instrument panel PONTIAC G6 2008 Service Manual

if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you
have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down rmly and let antilock work for you. You might hear
the antilock pump or motor operate, and feel the
brake pedal pulsate, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With ABS, you can steer and brake at the same time. In
many emergencies, steering can help you more than
even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle may have a Traction Control System (TCS)
that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. The system operates only if it
senses that one or both of the front wheels are
spinning or beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, the system reduces engine power and may
also upshift the transmission to limit wheel spin.
Also, the traction control system activates the
appropriate corner brakes to gain even quicker control
to limit wheel spin.This light, located on the
instrument panel, will come
on when your Traction
Control System is limiting
wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this is
normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
re-engage the cruise control. SeeCruise Control
on page 3-10.
The Traction Control System operates in all transmission
shift lever positions except park or neutral. But the
system can upshift the transmission only as high as the
shift lever position you’ve chosen, so you should use
the lower gears only when necessary. SeeAutomatic
Transmission Operation on page 2-27.
4-5

This light is located on the
instrument panel cluster.
When the system is on, this light will come on to let you
know if there’s a problem, or if the system has been
turned off.
When this warning light is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions, you should always leave the Traction
Control System on. But you can turn the system off if
you prefer.
To turn the system on or off, press the traction control
button (TC) located under the climate controls. In
order to effectively “rock” the vehicle, you will need to
turn off TCS.
If you press the TC button once, the traction control
system will turn off and the traction control system
warning light will come on. The StabiliTrak
®system will
stay on. Press the TC button again to turn the system
back on. The traction control system warning light will go
off. If you press and hold the TC button, the StabiliTrak
®
system and the traction control system will turn off.
Press the TC button again to turn StabiliTrak®and the
traction control system back on. For more information,
seeStabiliTrak
®System on page 4-6.
When you turn the system off, the Traction Control
System warning light will come on and stay on. If the
Traction Control System is limiting wheel spin when you
press the button to turn the system off, the warning
light will come on and the system will stop limiting wheel
spin. The system will not provide traction assistance
until the system is turned back on.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 5-4for more information.
StabiliTrak®System
Your vehicle may be equipped with a vehicle stability
enhancement system called StabiliTrak®.Itisan
advanced computer controlled system that assists you
with directional control of the vehicle in difficult
driving conditions.
StabiliTrak
®activates when the computer senses a
discrepancy between your intended path and the
direction the vehicle is actually traveling. StabiliTrak
®
selectively applies braking pressure at any one of
the vehicle’s brakes to help steer the vehicle in the
direction which you are steering.
4-6

This symbol will appear
when the StabiliTrak®
system is activated.
When you rst start your vehicle and begin to drive
away, the system performs several diagnostic checks to
ensure there are no problems. You may hear or feel
the system working. This is normal and does not mean
there is a problem with your vehicle.
This light is located on the
instrument panel cluster.
When the system is on, this light will come on to let you
know if there’s a problem, or if the system has been
turned off.
StabiliTrak
®comes on automatically whenever you start
your vehicle. To help assist you with directional
control of the vehicle, you should always leave thesystem on. You can turn the traction control system and
StabiliTrak
®off if you ever need to by pressing and
holding the TC (traction control) on/off button. Press the
TC button again to turn StabiliTrak
®and the traction
control system back on. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-5for more information.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the StabiliTrak
®
activates, the cruise control will automatically
disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, you may reengage the cruise control. See
Cruise Control on page 3-10for more information.
Steering
Electric Power Steering
If your vehicle has the electric power steering system
and the engine stalls while you are driving, the power
steering assist system will continue to operate until you
are able to stop your vehicle. If you lose power steering
assist because the electric power steering system is not
functioning, you can steer, but it will take more effort.
If you turn the steering wheel in either direction several
times until it stops, or hold the steering wheel in the
stopped position for an extended amount of time, you
may notice a reduced amount of power steering
assist. The normal amount of power steering assist
should return shortly after a few normal steering
movements.
4-7

For vehicles that can be dinghy towed with all four
wheels on the ground:
1. Position the vehicle to tow and then secure it.
2. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
3. Set the parking brake.
4. To prevent your battery from draining while the
vehicle is being towed, remove the following
fuse from the instrument panel fuse block: (IGN
SENSOR). SeeInstrument Panel Fuse Block
on page 5-110for more information.5. Turn the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY.
6. Shift your transmission to NEUTRAL (N).
7. Release the parking brake.
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.
Notice:Towing your vehicle from the rear could
damage it. Also, repairs would not be covered by
the warranty. Never have your vehicle towed
from the rear.
4-27

During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as
you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You will need more passing distance up ahead when you
are towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal
longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the passed
vehicle before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,
have someone guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while trailering
could cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you are turning with a trailer, make wider turns
than normal. Do this so your trailer will not strike
soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or other objects.
Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal asher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your dealer/retailer. The arrows on your instrument
panel will ash whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also
ash, telling other drivers you are about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It
is important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
4-32

Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps
(Retractable Hardtop).................................5-57
License Plate Lamp......................................5-58
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-58
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-59
Tires..............................................................5-60
Winter Tires.................................................5-61
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-62
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-65
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-68
High-Speed Operation...................................5-70
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-70
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation.....................5-72
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-77
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-78
Buying New Tires.........................................5-79
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-81
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-82
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-83
Wheel Replacement......................................5-83
Tire Chains..................................................5-85
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-86
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-86Removing the Spare Tire and Tools................5-88
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire................................................5-90
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-96
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-99
Appearance Care..........................................5-100
Interior Cleaning.........................................5-100
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-101
Leather......................................................5-102
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-103
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-103
Weatherstrips............................................
.5-103
Washing Your Vehicle..................................5-104
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-104
Finish Care................................................5-104
Windshield and Wiper Blades.......................5-105
Aluminum Wheels.......................................5-106
Tires.........................................................5-106
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-106
Finish Damage...........................................5-107
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-107
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-107
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-108
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

Vehicle Identication.....................................5-109
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)................5-109
Service Parts Identication Label...................5-109
Electrical System..........................................5-109
Add-On Electrical Equipment.........................5-109
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-110
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-110Fuses........................................................5-110
Instrument Panel Fuse Block........................5-110
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-112
Rear Compartment Fuse Block.....................5-116
Capacities and Specications........................5-119
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-3

Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, seeServicing Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-72.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any service work you
perform. SeeMaintenance Record on page 6-17.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airow around it. This can cause wind
noise and can affect fuel economy and windshield
washer performance. Check with your dealer/retailer
before adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part of the
proper maintenance of your vehicle. To help keep the
engine clean and maintain optimum vehicle
performance, we recommend the use of gasoline
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.The 8th digit of the Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)
shows the code letter or number that identies your
vehicle’s engine. The VIN is at the top left of the
instrument panel. SeeVehicle Identification
Number (VIN) on page 5-109.
Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 3.5L V6 engine (VIN Code N) or
the 3.9L V6 engine (VIN Code 1), use regular
unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 87 or
higher. If the octane rating is less than 87, you might
notice an audible knocking noise when you drive,
commonly referred to as spark knock. If this occurs, use
a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. If you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher and you hear heavy knocking, the engine
needs service.
5-6

Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start a re. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake uid, windshield washer and
other uids, and plastic or rubber. You or
others could be burned. Be careful not to drop
or spill things that will burn onto a hot engine.
Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:
1. Pull the handle with
this symbol on it. It is
located under the
instrument panel on
the driver’s side of the
vehicle.
5-12

Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL®
coolant mixture at the surge tank, but only when the
engine is cool. If the surge tank is empty, a special ll
procedure is necessary. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 5-33andCooling System on page 5-36.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is
hand-tight and fully seated.
Pressure Cap
Notice:If the pressure cap is not tightly installed,
coolant loss and possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly and tightly
secured.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-14for
more information on location.
Engine Overheating
There is an engine coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-37.
5-33