ignition PONTIAC SOLSTICE 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, see
Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-16.
{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 your 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, front sensors, or airbag wiring
can affect the operation of the airbag system.
In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing
system for the right front passenger’s 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.
1-48

Keys...............................................................2-2
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation...................................................2-4
Doors and Locks.............................................2-7
Manual Door Locks.........................................2-7
Power Door Locks..........................................2-8
Delayed Locking.............................................2-8
Automatic Door Lock.......................................2-8
Automatic Door Unlock....................................2-8
Trunk............................................................2-9
Windows........................................................2-10
Manual Windows..........................................2-11
Power Windows............................................2-12
Sun Visors...................................................2-13
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-13
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-13
PASS-Key
®III+............................................2-15
PASS-Key®III+ Operation..............................2-15
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-17
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-17
Ignition Positions..........................................2-17
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-20Starting the Engine (Key Access)....................2-20
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-22
Manual Transmission Operation......................2-24
Parking Brake..............................................2-25
Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)............................2-26
Shifting Out of PARK (P)...............................2-28
Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission).....2-28
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-29
Engine Exhaust............................................2-29
Running the Engine While Parked...................2-30
Mirrors...........................................................2-31
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-31
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar
®..............2-31
Outside Manual Mirror...................................2-31
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-31
OnStar
®System.............................................2-32
Storage Areas................................................2-35
Glove Box...................................................2-35
Cupholder(s)................................................2-35
Center Console Storage.................................2-36
Convertible Top..............................................2-36
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Keys
{CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons, children
or others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power windows or
other controls or even make the vehicle move.
The windows will function with the keys in the
ignition and they could be seriously injured
or killed if caught in the path of a closing
window. Do not leave the keys in a vehicle
with children.
The key can be used for the ignition and all locks.
2-2

"(Unlock):Press the unlock button one time to unlock
the driver’s door. Press the unlock button again within
ve seconds to unlock the other doors. The interior
lamps will come on and stay on for 20 seconds or until
the ignition is turned on. If enabled through the DIC,
the parking lamps will ash once to indicate unlocking
has occurred. See “UNLOCK HORN” underDIC
Vehicle Personalization on page 3-44.
V(Trunk Release):Press and hold this button for
approximately one second to release the trunk lid.
The trunk release will only work if the ignition is off
or the vehicle speed is less than 2 mph (3 km/h).
L(Vehicle Locator/Panic Alarm):Press and release
this button to help locate your vehicle. The horn will
sound three times and the hazard lamps will ash
three times. Press and hold the button for three seconds
to sound the panic alarm. The horn will sound and the
hazard lamps will ash for 30 seconds. The ignition
must be off for the vehicle locator/remote alarm to work.
Press the vehicle locator/panic alarm button again or
turn the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN
to turn off the alarm.The vehicle may have Remote Lock/Unlock
Conrmation. This feature provides feedback that
a command has been received by the vehicle.
The parking lamps will ash and the horn may sound
briey. See “LOCK HORN” and “UNLOCK HORN”
underDIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-44
for programming information.
Matching Transmitter(s) to
Your Vehicle
Each RKE transmitter is uniquely coded to prevent
another transmitter from unlocking the vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be
purchased through your dealer/retailer. Remember
to bring any 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 cannot unlock the vehicle. The vehicle
can have a maximum of four transmitters coded to it.
2-5

Power Door Locks
You can use the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter to lock and unlock the doors from inside
or outside the vehicle. SeeRemote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2-4for more information.
In vehicles with power door lock switches, the switches
are located on the doors.
T:Press the top of the switch to lock all doors.
Press the bottom of the switch to unlock all doors.
Delayed Locking
If your vehicle has power door locks, it will have the
delayed locking feature. This feature delays the actual
locking of the doors when the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter is used to lock the vehicle.
If any door is open when locking the vehicle using the
RKE transmitter, three chimes will sound signaling
that the delayed locking feature is active. Five seconds
after the last door is closed, both doors will lock and
the parking lamps will ash. To cancel the delay
and lock the doors immediately, press the lock button
on the RKE a second time.
If the key is in the ignition, this feature will not lock
the doors.
Automatic Door Lock
If your vehicle has power door locks, the doors will
automatically lock when the shift lever is moved out of
PARK (P) for a vehicle with an automatic transmission.
For a vehicle with a manual transmission, the speed
must be greater than 5 mph (8 km/h).
The automatic door locking feature cannot be disabled.
Automatic Door Unlock
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission and power
door locks, the doors with automatically unlock when
the shift lever is moved into PARK (P).
If your vehicle has a manual transmission and power
door locks, the doors will automatically unlock when
the key is removed from the ignition.
The automatic unlock feature can be disabled or
programmed in different ways if the vehicle has an
automatic transmission and a Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Vehicle Personalization on
page 3-44for more information.
2-8

Trunk
To release the trunk lid use either the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter, or see “Remote
Trunk Release” following.
To close the trunk, push down rmly from the rear
center of the trunk lid.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You cannot see or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even
death. If you must drive with the trunk lid open
or if electrical wiring or other cable connections
must pass through the seal between the body
and the trunk lid:
Make sure all other windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed and select the
control setting that will force outside air
into your vehicle. See Climate Control
System.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 2-29.
Remote Trunk Release
To open the trunk
from inside the vehicle,
press the remote
trunk release button
located in the glovebox.
The remote trunk release will only work when either
the ignition is off or in ACC/ACCESSORY, the parking
brake is engaged, or the vehicle speed is less than
2 mph (3 km/h).
2-9

Power Windows
{CAUTION:
Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a
vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous.
They can be overcome from extreme heat in
warm or hot weather and suffer permanent
injuries or even death from heat stroke.
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons, children
or others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power windows or
other controls or even make the vehicle move.
The windows will function with the keys in the
ignition and they could be seriously injured
or killed if caught in the path of a closing
window. Do not leave keys in a vehicle with
children.
When there are children in the rear seat
use the window lockout button to prevent
unintentional operation of the windows.On vehicles with power
windows, the switches on
the driver’s door armrest
control both windows.
The passenger’s door has a window switch that controls
that window. Press the front of the switch to open the
window. Pull the switch up to close it.
2-12

Arming the System
While the ignition is off, press the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter lock button, to arm the system.
The system will arm after either of these things occur:
Thirty seconds after all the doors are closed.
Sixty seconds with any door open.
If you press the lock button on the transmitter a second
time while all the doors are closed, the system will
arm immediately. The system arms in 60 seconds if
a door is open, or after the open door is closed.
If you do not want to arm the system, lock the car
with the manual door lock knobs.
Disarming the System
To disarm the system:
Press the unlock button on the RKE transmitter.
Turn the ignition on.
If the system is armed and the trunk is opened using
the trunk release button on the transmitter, the system
will temporarily disarm itself and re-arm when the
trunk has been closed. This allows you to exit the
vehicle, lock the doors using the transmitter, or open
the trunk using the transmitter without having to disarm
and re-arm the system.
Once the system is disarmed, the security light will stop
ashing.
How the System Alarm is Activated
To activate the system if it is armed:
Open the driver’s door or trunk. This causes a ten
second pre-alarm chirping noise followed by the
horn sounding and lights ashing for 30 seconds.
Open a passenger’s door. This immediately causes
a full alarm of the horn sounding and lights ashing
for 30 seconds.
After the 30 second alarm ends, the system will
re-arm itself.
How to Turn Off the System Alarm
To turn off the system alarm, do one of the following:
Press the lock button on the RKE transmitter.
The system will then re-arm itself.
Press the unlock button on the RKE transmitter.
This will also disarm the system.
Insert the key in the ignition and turn it on.
This will also disarm the system.
How to Detect a Tamper Condition
If you hear three chirps when you press the unlock,
lock, or trunk release buttons on the RKE transmitter,
it means that the content theft security system alarm
was activated previously.
2-14

PASS-Key®III+
The PASS-Key®III+ 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 harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
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.
PASS-Key
®III+ uses a radio frequency transponder
in the key that matches a decoder in your vehicle.
PASS-Key®III+ Operation
Your vehicle has PASS-Key®III+ (Personalized
Automotive Security System) theft-deterrent system.
PASS-Key
®III+ is a passive theft-deterrent system.
The system is automatically armed when the key
is removed from the ignition.
You do not have to manually arm or disarm the system.
The security light will come on if there is a problem
with arming or disarming the theft-deterrent system.
When the PASS-Key
®III+ system senses that someone
is using the wrong key, it prevents the vehicle from
starting. Anyone using a trial-and-error method to start
the vehicle will be discouraged because of the high
number of electrical key codes.
When trying to start the vehicle if the engine does
not start and the security light comes on, there may
be a problem with your theft-deterrent system.
Turn the ignition off and try again.
2-15

If the engine still does not start, and the key appears
to be undamaged, try another ignition key. At this time,
you may also want to check the fuse, seeFuses
and Circuit Breakers on page 5-95. If the engine still
does not start with the other key, your vehicle needs
service. If your vehicle does start, the rst key may
be faulty. See your dealer/retailer who can service
the PASS-Key
®III+ to have a new key made.
In an emergency, contact Roadside Assistance.
SeeRoadside Assistance Program on page 7-7,
for more information.
It may be possible for the PASS-Key
®III+ decoder to
“learn” the transponder value of a new or replacement
key. Up to 10 keys may be programmed for the vehicle.
The following procedure is for programming additional
keys only. If all the currently programmed keys are
lost or do not operate, you must see your dealer/retailer
or a locksmith who can service PASS-Key
®III+ to
have keys made and programmed to the system.
See your dealer/retailer or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key
®III+ to get a new key blank that is cut
exactly as the ignition key that operates the system.To program the new key:
1. Verify that the new key has a
1stamped on it.
2. Insert the already programmed key in the ignition
and start the engine. If the engine will not start,
see your dealer/retailer for service.
3. After the engine has started, turn the key to
LOCK/OFF, and remove the key.
4. Insert the key to be programmed and turn it to the
ON/RUN position within ve seconds of the original
key being turned to the LOCK/OFF position.
The security light will turn off once the key has
been programmed.
5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 if additional keys are to
be programmed.
If you are ever driving and the security light comes on
and stays on, you may be able to restart your engine if
you turn it off. Your PASS-Key
®III+ system, however,
is not working properly and must be serviced by
your dealer/retailer. Your vehicle is not protected by
the PASS-Key
®III+ system at this time.
If you lose or damage your PASS-Key
®III+ key, see
your dealer/retailer or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key
®III+ to have a new key made.
Do not leave the key or device that disarms or
deactivates the theft deterrent system in the vehicle.
2-16