PONTIAC G8 2008 Owners Manual

If you no longer have the overheat
warning, you can drive. Just to
be safe, drive slower for about
10 minutes. If the warning does not
come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues and you
have not stopped, pull over, stop,
and park your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you
can idle the engine for three minutes
while you are parked. If you still have
the warning, turn off the engine and
get everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood
but to get service help right away.Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, this is what you see:
A. Coolant Reservoir and Dipstick
B. Radiator Pressure CapV6 Engine
Vehicle Service and Care 9-17
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

A. Coolant Reservoir and Dipstick
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
{CAUTION
An electric engine cooling fan
under the hood can start up
even when the engine is not
running and can cause injury.
Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood
electric fan.
The coolant level should be at or
above the top mark on the coolant
reservoir dipstick. If it is not,
you may have a leak at the radiator
pressure cap or in the radiator
hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump, or somewhere else in the
cooling system.
V8 Engine
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{CAUTION
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is
a leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine re, and
you could be burned. Get any
leak xed before you drive the
vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with the
engine on, check to see if the electric
engine cooling fans are running.
If the engine is overheating, both
fans should be running. If they are
not, your vehicle needs service.
Notice:Engine damage from
running the engine without
coolant is not covered by the
warranty.Notice:Using coolant other than
DEX-COOL
®can cause premature
engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant could require changing
sooner, at 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free)
coolant in the vehicle.
How to Add Coolant to the
Cooling System
Notice:This vehicle has a
specic coolant ll procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure
could cause the engine to
overheat and be severely
damaged.If no coolant is visible in the coolant
reservoir, add coolant as follows:
{CAUTION
Adding only plain water to the
cooling system can be
dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as
alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will.
The vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain
water or the wrong mixture, the
engine could get too hot but
you would not get the overheat
warning. The engine could
catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50
mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-19
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Notice:In cold weather, water
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core and other
parts. Use the recommended
coolant and the proper coolant
mixture.
{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.
1. Check the engine coolant
reservoir (A) level and, if
required, top with coolant. See
Engine Coolant on page 9-13.2. Locate the radiator pressure
cap (B).
{CAUTION
Steam and scalding liquids
from a hot cooling system can
blow out and burn you badly.
They are under pressure, and if
you turn the radiator pressure
cap — even a little — they can
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
come out at high speed. Never
turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the radiator
pressure cap, is hot. Wait for
the cooling system and radiator
pressure cap to cool if you ever
have to turn the pressure cap.
3. Cover the cap with a thick
cloth and turn it slowly
counterclockwise and remove.
4. If there is no coolant or the level
is low, slowly ll the system
through the radiator pressure cap
opening with a 50/50 mixture
of clean, drinkable water and
a DEX-COOL
®coolant until full.
Wait 30 seconds for coolant
to settle and top off if the
level drops.
Do not spill coolant on the
accessory drive belts.
If a spill occurs, rinse the belt
with fresh water.
9-20 Vehicle Service and Care
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

5. Start the engine.
6. With the engine idling, top off the
coolant through the radiator
pressure cap opening until full.
Wait 30 seconds for the
coolant to settle and top off, if
the level drops.
7. Once the system is full, put the
radiator pressure cap back on
by turning clockwise.
8. Turn off the ignition.
9. Check the coolant level in the
reservoir and ll it until the
level is at the top of the dipstick.Power Steering Fluid
Power Steering Fluid Level
Power steering uid is used in
all vehicles.
Check the level after the vehicle has
been driven for at least twenty
minutes so the uid is warm.
How to Check Power Steering
Fluid
To check the power steering uid,
do the following:
1. Turn the key off and let the
engine compartment cool down.
2. The power steering uid reservoir
is located on the driver side
toward the front of the engine
compartment. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 9-6.3. Wipe the cap and the top of the
reservoir clean.
V6 Engine
Vehicle Service and Care 9-21
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

4. Turn the cap counterclockwise
and pull it straight up.
5. When the engine is hot, the level
should be at the hot MAX level.
When the engine is cold, the
uid level should be between
MIN and MAX on the dipstick.
6. Replace the cap.
Adding Power Steering Fluid
To determine what kind of uid
to use, seeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11-12.
Always use the proper uid. Failure
to use the proper uid can cause
leaks and damage hoses and seals.
1. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
2. Top off with power steering
uid. Do not overll the reservoir.
3. Push the cap straight down
and turn clockwise to tighten.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer
uid, be sure to read the
manufacturer’s instructions before
use. If you will be operating
your vehicle in an area where the
temperature may fall below freezing,
use a uid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer uid
until the tank is full. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 9-6
for reservoir location. V8 Engine
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Notice:
When using concentrated
washer uid, follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for
adding water.
Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer uid.
Water can cause the solution
to freeze and damage your
washer uid tank and other
parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean as
well as washer uid.
Fill the washer uid tank only
three-quarters full when it is
very cold. This allows for uid
expansion if freezing occurs,
which could damage the tank if
it is completely full.
Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in your windshield
washer. It can damage the
vehicle’s windshield washer
system and paint.
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be
inspected for wear or cracking.
To replace the windshield wiper
blades:
1. Turn the wiper switch to the off
position.
2. Turn the ignition to the
LOCK/OFF position.
3. Raise the wiper arm away from
the windshield.4. Press the two clips at either side
of the wiper blade then tilt the
wiper blade at 90° to the
wiper arm and remove.
5. Replace the wiper blade by
pressing in the clip and turning
the blade toward the arm to reset
the clip with the wiper arm.
6. Lower the wiper arm on to the
windshield.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-23
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir
is lled with DOT-4 brake uid.
There are only two reasons why the
brake uid level in the reservoir
might go down. The rst is that the
brake uid goes down to an
acceptable level during normal
brake lining wear. When new linings
are put in, the uid level goes
back up. The other reason is that
uid is leaking out of the brake
hydraulic system. If it is, have the
brake hydraulic system xed,
since a leak means that sooner or
later the brakes will not work well.It is not a good idea to top off the
brake uid. Adding brake uid
will not correct a leak. If uid is
added when the linings are worn,
there will be too much uid
when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove brake uid,
as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.{CAUTION
If your vehicle has too much
brake uid, it can spill on the
engine. The uid will burn if the
engine is hot enough. You or
others could be burned, and
your vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake uid only when work
is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake uid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light
will come on. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 4-16.
What to Add
When you do need brake uid, use
only DOT-4 brake uid. It is
recommended that you ush the
brake hydraulic system and rell it
with new DOT-4 uid at a regular
maintenance service every two
years. See “Additional Required
Services” in the Maintenance
Schedule. Use new brake uid from
a sealed container only. See
“Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Maintenance
Schedule.
Always clean the brake uid reservoir
cap and the area around the cap
before removing it. This helps keep
dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION
With the wrong kind of uid in
the brake hydraulic system, the
brakes might not work well. This
could cause a crash. Always use
the proper brake uid.
9-24 Vehicle Service and Care
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Notice:
Using the wrong uid can
badly damage brake hydraulic
system parts. For example,
just a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as
engine oil, in the brake
hydraulic system can damage
brake hydraulic system
parts so badly that they will
have to be replaced. Do not let
someone put in the wrong
kind of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your
vehicle’s painted surfaces, the
paint nish can be damaged.
Be careful not to spill brake
uid on your vehicle. If you do,
wash it off immediately. See
Exterior Cleaning on page 9-94.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has disc brakes. Disc
brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be
heard all the time your vehicle is
moving, except when you are
pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead
to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound,
have your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with
worn-out brake pads could
result in costly brake repair.Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when
the brakes are rst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent
brake pulsation. When tires are
rotated, inspect brake pads for wear
and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to torque
specications inCapacities and
Specifications on page 10-2.
Brake linings should always be
replaced as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer/retailer if the brake
pedal does not return to normal
height, or if there is a rapid increase
in pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service might be required.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes,
with or without the vehicle moving,
the brakes adjust for wear.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-25
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle
is complex. Its many parts have to
be of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have
really good braking. Your vehicle
was designed and tested with
top-quality brake parts. When you
replace parts of the braking
system — for example, when the
brake linings wear down and
you need new ones put in — be
sure you get new approved
replacement parts. If you do not, the
brakes might not work properly.
For example, if someone puts
in brake linings that are wrong for
your vehicle, the balance between
the front and rear brakes can
change — for the worse. The
braking performance you have come
to expect can change in many
other ways if someone puts in the
wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance
free battery. When it is time
for a new battery, see your
dealer/retailer for one that has the
replacement number shown on
the original battery’s label.
The battery is located in the trunk
behind a trim panel on the
driver’s side.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals,
and related accessories contain
lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and
reproductive harm. Wash hands
after handling.
Vehicle Storage
{CAUTION
Batteries have acid that can
burn you and gas that can
explode. You can be badly hurt
if you are not careful. SeeJump
Starting on page 9-80for tips
on working around a battery
without getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: If you drive your
vehicle infrequently, remove the
black, negative (−) cable from
the battery. This will help keep the
battery from running down.
Extended Storage: For extended
storage of your vehicle, remove the
black, negative (−) cable from
the battery or use a battery trickle
charger. This will help maintain
the charge of the battery over an
extended period of time.
9-26 Vehicle Service and Care
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual