message displays in the DIC or
if the transmitter will not work at
the normal range in any location.
See “Replace Battery in Remote
Key” underDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 4-27.
The battery is not rechargeable.
See your dealer/retailer to replace
the battery.
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-5
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.
Instruments and Controls 4-15
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
4-16 Instruments and Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

If you just drove through a deep
puddle of water, 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.
If you recently changed brands of
fuel, be sure to fuel your vehicle
with quality fuel. SeeGasoline
Octane on page 8-33. Poor
fuel quality causes the engine
not to run as efficiently as
designed. You might notice this
as stalling after start-up,
stalling when you put the vehicle
into gear, misring, hesitation
on acceleration, or stumbling on
acceleration — these conditions
might go away once the
engine is warmed up.
If you experience one or more of
these conditions, change the
fuel brand you use. It will require
at least one full tank of the
proper fuel to turn the light off.If none of the above have made
the light turn off, your dealer/retailer
can check the vehicle. Your
dealer/retailer has the proper test
equipment and diagnostic tools to
x any mechanical or electrical
problems that might have
developed.
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local
governments have or might begin
programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on your vehicle.
Failure to pass this inspection
could prevent getting a vehicle
registration.Here are some things to know to
help your vehicle pass an
inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this
inspection if the check engine
light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass
this inspection if the OBD
(on-board diagnostic) system
determines that critical emission
control systems have not
been completely diagnosed by
the system. The vehicle would be
considered not ready for
inspection. This can happen if
you have recently replaced
the battery or if the battery has
run down. The diagnostic system
is designed to evaluate critical
emission control systems
during normal driving. This can
take several days of routine
driving. If you have done this and
your vehicle still does not pass
the inspection for lack of
OBD system readiness, your
dealer/retailer can prepare
the vehicle for inspection.
4-20 Instruments and Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

{Alarm Activated
This message is displayed when the
content theft-deterrent system
was activated by an attempted
break-in. The messages may also
include the location on the
vehicle where the break-in was
attempted. SeeContent
Theft-Deterrent on page 2-13for
more information.
"Alternator
This message is displayed if there is
a problem with the battery charging
system. The charging system
light may also come on in the
instrument panel cluster. See
Charging System Light on
page 4-15. Driving while this
message is on could drain the
battery. Turn off all unnecessary
accessories. Have the electrical
system checked as soon as
possible. See your dealer/retailer.
Battery Saver Mode On
This message is displayed when the
battery voltage level is low.
$Brake
This message is displayed if there is
a problem with the brake system.
The Brake System Warning
light may also come on in the
instrument panel cluster. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on
page 4-16. When this message is
on, stop the vehicle on the side
of the road. Do not continue driving
until you know that braking is
possible or that the cause of the
problem has been corrected,
see your dealer/retailer. This
message also indicates low brake
uid. Check the brake uid level.
SeeBrakes on page 9-24.
*Check Engine
If this message and the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp come on and
stay on when driving, the system
may require servicing. Although the
vehicle may still be drivable and
not require towing, take the vehicle
to your dealer/retailer as soon
as possible. If this message comes
on when the Malfunction Indicator
Lamp is ashing, reduce the
vehicle’s speed and load until the
lamp stops ashing, then take
the vehicle to your dealer/retailer as
soon as possible. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 4-18
for more information.
:Check Oil
This message is displayed if the oil
pressure or oil level is low. Stop
when safe, turn off the engine and
check the engine oil level. See
Engine Oil on page 9-8. Do not run
the engine when this warning is
4-28 Instruments and Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

yOverSpeed
This message is displayed when the
vehicle’s speed is greater than
the set OverSpeed value. See
“OverSpeed” underDIC Operation
and Displays on page 4-23.
You can press
8or move the
thumbwheel up
Qor downRto
acknowledge that you received
the message, but OverSpeed will
continue to appear in the bottom of
the DIC display as long as the
vehicle’s speed exceeds the preset
value.
$Park Brake
This message is displayed if the
parking brake is applied when you
are driving. Release the parking
brake. SeeParking Brake on
page 8-9.
Replace Battery in
Remote Key
This message is displayed when the
battery in the remote keyless
entry transmitter needs to be
replaced. See your dealer/retailer to
replace the battery.
You can press
3or8to
acknowledge that you received the
message, but
QKey Batt will
continue to appear in the bottom of
the DIC display until the battery
has been replaced.
wRest Reminder
This feature reminds the driver that
they may have been driving for too
long without a break. When the
ignition is turned on, a timer starts
counting. After two hours of
continuous driving, the rest reminder
ashes to alert the driver. The Rest
Reminder message is displayed until
3or8are pressed. The rest
reminder reappears after 20 minutesaccompanied by a chime, unless the
ignition has been turned off. For
information on how to turn the rest
reminder on and off, seeDIC Vehicle
Customization on page 4-32.
{Safety Mode Active and
Power Reduced
These messages display alternately
when there is a problem with the
engine control system, see
your dealer/retailer.
You can press
3or8to
acknowledge that you received the
message, but
{Safety will
continue to appear in the bottom of
the DIC display until the vehicle
has been serviced.
4-30 Instruments and Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Service Charging System
This message is displayed when
there is a fault in the battery
charging system, see your
dealer/retailer.
You can press
3or8to
acknowledge that you received the
message, but
"Low Batt will
continue to appear in the bottom of
the DIC display until the vehicle
has been serviced.
:Service Engine Oil
This message is displayed when the
engine oil needs to be changed.
When you change the engine oil, be
sure to reset the Oil Life System.
SeeEngine Oil Life System on
page 9-10for information on how to
reset the message. SeeEngine
Oil on page 9-8andScheduled
Maintenance on page 11-4for more
information.
vService Vehicle Soon
This message is displayed when
there is a problem with the vehicle,
see your dealer/retailer.
You can press
3or8to
acknowledge that you received the
message, but
*Service will
continue to appear in the bottom of
the DIC display until the vehicle
has been serviced.
DSport Shift
This message is displayed when the
automatic transmission is operating
in sport shift mode.
SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation on page 8-6.
LStability Ctrl (Control)
Assistance
This message is displayed when the
Electronic Stability Program
(ESP
®) is actively helping the
vehicle with road grip and stability.
ESP CTRL appears at the bottom
of the display and remains
illuminated as long as the ESP is
actively helping with road grip
and stability. SeeElectronic Stability
Program on page 8-16.
FStability Ctrl (Control) Off
This message is displayed when the
ESP has been turned off.
SeeElectronic Stability Program on
page 8-16. If this message is
displayed and you have not turned
off the ESP, it means there is a
problem with the ESP, see
your dealer/retailer.
Instruments and Controls 4-31
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual