light PONTIAC G8 2008 Owners Manual

Seats and Restraints......... 1-1
Front Seats
.................... 1-2
Rear Seats
.................... 1-5
Safety Belts
................... 1-5
Airbag System
..............1-19
Child Restraints
.............1-32
Keys, Doors and
Windows............................ 2-1
Keys
............................. 2-2
Doors and Locks
............ 2-8
Theft-Deterrent
Systems
...................2-11
Windows
......................2-14
Mirrors
.........................2-16
Sunroof
........................2-18
Storage.............................. 3-1
Storage
......................... 3-1
Instruments and
Controls............................. 4-1
Instrument Panel
Overview
.................... 4-2
Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators
............4-10Driver Information
Center (DIC)
.............4-23
OnStar
®System
............4-36
Lighting............................. 5-1
Lighting
......................... 5-1
Infotainment...................... 6-1
Audio System(s)
............. 6-1
Climate Controls............... 7-1
Climate Controls
............. 7-1
Driving and Operating....... 8-1
Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
....................... 8-2
Driving Your Vehicle
......8-13
Fuel
............................8-32
Vehicle Service
and Care............................ 9-1
Service
.......................... 9-2
Owner Checks
................ 9-5
Headlamp Aiming
..........9-27
Bulb Replacement
.........9-29Electrical System
...........9-32
Tires
...........................9-39
Tire Changing
...............9-62
Jump Starting
...............9-80
Towing
........................9-84
Appearance Care
..........9-91
Technical Data.................10-1
Vehicle Identication
. . . . . . 10-1
Capacities and
Specications
............10-2
Service and
Maintenance.....................11-1
Service and
Maintenance
..............11-1
Customer Information. . . . . . 12-1
Customer Information
. . . . . 12-1
Reporting Safety
Defects
...................12-14
Vehicle Data Recording
and Privacy
.............12-16
Index................................... i-1
2008 Pontiac G8 Owner ManualM
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Heated Seats
On vehicles with heated front seats,
the controls are located on the
center console. To operate
the heated seats the ignition must
be on.
L(Heated Seat):Press to turn on
the heated seat.
A light indicates that the feature is
working. The number of indicator
lights shows the level of heat
selected: one for low, two for
medium, and three for high. Press
the button to cycle through the
temperature settings and to turn the
heat off.
Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation
The center seatback folds forward
to allow access to the trunk.
Press the button at the top of the
seatback to release it, then fold
it forward.
Lift the seatback to return it to the
sitting position. Move the safety belt
out of the way, and push the
seatback until it is locked in place.
Safety Belts
This section of the manual describes
how to use safety belts properly.
It also describes some things not to
do with safety belts.
{CAUTION
Do not let anyone ride where he
or she cannot wear a safety
belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you are not wearing
a safety belt, your injuries can
be much worse. You can hit
things inside the vehicle harder
or be ejected from it and be
seriously injured or killed. In
the same crash, you might not
be, if you are buckled up.
Always fasten your safety belt,
and check that your
passenger(s) are restrained
properly too.
Seats and Restraints 1-5
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Lap-Shoulder Belt
All seating positions in the vehicle
have a lap-shoulder belt.
Here is how to wear a lap-shoulder
belt properly.
1. Adjust the seat so you can sit up
straight. To see how, see “Seats”
in the Index.
2. Pick up the latch plate and pull
the belt across you. Do not let
it get twisted.The lap-shoulder belt may lock if
you pull the belt across you
very quickly. If this happens,
let the belt go back slightly
to unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.
If you ever pull the shoulder
portion of a passenger belt out all
the way, you may engage the
child restraint locking feature. If
this happens, just let the belt go
back all the way and start again.
3. Push the latch plate into the
buckle until it clicks.Pull up on the latch plate to
make sure it is secure. If the belt
is not long enough, seeSafety
Belt Extender on page 1-17.
Make sure the release button on
the buckle is positioned so
you would be able to unbuckle
the safety belt quickly if
necessary.
4. To make the lap part tight, pull
up on the shoulder belt.
It may be necessary to pull
stitching on the safety belt
through the latch plate to fully
tighten the lap belt on smaller
occupants.
1-14 Seats and Restraints
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Safety Belt Check
Now and then, make sure the safety
belt reminder light and all your
belts, buckles, latch plates,
retractors and anchorages are
working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt
system parts. If you see anything
that might keep a safety belt system
from doing its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may
not protect you in a crash. They can
rip apart under impact forces. If a
belt is torn or frayed, get a new one
right away.
Make sure the safety belt reminder
light is working. SeeSafety Belt
Reminders on page 4-12for more
information.
Keep safety belts clean and dry.
SeeCare of Safety Belts on
page 1-18.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
{CAUTION
Do not bleach or dye safety
belts. If you do, it may severely
weaken them. In a crash, they
might not be able to provide
adequate protection. Clean
safety belts only with mild soap
and lukewarm water.
Replacing Safety Belt
System Parts After
a Crash
{CAUTION
A crash can damage the safety
belt system in the vehicle.
A damaged safety belt system
may not properly protect the
person using it, resulting in
serious injury or even death in
a crash. To help make sure the
safety belt systems are working
properly after a crash, have
them inspected and any
necessary replacements made
as soon as possible.
1-18 Seats and Restraints
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

After a minor crash, replacement of
safety belts may not be necessary.
But the safety belt assemblies
that were used during any crash
may have been stressed or
damaged. See your dealer/retailer
to have the safety belt assemblies
inspected or replaced.
New parts and repairs may be
necessary even if the safety belt
system was not being used at
the time of the crash.
Have the safety belt pretensioners
checked if the vehicle has been in a
crash, or if the airbag readiness
light stays on after you start
the vehicle or while you are driving.
SeeAirbag Readiness Light on
page 4-13.Airbag System
Your vehicle has the following
airbags:
A frontal airbag for the driver.
A frontal airbag for the right front
passenger.
A seat-mounted side impact
airbag for the driver.
A seat-mounted side impact
airbag for the right front
passenger.
A roof-rail airbag for the driver
and the passenger seated
directly behind the driver.
A roof-rail airbag for the right
front passenger and the
passenger seated directly behind
the right front passenger.
All of the airbags in your vehicle will
have the word AIRBAG embossed
in the trim or on an attached
label near the deployment opening.For frontal airbags, the word
AIRBAG will appear on the middle
part of the steering wheel for
the driver and on the instrument
panel for the right front passenger.
With seat-mounted side impact
airbags, the word AIRBAG
will appear on the side of the
seatback closest to the door.
With roof-rail airbags, the word
AIRBAG will appear along the
headliner or trim.
Airbags are designed to supplement
the protection provided by safety
belts. Even though today’s airbags
are also designed to help reduce
the risk of injury from the force of an
inating bag, all airbags must
inate very quickly to do their job.
Seats and Restraints 1-19
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

{CAUTION
Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts
offer the best protection for
adults, but not for young
children and infants. Neither
the vehicle’s safety belt system
nor its airbag system is
designed for them. Young
children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint
system can provide. Always
secure children properly in
your vehicle. To read how, see
Older Children on page 1-32or
Infants and Young Children on
page 1-34.
There is an airbag readiness light
on the instrument panel cluster,
which shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag
electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an
electrical problem. SeeAirbag
Readiness Light on page 4-13for
more information.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s frontal airbag is in the
middle of the steering wheel.The right front passenger’s frontal
airbag is in the instrument panel on
the passenger’s side.
The seat-mounted side impact
airbags for the driver and right front
passenger are in the side of the
seatbacks closest to the door.
Driver Side shown, Passenger
Side similar
Seats and Restraints 1-21
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

CAUTION (Continued)
Even if the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right
front passenger frontal airbag,
no system is fail-safe. No one
can guarantee that an airbag
will not deploy under some
unusual circumstance, even
though it is turned off.
Secure rear-facing child
restraints in a rear seat, even if
the airbag is off. If you secure a
forward-facing child restraint in
the right front seat, always
move the front passenger seat
as far back as it will go. It is
better to secure the child
restraint in a rear seat.The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the right
front passenger frontal airbag if:The right front passenger seat is
unoccupied.
The system determines that an
infant is present in a rear-facing
infant seat.
The system determines that a
small child is present in a
child restraint.
The system determines that a
small child is present in a
booster seat.
A right front passenger takes
his/her weight off of the seat
for a period of time.
The right front passenger seat is
occupied by a smaller person,
such as a child who has
outgrown child restraints.
Or, if there is a critical problem
with the airbag system or the
passenger sensing system.When the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right front
passenger frontal airbag, the off
indicator will light and stay lit
to remind you that the airbag is off.
SeePassenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 4-14.
If a child restraint has been installed
and the on indicator is lit, turn the
vehicle off. Remove the child
restraint from the vehicle and
reinstall the child restraint following
the child restraint manufacturer’s
directions and refer toSecuring Child
Restraints (Rear Seat) on page 1-46
orSecuring Child Restraints (Right
Front Seat) on page 1-48.
If, after reinstalling the child restraint
and restarting the vehicle, the on
indicator is still lit, check to make
sure that the vehicle’s seatback is
not pressing the child restraint into
the seat cushion. If this happens,
slightly recline the vehicle’s seatback
and adjust the seat cushion if
possible. Also make sure the child
restraint is not trapped under the
Seats and Restraints 1-27
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

vehicle head restraint. If this
happens, adjust the head restraint.
SeeHead Restraints on page 1-4.
Remove any additional material from
the seat such as blankets, cushions,
seat covers, seat heaters, or seat
massagers before reinstalling or
securing the child restraint.
If the on indicator is still lit, secure
the child in the child restraint in
a rear seat position in the vehicle,
and check with your dealer/retailer.
The passenger sensing system
is designed to enable (may inate)
the right front passenger frontal
airbag anytime the system senses
that a person of adult size is
sitting properly in the right front
passenger seat. When the
passenger sensing system has
allowed the airbag to be enabled,
the on indicator will light and
stay lit to remind you that the airbag
is active.For some children who have
outgrown child restraints and for very
small adults, the passenger sensing
system may or may not turn off the
right front passenger frontal airbag,
depending upon the person’s seating
posture and body build. Everyone in
the vehicle who has outgrown child
restraints should wear a safety belt
properly — whether or not there is an
airbag for that person.
If a person of adult-size is sitting in
the right front passenger seat, but
the off indicator is lit, it could be
because that person is not sitting
properly in the seat. If this happens,
turn the vehicle off, remove any
additional material from the seat,
such as blankets, cushions, seat
covers, seat heaters or seat
massagers and ask the person to
place the seatback in the fully upright
position, then sit upright in the seat,
centered on the seat cushion, with
the person’s legs comfortably
extended. Restart the vehicle and
have the person remain in this
position for two to three minutes.This will allow the system to detect
that person and then enable the right
front passenger frontal airbag.
Safety belts help keep the passenger
in position on the seat during vehicle
maneuvers and braking, which helps
the passenger sensing system
maintain the passenger airbag
status. See “Safety Belts” and “Child
Restraints” in the Index for additional
information about the importance of
proper restraint use.
1-28 Seats and Restraints
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

{CAUTION
If the airbag readiness light in
the instrument panel cluster
ever comes on and stays on, it
means that something may be
wrong with the airbag system.
If this ever happens, have the
vehicle serviced promptly,
because an adult-size person
sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat may not have
the protection of the airbag(s).
SeeAirbag Readiness Light on
page 4-13for more on this,
including important safety
information.A thick layer of additional material,
such as a blanket or cushion, or
aftermarket equipment such as seat
covers, seat heaters, and seat
massagers can affect how well the
passenger sensing system
operates. We recommend that you
not use seat covers or other
aftermarket equipment other than
any that GM has approved for your
specic vehicle. SeeAdding
Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 1-30for more
information about modications
that can affect how the system
operates.The passenger sensing system may
suppress the airbag deployment
when liquid soaks into the seat.
If this happens, the off indicator in
the passenger airbag status
indicator and the airbag readiness
light on the instrument panel
will be lit. The system should
resume normal operation after the
seat is allowed to dry. If the
system operates incorrectly after
the seat has dried, have your
dealer/retailer check the system.
{CAUTION
Stowing of articles under the
passenger seat or between the
passenger seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the
proper operation of the
passenger sensing system.
Seats and Restraints 1-29
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
right front passenger position,
which includes sensors that are
part of the passenger’s seat. The
passenger sensing system may
not operate properly if the original
seat trim is replaced with non-GM
covers, upholstery or trim, or with
GM covers, upholstery or trim
designed for a different vehicle.
Any object, such as an
aftermarket seat heater or a
comfort enhancing pad or device,
installed under or on top of the
seat fabric, could also interfere
with the operation of the
passenger sensing system.
This could either prevent proper
deployment of the passenger
airbag(s) or prevent the
passenger sensing system from
properly turning off the passenger
airbag(s). SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 1-26.If you have any questions
about this, you should contact
Customer Assistance before you
modify your vehicle. The phone
numbers and addresses for
Customer Assistance are in
Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this
manual. SeeCustomer
Satisfaction Procedure on
page 12-1.
Q:Because I have a disability,
I have to get my vehicle
modied. How can I nd out
whether this will affect my
airbag system?
A:If you have questions, call
Customer Assistance. The phone
numbers and addresses for
Customer Assistance are in
Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this
manual. SeeCustomer
Satisfaction Procedure on
page 12-1.In addition, your dealer/retailer
and the service manual have
information about the location of the
airbag sensors, sensing and
diagnostic module and airbag wiring.
Airbag System Check
The airbag system does not need
regularly scheduled maintenance or
replacement. Make sure the
airbag readiness light is working.
SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 4-13for more information.
Notice:If an airbag covering
is damaged, opened, or broken,
the airbag may not work properly.
Do not open or break the airbag
coverings. If there are any opened
or broken airbag covers, have
the airbag covering and/or airbag
module replaced. For the
location of the airbag modules,
seeWhat Makes an Airbag
Inflate? on page 1-24. See your
dealer/retailer for service.
Seats and Restraints 1-31
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual