ECU PONTIAC SOLSTICE 2008 Owner's Manual

Both mirrors can be manually folded by pulling them
toward the vehicle. This feature may be useful
when going through a car wash or a conned space.
Push the mirrors away from the vehicle to the normal
position before driving.
OnStar®System
OnStar uses several innovative technologies and live
advisors to provide you with a wide range of safety,
security, information, and convenience services. If your
airbags deploy, the system is designed to make an
automatic call to OnStar Emergency advisors who can
request emergency services be sent to your location.
If you lock your keys in the vehicle, call OnStar at
1-888-4-ONSTAR and they can send a signal to
unlock your doors. If you need roadside assistance,
press the OnStar button and they can contact
Roadside Service for you.OnStar service is provided to you subject to the
OnStar Terms and Conditions. You may cancel your
OnStar service at any time by contacting OnStar.
A complete OnStar Owner’s Guide and the OnStar
Terms and Conditions are included in the vehicle’s
OnStar Subscriber glove box literature. For more
information, visit onstar.com or onstar.ca, contact
OnStar at 1-888-4-ONSTAR (1-888-466-7827) or
TTY 1-877-248-2080, or press the OnStar button
to speak with an OnStar advisor 24 hours a day,
7 days a week.
Not all OnStar features are available on all vehicles.
To check if your vehicle is equipped to provide the
services described below, or for a full description of
OnStar services and system limitations, see the OnStar
Owner’s Guide in your glove box or visit onstar.com.OnStar Services
For new vehicles with OnStar, the Safe & Sound Plan,
or the Directions & Connections Plan is included for
one year from the date of purchase. You can extend
this plan beyond the rst year, or upgrade to the
Directions & Connections Plan. For more information,
press the OnStar button to speak with an advisor.
Some OnStar services (such as Remote Door Unlock
or Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance) may not be
available until you register with OnStar.
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9. After the top is stored, apply one even push,
as shown, on the convertible top to ensure that
the top is fully retracted and securely stored.
10. Close the trunk (D) by pressing down from the
rear center of it with a swift, rm motion.
Do not operate the rear defogger when the convertible
top is down.A clear Mylar
®protective lm has been installed at the
factory on the trunk lid surface under the convertible
top buttresses. This lm is designed to help prevent
paint damage to the trunk lid. Do not remove this
protective lm. It is intended to remain permanently
affixed to the trunk lid surface.
Raising the Manual Convertible Top
1. Park on a level surface, set the parking brake rmly
and shift an automatic transmission into PARK (P).
Shift a manual transmission into FIRST (1) or
REVERSE (R).
2. Make sure the ignition is turned off, and lower the
windows.
3. Push the trunk release button located in the glove
box, or on the remote keyless entry, if equipped.
4. Lift the trunk.
2-39

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn.............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Turn and Lane-Change Signals........................3-8
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer..................3-8
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-8
Windshield Wipers..........................................3-9
Windshield Washer.......................................3-10
Cruise Control..............................................3-10
Headlamps..................................................3-13
Headlamps on Reminder................................3-13
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).......................3-14
Fog Lamps..................................................3-14
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-15
Entry/Exit Lighting.........................................3-15
Mirror Reading Lamps...................................3-15
Battery Run-Down Protection..........................3-15
Accessory Power Outlet(s).............................3-16
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter......................3-16
Climate Controls............................................3-17
Climate Control System.................................3-17
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-20Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-20
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-21
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-22
Tachometer.................................................3-22
Safety Belt Reminders...................................3-23
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-24
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator...................3-25
Charging System Light..................................3-27
Brake System Warning Light.........................
.3-27
Antilock Brake System Warning Light...............3-28
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)/
Traction Control System (TCS) Indicator/
Warning Light............................................3-29
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light......3-30
Low Coolant Warning Light............................3-30
Tire Pressure Light.......................................3-31
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-32
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-34
Security Light...............................................3-35
Reduced Engine Power Light
(2.4L Engine Only)....................................3-35
Highbeam On Light.......................................3-35
Trunk Ajar Light............................................3-36
Service Vehicle Soon Light............................3-36
Fuel Gage...................................................3-36
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-37
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Side Window Outlets. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-17.
B. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-20.
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
D. Cruise Control Buttons (If Equipped).
SeeCruise Control on page 3-10.
E. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument
Panel Cluster on page 3-21.
F. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped).
SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-69.
G. Instrument Panel Brightness Control.
SeeInstrument Panel Brightness on page 3-15.
H. Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator. See
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-25.
I. Hazard Warning Flashers Button.
SeeHazard Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
J. Fog Lamp Button (If Equipped).
SeeFog Lamps on page 3-14.
K. Electronic Stability Control (ESC)/Traction
Control System (TCS) Button (If Equipped).
SeeElectronic Stability Control (ESC) on page 4-9
orTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-6.L. Driver Information Center (DIC) Controls.
SeeDriver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-37.
M. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
N. Windshield Wiper/Washer Controls. SeeWindshield
Wipers on page 3-9andWindshield Washer
on page 3-10.
O. Climate Controls. SeeClimate Control System
on page 3-17.
P. Cigarette Lighter (If Equipped). Accessory Power
Outlet (If Equipped). SeeAshtray(s) and Cigarette
Lighter on page 3-16andAccessory Power Outlet(s)
on page 3-16.
Q. Shift Lever. SeeManual Transmission Operation
on page 2-24. SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation on page 2-22(If equipped with
automatic transmission).
R. Parking Brake Lever. SeeParking Brake
on page 2-25.
S. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-49.
T. Cupholder. SeeCupholder(s) on page 2-35.
U. Trunk Release. SeeTrunk on page 2-9.
V. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-35.
3-5

{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 airbag
status indicator, it means that the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right front passenger’s frontal
airbag. SeePassenger Sensing System on page 1-43
for more on this, 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 3-24for more on this, including
important safety information.
3-26

Security Light
For information regarding
this light and the vehicle’s
security system, see
Content Theft-Deterrent
on page 2-13.
Reduced Engine Power Light
(2.4L Engine Only)
This light will come
on briey when the
engine is started.
If this light is on, a chime will sound and a noticeable
reduction in the vehicle’s performance may occur.
Let the vehicle idle for a few minutes, if the reduced
engine power light is still on, but there is no reduction
in performance, proceed to your destination.The performance may be reduced the next time the
vehicle is driven. The vehicle may be driven at a
reduced speed while the reduced engine power light
is on, but acceleration and speed may be reduced.
Anytime the reduced engine power light stays on,
the vehicle should be taken to your dealer/retailer
as soon as possible for service.
Highbeam On Light
This light comes on
when the high-beam
headlamps are in use.
SeeHeadlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-8
for more information.
3-35

Channel Unavail:This previously assigned channel is
no longer assigned. Tune to another station. If this
station was one of the presets, choose another station
for that preset button.
No Artist Info:No artist information is available at this
time on this channel. The system is working properly.
No Title Info:No song title information is available
at this time on this channel. The system is working
properly.
No CAT Info:No category information is available at
this time on this channel. The system is working
properly.
No Information:No text or informational messages are
available at this time on this channel. The system is
working properly.
CAT Not Found:There are no channels available for
the selected category. The system is working properly.
XM TheftLocked:The XM™ receiver in the vehicle
could have previously been in another vehicle.
For security purposes, XM™ receivers cannot be
swapped between vehicles. If this message appears
after having your vehicle serviced, check with
your dealer/retailer.XM Radio ID:If tuned to channel 0, this message
alternates with the XM™ Radio eight digit radio ID label.
This label is needed to activate the service.
Unknown:If this message is received when tuned
to channel 0, there could be a receiver fault. Consult
with your dealer/retailer.
Check XM Receivr:If this message does not clear
within a short period of time, the receiver could have
a fault. Consult with your dealer/retailer.
XM Not Available:If this message does not clear
within a short period of time, the receiver could have
a fault. Consult with your dealer/retailer.
Theft-Deterrent Feature
THEFTLOCK®is designed to discourage theft of
your vehicle’s radio. The feature works automatically
by learning a portion of the Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN). If the radio is moved to a different
vehicle, it does not operate and LOC, LOCK, or
LOCKED could display.
With THEFTLOCK
®activated, the radio does not
operate if stolen.
3-68

{CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition off is dangerous. The brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing down and they
could get so hot that they would not work well.
You would then have poor braking or even
none going down a hill. You could crash.
Always have the engine running and your
vehicle in gear when you go downhill.
Stay in your own lane. Do not swing wide or cut
across the center of the road. Drive at speeds
that let you stay in your own lane.
Top of hills: Be alert — something could be in your
lane (stalled car, accident).
Pay attention to special road signs (falling rocks
area, winding roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your vehicle in good shape for winter.
You might want to put winter emergency supplies in
your trunk.
Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply
of windshield washer uid, a rag, some winter outer
clothing, a small shovel, a ashlight, a red cloth, and a
couple of reective warning triangles. And, if you will be
driving under severe conditions, include a small bag of
sand, a piece of old carpet, or a couple of burlap bags to
help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure these
items in your vehicle.
Also seeTires on page 5-51.
4-19

If you put things inside your vehicle — like
suitcases, tools, packages, or anything
else — they will go as fast as the vehicle goes.
If you have to stop or turn quickly, or if there is
a crash, they will keep going.
{CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can
strike and injure people in a sudden stop
or turn, or in a crash.
Put things in the rear area of your
vehicle. Try to spread the weight
evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like
suitcases, inside the vehicle so that
some of them are above the tops of
the seats.
Do not leave an unsecured child
restraint in your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer/retailer or a professional towing
service if you need to have your disabled vehicle towed.
SeeRoadside Assistance Program on page 7-7.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Notice:Dolly towing or dinghy towing your vehicle
may cause damage because of reduced ground
clearance. Always put your vehicle on a atbed truck.
Your vehicle was neither designed nor intended to be
towed with any of its wheels on the ground. If your
vehicle must be towed, see “Towing Your Vehicle”
earlier in this section.
Towing a Trailer
Your vehicle is neither designed nor intended to tow
a trailer.
4-29

Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL®
coolant mixture at the coolant surge tank, but only
when the engine is cool. If the coolant surge tank is
empty, a special ll procedure is necessary. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 5-27for instructions on “How to
Add Coolant to the Coolant Surge Tank.”
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is
hand-tight and fully seated.
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
Notice:If the pressure cap is not tightly installed,
coolant loss and possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly and tightly
secured.
The coolant surge tank pressure cap must be fully
installed on the coolant surge tank. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 5-12for more
information on location.
Engine Overheating
There is an engine coolant temperature warning light on
your vehicle’s instrument panel. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light on page 3-30for more
information.
5-27