service PONTIAC G8 2008 Owners Manual

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(English) or 1-800-263-7854
(French), or write:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre,
CA1-163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Service Publications
Ordering Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis
and repair information on engines,
transmission, axle suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins give additional
technical service information
needed to knowledgeably service
General Motors cars and trucks.
Each bulletin contains instructions to
assist in the diagnosis and service
of your vehicle.
Owner Information
Owner publications are written
specically for owners and intended
to provide basic operational
information about the vehicle.
The owner manual includes the
Maintenance Schedule for all
models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio,
Owner Manual, and Warranty
Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE:
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Without Portfolio:
Owner Manual only.
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Current and Past Model
Order Forms
Technical Service Bulletins and
Manuals are available for current
and past model GM vehicles.
To request an order form, specify
year and model name of the vehicle.ORDER TOLL FREE:
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Or you can write to:
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Prices are subject to change
without notice and without incurring
obligation. Allow ample time for
delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers:
All listed prices are quoted in
U.S. funds. Canadian residents
are to make checks payable
in U.S. funds.
Customer Information 12-15
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Vehicle Data
Recording and
Privacy
Your GM vehicle has a number of
sophisticated computers that
record information about the
vehicle’s performance and how it is
driven. For example, your vehicle
uses computer modules to monitor
and control engine and transmission
performance, to monitor the
conditions for airbag deployment
and deploy airbags in a crash and,
if so equipped, to provide antilock
braking to help the driver control the
vehicle. These modules may store
data to help your dealer/retailer
technician service your vehicle.
Some modules may also store data
about how you operate the vehicle,
such as rate of fuel consumption
or average speed. These modules
may also retain the owner’s personal
preferences, such as radio pre-sets,
seat positions, and temperature
settings.
Event Data Recorders
This vehicle has an Event Data
Recorder (EDR). The main purpose
of an EDR is to record, in certain
crash or near crash-like situations,
such as an airbag deployment
or hitting a road obstacle, data that
will assist in understanding how
a vehicle’s systems performed.
The EDR is designed to record data
related to vehicle dynamics and
safety systems for a short period of
time, typically 30 seconds or
less. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:
How various systems in your
vehicle were operating
Whether or not the driver and
passenger safety belts were
buckled/fastened
How far, if at all, the driver was
pressing the accelerator and/or
brake pedal
How fast the vehicle was travelingThis data can help provide a better
understanding of the circumstances
in which crashes and injuries occur.
Important:EDR data is recorded
by your vehicle only if a non-trivial
crash situation occurs; no data
is recorded by the EDR under
normal driving conditions and no
personal data (e.g., name, gender,
age, and crash location) is
recorded. However, other parties,
such as law enforcement, could
combine the EDR data with the type
of personally identifying data
routinely acquired during a crash
investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR,
special equipment is required,
and access to the vehicle or the
EDR is needed. In addition to
the vehicle manufacturer, other
parties, such as law enforcement,
that have the special equipment, can
read the information if they have
access to the vehicle or the EDR.
12-16 Customer Information
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

GM will not access this data or
share it with others except: with the
consent of the vehicle owner or,
if the vehicle is leased, with
the consent of the lessee; in
response to an official request of
police or similar government office;
as part of GM’s defense of
litigation through the discovery
process; or, as required by law.
Data that GM collects or receives
may also be used for GM research
needs or may be made available
to others for research purposes,
where a need is shown and the data
is not tied to a specic vehicle or
vehicle owner.
OnStar®
If your vehicle has OnStar and you
subscribe to the OnStar services,
please refer to the OnStar Terms and
Conditions for information on data
collection and use.
Navigation System
If your vehicle has a navigation
system, use of the system may
result in the storage of destinations,
addresses, telephone numbers,
and other trip information. Refer to
the navigation system operating
manual for information on stored
data and for deletion instructions.
Radio Frequency
Identication (RFID)
RFID technology is used in some
vehicles for functions such as
tire pressure monitoring and ignition
system security, as well as in
connection with conveniences such
as key fobs for remote door
locking/unlocking and starting, and
in-vehicle transmitters for garage
door openers. RFID technology in
GM vehicles does not use or record
personal information or link with
any other GM system containing
personal information.
Customer Information 12-17
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

A
Accessories and
Modications...................... 9-3
Accessory Power Outlets........ 4-9
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . 1-30
Additives, Fuel.....................8-34
Add-On Electrical
Equipment .......................9-32
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine .......9-11
Air Conditioning...............7-1, 7-4
Airbag
Passenger Status
Indicator .......................4-14
Readiness Light . ...............4-13
System, Replacing Parts
After a Crash . ...............1-32
Airbag System.....................1-19
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle . .......................1-30
Check . . . . .........................1-31
How Does an Airbag
Restrain?.....................1-24Airbag System (cont.)
Servicing Your
Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle........................1-30
What Makes an Airbag
Inate?........................1-24
What Will You See After an
Airbag Inates? . ............1-24
When Should an Airbag
Inate?........................1-22
Where Are the
Airbags?..............1-21, 1-26
Antenna, Fixed Mast . ...........6-24
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)..................8-15
Anti-lock Brake, System
Warning Light...................4-17
Appearance Care
Chemical Paint Spotting.....9-98
Exterior Cleaning . . ............9-94
Finish Damage.................9-98
Interior Cleaning . . .............9-91
Sheet Metal Damage........9-98
Underbody Maintenance....9-98
Vehicle Care/Appearance
Materials......................9-99
Appointments, Scheduling
Service . ..........................12-8
Audio System . . ...................... 6-1
Audio Steering Wheel
Controls .......................6-23
Fixed Mast Antenna ..........6-24
Radio Reception . . .............6-24
Setting the Clock . . . . . . .......... 6-2
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . 6-23
Audio System(s) . . . ................. 6-3
Automatic Climate Control
System ............................. 7-4
Automatic Headlamp System . . . 5-2
Automatic Transmission
Fluid...............................9-13
Operation . . . ....................... 8-6
B
Battery...............................9-26
Run-Down Protection . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Brakes...............................9-24
System Warning Light . . . . . . . 4-16
Braking...............................8-14
Break-In, New Vehicle............ 8-2
INDEX i-1
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Bulb Replacement................9-29
Halogen Bulbs . . ................9-29
Headlamp Aiming ..............9-27
Headlamps and Parking
Lamps . ........................9-29
Replacement Bulbs...........9-32
Taillamps . ........................9-31
Buying New Tires . . ...............9-56
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . ...............2-16
California Fuel . . . ..................8-33
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements....... 9-3
California Proposition 65
Warning ............................ 9-3
Canadian Owners..................... ii
Capacities and
Specications . . . ................10-2
Carbon
Monoxide . . ......2-10, 8-12, 8-25
Care, Safety Belts................1-18
Cautions and Notices............... iii
CD, MP3 ............................6-19
Center Console
Storage Area..................... 3-1
Chains, Tire . . . . . ...................9-62
Charging System Light . . ........4-15Check
Engine Light....................4-18
Chemical Paint Spotting........9-98
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems.....1-37
Infants and Young
Children.......................1-34
Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children..................1-40
Older Children..................1-32
Securing ..................1-46, 1-48
Where to Put the
Restraint......................1-38
Cleaning
Exterior...........................9-94
Interior............................9-91
Underbody Maintenance....9-98
Climate Control System.......... 7-1
Automatic.......................... 7-4
Outlet Adjustment............... 7-8
Clock, Setting . . ...................... 6-2
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . 12-10
Compact Spare Tire . ............9-79
Compass............................2-16
Compressor Kit, Tire
Sealant...........................9-64
Content Theft-Deterrent.........2-13
Control of a Vehicle . . ............8-14
Convenience Net................... 3-1Coolant
Engine . ...........................9-13
Engine Temperature Gage . . . 4-17
Cooling System . . . . ...............9-17
Cruise Control . . ..................... 4-5
Customer Assistance
Information
Courtesy
Transportation.......12-4, 12-9
Customer Assistance
Offices .........................12-4
Customer Satisfaction
Procedure....................12-1
GM Mobility
Reimbursement
Program . . . ....................12-5
Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors...........12-14
Reporting Safety Defects to
the Canadian
Government ................12-14
Reporting Safety Defects to
the United States
Government ................12-14
Roadside Assistance
Program . . . ....................12-6
Service Publications
Ordering Information . . . . . 12-15
i-2 INDEX
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

D
Daytime Running Lamps......... 5-2
Daytime Running Lamps
Indicator Light..................4-21
Defensive Driving . . ...............8-13
DIC Vehicle Customization . . . . 4-32
Disc, MP3 . . .........................6-19
Doing Your Own
Service Work..................... 9-4
Dome Lamps........................ 5-4
Door
Ajar Light . .......................4-21
Locks . . . . . . . ........................ 2-8
Power Door Locks.............. 2-9
Rear Door Security Locks . . . . 2-9
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . ...........4-23, 4-32
DIC Operation and
Displays .......................4-23
DIC Warnings and
Messages....................4-27
Driving
At Night ..........................8-22
Before a Long Trip............8-24
Defensive . .......................8-13
Drunken ..........................8-13
Highway Hypnosis............8-24
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . 8-24Driving (cont.)
In Rain and on
Wet Roads...................8-23
Rocking Your Vehicle to
Get it Out ....................8-28
Winter .............................8-25
E
EDR .................................12-16
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment . ...........9-32
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block...........................9-35
Headlamp Wiring . . ............9-33
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block...........................9-33
Power Windows and Other
Power Options . . ............9-33
Rear Compartment
Fuse Block...................9-38
Windshield Wiper Fuses....9-33
Electronic Stability Program . . . 8-16
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . .............9-11
Check and Service Engine
Soon Light...................4-18
Coolant...........................9-13
Coolant Heater................... 8-5Engine (cont.)
Coolant
Temperature Gage.........4-17
Drive Belt Routing...........11-14
Engine Compartment
Overview . . . . . .................. 9-6
Exhaust . ..........................8-12
Oil ................................... 9-8
Oil Life System.................9-10
Overheating.....................9-16
Starting ............................. 8-4
Event Data Recorders .........12-16
Extender, Safety Belt ............1-17
Exterior Lamps . ..................... 5-1
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner ............9-11
Finish Damage....................9-98
Fixed Mast Antenna . . . . .........6-24
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . . 4-4
Flat Tire . . . ...........................9-62
Flat Tire, Changing . . .............9-71
Flat Tire, Storing . . . . ..............9-78
Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-13
Power Steering.................9-21
Windshield Washer . ..........9-22
INDEX i-3
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

I
Ignition Positions . . ................. 8-2
Immobilizer ..........................2-11
Immobilizer Operation...........2-12
Infants and Young Children,
Restraints . .......................1-34
Ination - Tire Pressure.........9-46
Inator Kit, Tire....................9-64
Instrument Panel
Brightness ......................... 5-3
Cluster............................4-11
Overview........................... 4-2
J
Jump Starting......................9-80
K
Keyless Entry System . . .......... 2-3
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 2-2
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . ........9-40
Lamps
Dome . . . . . . . ........................ 5-4
Reading . . . . . . . ..................... 5-4
Lap-Shoulder Belt . ...............1-14LATCH System
Child Restraints................1-40
Replacing Parts After
a Crash.......................1-45
Light
Airbag Readiness . ............4-13
Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS) Warning . . ............4-17
Brake System Warning......4-16
Charging System . . ............4-15
Daytime Running Lamps
Indicator.......................4-21
Door Ajar .........................4-21
Fog Lamp........................4-21
Highbeam On...................4-21
Malfunction Indicator.........4-18
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator.......................4-14
Safety Belt Reminders.......4-12
Security...........................4-21
Tire Pressure...................4-18
Lighting
Perimeter.......................... 5-4
Lights
Exterior Lamps................... 5-1
High/Low Beam Changer ..... 4-7
Loading Your Vehicle . ...........8-28Locks
Door................................. 2-8
Power Door . . . . . .................. 2-9
Rear Door Security Locks . . . . 2-9
Loss of Control....................8-21
Lumbar Seat Adjustment......... 1-2
M
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required
Services .......................11-6
At Each Fuel Fill..............11-9
At Least Once a Month . . . . . 11-9
At Least Once a Year......11-10
Introduction . .....................11-1
Maintenance Footnotes . . . . . . 11-7
Maintenance Record . . . . . . . . 11-15
Maintenance
Requirements . . .............11-2
Normal Maintenance
Replacement Parts.......11-13
Owner Checks and
Services .......................11-9
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . ................11-12
INDEX i-5
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Maintenance Schedule (cont.)
Scheduled Maintenance.....11-4
Using ..............................11-2
Your Vehicle and the
Environment . . ...............11-2
Malfunction Indicator Light.....4-18
Manual
Shift Lock Release............9-84
Manual Seats . . . . . ................... 1-2
Manual, Using . . . ....................... ii
Message
DIC Warnings and
Messages....................4-27
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror.....2-16
Outside Convex Mirror.......2-18
Outside Power Mirrors.......2-17
MP3 ...................................6-19
MyGMLink.com....................12-3
N
Navigation System, Privacy . . . 12-17
New Vehicle Break-In............. 8-2
Normal Maintenance
Replacement Parts..........11-13
Notices and Cautions............... iii
O
Off-Road Recovery...............8-20
Oil
Engine.............................. 9-8
Pressure Gage.................4-22
Oil, Engine Oil Life System....9-10
Older Children, Restraints......1-32
Online Owner Center............12-3
OnStar, Privacy . .................12-17
OnStar
®System, see
OnStar®Manual...............4-36
Outlet Adjustment.................. 7-8
Outlets
Accessory Power................ 4-9
Outside
Convex Mirror..................2-18
Power Mirrors..................2-17
Owner Checks and
Services..........................11-9
Owner Checks, Service.......... 9-5
Owners, Canadian.................... ii
P
Paint, Damage.....................9-98
Park
Shifting Into.....................8-10
Shifting Out of..................8-11
Park Brake........................... 8-9
Parking
Over Things That Burn......8-11
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . .........................4-14
Passing . . ............................8-21
Perchlorate Materials
Requirements, California . . . . . . 9-3
Perimeter Lighting . ................. 5-4
Power
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . .............. 2-9
Electrical System . . . . . . ........9-33
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . 8-3
Seat................................. 1-2
Steering Fluid . . . . ...............9-21
Windows .........................2-15
Privacy.............................12-16
Event Data Recorders . . . . . 12-16
Navigation System . . . . . .....12-17
OnStar..........................12-17
Radio Frequency
Identication ................12-17
i-6 INDEX
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Security Light . . ....................4-21
Service . . . . ............................ 9-2
Accessories and
Modications.................. 9-3
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle..... 9-4
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements . . . . 9-3
California Proposition 65
Warning . . . . . . . . . ................ 9-3
Doing Your Own Work........ 9-4
Engine Soon Light............4-18
Owner Checks . . ................. 9-5
Publications Ordering
Information . . . ..............12-15
Service, Scheduling
Appointments . . . ................12-8
Servicing Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . 1-30
Setting the Clock . . ................. 6-2
Sheet Metal Damage............9-98
Shift Lock Manual Release . . . . 9-84
Shifting Into Park . . ...............8-10
Shifting Out of Park ..............8-11Signals, Turn and
Lane-Change . .................... 4-7
Spare Tire
Compact.........................9-79
Installing..........................9-73
Removing........................9-72
Storing............................9-78
Specications, Capacities......10-2
Speedometer.......................4-12
Start Vehicle, Remote............. 2-6
Starting the Engine................ 8-4
Steering . . . . ..........................8-19
Steering Wheel Controls,
Audio . . . . ..........................6-23
Steering Wheel, Tilt Wheel...... 4-4
Storage Areas
Center Console
Storage Area.................. 3-1
Convenience Net................ 3-1
Glove Box......................... 3-1
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow..........................8-27
Sun Visors..........................2-15
Sunroof . . . . ..........................2-18T
Tachometer .........................4-12
Taillamps . ...........................9-31
Theft-Deterrent, Radio . . .........6-23
Theft-Deterrent Systems........2-11
Content Theft-Deterrent .....2-13
Immobilizer . . ....................2-11
Immobilizer Operation........2-12
Tilt Wheel . ............................ 4-4
Time, Setting . . ....................... 6-2
Tire
Pressure Light..................4-18
Tires..................................9-39
Buying New Tires . ............9-56
Chains . ...........................9-62
Changing a Flat Tire.........9-71
Compact Spare Tire ..........9-79
Different Size . . . . ...............9-58
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . 9-48
If a Tire Goes Flat ............9-62
Ination - Tire Pressure .....9-46
Inspection and Rotation .....9-54
Installing the Spare Tire .....9-73
i-8 INDEX
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Tires (cont.)
Pressure Monitor
Operation.....................9-51
Pressure Monitor System . . . 9-49
Removing the Flat Tire......9-73
Removing the Spare Tire
and Tools.....................9-72
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools.....................9-78
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit .............9-64
Tire Sidewall Labeling .......9-40
Tire Terminology and
Denitions....................9-43
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading .......................9-59
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance .......................9-60
Wheel Replacement . . ........9-61
When It Is Time for
New Tires....................9-56Towing
Recreational Vehicle ..........9-85
Towing a Trailer................9-85
Your Vehicle.....................9-84
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic................9-13
Transmission Operation,
Automatic.......................... 8-6
Trunk . . ...............................2-10
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals............................. 4-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction
Lever . ............................... 4-4
U
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading...........................9-59
Using this Manual . .................... ii
V
Vehicle
Control............................8-14
Loading . ..........................8-28
Running While Parked . . . . . . . 8-12
Symbols.............................. iii
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy . . . . ......................12-16
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN)...................10-1
Service Parts Identication
Label . ..........................10-1
Vehicle, Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Ventilation Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Visors.................................2-15
Voltmeter Gage....................4-15
INDEX i-9
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual