ignition PONTIAC G3 2009 User Guide

Starting the Engine
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral).
The engine will not start in any other position.
To restart the engine when the vehicle 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 N (Neutral) and the parking
brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal 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 to START. When the engine starts, let go
of the key. The idle speed will go down as the
engine gets warm.
Notice:Holding the key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause the battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat candamage the starter motor. Wait about 15 seconds
between each try to help avoid draining the battery
or damaging the starter.
2. If the engine does not start, wait about 15 seconds
and try again. Wait about 15 seconds between
each try.
When the engine has run about 10 seconds to warm
up, the vehicle is ready to be driven. Do not run the
engine at high speed when it is cold.
If the weather is below freezing (32°F or 0°C), let
the engine run for a few minutes to warm up.
3. If the engine still will not start, or starts but then
stops, 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 about three seconds. If the vehicle starts
briey but then stops again, do the same thing, but
this time keep the pedal down for ve or six seconds.
This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.
Notice:The engine is designed to work with
the electronics in the vehicle. If electrical parts or
accessories are added, 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.
2-18

Parking Brake
The parking brake lever is located between the bucket
seats.To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down
and pull up on the parking brake lever. If the ignition
is on, the brake system warning light will come on.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-28.
To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal
down. Pull the parking brake lever up until you can
press the release button. Hold the release button in
as you move the brake lever 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.
2-26

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.
1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking
brake. SeeParking Brake on page 2-26for more
information.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by pressing 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).
Leaving the Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission)
{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 shift lock release
button. If you can, it means that the shift lever was
not fully locked into P (Park).
2-27

Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your
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, seeShifting Into Park (Automatic
Transmission) on page 2-27.
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 take some 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
Vehicles with an automatic transmission have a shift
interlock system. You have to apply the brake pedal
before you can shift from P (Park) when the ignition
is in the ON/RUN position. SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation on page 2-20.
If you cannot shift out of P (Park) while holding the
brake pedal down, try this:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition off and remove the key.
3. Remove the hole cover from the shift lock slot by
prying it off using a small, at object. The shift lock
release slot is located at the top of the shift lever.
2-28

4. Insert the key into the shift lock slot and press and
hold the key.
5. Shift to N (Neutral).
6. Remove the key from the slot, insert the key into
the ignition and start the engine.
7. Replace the shift-lock release slot cover.
8. Apply and hold the brake pedal fully and release
the parking brake.
9. Shift to the gear you want.
10. Have the vehicle xed as soon as you can.
Parking the Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
Before leaving the vehicle, do the following:
1. Hold the brake pedal down and rmly apply the
parking brake.
2. Fully press in the clutch pedal and place the shift
lever into the gear position as stated below:
When parking on level ground, place the shift
lever into N (Neutral).
When parking downhill, place the shift lever in
R (Reverse).
When parking uphill, place the shift lever in
1 (First).
3. After shifting, turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF,
remove the key and release the clutch.
2-29

Outside Power Mirrors
The control is located on
the instrument panel, left
of the steering wheel.
The ignition must be turned to ON/RUN to adjust the
mirrors.
To adjust the mirrors:
1. Select the mirror you want to adjust by moving the
selector switch to L for the driver side mirror or
R for the passenger side mirror.
2. Press one of the four arrows located on the control
pad to move the mirror to the desired direction.
Manually fold the mirrors inward to prevent damage
when going through an automatic car wash. To fold, push
the mirror toward the vehicle. Push the mirror outward,
to return to its original position.
Outside Convex Mirror
{CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you could
hit a vehicle on the right. Check the inside mirror
or glance over your shoulder before changing
lanes.
The passenger side mirror is convex shaped. A convex
mirror’s surface is curved so more can be seen from
the driver seat.
Outside Heated Mirrors
For vehicles with this feature:
<(Rear Window Defogger):Press to heat the
mirrors. See “Rear Window and Outside Mirror Defogger”
underClimate Control System on page 3-18for more
information.
2-33

Sunglasses Storage Compartment
For vehicles with this feature, the sunglasses storage
compartment is located above the driver’s door. To open,
pull down and hold the upper part of the cover. Release
the cover and the compartment will automatically close.
Sunroof
On vehicles with this
feature, the switch is
located on the headliner
between the sun visors.
The sunroof only operates when the ignition is turned to
ON/RUN. The sunroof can be opened to a vent position
or it can be opened all of the way.
To open the sunroof to the vent position, open
the sunshade. Then press and hold the driver side
of the switch. To close the sunroof, press and hold the
passenger side of the switch until the sunroof reaches
the desired position.
To fully open the sunroof, press and hold the passenger
side of the switch. The sunshade opens with the sunroof.
To close the sunroof, press and hold the driver side of
the switch. The sunroof will stop if the switch is released
during operation. Close the sunshade manually.
In both the vent and fully open positions, the air ow
can be adjusted by pushing and holding the switch until
the sunroof moves to the desired position.
The sunroof cannot be opened or closed if the vehicle
has an electrical failure.
2-38

Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
The headlamps must be on for this feature to work.
Push the turn signal lever away from you to turn the high
beams on.
This instrument panel cluster light
3comes on while
the high beams are on and the ignition is turned to
ON/RUN.
Pull the lever towards you to return to low beams.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature is used to signal to the vehicle ahead that
you want to pass.
Pull the turn signal/multifunction lever towards you until
the high-beam headlamps come on, then release
the lever to turn them off.
Windshield Wipers
Sedan shown
Hatchback shown
3-8

The lever is located on the right side of the steering
column. The ignition must be turned to ON/RUN
to operate the windshield wipers.
Move the lever to one of the following positions:
HI (High Speed):For steady wiping at high speed.
LO (Low Speed):For steady wiping at low speed.
INT (Intermittent):Move to this position for a delayed
wiping cycle. Turn the band on the windshield wiper
toward FAST or SLOW for a shorter or longer
delay between wipes. The wiper speed can only be
adjusted when the lever is in the INT position.
OFF:Turns the windshield wipers off.
Misting Function
Move the lever toward INT for a single wiping cycle.
Hold it there until the windshield wipers start; then let go.
The windshield wipers will stop after one wipe. If more
wipes are needed, hold the band toward INT longer.
Clear ice and snow from the wiper blades before using
them. If they are frozen to the windshield, carefully
loosen or thaw them. If the blades become damaged,
get new blades or blade inserts. SeeWindshield
Wiper Blade Replacement on page 5-49.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wipers. A circuit
breaker stops them until the motor cools.
Windshield Washer
To use this feature the ignition must be turned to
ON/RUN. Pull the windshield washer/wiper 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 and either stop or
will resume at the speed being used previously.
SeeWindshield Washer Fluid on page 5-31for
information on lling the windshield washer uid.
{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.
3-9

Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal, or press the clutch
pedal, if you have a manual transmission.
PressI/Oon the cruise control pad.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory is erased when
the cruise control or the ignition is turned off.
Exterior Lamps
The lever on the left side of the steering column
operates the exterior lamps.The exterior lamp band has three positions:
3(Headlamps):Turns on the headlamps, together
with the following:
Taillamps
License Plate Lamp
Instrument Panel Lights
Parking Lamps
The headlamps automatically turn off when the ignition
key is turned to LOCK/OFF or ACC/ACCESSORY.
;(Parking Lamps):Turns on the parking lamps,
together with the taillamps, license plate lamp,
and instrument panel lights.
OFF:Turns all the lamps off, except the Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL).
Uplevel shown, Base similar
3-13