PONTIAC G8 2008 Owners Manual

Climate Controls
Climate Controls
Climate Control System......7-1
Automatic Climate Control
System............................ .7-4
Outlet Adjustment...............7-8
Climate Controls
Climate Control System
The heating, cooling, and ventilation for the vehicle can be controlled with
this system.
Fan Control
9(Fan):Turn the left knob
clockwise or counterclockwise to
increase or decrease the fan speed.
Turn the knob all the way
counterclockwise to turn the
system off. Temperature Control
Turn the center knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or
decrease the temperature inside
the vehicle.
Climate Controls 7-1
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Air Delivery Mode Control
Use the right knob to select from
the following modes.
0(Vent):Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
1(Bi-Level):Air is divided
between the instrument panel
outlets and the oor outlets.
d(Floor):Air is directed to the
oor outlets with some air directed to
the windshield and side window
outlets.
4(Defog):Air is directed to the
windshield, oor outlets, and
side window vents. Use this mode
to clear the windows of fog or
moisture and warm the passengers.
5(Defrost):Air is directed to
the windshield, with some air
directed to the side window vents.
Use this mode to quickly remove
fog or frost from the windshield.When defrost is selected, the air
conditioning turns on automatically
to improve defrosting performance.
In this mode the air conditioning
cannot be turned off and the
recirculation mode cannot be
turned on.
Air Conditioning
#(Air Conditioning):Press to
turn on or off. An indicator comes on
when the air conditioning is on.
The fan must be on to use the
air conditioning.
The air conditioning cannot be turned
off in defrost mode. If
#is pressed,
the indicator light ashes three times
and the air conditioning stays on.
For quick cool down on hot days,
select the following settings together:
1. Press
#to turn on the air
conditioning.
2. Press
/to turn on the
recirculation.3. Select the coolest temperature
and highest fan speed.
4. Open the windows briey to
let hot air escape and then
close them.
5. Once the vehicle’s interior cools
down, turn off the recirculation,
and select
0. This maintains
the best comfort level during
extended driving.
The air conditioning system removes
moisture from the air, so a small
amount of water might drip under the
vehicle while idling or after turning off
the engine. This is normal.
The air conditioning should be
turned on for at least ve to
ten minutes once every two weeks
to lubricate the air conditioning
seals, even in the winter.
7-2 Climate Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Recirculation
/(Recirculation):Press to
change the air intake between
recirculated air and outside air.
An indicator light comes on when
the recirculation is on.
The recirculation mode recycles
interior air and is not recommended
for extended use. If it is used for
a long period of time, the system
automatically lets some fresh air into
the vehicle for ventilation.
The recirculation mode cannot be
turned on in defrost mode. If
/is
pressed, the indicator light ashes
three times and recirculation
stays off.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a
warming grid to remove fog from the
rear window. It only works when
the ignition is in ON/RUN.
+(Rear Window Defogger):
Press to turn on or off. An indicator
comes on when the rear window
defogger is on. The rear window
defogger turns off automatically if it
is left on.
Notice:Do not use anything
sharp on the inside of the rear
window. If you do, you could cut
or damage the warming grid, and
the repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Do not
attach a temporary vehicle
license, tape, a decal or anything
similar to the defogger grid.
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter
The vehicle has a passenger
compartment air lter that lters the
outside air entering the vehicle.
The lter removes contaminants,
such as pollen and dust. See
your dealer/retailer for more
information.
Climate Controls 7-3
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Automatic Climate Control System
The heating, cooling, and ventilation for the vehicle can be controlled with
this system. For vehicles with the remote start feature, the climate control
system will turn on with a remote start. SeeRemote Vehicle Start on page 2-6.
O(OFF):Press to turn the climate
control system off. Press any
button to turn the system on again.
While the climate control system is
off the recirculation and rear window
defogger can still be turned on.
Automatic Operation
AUTO (Automatic): When this
button is pressed, the system
automatically controls the inside
temperature, the air delivery mode,
the air conditioning compressor, and the fan speed. When AUTO
appears in the display, the system is
in full automatic operation. If any
of the controls are manually
adjusted, the AUTO indicator turns
off in the display.
1. Press the AUTO button, if the
AUTO indicator does not
appear on the display.
2. Adjust the temperature to a comfortable setting between
72°F (22°C) and 75°F (24°C). Choosing the coldest or warmest
temperature setting will not
cause the system to heat or cool
any faster.
3. Let the system stabilize for a few minutes.
4. Adjust the air outlets or temperature.
In cold weather, the system starts in
the recirculation mode with the
fan off. As the engine warms up,
warm air is directed to the oor
outlets, before automatically
changing to bi-level mode with a
reduced fan speed.
Do not cover the solar sensor
located in the center of the
instrument panel, near the
windshield. For more information
on the solar sensor, see “Sensors”
later in this section.
7-4 Climate Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Manual Operation
Fan Control
+
A−(Fan):Press + or−to
increase or decrease the fan speed.
The fan speed and indicator
appears in the display.
The climate control system sets
the fan speed automatically.
When the fan speed is adjusted the
system goes into semi-automatic
operation. Press the AUTO button to
return to automatic operation.
Temperature Control
Temperature Controls:The
temperature can be adjusted
separately for the driver and
the passenger. Turn the
temperature controls clockwise
or counterclockwise to increase or
decrease the temperature.
The temperature can be set
between 63°F (17°C) and
176°F (30°C). A setting between
72°F (22°C) and 75°F (24°C)
is recommended.The temperature settings for each
side are shown in the display.
If the temperature control is past
86°F (30°C), the display shows
H (hottest). Turning it past
63°F (17°C), shows C (coolest).
The EXT TEMP (Exterior
Temperature) can be displayed in
Fahrenheit (°F) or Celsius (°C).
SeeDIC Vehicle Customization
on page 4-32.
ZONE:Press to set the climate
control to single-zone (SZ) mode or
dual-zone (DZ) mode. SZ or DZ
appears in the display when a mode
is set.
Single-Zone (SZ) Mode:All zones
are set to the same temperature.
The temperature is shown in the
display. Turn the ZONE control to
set the temperature.
Dual-Zone (DZ) Mode:Allows
different temperatures to be set for
the driver and passenger sides
or to link them. When linked,the passenger side temperature
uses the same temperature setting
as the driver side.
Turn the AUTO control to set a
different temperature for the
passenger.
Press and hold the AUTO button
for at least three seconds to link
the passenger and driver side
temperatures. Linking automatically
occurs if the passenger and
driver sides are set to the same
temperature when the ignition
is turned on.
Air Delivery Mode Control
e*(Mode):Press to change the
current airow mode. The current
mode selection appears in the
display screen. Changing the mode
cancels the automatic operation and
the system goes into semi-automatic
operation. Press AUTO to return to
automatic operation.
Climate Controls 7-5
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Select from the following modes:
0(Vent):Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
1(Bi-Level):Air is divided
between the instrument panel
outlets and the oor outlets. Cooler
air is directed to the upper outlets
and warmer air to the oor outlets.
d(Floor):Air is directed to
the oor outlets with some air
directed to the outer instrument
panel, windshield and side window
outlets.
4(Defog):Air is directed to the
windshield, oor and side window
outlets. Use this mode to clear
the windows of fog or moisture and
warm the passengers.
5(Defrost):Press to turn the
defrost on or off. The
5indicator
appears in the display. A portion of
the air is directed to the windshield,
with some air directed to the side
window vents.When defrost is selected, the air
conditioning turns on automatically to
improve defrosting performance. In
this mode the air conditioning cannot
be turned off and the recirculation
mode cannot be turned on.
Air Conditioning
#(Air Conditioning):Press to
turn the air conditioning system on or
off. The
#appears in the display
when the air conditioning is on.
When the air conditioning is turned
off
#OFF appears in the display.
The air conditioning cannot be turned
off in defrost mode. If
#is pressed,
the indicator light ashes three times
and the air conditioning stays on.
For quick cool down on hot days,
open the windows to let the hot air to
escape. After a few minutes, close
the windows so the system will work
more effectively.The air conditioning system removes
moisture from the air, so a small
amount of water might drip under the
vehicle while idling or after turning off
the engine. This is normal.
The air conditioning might
automatically turn off during heavy
acceleration or towing with your
vehicle, but the
#will still display.
Recirculation
/(Recirculation):Press to
change the air intake between
recirculated air and outside air.
An indicator light comes when the
recirculation is activated.
The recirculation mode recycles
interior air and is not recommended
for extended use. If it is used for
a long period of time, the system
automatically lets some fresh air into
the vehicle for ventilation.
7-6 Climate Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Do not use the recirculation mode if
occupants are smoking.
The recirculation mode cannot be
turned on in defrost mode. If
/is
pressed, the indicator light ashes
three times and recirculation
stays off.
Pollution Mode:Press and hold
the
/button for four seconds to
turn the pollution mode on or off.
When it is activated, Pollution Mode
Activated appears in the display.
When it is turned off, Pollution Mode
Inactive appears in the display.
This mode can be set when
the vehicle speed is less than
9 mph (15 km/h). Recirculation will
automatically turn on to help
prevent exhaust fumes from entering
the vehicle in slow moving traffic.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a
warming grid to remove fog or
frost from the rear window. It only
works when the ignition is in
ON/RUN.
The rear window defogger will only
work when the ignition is in ON/RUN.
+(Rear Window Defogger):
Press to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. The
+indicator
appears in the display. The rear
window defogger turns off
automatically if it is left on.
Notice:Do not use anything
sharp on the inside of the rear
window. If you do, you could cut
or damage the warming grid, and
the repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Do not
attach a temporary vehicle
license, tape, a decal or anything
similar to the defogger grid.
EXT TEMP
EXT TEMP (Exterior Temperature):
Press EXT TEMP to show the
temperature outside the vehicle or
the normal display.
Pressing any other climate control
button will change the display from
showing the outside temperature to
showing the normal display.
The units for the EXT TEMP can be
displayed in °F or °C. SeeDIC
Vehicle Customization on page 4-32.
Sensors
The climate control system uses
three different sensors to maintain
the desired temperature. The solar
sensor is located on the instrument
panel, near the windshield. The
interior temperature sensor is
located on the instrument panel
near the steering wheel and the
outside temperature sensor is
in front of the radiator.
Climate Controls 7-7
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

By monitoring the solar radiation,
the air inside the vehicle and
air moving across the outside
sensor, the selected temperature
can be maintained while using
the AUTO mode by adjusting the
temperature, fan speed, and
air delivery system. The system
may also supply cooler air to
the side of the vehicle facing the
sun. The recirculation mode will also
be activated, as necessary. Do not
cover the sensors or the automatic
climate control system will not
work properly.
Remote Start Climate Control
Operation
For vehicles with the remote start
feature and it is activated, the climate
control system will automatically set
the temperature to 73°F (23°C).
When the ignition is turned to
ON/RUN the climate control system
heats and cools the inside of the
vehicle using the modes that were
set before the vehicle was turned off.
Personal Identity Keys
For vehicles with the Personal
Identity Key Locking System,
the system remembers the last
climate control settings used with
different keys.
When the unlock button is pressed,
the system remembers the key
and sets the climate control system
to the last settings used with that
key. SeeRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation on
page 2-4.
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter
The vehicle has a passenger
compartment air lter that lters the
outside air entering the vehicle.
The lter removes contaminants,
such as pollen and dust. See your
dealer/retailer for more information.
Outlet Adjustment
The air outlets have adjustable
vanes to move up or down and left
or right to change the direction
of the airow. Use the thumbwheels
located near the air outlets on
the instrument panel, to shut off
the airow.
Operation Tips

Clear away any ice, snow or
leaves from the air inlets at
the base of the windshield that
may block the ow of air into
the vehicle.
Use of non-GM approved hood
deectors may adversely affect
performance of the system.
Keep the path under the front
seats clear of objects to help
circulate the air inside of
the vehicle more effectively.
Outside air is drawn into the
vehicle, unless recirculation mode
is selected.
7-8 Climate Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Driving and
Operating
Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In.........8-2
Ignition Positions................8-2
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP).....................8-3
Starting the Engine.............8-4
Engine Coolant Heater.......8-5
Automatic Transmission
Operation..........................8-6
Parking Brake.....................8-9
Shifting Into Park
(Automatic
Transmission)
..................8-10
Shifting Out of Park..........8-11
Parking Over Things
That Burn........................8-11
Engine Exhaust.................8-12
Running the Vehicle
While Parked..................8-12
Driving Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving..............8-13
Drunk Driving....................8-13
Control of a Vehicle..........8-14
Braking.............................8-14
Antilock Brake
System (ABS).................8-15
Electronic Stability
Program..........................8-16
Steering............................8-19
Off-Road Recovery............8-20
Passing.............................8-21
Loss of Control.................8-21
Driving at Night.................8-22
Driving in Rain and on
Wet Roads......................8-23
Before Leaving on a
Long Trip........................8-24
Highway Hypnosis.............8-24
Hill and Mountain Roads. . . .8-24
Winter Driving...................8-25
If Your Vehicle is Stuck
in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow
..........................8-27
Rocking Your Vehicle to
Get It Out.......................8-28
Loading the Vehicle..........8-28
Fuel
Fuel..................................8-32
Gasoline Octane...............8-33
Gasoline Specications. . . . .8-33
California Fuel..................8-33
Additives...........................8-34
Fuels in Foreign
Countries........................8-34
Filling the Tank.................8-35
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container........................8-36
Driving and Operating 8-1
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Starting and
Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not
need an elaborate break-in. But it
will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:
Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not make full-throttle
starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
During the rst 600 miles
(1 000 km), avoid using
more than moderate
acceleration in lower gears and
avoid vehicle speeds above
68 mph (110 km/h).
Between the rst 600 miles
(1 000 km) and 3,000 miles
(5 000 km), heavy acceleration
in lower gears can be used.
Vehicle speeds above 68 mph
(110 km/h) should be limited
to ve minutes per use.
Avoid making hard stops for the
rst 200 miles (322 km) or so.
During this time the new brake
linings are not yet broken in.
Hard stops with new linings can
mean premature wear and
earlier replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. SeeTowing a Trailer
on page 9-85for the trailer
towing capabilities of your
vehicle and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has four different
positions.
Notice:Using a tool to force the
key from the ignition switch
could cause damage or break the
key. Use the correct key and
turn the key only with your hand.
Make sure the key is in all the
way. If none of this works,
then your vehicle needs service.
To shift out of P (Park), turn the
ignition to ON/RUN and apply
the brake pedal.
8-2 Driving and Operating
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual