stop start PONTIAC G8 2008 Owners 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

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.
Instruments and Controls 4-17
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Tire Pressure Light
TPMS 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 light will also come on when
one or more of your tires are
signicantly underinated. A CHECK
TIRE PRESSURE DIC message
will accompany the light.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4-27for more information.Stop and check your tires as soon as
it is safe to do so. If underinated,
inate to the proper pressure. See
Tires on page 9-39for more
information.
When the Light Flashes First and
Then is Solid
This indicates that there may be a
problem with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System.
The light ashes for about a minute
and stays on solid for the
remainder of the ignition cycle. This
sequence will repeat with every
ignition cycle. SeeTire Pressure
Monitor System on page 9-49
andTire Pressure Monitor Operation
on page 9-51for more information.
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
A computer system called OBD II
(On-Board Diagnostics-Second
Generation) monitors operation of
the fuel, ignition, and emission
control systems. It makes sure that
emissions are at acceptable
levels for the life of the vehicle,
helping to produce a cleaner
environment.
This light comes on briey, as a
check to show it is working,
when the ignition is turned to
ON/RUN. If the light does not come
on, see your dealer/retailer.
If the light stays on it indicates that
there is an OBD II problem and
service is required.
4-18 Instruments and Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Malfunctions often are indicated by
the system before any problem
is apparent. Heeding the light can
prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle. This system assists
your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:If you keep driving your
vehicle with this light on, after
a while, the emission controls
might not work as well, your
vehicle’s fuel economy might not
be as good, and the engine
might not run as smoothly. This
could lead to costly repairs
that might not be covered by your
warranty.
Notice:Modications made to
the engine, transmission, exhaust,
intake, or fuel system of your
vehicle or the replacement of the
original tires with other than those
of the same Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) can affect your
vehicle’s emission controls and
can cause this light to come on.
Modications to these systemscould lead to costly repairs not
covered by your warranty. This
could also result in a failure to
pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test.
SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 9-3.
This light 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.
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 continues to ash, when
it is safe to do so, stop the
vehicle. Find a safe place to park
the vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at
least 10 seconds, and restart the
engine. If the light is still ashing,
follow the previous steps and
see your dealer/retailer for service
as soon as possible.
Light On Steady:An emission
control system malfunction has been
detected on your vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required.
You might be able to correct the
emission system malfunction
by considering the following:
Make sure the fuel cap is fully
installed. SeeFilling the Tank
on page 8-35. 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.
Instruments and Controls 4-19
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

To use random with the radio with a
single CD player, press RDM to
randomly play all tracks on the CD.
Press RDM again to cancel this
function.
To use random with the radio with
a six-disc CD player, press the
softkey below RANDOM to select
between.
RANDOM TRACK
RANDOM DISC
DISPLAY MODE:The display
modes for CD operation can
be changed.
To adjust the display mode for the
radio with a single CD player:
Press DISPLAY MODE to switch
between Track Info Mode and
CD Info Mode.
Track Info Mode displays the
track number and play time.
CD Info Mode displays CD text
information. If no data is
present, No Text displays.To adjust the display mode for the
radio with a six-disc CD player:
Press the softkey under Display
Mode to switch between, Normal
Mode, Track Info Mode, CD Info
Mode, and Disc and Track Info Mode
if the CD has this information on it.
Normal Mode displays the track
number and elapsed time.
Track Info Mode displays the
track number, elapsed time, and
track name. The track name is
only displayed when the
appropriate data is stored on
the CD.
Disc Info Mode displays the track
number, elapsed time, and name
of CD. The CD name is only
displayed when the appropriate
data is stored on the CD.
Disc and Track Info Mode
displays the track name and
name of CD. Track name and
CD name is only displayed when
the appropriate data is stored
on the CD.BAND:Press to stop CD playback
and play the radio.
g(Reverse):Press to go back to
the start of the current track or press
multiple times until the desired track
is reached.
gTRACK (Reverse):Press to go
back to the start of the current track
or press multiple times until the
desired track is reached. Press and
hold
rTRACK to quickly move
backward within the current track.
l(Forward):Press to go to the
next track of the current CD or press
multiple times until the desired
track is reached.
lTRACK (Forward):Press to go
to the next track of the current
CD or press multiple times until the
desired track is reached. Press
and hold
[TRACK to quickly move
forward within the current track.
Infotainment 6-11
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

CD:Press to start playback of a
CD already in the drive if it was not
the last audio source.
CD
j:Press to pause and resume
playback of the CD. Press to start
playback of a CD already in the
player if it was not the last audio
source.
j(Pause):Press to pause and
resume playback of the CD.
r(Fast Reverse):Press and hold
to quickly move backward within
the current track.
[(Fast Forward):Press and hold
to quickly move forward within the
current track.
rDISC (Previous):Press to select
the previous disc for playback.
[DISC (Next):Press to select the
next disc for playback.
AUX (Auxiliary):Press to stop CD
playback and use the AUX input.
Playing an MP3 Disc
For more information on how to
play an MP3 CD-R/RW disc,
seeUsing an MP3 on page 6-19.
Care of CDs
Sound quality can be reduced
because of CD quality, the method
of recording, the quality of the
music that has been recorded, and
the way the CD has been handled.
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.
Handle CDs carefully.
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.
Store CDs in their original cases
or other protective cases and
away from direct sunlight
and dust.
Care of the CD Player
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.
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, label the top of the
recorded CD with a marking pen.
6-12 Infotainment
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Starting and
Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not
need an elaborate break-in. But it
will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:
Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not make full-throttle
starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
During the rst 600 miles
(1 000 km), avoid using
more than moderate
acceleration in lower gears and
avoid vehicle speeds above
68 mph (110 km/h).
Between the rst 600 miles
(1 000 km) and 3,000 miles
(5 000 km), heavy acceleration
in lower gears can be used.
Vehicle speeds above 68 mph
(110 km/h) should be limited
to ve minutes per use.
Avoid making hard stops for the
rst 200 miles (322 km) or so.
During this time the new brake
linings are not yet broken in.
Hard stops with new linings can
mean premature wear and
earlier replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. SeeTowing a Trailer
on page 9-85for the trailer
towing capabilities of your
vehicle and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has four different
positions.
Notice:Using a tool to force the
key from the ignition switch
could cause damage or break the
key. Use the correct key and
turn the key only with your hand.
Make sure the key is in all the
way. If none of this works,
then your vehicle needs service.
To shift out of P (Park), turn the
ignition to ON/RUN and apply
the brake pedal.
8-2 Driving and Operating
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Starting the Engine
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart
when you are already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
Notice:Do not try to shift to
P (Park) if your vehicle is moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to P (Park)
only when your vehicle is stopped.
1. With your foot off the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to
START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle
speed will go down as your
engine gets warm. Do not race
the engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine
and transmission gently to allow
the oil to warm up and lubricate
all moving parts.The vehicle has a
Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists
in starting the engine and
protects components. If the
ignition key is turned to
the START position, and then
released when the engine
begins cranking, the engine will
continue cranking for a few
seconds or until the vehicle
starts. If the engine does not start
and the key is held in START
for many seconds, cranking
will be stopped after 15 seconds
to prevent cranking motor
damage. To prevent gear
damage, this system also
prevents cranking if the engine
is already running. Engine
cranking can be stopped by
turning the ignition switch
to ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF.Notice:Cranking the engine for
long periods of time, by returning
the key to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start
after 5-10 seconds, especially in
very cold weather (below 0°F
or−18°C), it could be ooded
with too much gasoline.
Try pushing the accelerator
pedal all the way to the oor
and holding it there as you hold
the key in START for up to a
maximum of 15 seconds.
Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to allow the
cranking motor to cool down.
8-4 Driving and Operating
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

When the engine starts, let go of
the key and accelerator. If the
vehicle starts briey but then
stops again, do the same thing.
This clears the extra gasoline
from the engine. Do not race
the engine immediately
after starting it. Operate the
engine and transmission gently
until the oil warms up and
lubricates all moving parts.
Notice:The engine is designed
to work with the electronics
in the vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could
change the way the engine
operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your
dealer/retailer. If you do not,
the engine might not perform
properly. Any resulting damage
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.Engine Coolant Heater
The engine coolant heater, if
available, can help in cold weather
conditions at or below 0°F (−18°C)
for easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up.
Plug in the coolant heater at least
four hours before starting your
vehicle. An internal thermostat in the
plug-end of the cord will prevent
engine coolant heater operation at
temperatures above 0°F (−18°C).
To Use The Engine Coolant
Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord.
The electrical cord is located on
the driver side of the engine
compartment, behind the
air cleaner for V8 models.
The electrical cord is located on
the passenger side of the
engine compartment, behind the
engine compartment fuse
block for V6 models.3. Plug it into a normal, grounded
110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION
Plugging the cord into an
ungrounded outlet could cause
an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord
could overheat and cause a
re. You could be seriously
injured. Plug the cord into a
properly grounded three-prong
110-volt AC outlet. If the cord
will not reach, use a heavy-duty
three-prong extension cord
rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be
sure to unplug and store the
cord as it was before to keep it
away from moving engine
parts. If you do not it could be
damaged.
Driving and Operating 8-5
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

ease pressure on the shift lever and
push the shift lever all the way
into P (Park) while maintaining brake
application. Then press the shift
lever button and move the shift lever
into another gear. SeeShifting
Out of Park on page 8-11.
Notice:Shifting to R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving
forward could damage the
transmission. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse)
only after the vehicle is stopped.
R (Reverse):Use this gear to
back up.
At low vehicle speeds, R (Reverse)
can also be used to rock the
vehicle back and forth to get out
of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission.
SeeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in
Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on
page 8-27for additional information.N (Neutral):In this position, the
engine does not connect with
the wheels. To restart when the
vehicle is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
{CAUTION
Shifting into a drive gear while
the engine is running at high
speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is rmly on the brake
pedal, the vehicle could move
very rapidly. You could lose
control and hit people or
objects. Do not shift into a
drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of P (Park)
or N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure
the engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.D (Drive):This position is for
normal driving. It provides the best
fuel economy from the vehicle.
If more power is needed for passing,
and the vehicle is:
Going less than 35 mph
(55 km/h), push the accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or
more, push the accelerator all
the way down.
The transmission will shift down
to a lower gear and have
more power.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding, see Skidding under
Loss of Control on page 8-21.
Notice:Spinning the tires or
holding the vehicle in one place
on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage
the transmission. If you are stuck,
do not spin the tires. When
stopping on a hill, use the brakes
to hold the vehicle in place.
Driving and Operating 8-7
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual