battery PONTIAC G5 2007 User Guide

The battery can be discharged at idle if the
electrical loads are very high. This is true for all
vehicles. This is because the generator (alternator)
may not be spinning fast enough at idle to
produce all the power that is needed for very high
electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following loads are on: headlamps, high beams,
fog lamps, rear window defogger, climate
control fan at high speed, heated seats, engine
cooling fans, trailer loads, and loads plugged into
accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator’s
output and the vehicle’s electrical needs. It can
increase engine idle speed to generate more
power, whenever needed. It can temporarily reduce
the power demands of some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels,
without being noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action, this action may
be noticeable to the driver.Battery Run-Down Protection
Your vehicle has a battery saver feature designed
to protect your vehicle’s battery.
When any interior lamp is left on and the ignition is
turned off, the battery rundown protection system
will automatically turn the lamp off after 20 minutes.
This will avoid draining the battery.
Accessory Power Outlet(s)
Accessory power outlets can be used to connect
electrical equipment such as a cellular phone
or CB radio.
The accessory power outlet is located in the
center console, rearward of the shift lever.
To use the outlet, remove the cover. When not in
use, always cover the outlet with the protective cap.
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.
150

Charging System Light
The charging system
light will come on briey
when you turn on the
ignition, and the engine
is not running, as a
check to show you it is
working.
Then it should go out when the engine is started.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the electrical charging
system. Have it checked by your dealer. Driving
while this light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on,
be certain to turn off all your accessories, such
as the radio and air conditioner.
Up-Shift Light
Your vehicle may have an up-shift light. When this
light comes on, you should shift to the next higher
gear if weather, road, and traffic conditions allow
you to.
This light is located in
your instrument panel
cluster to the left of
the tachometer.
SeeManual Transaxle Operation on page 116for
more information.
United States Only
164

Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have
or may begin programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass
this inspection could prevent you from getting a
vehicle registration.
Here are some things you need to know to help
your vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the
check engine light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD
(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 you have recently replaced
your battery or if your battery has run down. The
diagnostic system is designed to evaluate critical
emission control systems during normal driving.
This may take several days of routine driving. If you
have done this and your vehicle still does not pass
the inspection for lack of OBD system readiness,
your dealer can prepare the vehicle for inspection.
Oil Pressure Light
If you have a low engine
oil pressure problem,
this light will stay on after
you start your engine, or
come on when you are
driving.
This indicates that your engine is not receiving
enough oil.
The engine could be low on oil, or could have
some other oil problem. Have it xed immediately.
The oil light could also come on in three other
situations:
When the ignition is on but the engine is not
running, the light will come on as a test to show
you it is working, but the light will go out when
you turn the ignition to START. If it does not
come on with the ignition on, you may have a
problem with the fuse or bulb. Have it xed
right away.
171

COOLING MODE ON
This message may display on some vehicles.
Under severe conditions, hot ambient
temperatures, steep grades, and towing, your
vehicle may experience more transaxle shifting.
This is temporary and normal under these
conditions. This does not require engine or
transaxle service.
CRUISE ENGAGED
This message displays when the cruise control
system is active. SeeCruise Control on page 143
for more information.
DOOR AJAR
This message displays if one or more of the
vehicle’s doors are not closed properly. When this
message displays, make sure that the door(s)
are closed completely.
ENGINE DISABLED
This message displays if the starting of the engine
is disabled. Have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer immediately.
ENG (Engine) PWR (Power) REDUCED
This message displays to inform you that the
vehicle has reduced engine power to avoid
damaging the engine. Reduced engine power
can affect the vehicle’s ability to accelerate. If
this message is 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 this message is on, but
acceleration and speed may be reduced. Anytime
this message stays on, the vehicle should be taken
to your dealer for service as soon as possible.
ICE POSSIBLE
This message displays when the outside air
temperature is cold enough to create icy road
conditions. Adjust your driving accordingly.
KEY FOB BATT (Battery) LOW
This message displays if the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter battery is low. Replace
the battery in the transmitter. See “Battery
Replacement” underRemote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 87.
178

To change feature settings, use the following
procedure:
Entering Personalization Menu
1. Turn the ignition on while the vehicle is
stopped.
To avoid excessive drain on the battery, it is
recommended that the headlamps are
turned off.
2. Press and hold the information and
reset buttons at the same time for
one second, then release to enter the
personalization menu.
If the vehicle speed is greater than 2 mph
(3 km/h), only the UNITS menu will be
accessible.
3. Press the information button to scroll through
the available personalization menu modes.
Press the reset button to scroll through
the available settings for each mode.
If you do not make a selection within
ten seconds, the display will go back to the
previous information displayed.
Personalization Menu Modes
OIL LIFE RESET
When this feature is displayed, you can reset the
engine oil life system. To reset the system, see
Engine Oil Life System on page 282. See “OIL
LIFE” underDIC Operation and Displays on
page 174for more information.
UNITS
This feature allows you to select the units of
measurement in which the DIC will display the
vehicle information. When UNITS appears on the
display, press and hold the reset button for at
least one second to scroll through the available
settings:
ENGLISH (default in United States):All
information will be displayed in English units.
For example, distance will be shown in miles (mi)
and fuel economy in miles per gallon (mpg).
METRIC (default in Canada):All information will
be displayed in metric units. For example, distance
will be shown in kilometers (km) and fuel economy
in liters per 100 kilometers (L/100 km).
180

{CAUTION:
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
your exhaust pipe. And check around
again from time to time to be sure snow
does not collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of
the vehicle that is away from the wind.
This will help keep CO out.Run the engine only as long as you must. This
saves fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a
little faster than just idle. That is, push the
accelerator slightly. This uses less fuel for the
heat that you get and it keeps the battery charged.
You will need a well-charged battery to restart
the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with
the headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window
almost all the way to preserve the heat. Start
the engine again and repeat this only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as
little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as
you can. To help keep warm, you can get out of
the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
247

Dinghy Towing
You may dinghy tow your vehicle from the front
following these steps:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition key to ACC to unlock the
steering wheel.
3. Shift an automatic transaxle to NEUTRAL (N)
or a manual transaxle to NEUTRAL.
4. Release the parking brake.To prevent the battery from draining while the
vehicle is being towed, remove the following fuse
from the oor console fuse block: 8 (Ignition
Switch, PASS-Key
®III+). SeeFloor Console Fuse
Block on page 364for more information.
Remember to reinstall the fuse once you have
reached your destination.
Notice:If you exceed 65 mph (105 km/h) while
towing your vehicle, it could be damaged.
Never exceed 65 mph (105 km/h) while towing
your vehicle.
255

Service........................................................ 268
Accessories and Modications................... 268
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 269
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 269
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 270
Fuel............................................................. 270
Gasoline Octane........................................ 270
Gasoline Specications.............................. 271
California Fuel........................................... 271
Additives................................................... 272
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 273
Filling the Tank......................................... 274
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 276
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 276
Hood Release........................................... 277
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 278
Engine Oil................................................. 279
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 282
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 284
Automatic Transaxle Fluid......................... 286
Manual Transaxle Fluid............................. 286
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 286Engine Coolant.......................................... 287
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 290
Engine Overheating................................... 290
Cooling System......................................... 292
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 297
Brakes...................................................... 298
Battery...................................................... 303
Jump Starting............................................ 304
Headlamp Aiming........................................ 309
Bulb Replacement....................................... 312
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 312
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps............. 313
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
(CHMSL)................................................ 315
Taillamps and Turn Signal Lamps
(Coupe)................................................. 316
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps (Sedan)......................... 316
Back-Up Lamps (Coupe)........................... 317
License Plate Lamp................................... 318
Replacement Bulbs................................... 318
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
265

Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery.
When it is time for a new battery, get one that has
the replacement number shown on the original
battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco
®
replacement battery.
Your vehicle’s battery is located in the trunk. You
do not need to access the battery to jump start
your vehicle. SeeJump Starting on page 304.
Warning: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
If you are not going to drive your vehicle for
25 days or more, remove the black, negative (−)
cable from the battery. This will help keep
your battery from running down.
{CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be badly
hurt if you are not careful. SeeJump
Starting on page 304for tips on working
around a battery without getting hurt.
303

Jump Starting
If your vehicle’s battery has run down, you may
want to use another vehicle and some jumper
cables to start your vehicle. Be sure to use
the following steps to do it safely.
{CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or
ignite.
They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly,
some or all of these things can hurt you.Notice:Ignoring these steps could result in
costly damage to your vehicle that would
not be covered by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or
pulling it will not work, and it could damage
your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a
12-volt battery with a negative ground system.
Notice:If the other vehicle’s system is
not a 12-volt system with a negative ground,
both vehicles can be damaged. Only use
vehicles with 12-volt systems with negative
grounds to jump start your vehicle.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper
cables can reach, but be sure the vehicles are
not touching each other. If they are, it could
cause a ground connection you do not want.
You would not be able to start your vehicle, and
the bad grounding could damage the electrical
systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling,
set the parking brake rmly on both vehicles
involved in the jump start procedure. Put
an automatic transaxle in PARK (P) or
a manual transaxle in NEUTRAL before
setting the parking brake.
304