instrument cluster PONTIAC G6 2005 Owners Manual

{CAUTION:
Anyone who is up against, or very close to,
any airbag when it inates can be seriously
injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder
belts offer the best protection for adults, but
not for young children and infants. Neither the
vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag
system is designed for them. Young children
and infants need the protection that a child
restraint system can provide. Always secure
children properly in your vehicle. To read how,
seeOlder Children on page 1-28orInfants and
Young Children on page 1-31.There is an airbag
readiness light on the
instrument panel cluster,
which shows the airbag
symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 3-27
for more information.
1-49

Driver Shift Control (DSC)
For the GT model with an automatic transaxle, you may
have a Driver Shift Control (DSC) feature that allows
you to change gears similar to a manual transmission.
To use this feature, do the following:
1. Move the shift lever from AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D) rearward into the MANUAL
MODE (M) of the DSC area.
When the transaxle is in the DSC mode the manual
mode light in the instrument panel cluster will
come on.2. If you do not move the shift lever forward or
rearward, the vehicle will be in manual mode,
THIRD (3) gear. While driving in manual mode, the
transaxle may remain in a gear longer than it
would in normal driving mode based on braking,
throttle input and vehicle lateral acceleration.
3. Press the shift level forward to upshift or rearward
to downshift.
The odometer on the instrument panel cluster will
change to show the requested gear range when moving
the shift lever forward or rearward. While using the
DSC feature the vehicle will have rmer shifting
and increased performance. You can use this for sport
driving or when climbing hills to stay in gear longer
or to downshift for more power or engine braking.
The transaxle will only allow you to shift into gears
appropriate for the vehicle speed and RPM. The
transmission will not automatically shift to the next
higher gear if the engine RPM is too high. GT Model
2-27

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
Headlamps Off in PARK (P)...........................3-14
Delayed Headlamps......................................3-14
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).......................3-14
Automatic Headlamp System..........................3-15
Fog Lamps..................................................3-16
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-16
Dome Lamp.................................................3-16
Entry/Exit Lighting.........................................3-17
Overhead Console Reading Lamps.................3-17
Trunk Lamp.................................................3-17
Battery Run-Down Protection..........................3-17
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-18Climate Controls............................................3-19
Climate Control System.................................3-19
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-23
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-24
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-24
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-26
Trip Odometer..............................................3-26
Tachometer.................................................3-26
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-26
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-27
Charging System Light..................................3-28
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-28
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-29
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light...........................................3-30
Traction Control System Active Light.................3-30
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-30
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-31
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-34
Security Light...............................................3-35
Cruise Control Light......................................3-35
Highbeam On Light.......................................3-35
Service Vehicle Soon Light............................3-35
Fuel Gage...................................................3-36
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-36
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Side Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on
page 3-23.
B. Side Window Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on
page 3-23.
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
D. Steering Wheel Controls and Cruise Controls.
SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-76
andCruise Control on page 3-10.
E. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-24.
F. Windshield Wiper and Washer Lever. See
Windshield Wipers on page 3-9andWindshield
Washer on page 3-10.
G. Ignition Switch. SeeIgnition Positions on page 2-20.
H. Center Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on
page 3-23.
I. Hazard Warning Flashers Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
J. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-44.K. Adjustable Pedal Buttons (If Equipped). See
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal on page 2-22.
L. Instrument Panel Brightness Control. SeeInstrument
Panel Brightness on page 3-16.
M. Fog Lamps. SeeFog Lamps on page 3-16.
N. Hood Release Handle. SeeHood Release on
page 5-11.
O. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
P. Climate Control System. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-19.
Q. Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transaxle Operation on
page 2-24.
R. Accessory Power Outlet. SeeAccessory Power
Outlets on page 3-18.
S. Traction Control System Button (If Equipped).
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-8.
Enhanced Traction System Button. SeeEnhanced
Traction System (ETS) on page 4-10.
T. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-41.
3-5

Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and
two downward (for left) positions. These positions
allow you to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down. When the turn is nished, the lever will return
automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will ash in
the direction of the
turn or lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to ash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by itself
when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows
ash rapidly, a signal bulb may be burned out and other
drivers won’t see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don’t go on at all when you signal
a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and then check the
fuse. SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-75.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high beam,
push the turn signal/multifunction lever away from you.
When the high beams are
on, a light on the
instrument panel cluster
also will be on if the
ignition is in ON.
To change the headlamps from high beam to low beam,
pull the turn signal lever toward you.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you until the high-beam headlamps come on, then
release the lever to turn them off.
3-8

Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
The cruise control buttons are located on the steering
wheel.
J(On/Off):Press this button to turn the cruise
control system on and off.
+RES (Resume):Press this part of the button to
resume a set speed and to accelerate the speed.
−SET (Set):Press this part of the button to set a speed
and to decrease the speed.
To set a speed do the following:
1. Press the on/off button to turn cruise control on.
The indicator light on the button will come on.
2. Get to the speed you want.
3. Press the−SET part of the control button and
release it. The cruise symbol will display in the
instrument panel cluster to show the system
is engaged.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
When the brakes are applied, the cruise control shuts off.
If the vehicle is in cruise control and the Traction
Control System (TCS) or Enhanced Traction
System (ETS) begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-8andEnhanced
Traction System (ETS) on page 4-10. When road
conditions allow, the cruise control can be used again.
3-11

Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired
speed and then you apply the brake. This, of course,
disengages the cruise control. The cruise symbol in the
instrument panel cluster will also go out indicating cruise
is no longer engaged. To return to your previously set
speed, you do not need to go through the set process
again. Once you’re going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or
more, you can press the +RES part of the button briey.
This will take you back up to your previously chosen
speed and stay there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed.
Disengage the cruise control but do not turn it off.
If the cruise control system is already engaged,
press the +RES part of the button. Hold it there
until you get up to the speed you want, and
then release the button. To increase your speed in
very small amounts, press the +RES part of the
button briey and then release it. Each time you do
this, your vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h)
faster.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
If the cruise control system is already engaged,
Push and hold the−SET part of the button until you
reach the lower speed you want, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, push the
−SET part of the button briey. Each time you
do this, you’ll go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will
slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you may have to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed.
When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift to
a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course,
applying the brake takes you out of cruise control.
Many drivers nd this to be too much trouble and
don’t use cruise control on steep hills.
3-12

Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to disengage the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal; when cruise control
disengages, the cruise symbol in the instrument
panel cluster will go out.
Press the on/off button, this will turn off the cruise
control system.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Headlamps
The lever on the left side of the steering column
operates the exterior lamps.The exterior lamp switch has the following four positions:
2(Headlamps):This position turns on the headlamps,
parking lamps, and taillamps.
;(Parking Lamps):This position turns on the
parking lamps and taillamps only.
AUTO (Automatic Headlamp System):This position
automatically turns on the Daytime Running Lamps
during daytime, and the headlamps, parking lamps, and
taillamps at night.
P(Off/On):This position is the momentary Off/On
switch for the Automatic Headlamp System. In Canada,
this only works when the vehicle is in PARK (P).
When operating in AUTO, a momentary turn of the
switch to off/on will turn off the Automatic Headlamp
System. Rotating the switch to off/on again will turn the
Automatic Headlamp System back on. The Automatic
Headlamp System is always turned on at the beginning
of an ignition cycle.
Headlamps on Reminder
If you open the driver’s door and turn off the
ignition while leaving the lamps on, you will hear a
warning chime.
3-13

Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, your automatic
headlamp system will turn on your headlamps at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as
the taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps and the
instrument panel lights. The radio lights will also be dim.
Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on the
top of the instrument panel under the defroster
grill, so be sure it is not covered which will cause the
automatic headlamp system to be on whenever the
ignition is on.
The automatic headlamp system may also be on when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather or a tunnel. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the DRL and the automatic
headlamp systems so that driving under bridges or
bright overhead street lights does not affect the system.
The DRL and automatic headlamp systems will only
be affected when the light sensor sees a change
in lighting lasting longer than this delay.If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately. Once
you leave the garage, it will take approximately
one minute for the automatic headlamp system to
change to DRL if it is light outside. During that delay,
your instrument panel cluster may not be as bright
as usual. Make sure your instrument panel brightness
control is in the full bright position. See “Instrument
Panel Brightness Control” underInstrument Panel
Brightness on page 3-16.
To idle your vehicle with the automatic headlamp
system off, set the parking brake while the ignition
is off. Then start the vehicle. The automatic headlamp
system will stay off until you release the parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamps when you need them.
3-15

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briey when you start the
engine just to let you know they are working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there is a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section
that tells you what to do about it. Please follow this
manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be
costly — and even dangerous. So please get to know
your warning lights and gages. They are a big help.
Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster is designed to let you
know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You will
know how fast you are going, how much fuel you
have, and many other things you’ll need to drive safely
and economically.
3-24