lock PONTIAC G8 2009 Workshop Manual

Starting the Engine
Place the transmission in the
proper gear.
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart
the vehicle when it is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Notice:Do not try to shift to
P (Park) if the vehicle is moving.
If you do, you could damage
the transmission. Shift to P (Park)
only when the vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The shift lever should be in Neutral
and the parking brake engaged.
Hold the clutch pedal down to
the oor and start the engine. The
vehicle will not start if the clutch
pedal is not all the way down.Starting Procedure
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 the engine
warms. 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 secondsto 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. Push the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the oor and holding it there as
you hold the key in START for
a maximum of 15 seconds.
8-4 Driving and Operating

Wait at least 15 seconds between
each try, to allow the cranking
motor to cool. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and
accelerator. If the vehicle starts
briey but then stops again,
repeat the procedure. 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

The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer/retailer
in the area where you will be
parking the vehicle for the best
advice on this.
Automatic Transmission
Operation
The shift lever is located on the
center console between the
front seats.
There are several different positions
for the shift lever. When the
position of the shift lever is changed,a message is shown in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The
selected gear is magnied in the
DIC, and changes according to the
shift lever’s movement. There
are also messages for Sport Shift
Mode, Normal Shift Mode and Driver
Shift Control.
P (Park):This position locks the
rear wheels. It is the best position
to use when the engine is started
because the vehicle cannot
move easily.
{CAUTION
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
rmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you have
to. If you have left the engine
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, always set the
parking brake and move the shift
lever to P (Park). SeeShifting Into
Park (Automatic Transmission) on
page 8-12. If you are pulling a
trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 9-89.
Make sure the shift lever is fully
in P (Park) before starting the
engine. The vehicle has an
automatic transmission shift lock
control system. Fully apply the brake
pedal rst and then press the shift
lever button before shifting from
P (Park) when the ignition key is in
ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY.
If you cannot shift out of P (Park),
8-6 Driving and Operating

To release the parking brake:
1. Hold the brake pedal down.
2. Pull the parking brake handle up
until you can press the release
button.
3. Hold the release button in as you
move the brake handle all the
way down.
Notice:Driving with the parking
brake on can overheat the brake
system and cause premature wear
or damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
Driving with the park brake applied
will cause a warning chime to
sound and the Park Brake message
to appear in the DIC. The message
will remain on until:
the park brake is released
the vehicle comes to a stop.
If you are towing a trailer and you
are parking on a hill, seeTowing a
Trailer on page 9-89.
Shifting Into Park
(Automatic
Transmission)
{CAUTION
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake rmly set. The vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow. If you are pulling a
trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 9-89.Use this procedure to shift into
P (Park):
1. Hold the brake pedal down and
set the parking brake.
SeeParking Brake on page 8-11
for more information.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park)
by holding in the button on the
shift lever and pushing the
lever all the way toward the front
of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to
LOCK/OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with
you. If you can leave the vehicle
with the ignition key in your
hand, the vehicle is in P (Park).
8-12 Driving and Operating

Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
{CAUTION
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
The vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake
rmly set. And, if you leave the
vehicle with the engine running, it
could overheat and even catch re.
You or others could be injured.
Do not leave the vehicle with the
engine running.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the parking
brake is rmly set before you leave it.
After you have moved the shift lever
into P (Park), hold the brake pedal
down. Then, see if you can move the
shift lever away from P (Park) without
rst pushing the button.If you can, it means that the
shift lever was not fully locked
into P (Park).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and
you do not shift the automatic
transmission into P (Park) properly,
the weight of the vehicle may put too
much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may nd it
difficult to pull the shift lever out of
P (Park). This is called torque lock.
To prevent torque lock, set the
parking brake and then shift into
P (Park) properly before you leave
the driver seat. To nd out how, see
“Shifting Into Park” previously in the
section.
When you are ready to drive, move
the shift lever out of P (Park) before
you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may
need to have another vehicle
push yours a little uphill to takesome of the pressure from the
parking pawl in the transmission,
so you can pull the shift lever out
of P (Park).Shifting Out of Park
To shift out of P (Park):
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Press the shift lever button.
3. Move the shift lever to the
desired position.
If you still are unable to shift out of
P (Park):
1. Fully release the shift lever
button.
2. Hold the brake pedal down and
press the shift lever button again.
3. Move the shift lever to the
desired position.
If you still cannot move the shift
lever from P (Park), seeShift Lock
Manual Release on page 9-88.
Driving and Operating 8-13

Parking the Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
If the vehicle has a manual
transmission, before you get out of
the vehicle, move the shift lever into
R (Reverse), and rmly apply the
parking brake. Once the shift lever
has been placed into R (Reverse)
with the clutch pedal pressed in,
turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF,
remove the key and release the
clutch.
If you are parking on a hill, or if the
vehicle is pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on page 9-89.
Parking Over Things
That Burn
{CAUTION
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the vehicle
and ignite. Do not park over
papers, leaves, dry grass, or other
things that can burn.
Engine Exhaust
{CAUTION
Engine exhaust contains Carbon
Monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. Exposure to CO
can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:
The vehicle idles in areas
with poor ventilation (parking
garages, tunnels, deep snow
that may block underbody
airow or tail pipes).
The exhaust smells or
sounds strange or different.
(Continued)
8-14 Driving and Operating

And, of course, actual stopping
distances vary greatly with the
surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of
the road, whether it is wet, dry, or icy;
tire tread; the condition of the brakes;
the weight of the vehicle; and the
amount of brake force applied.
Avoid needless heavy
braking. Some people drive in
spurts — heavy acceleration
followed by heavy braking — rather
than keeping pace with traffic.
This is a mistake. The brakes might
not have time to cool between
hard stops. The brakes will wear out
much faster if you do a lot of
heavy braking. If you keep pace
with the traffic and allow realistic
following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary
braking. That means better braking
and longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops
while you are driving, brake normally
but do not pump the brakes. If you
do, the pedal could get harder topush down. If the engine stops, you
will still have some power brake
assist. But you will use it when you
brake. Once the power assist is used
up, it can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 9-3.
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced
electronic braking system that will
help prevent a braking skid.
When you start the engine and
begin to drive away, ABS will check
itself. You might hear a momentary
motor or clicking noise while this
test is going on, and you might even
notice that the brake pedal moves
a little. This is normal.If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light will stay on. See
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light on page 4-16.
Let us say the road is wet and you
are driving safely. Suddenly, an
animal jumps out in front of you.
You slam on the brakes and continue
braking. Here is what happens
with ABS:
A computer senses that the wheels
are slowing down. If one of the
wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work
the brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
you steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
8-18 Driving and Operating

As you brake, the computer keeps
receiving updates on wheel speed
and controls braking pressure
accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change
the time you need to get your
foot up to the brake pedal or always
decrease stopping distance. If
you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you will not have time to
apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead
to stop, even though you have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down rmly and
let antilock work for you. You might
hear the antilock pump or motor
operate, and feel the brake
pedal pulsate, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With ABS, you can steer and
brake at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
you more than even the very best
braking.
Electronic Stability
Program
The vehicle has the Electronic
Stability Program (ESP®) that assists
with directional control of the vehicle
in difficult driving conditions by
reducing engine power and applying
the brakes to individual wheels. This
is especially useful in slippery road
conditions. The system operates if it
senses that the rear wheels are
spinning too much, are beginning to
lose traction or if it senses that the
vehicle is not moving in its intended
direction. It turns on automatically
every time the vehicle is started.When ESP is working, this light
and the STABILITY CONTROL
ASSISTANCE message will come on
and the ESP CTRL message will be
displayed at the bottom of the DIC.
The STABILITY CONTROL
ASSISTANCE message will remain
on while the system is working
until the
3button is pressed to
display the trip computer. The
ESP CTRL message stays on at the
bottom of the DIC while the
system is working.
Driving and Operating 8-19

Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist
because the engine stops or the
system is not functioning, you can
steer but it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a
reasonable speed.
Traction in a curve depends on the
condition of the tires and the
road surface, the angle at which the
curve is banked, and your speed.
While in a curve, speed is the
one factor you can control.
If you need to reduce speed, do it
before you enter the curve, while the
front wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust the speed so you can
drive through the curve. Maintain
a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the
curve, and then accelerate
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can
be more effective than braking.
For example, you come over a hill
and nd a truck stopped in your
lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts
out from between parked cars
and stops right in front of you.
You can avoid these problems by
braking — if you can stop in
time. But sometimes you cannot;
there is not room. That is the
time for evasive action — steering
around the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well
in emergencies like these. First
apply the brakes. SeeBraking on
page 8-17. It is better to remove as
much speed as you can from a
possible collision. Then steer around
the problem, to the left or right
depending on the space available.An emergency like this requires
close attention and a quick decision.
If you are holding the steering wheel
at the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock
positions, you can turn it a full
180 degrees very quickly without
removing either hand. But you have
to act fast, steer quickly, and just as
quickly straighten the wheel once
you have avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency
situations are always possible is a
good reason to practice defensive
driving at all times and wear
safety belts properly.
8-22 Driving and Operating

In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve
causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And in the
acceleration skid, too much throttle
causes the driving wheels to spin.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease
your foot off the accelerator pedal
and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering
quickly enough, your vehicle may
straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is on the road. For safety,
you want to slow down and
adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow
down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance is longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with
reduced traction, try your best to
avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing vehicle
speed by shifting to a lower gear.Any sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide. You might not
realize the surface is slippery until
your vehicle is skidding. Learn to
recognize warning clues — such as
enough water, ice, or packed snow
on the road to make a mirrored
surface — and slow down when you
have any doubt.
Remember: Any Antilock Brake
System (ABS) helps avoid only the
braking skid.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous
than day driving because some
drivers are likely to be impaired — by
alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems, or by fatigue.
Night driving tips include:
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Reduce headlamp glare by
adjusting the inside rearview
mirror.
Slow down and keep more space
between you and other vehicles
because headlamps can only
light up so much road ahead.
Watch for animals.
When tired, pull off the road.
Do not wear sunglasses.
Avoid staring directly into
approaching headlamps.
Keep the windshield and all glass
on your vehicle clean — inside
and out.
Keep your eyes moving,
especially during turns or curves.
No one can see as well at night as
in the daytime. But, as we get
older, these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver might need
at least twice as much light to see
the same thing at night as a
20-year-old.
8-24 Driving and Operating