traction control PONTIAC G6 2006 Owner's Manual

If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you will need
to spin the wheels, but you do not want to spin your
wheels too fast. The method known as rocking can help
you get out when you are stuck, but you must use
caution.
If your vehicle has a traction system, the traction system
can often help to free a stuck vehicle. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-9,Enhanced Traction
System (ETS) on page 4-11,orStabiliTrak
®System on
page 4-12. If the stuck condition is too severe for the
traction system to free the vehicle, turn the traction
system off and use the rocking method.
{CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured.
And, the transaxle or other parts of the vehicle
can overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment re or other damage. When you
are stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible.
Do not spin the wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h)
as shown on the speedometer.Notice:Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of
your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the
wheels too fast while shifting your transaxle back
and forth, you can destroy your transaxle. See
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 4-32.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
seeTire Chains on page 5-73.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That
will clear the area around your front wheels. If your
vehicle has a traction system, you should turn
your traction system off. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-9,Enhanced Traction System (ETS) on
page 4-11,orStabiliTrak
®System on page 4-12.
Then shift back and forth between REVERSE (R) and a
forward gear, or with a manual transaxle, between
FIRST (1) or SECOND (2) and REVERSE (R), spinning
the wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator
pedal while you shift, and press lightly on the
accelerator pedal when the transaxle is in gear. By
slowly spinning your wheels in the forward and reverse
directions, you will cause a rocking motion that may
free your vehicle. If that does not get you out after a few
tries, you may need to be towed out. If you do need
to be towed out, seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-38.
4-32

Service
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to
be happy with it. We hope you will go to your dealer
for all your service needs. You will get genuine GM parts
and GM-trained and supported service people.
We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle all GM.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
Accessories and Modications
When you add non-GM accessories to your vehicle
they can affect your vehicle’s performance and safety,
including such things as, braking, electronic systems like
traction control, stability, ride and handling, emissions
systems, aerodynamics, and durability. Some of
these accessories may even cause malfunction or
damage not covered by warranty.
GM Accessories are designed to complement and
function with other systems on your vehicle. Your GM
dealer can accessorize your vehicle using genuine
GM Accessories. When you go to your GM dealer and
ask for GM Accessories, you will know that GM-trained
and supported service technicians will perform the
work using genuine GM Accessories.
California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain and/or
emit chemicals known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive
harm. Engine exhaust, many parts and systems
(including some inside the vehicle), many uids, and
some component wear by-products contain and/or emit
these chemicals.
5-3

Buying New Tires
To nd out what kind and size of tires your vehicle
needs, look at the tire and loading information label. For
more information about this label and its location on
your vehicle, seeLoading Your Vehicle on page 4-33.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specication (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new
tires, GM recommends that you get tires with that same
TPC Spec number. That way your vehicle will continue
to have tires that are designed to give proper endurance,
handling, speed rating, load range, traction, ride and
other things during normal service on your vehicle.
If your tires have an all-season tread design, the TPC
number will be followed by an “MS” (for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.{CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control
while driving. If you mix tires of different
sizes, brands, or types (radial and bias-belted
tires), the vehicle may not handle properly,
and you could have a crash. Using tires of
different sizes, brands, or types may also
cause damage to your vehicle. Be sure to
use the correct size, brand, and type of tires
on all wheels. It is all right to drive with
your compact spare temporarily, as it was
developed for use on your vehicle. See
Compact Spare Tire on page 5-86.
5-68

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance.
(This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specied government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signicantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
5-70

Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You cannot know how it has been
used or how far it has been driven. It could fail
suddenly and cause a crash. If you have to
replace a wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
Do not use tire chains, there is not enough
clearance.
Tire chains used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can cause damage
to the brakes, suspension or other vehicle
parts. The area damaged by the tire chains
could cause you to lose control of your vehicle
and you or others may be injured in a crash.
Use another type of traction device only if its
manufacturer recommends it for use on your
vehicle and tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s
instructions. To help avoid damage to your
vehicle, drive slowly, re-adjust or remove the
device if is contacting your vehicle, and do
not spin your wheels.
If you do nd traction devices that will t,
install them on the front tires.
5-73

Horn............................................................... 3-6
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-15
Hydraulic Clutch.............................................5-26
I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-23
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-33
Ination -- Tire Pressure..................................5-64
Instrument Panel
Overview..................................................... 3-4
Instrument Panel (I/P)
Brightness..................................................3-17
Cluster.......................................................3-29
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-42
K
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-3
L
Labelling, Tire Sidewall....................................5-59
Lamps
Battery Run-Down Protection.........................3-18
Courtesy....................................................3-17
Dome........................................................3-18
Fog ...........................................................3-17
Overhead Console Reading..........................3-18
Trunk.........................................................3-18
LATCH System
Child Restraints...........................................1-41
Lift Seat, Power............................................... 1-8
Light
Airbag Readiness........................................3-33
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning...................3-37
Brake System Warning.................................3-36
Charging System.........................................3-36
Cruise Control.............................................3-44
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
Active Light.............................................3-39
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
Warning Light..........................................3-38
Highbeam On.............................................3-44
Low Fuel Warning.......................................3-45
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-40
Oil Pressure...............................................3-43
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-34
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder....................3-32
7

Light (cont.)
Safety Belt Reminder...................................3-32
Security.....................................................3-44
Service Vehicle Soon...................................3-44
StabiliTrak
®Indicator....................................3-39
StabiliTrak®Not Ready.................................3-39
TCS Warning Light......................................3-38
Traction Control System Active......................3-38
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning..........3-38
Lighting
Entry/Exit...................................................3-18
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................4-33
Lockout Protection..........................................2-13
Locks
Automatic Door Lock....................................2-12
Delayed Locking..........................................2-12
Door..........................................................2-10
Lockout Protection.......................................2-13
Power Door................................................2-11
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock............2-13
Loss of Control...............................................4-17
Low Fuel Warning Light...................................3-45
Lowering the Retractable Hardtop......................2-49
Lumbar
Manual Controls............................................ 1-3
M
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services........................... 6-6
At Each Fuel Fill........................................... 6-8
At Least Once a Month.................................. 6-9
At Least Once a Year.................................... 6-9
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Footnotes.................................. 6-7
Maintenance Record....................................6-14
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........6-13
Owner Checks and Services........................... 6-8
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.............6-12
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-4
Using.......................................................... 6-3
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-40
Manual Lumbar Controls.................................... 1-3
Manual Seats................................................... 1-2
Manual Transaxle
Fluid..........................................................5-26
Operation...................................................2-32
Message
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-48
8

Tires (cont.)
Removing the Flat Tire.................................5-78
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...............5-76
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-83
Tire Sidewall Labelling..................................5-59
Tire Terminology and Denitions....................5-62
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-70
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-71
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-72
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-67
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-38
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-40
Your Vehicle...............................................4-38
Traction
Control System Active Light..........................3-38
Control System (TCS).................................... 4-9
Control System Warning Light.......................3-38
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)...................4-11
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
Active Light.............................................3-39
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
Warning Light..........................................3-38
StabiliTrak
®System.....................................4-12
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic..................................5-23, 5-24
Fluid, Manual..............................................5-26
Transaxle Operation, Automatic.........................2-28
Transaxle Operation, Manual............................2-32
Trip Odometer................................................3-31Trunk............................................................2-14
Trunk Lamps..................................................3-18
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-8
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-7
U
Understanding Radio Reception........................3-87
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-70
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-5
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................4-33
Parking Your...............................................2-36
Service Soon Light......................................3-44
Symbols......................................................... iv
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Recorders.................................................... 7-9
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN).............................................5-96
Service Parts Identication Label...................5-96
Vehicle Personalization
DIC ...........................................................3-52
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-28
Visors...........................................................2-19
13