steering PONTIAC G8 2009 Owners Manual

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.
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 the 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.Here are the most important things
to know about the airbag system:
{CAUTION
You can be severely injured or
killed in a crash if you are not
wearing your safety belt — even
if you have airbags. Airbags are
designed to work with safety
belts, but do not replace them.
Also, airbags are not designed to
deploy in every crash. In some
crashes safety belts are your only
restraint. SeeWhen Should an
Airbag Inflate? on page 1-23.
Wearing your safety belt during a
crash helps reduce your chance
of hitting things inside the vehicle
or being ejected from it. Airbags
are “supplemental restraints” to
the safety belts. Everyone in your
vehicle should wear a safety belt
properly — whether or not there is
an airbag for that person.
1-20 Seats and Restraints

Where Are the Airbags?
The driver frontal airbag is in the
middle of the steering wheel.The right front passenger frontal
airbag is in the instrument panel on
the passenger’s side.
The seat-mounted side impact
airbags for the driver and right front
passenger are in the side of the
seatbacks closest to the door.
The roof-rail airbags for the driver,
right front passenger, and second
row outboard passengers 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
1-22 Seats and Restraints

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 1-23for
more information.
Airbags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement
to safety belts.
What Will You See After
an Airbag Inates?
After the frontal airbags and
seat-mounted side impact airbags
inate, they quickly deate, so
quickly that some people may not
even realize an airbag inated.
Roof-rail airbags may still be at least
partially inated for some time after
they deploy. Some components of
the airbag module may be hot for
several minutes. For location of the
airbag modules, seeWhat Makes an
Airbag Inflate? on page 1-25.
Seats and Restraints 1-25

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.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 sensing system.
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 1-27.If you have any questions about
this, you should contact Customer
Assistance before you modify
your vehicle. 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 12-1.
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.
SeeCustomer Satisfaction
Procedure on page 12-1.
1-32 Seats and Restraints

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 6-36andDIC Operation
and Displays on page 4-22.
C.Instrument Panel Cluster on
page 4-11.
D.Audio Steering Wheel Controls
on page 6-36.
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 7-9.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 8-19.
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

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 lets the
steering wheel position be adjusted.
The adjustment lever is located on
the left side of the steering column.
Pull the lever down to move the
steering wheel up or down and in or
out. Pull the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in place.
Do not adjust the tilt and telescope
lever while driving.
Turn Signal/Multifunction
Lever
The lever on the left side of the
steering column includes the
following:
E:Cruise Control (If Equipped).
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.
Information for these features is
on the pages following.
4-4 Instruments and Controls

Cruise Control
For vehicles with cruise control,
the lever is located on the left side
of the steering wheel.
The cruise control maintains the
vehicle’s speed without having your
foot on the accelerator pedal.
The cruise control only works at
speeds above 21 mph (33 km/h)
(V6 engines) or above 24 mph
(38 km/h) (V8 engines).
{CAUTION
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. So, do not use
your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.Setting Cruise Control{CAUTION
If you leave your cruise control on
when you are not using cruise,
you might hit a button and go into
cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even
lose control. Keep the cruise
control switch off until you want to
use cruise control.
1. Press the
OQbutton at the
end of the cruise control lever.
The CRUISE ON light comes on
in the instrument panel cluster.
SeeInstrument Panel Cluster on
page 4-11.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Turn the band down to SET−and
then release it. The CRUISE
ACTIVE light comes on in
the instrument panel cluster.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal.
Instruments and Controls 4-5

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 9-23for information
on lling the windshield washer uid
reservoir.
{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.
4-8 Instruments and Controls

Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The DIC displays information about
your vehicle. It also displays warning
messages if a system problem is
detected. The DIC also allows some
features to be customized. SeeDIC
Vehicle Customization on page 4-31
for more information. All messages
will appear in the DIC display located
in the center of the instrument panel
cluster.
When the ignition is turned on, a
vehicle system check is performed
and the status is shown on the
DIC display. If there are no warnings
or service reminders, the display
shows a series of welcome screens.
When the ignition is turned off,
the odometer appears on the display
for a short period of time unless
a service reminder is active.Active service reminders are
displayed for 10 seconds before
the odometer appears. The
odometer will reappear on the
display when the driver door is
opened. For more information on
the warnings and messages
seeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4-26.
DIC Operation and
Displays
The DIC has different displays
which can be accessed by pressing
the DIC buttons located on the
left side of the steering wheel.
The DIC displays trip, fuel, vehicle
system information, and warning
messages if a system problem
is detected.
DIC Buttons
3(Trip/Fuel):Press this button
to go through the displays and
the select the information.
QR(Thumbwheel):Use the
thumbwheel to scroll through
the available options.
8(ENTER to Reset/Select):
Press the thumbwheel to set or
reset certain functions and to turn
off or acknowledge messages on
the DIC.
4-22 Instruments and Controls

OnStar Virtual Advisor
OnStar Virtual Advisor is a feature
of OnStar Hands-Free Calling
that uses minutes to access
location-based weather, local traffic
reports, and stock quotes. Press
the phone button and give a
few simple voice commands to
browse through the various topics.
See the OnStar Owner’s Guide
for more information. This feature is
only available in the continental U.S.
OnStar Steering Wheel
Controls
This vehicle may have a Talk/Mute
button that can be used to interact
with OnStar Hands-Free Calling.
SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls
on page 6-36for more information.On some vehicles, the mute button
can be used to dial numbers into
voice mail systems, or to dial phone
extensions. See the OnStar Owner’s
Guide for more information.
How OnStar Service Works
The OnStar system can record
and transmit vehicle information.
This information is automatically
sent to an OnStar Call Center
when the OnStar button is pressed,
the emergency button is pressed,
or if the airbags or AACN system
deploy. This information usually
includes the vehicles GPS location
and, in the event of a crash,
additional information regarding
the crash that the vehicle was
involved in (e.g. the direction
from which the vehicle was hit).When the Virtual Advisor feature
of OnStar Hands-Free Calling
is used, the vehicle also sends
OnStar the vehicles GPS location
so they can provide services where
it is located.
OnStar service cannot work unless
the vehicle is in a place where
OnStar has an agreement with a
wireless service provider for service
in that area. OnStar service also
cannot work unless the vehicle is in
a place where the wireless service
provider OnStar has hired for that
area has coverage, network capacity
and reception when the service is
needed, and technology that is
compatible with the OnStar service.
Not all services are available
everywhere, particularly in remote or
enclosed areas, or at all times.
Instruments and Controls 4-37