battery PONTIAC G3 2010 User Guide

Section 4 Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Tilt Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Windshield Wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Windshield Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Rear Window Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
Exterior Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Instrument Panel Brightness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Dome Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Accessory Power Outlet(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15 Climate Controls
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15
Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15
Outlet Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18
Passenger Compartment Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . .4-20
Instrument Panel Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-21
Speedometer and Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-22
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-22
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-22
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-23
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-23
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-25
Up-Shift Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-26
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-26
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . 4-27
Hold Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-27
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29
4-1

Dome Lamp
The vehicle has a dome lamp located in the overhead
console.
Move the switch to the following positions:
ON :The light comes on and stays on.
O (Door) : The light comes on when a door is opened.
The light turns off when all the doors are closed.
OFF : The light remains off even when a door is
opened.
Be sure all doors and trunk lid or hatch are completely
closed or the battery may drain.
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver
This feature is designed to protect the vehicle's battery
against drainage. If the exterior lamps control is left in
the
;or2position, the key is removed and the driver
door is opened, the lights will turn off automatically.
If the key is removed and the driver door is opened
while the dome lamp is on, the dome lamp will not
turn off automatically.
Accessory Power Outlet(s)
Accessory power outlets can be used to plug in
auxiliary electrical equipment, such as a cellular phone.
The accessory power outlet is located next to the
parking brake on the center console.
To use the accessory power outlet, remove the
protective cap. When not in use, always cover the
outlet with the protective cap. The accessory power
outlet is operational when the ignition is turned to
ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN.
Notice: Leaving electrical equipment on for
extended periods will drain the battery. Always turn
off electrical equipment when not in use and do not
plug in equipment that exceeds the
maximum amperage rating.
Certain electrical accessories may not be compatible
with the accessory power outlet and could result in
blown vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a
problem, see your dealer/retailer for additional
information on accessory power outlets.
4-13

Clock
There is a digital clock located in the center of the
instrument panel, above the center air outlets. When the
ignition is turned to ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN,
the time is displayed in the digital clock. There are
three buttons for adjusting the digital clock:
H (Hour):Press once to go forward one hour. To go
forward more than one hour, press and hold the button
until the correct hour is reached.
M (Minute): Press once to go forward one minute. To go
forward more than one minute, press and hold the
button until the correct minute is reached.
S (Set): Press to reset the time to the nearest hour.
For example, if the set button is pressed while the time
is between 8:00 and 8:29, the display is set to 8:00.
If this button is pressed while the time is between
8:30 and 8:59, the display is set to 9:00.
After disconnecting the battery or replacing the fuse,
reset the clock.
Climate Controls
Climate Control System
For vehicles with these climate control systems, the
heating, cooling, and ventilation can be controlled for
the vehicle.
Climate Control System with Heater and Air Conditioning
A. Temperature Control
B. Fan Control
C. Air Delivery Mode Control D. Air Conditioning (A/C)
E. Recirculation F. Rear Window Defogger
4-15

If the words PASSENGER AIRBAG ON or the on
symbol is lit on the passenger airbag status indicator, it
means that the right front passenger frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) is
enabled (may inflate).
If the words PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF or the off
symbol is lit on the passenger airbag status indicator, it
means that the passenger sensing system has turned
off the right front passenger frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped).
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.
{WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on and
stays on, it means that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help avoid injury to
yourself or others, have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 4‑23
for more information, including important safety
information.
Charging System Light
This light will come on briefly when the ignition is turned
on, and the engine is not running, as a check to show it
is working.
It should go out when the engine is started. If it stays
on, or comes on while driving, there may have a
problem with the electrical charging system. Have it
checked by your dealer/retailer. Driving while this light is
on could drain the battery. If a short distance must be
driven with the light on, turn off all accessories, such as
the radio and air conditioner to help reduce the drain on
the battery.
4-25

Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
might begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on the vehicle. Failure to pass this
inspection could prevent getting a vehicle registration.
Here are some things to know to help the vehicle pass
an inspection:
.The vehicle will not pass this inspection if the
check engine light is on with the engine running,
or if the key is in the ON/RUN and the light is
not on.
.The vehicle will not pass this inspection if the
OBD II (on-board diagnostic) system determines
that critical emission control systems have not
been completely diagnosed by the system.
The vehicle would be considered not ready for
inspection. This can happen if the battery has
recently been replaced or if the battery has run
down. The diagnostic system is designed to
evaluate critical emission control systems during
normal driving. This can take several days of
routine driving. If this has been done and the
vehicle still does not pass the inspection for lack of
OBD II system readiness, your dealer/retailer can
prepare the vehicle for inspection.
Oil Pressure Light
If the vehicle has low
engine oil pressure, this
light will stay on after the
engine has been started,
or come on while driving.
This indicates that the engine is not receiving enough
oil. The engine could be low on oil, or could have some
other oil problem. Have it fixed immediately by your
dealer/retailer.
4-31

Cellular Phone Usage
Cellular phone usage may cause interference with the
vehicle's radio. This interference may occur when
making or receiving phone calls, charging the
phone's battery, or simply having the phone on.
This interference causes an increased level of static
while listening to the radio. If static is received while
listening to the radio, unplug the cellular phone and
turn it off.
Fixed Mast Antenna (Hatchback)
Vehicles without OnStar®have a fixed mast antenna
that can withstand most car washes without being
damaged. If the mast should ever become slightly bent,
straighten it out by hand. If the mast is badly bent,
replace it.
Check occasionally to make sure the mast is still
tightened to the antenna base located on the roof of the
vehicle. If tightening is required, tighten by hand.
Backglass Antenna (Sedan)
Vehicles without OnStar®have the AM-FM antenna
integrated with the rear window defogger, located in the
rear window. Make sure that the inside surface of the
rear window is not scratched and that the lines on
the glass are not damaged. If the inside surface is
damaged, it could interfere with radio reception. Also,
for proper radio reception, the antenna connector at the
top-center of the rear window needs to be properly
attached to the post on the glass.
Notice: Using a razor blade or sharp object to clear
the inside rear window can damage the rear window
antenna and/or the rear window defogger. Repairs
would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Do
not clear the inside rear window with sharp objects.
Notice: Do not apply aftermarket glass tinting with
metallic film. The metallic film in some tinting
materials will interfere with or distort the incoming
radio reception. Any damage caused to your
backglass antenna due to metallic tinting materials
will not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Because this antenna is built into the rear window, there
is a reduced risk of damage caused by car washes and
vandals.
4-53

WARNING: (Continued)
For more information about carbon monoxide, see
Engine Exhaust on page 3‑32.
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill you.
You cannot see it or smell it, so you might not
know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle, especially any
that is blocking the exhaust.
Run the engine for short periods only as needed to
keep warm, but be careful.
To save fuel, run the engine for only short periods as
needed to warm the vehicle and then shut the engine
off and close the window most of the way to save heat.
Repeat this until help arrives but only when you feel
really uncomfortable from the cold. Moving about to
keep warm also helps.
If it takes some time for help to arrive, now and then
when you run the engine, push the accelerator pedal
slightly so the engine runs faster than the idle speed.
This keeps the battery charged to restart the vehicle
and to signal for help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible to save fuel.
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to free the
vehicle when stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. See
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 5‑14.
{WARNING:
If you let your vehicle's tires spin at high speed,
they can explode, and you or others could be
injured. The vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other damage. Spin
the wheels as little as possible and avoid going
above 55 km/h (35 mph) as shown on the
speedometer.
For information about using tire chains on the vehicle,
see Tire Chains on page 6‑68.
5-13

Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
California Proposition 65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Gasoline Octane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
California Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
Checking Things Under the Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-11
Hood Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-12
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-14
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-15
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-18
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-19
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-21
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-23
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-23
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-24 Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-25
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-30
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-32
Windshield Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-33
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-34
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-37
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-38
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-42
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-43
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-43
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-43
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-45
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) (Hatchback) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-46
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) (Sedan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-47
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-47
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-48
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-49
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . .6-49
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-50
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-51
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-54
6-1

A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 6‑19.
B. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
under Engine Oil on page 6‑15.
C. Brake/Clutch Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
under Brakes
on page 6‑34andHydraulic Clutchon page 6‑23.
D. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. See Cooling System
on page 6‑24.
E. Engine Compartment Fuse Block on page 6‑89.
F. Battery on page 6‑37.
G. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on
page 6‑33.
H. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
under Engine Oil on page 6‑15.
I. Automatic Transmission Dipstick. See Automatic
Transmission Fluid on page 6‑21.
J. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power
Steering Fluid on page 6‑32.
Engine Oil
If the engine oil pressure
light comes on, check the
engine oil level right away.
The oil pressure light is on the instrument panel cluster.
See Oil Pressure Light
on page 4‑31. Check the
engine oil level regularly; this is an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil level at each
fuel fill. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview
on page 6‑14for the
location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to drain back into the oil pan. If this is not done, the
oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. Pull the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down and check the level.
6-15

If the vehicle has rear drum brakes and the brake pedal
goes down farther than normal, the rear drum brakes
might need adjustment. Adjust them by backing up and
firmly applying the brakes a few times.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
parts have to be of top quality and work well together if
the vehicle is to have really good braking. The vehicle
was designed and tested with top-quality brake parts.
When parts of the braking system are replaced—for
example, when the brake linings wear down and new
ones are installed —be sure to get new approved
replacement parts. If this is not done, the brakes might
not work properly. For example, if someone puts in
brake linings that are wrong for the vehicle, the balance
between the front and rear brakes can change —for the
worse. The braking performance expected can change
in many other ways if the wrong replacement brake
parts are installed.
Battery
Refer to the replacement number on the original battery
label when a new battery is needed. See Engine
Compartment Overview
on page 6‑14for battery
location.
{DANGER:
Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds, chemicals
known to the State of California to cause cancer
and reproductive harm. Wash hands after
handling.
Vehicle Storage
{WARNING:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. See Jump Starting
on page 6‑38for
tips on working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the black, negative (−) cable
from the battery to keep the battery from running down.
Extended Storage: Remove the black, negative (−)
cable from the battery or use a battery trickle charger.
6-37