steering PONTIAC G8 2008 User Guide

AccidentAssist
Remote Door Unlock/Vehicle
Alert
OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics
GM Goodwrench On Demand
Diagnostics
OnStar Hands-Free Calling with
30 complimentary minutes
OnStar Virtual Advisor
(U.S. Only)
Available Services included with
Directions & Connections Plan
All Safe and Sound Plan Services
Driving Directions - Advisor
delivered or OnStar Turn-by-Turn
Navigation (If equipped)
RideAssist
Information and Convenience
Services
OnStar Hands-Free Calling
OnStar Hands-Free Calling allows
eligible OnStar subscribers to
make and receive calls using voice
commands. Hands-Free Calling
is fully integrated into the vehicle,
and can be used with OnStar
Pre-Paid Minute Packages.
Hands-Free Calling can also be
linked to a Verizon Wireless service
plan in the U.S. or a Bell Mobility
service plan in Canada, depending
on eligibility. To nd out more,
refer to the OnStar Owner’s Guide
in the vehicle’s glove box, visit
www.onstar.com or www.onstar.ca,
or speak with an OnStar advisor
by pressing the OnStar button
or calling 1-888-4-ONSTAR
(1-888-466-7827).
OnStar Virtual Advisor
OnStar Virtual Advisor is a feature
of OnStar Hands-Free Calling
that uses minutes to access
location-based weather, local traffic
reports, and stock quotes. Press
the phone button and give afew simple voice commands to
browse through the various topics.
See the OnStar Owner’s Guide
for more information (only available
in the continental U.S.).
OnStar Steering Wheel
Controls
The vehicle may have a Talk/Mute
button that can be used to interact
with OnStar Hands-Free Calling.
On some vehicles, you may have to
hold the button for a few seconds
and give the command “ONSTAR” in
order to activate the OnStar
Hands-Free Calling feature.
On some vehicles, the mute button
can be used to dial numbers into
voicemail systems, or to dial phone
extensions. See the OnStar Owner’s
Guide for more information.
Instruments and Controls 4-37
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Lighting
Lighting
Exterior Lamps Controls.....5-1
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)....................5-2
Automatic Headlamp
System.............................5-2
Fog Lamps.........................5-3
Instrument Panel
Brightness.........................5-3
Dome Lamp(s)....................5-4
Perimeter Lighting...............5-4
Reading Lamps..................5-4
Battery Run-Down
Protection.........................5-4
Lighting
Exterior Lamps Controls
The exterior lamps control is located
on the instrument panel to the left
of the steering wheel.
It controls the following systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Sidemarker Lamps
Fog Lamps
The exterior lamps control has four
positions:
9(Off):Turns the headlamps,
parking lamps, and DRL off.
The DRL does not turn off on
vehicles rst sold in Canada.
AUTO (Automatic):Turns the
headlamps on and off automatically.
They come on at normal brightness,
together with the following:
Parking Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Sidemarker Lamps
Lighting 5-1
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

The vehicle has a light sensor
located on top of the instrument
panel. Do not cover the sensor or
the headlamps will come on
when they are not needed.
The system may also turn on the
headlamps when driving through a
parking garage or tunnel.
Fog Lamps
For vehicles with this feature, it
provides better visibility in foggy or
misty conditions.
The fog lamp switch is located on
the exterior lamps control on
the instrument panel to the left of
the steering column.
-(Fog Lamps):To turn on the
fog lamps, turn the exterior
lamps control to parking lamps or
headlamps and pull the fog
lamps control. Push the control to
turn the fog lamps off.The fog lamp indicator in the
instrument panel comes on when
the fog lamps are in use.
The fog lamps control can be
pulled out while the exterior lamps
control is in the AUTO position.
If left in this position, the fog lamps
come on automatically whenever
the parking lamps or low-beam
headlamps turn on.
When the high-beam headlamps are
turned on, the fog lamps turn off
automatically. When the high-beam
headlamps are turned off, the
fog lamps come on again.
Some localities have laws that
require the headlamps to be
on along with the fog lamps.
Instrument Panel
Brightness
This feature controls the brightness
of the instrument panel lights.
6:Press to brighten the
instrument panel lights.
f:Press to dim the instrument
panel lights.
Press both instrument panel
brightness buttons at the same time
to turn the night panel mode on
or off.
Night panel mode lights up the
speed, information displays and
warning reminders while the rest of
the instrument panel lights are off.
Lighting 5-3
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Infotainment
Audio System(s)
Audio System(s).................6-1
Setting the Clock................6-2
Radio(s).............................6-3
Using an MP3...................6-19
Theft-Deterrent Feature.....6-23
Audio Steering Wheel
Controls..........................6-23
Radio Reception...............6-24
Fixed Mast Antenna..........6-24
Audio System(s)
Determine which radio the vehicle
has and become familiar with
its features.
{CAUTION
This system provides you with
far greater access to audio
stations and song listings.
Giving extended attention to
entertainment tasks while
driving can cause a crash and
you or others can be injured or
killed. Always keep your eyes
on the road and your mind on
the drive — avoid engaging in
extended searching while
driving.Keeping your mind on the drive
is important for safe driving.
SeeDefensive Driving on
page 8-13.
Here are some ways in which you
can help avoid distraction while
driving.Familiarize yourself with all of
its controls
Familiarize yourself with its
operation.
Set up your audio system by
presetting your favorite radio
stations, setting the tone,
and adjusting the speakers.
Then, when driving conditions
permit, you can tune to your
favorite radio stations using the
presets and steering wheel
controls if the vehicle has them.
Infotainment 6-1
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

l(Forward):Press to go to the
next track or press
lmultiple times
until the desired track is reached.
g(Reverse):Press to go back to
the start of the current track or
press
gmultiple times until
the desired track is reached.
Theft-Deterrent Feature
The radio has an electronically
coded security system that links the
radio to the vehicle. When the
ignition is off, a ashing red light on
the upper left side of the radio
indicates the security system is on.
If the radio is moved to a different
vehicle, it will not operate and
Security Lockout Active displays.
Contact your dealer/retailer to
unlock the radio.
Audio Steering Wheel
Controls
The vehicle has audio steering
wheel controls.
Some audio controls can be
adjusted at the steering wheel.
Several functions of the audio
system can be operated with the
audio remote control buttons and the
rotary control wheel.
SRCE (Source):Press to select
between FM1, FM2, AM, CD, Front
AUX (auxiliary), or Rear AUX.
QR(Scroll Wheel Control):
Push to select the next disc in the
changer.
Turn the scroll wheel up or down to:
Select the next or previous
preset radio station.
Select the next or previous track.
%(Voice In):Press to interact
with the OnStar®system.
{(Call End):Press to end an
OnStar®phone call.
+−(Scroll Wheel Control):Turn
the scroll wheel control up or
down to increase or decrease the
volume. Press to mute the audio
system, press again to turn
the sound back on.
Infotainment 6-23
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

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

A (LOCK/OFF):This is the only
position from which you can remove
the key. This locks the steering
wheel, ignition and automatic
transmission.
On vehicles with an automatic
transmission, the shift lever must be
in P (Park) to turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK/OFF position.
The ignition switch can bind in
the LOCK/OFF position with your
wheels turned off center. If this
happens, move the steering wheel
from right to left while turning the
key to ACC/ACCESSORY. If this
doesn’t work, then the vehicle needs
service.
B (ACC/ACCESSORY):This
position provides power to some
of the electrical accessories.
It unlocks the steering wheel and
ignition. The transmission is
also unlocked in this position
on automatic transmission
vehicles. To move the key from
ACC/ACCESSORY to LOCK/OFF,
push in the key and then turn it
to LOCK/OFF.C (ON/RUN):The ignition switch
stays in this position when the
engine is running. This position can
be used to operate the electrical
accessories, including the ventilation
fan and 12 volt power outlet, as
well as to display some warning and
indicator lights.
The battery could be drained
if you leave the key in the
ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN
position with the engine off.
You may not be able to start the
vehicle if the battery is allowed
to drain for an extended period
of time.
D (START):This position starts the
engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch
will return to ON/RUN for normal
driving.
A warning tone will sound when the
driver door is opened when the
ignition is still in ACC/ACCESSORY
and the key is in the ignition.Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories may be
used for up to 10 minutes after
the engine is turned off.
Audio System
Power Windows
The power windows will continue to
work for up to 10 minutes or until
any door is opened. The radio
will work when the key is in ON/RUN
or ACC/ACCESSORY. Once the
key is turned from ON/RUN to
LOCK/OFF, the radio will continue
to work for 10 minutes or until
the driver’s door is opened.
Driving and Operating 8-3
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Police records show that
almost 40 percent of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve
alcohol. In most cases, these deaths
are the result of someone who
was drinking and driving. In recent
years, more than 17,000 annual
motor vehicle-related deaths have
been associated with the use of
alcohol, with about 250,000 people
injured.
For persons under 21, it is against
the law in every U.S. state to
drink alcohol. There are good
medical, psychological, and
developmental reasons for
these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the
leading highway safety problem
is for people never to drink alcohol
and then drive.
Medical research shows that alcohol
in a person’s system can make crash
injuries worse, especially injuries
to the brain, spinal cord, or heart.This means that when anyone who
has been drinking — driver or
passenger — is in a crash, that
person’s chance of being killed or
permanently disabled is higher than
if the person had not been drinking.
Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems help
to control your vehicle while
driving — brakes, steering, and
accelerator. At times, as when
driving on snow or ice, it is easy to
ask more of those control systems
than the tires and road can provide.
Meaning, you can lose control of
your vehicle.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 9-3.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 4-16.
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. First,
you have to decide to push on the
brake pedal. That is perception time.
Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about
three-fourths of a second. But that is
only an average. It might be less with
one driver and as long as two or
three seconds or more with another.
Age, physical condition, alertness,
coordination, and eyesight all play a
part. So do alcohol, drugs, and
frustration. But even in three-fourths
of a second, a vehicle moving at
60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet
(20 m). That could be a lot of
distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your
vehicle and others is important.
8-14 Driving and Operating
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

You slam on the brakes and
continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels
are slowing down. If one of
the wheels is about to stop rolling,
the computer will separately
work the brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
faster than any driver could.
The computer is programmed to
make the most of available tire and
road conditions. This can help
you steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As you brake, the computer keeps
receiving updates on wheel speed
and controls braking pressure
accordingly.Remember: ABS does not change
the time you need to get your
foot up to the brake pedal or always
decrease stopping distance.
If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you will not have
time to apply the brakes 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.
Electronic Stability
Program
The vehicle has the Electronic
Stability Program (ESP®) that
assists with directional control of the
vehicle in difficult driving conditions
by reducing engine power and
applying the brakes to individual
wheels. This is especially useful
in slippery road conditions.
The system operates if it senses
that the rear wheels are spinning
too much, are beginning to lose
traction or if it senses that the
vehicle is not moving in its intended
direction. It turns on automatically
every time the vehicle is started.
When ESP is working, this light
and the STABILITY CONTROL
ASSISTANCE message will come
8-16 Driving and Operating
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual