service PONTIAC G8 2009 Owners Manual

Wheel Alignment and
Tire Balance
The tires and wheels on your vehicle
were aligned and balanced carefully
at the factory to give you the longest
tire life and best overall performance.
Adjustments to wheel alignment and
tire balancing will not be necessary
on a regular basis. However, if you
notice unusual tire wear or your
vehicle pulling to one side or the
other, the alignment might need to be
checked. If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth
road, the tires and wheels might
need to be rebalanced. See your
dealer/retailer for proper diagnosis.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent,
cracked or badly rusted or corroded.
If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the
wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
should be replaced. If the wheel
leaks air, replace it (except some
aluminum wheels, which can
sometimes be repaired). See your
dealer/retailer if any of these
conditions exist.
Your dealer/retailer will know the
kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have
the same load-carrying capacity,
diameter, width, offset and be
mounted the same way as the
one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of the
wheels, wheel bolts or wheel
nuts, replace them only with new
GM original equipment parts.
This way, you will be sure to have
the right wheel, wheel bolts and
wheel nuts for the vehicle.{CAUTION
Using the wrong replacement
wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts
on your vehicle can be dangerous.
It could affect the braking and
handling of your vehicle, make
your tires lose air and make you
lose control. You could have a
collision in which you or others
could be injured. Always use the
correct wheel, wheel bolts, and
wheel nuts for replacement.
Notice:The wrong wheel can
also cause problems with bearing
life, brake cooling, speedometer
or odometer calibration, headlamp
aim, bumper height, vehicle
ground clearance, and tire or tire
chain clearance to the body and
chassis.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on
page 9-75for more information.
9-64 Vehicle Service and Care

Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION
Putting a used wheel on the
vehicle is dangerous. You cannot
know how it has been used or how
far it has been driven. It could fail
suddenly and cause a crash. If you
have to replace a wheel, use a
new GM original equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
{CAUTION
Do not use tire chains. There is
not enough clearance. Tire chains
used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can
cause damage to the brakes,
suspension or other vehicle parts.
The area damaged by the tire
chains could cause you to lose
control of the vehicle and you or
others may be injured in a crash.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Use another type of traction
device only if its manufacturer
recommends it for use on the
vehicle and tire size combination
and road conditions. Follow that
manufacturer’s instructions. To
help avoid damage to the vehicle,
drive slowly, readjust or remove
the device if it is contacting the
vehicle, and do not spin the
vehicle’s wheels. If you do nd
traction devices that will t, install
them on the front tires.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-65

Tire Changing
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout
while you are driving, especially if
you maintain your tires properly. See
Tires on page 9-42. If air goes out of
a tire, It is much more likely to leak
out slowly. But if you should ever
have a blowout, here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will
create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot off
the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel rmly. Steer to
maintain lane position, and then
gently brake to a stop well out of the
traffic lane.A rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid
and may require the same correction
you would use in a skid. In any
rear blowout, remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal. Get the
vehicle under control by steering the
way you want the vehicle to go. It
may be very bumpy and noisy,
but you can still steer. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road if
possible.
If a tire goes at, and your vehicle
has a compact spare tire, see
Changing a Flat Tire on page 9-75.
This information shows you how
to use the vehicle’s tire changing
equipment and how to change a at
tire safely.
{CAUTION
Lifting a vehicle and getting under
it to do maintenance or repairs is
dangerous without the appropriate
safety equipment and training. If a
jack is provided with the vehicle, it
is designed only for changing a
at tire. If it is used for anything
else, you or others could be badly
injured or killed if the vehicle slips
off the jack. If a jack is provided
with the vehicle, only use it for
changing a at tire.
9-66 Vehicle Service and Care

Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
If your vehicle has a factory installed
Tire Sealant and Compressor kit,
there is no spare tire, no tire
changing equipment and no place
to store a tire.
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place and stopping.
1. Turn on the hazard warning
ashers. SeeHazard Warning
Flashers on page 4-4.
2. Park your vehicle. Set the
parking brake rmly and put the
shift lever in P (Park). See
Shifting Into Park (Automatic
Transmission) on page 8-12.3. Turn off the engine.
4. Inspect the at tire.
If the tire has been separated from
the wheel, has damaged sidewalls,
or has a puncture larger than a
14inch (6 mm), the tire is too
severely damaged for the tire
sealant and compressor kit to be
effective. SeeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 12-6.
If the tire has a puncture less than
a
14inch (6 mm) in the tread area
of the tire, seeTire Sealant and
Compressor Kit (V8 Engine) on
page 9-67.
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
(V8 Engine)
This vehicle has a tire sealant and
compressor kit in place of a jack or
spare tire. It is located in a foam
container in the trunk. The tire
sealant and compressor kit can be
used to repair a at tire by sealing
small punctures in the tread of the
tire. It can also be used to inate an
underinated tire. The vehicle must
be driven for ve miles (8 kilometers)
after the tire is sealed and inated
to the recommended pressure to
ensure the sealant is distributed
evenly. For detailed instructions
see “Using the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit to Temporarily
Repair a Punctured Tire” later in
this section.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-67

The kit includes:
A. On/Off Switch
B. Air Compressor Accessory Plug
C. Air Compressor
D. Sealant Canister
E. Sealant/Air Hose
F. Air-only Hose
G. Pressure GageTire Sealant
The sealant can temporarily seal a
small puncture up to 6 mm in
the tread area of the tire. The
sealant cannot seal sidewall
damage, large punctures, or a wheel
that has unseated from the wheel.
Read and follow the safe handling
instructions on the label adhered to
the sealant canister.
Check the tire sealant expiration
date on the sealant canister. The
sealant canister should be replaced
before its expiration date. There is
only enough sealant to seal one tire.
After usage, the sealant canister and
sealant/air hose assembly must be
replaced. Replacement sealant
canisters are available from a
dealer/retailer. See “Removal and
Installation of Sealant Canister” later
in this section.
Using the Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit to
Temporarily Seal and
Inate a Punctured Tire
Follow these directions closely for
correct sealant usage.
A. On/Off Switch
B. Air Compressor Accessory Plug
C. Air Compressor
D. Sealant Canister
E. Sealant/Air Hose
F. Air-only Hose
G. Pressure Gage
9-68 Vehicle Service and Care

Do a safety check before
proceeding. SeeIf a Tire
Goes Flat on page 9-66.
Inspect the damaged tire.
The sealant cannot seal sidewall
damage, large punctures, or a
tire that has unseated from
the wheel. SeeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 12-6.
Do not remove any objects that
have penetrated the tire.
1. Place the tire sealant and
compressor kit on the ground and
unwrap the sealant/air hose (E)
from the side of the compressor.
2. Remove the air compressor
accessory plug (B) from the unit.
Do not plug the plug in yet.3. Turn the tire valve stem cap
counterclockwise to remove.
4. Attach the sealant/air hose (E)
onto the tire valve stem.
Turn it clockwise until tight.
5. Make sure the sealant and
compressor kit on/off switch (A)
is in the O (off) position.
Plug the air compressor
accessory plug (B) into an
accessory power outlet in the
vehicle. SeeAccessory Power
Outlet(s) on page 4-9for
more information.
Do not slam door or close
window on the compressor
accessory plug cord.
{CAUTION
Idling the engine in a closed-in
place or with the climate control
system off can cause deadly
carbon monoxide (CO). See
Engine Exhaust on page 8-14.6. Start the vehicle. The vehicle
must be running while using
the air compressor.
{CAUTION
Overination could cause the tire
to rupture, and you or others
could be injured. Be sure to read
the inator instructions, and inate
the tire to its recommended
pressure. Do not exceed 36 psi
(248 kPa).
7. Push the On/Off switch (A) to the
I (on) position.
The kit will begin to inject sealant
into the tire. Sealant could leak
from the puncture hole until
the vehicle is driven and the hole
has sealed.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-69

8. Check the air pressure gage (G).
If there is not a pressure reading
while the compressor is running,
check for leaks at the connection
between the tire valve stem and
the sealant/air hose (E).
9. Inate the tire to the
recommended ination pressure,
found on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See
Inflation - Tire Pressure on
page 9-49.
The pressure gage (G) will
initially read high while the
compressor injects the sealant
into the tire. Once the sealant
injection is complete, the
pressure will quickly drop. It will
start to rise again as the tire
inates with air.10. Turn the compressor off by
pushing the On/Off button (A)
to the I (off) position.
The pressure gage (G) reads
slightly high while the
compressor is on. Turn the
compressor off to get an
accurate reading. The
compressor may be turned on
and off until the correct pressure
is reached.
Notice:If the recommended
pressure cannot be reached after
approximately 15 minutes, the
vehicle should not be driven. The
tire is too severely damaged and
the tire sealant and compressor kit
cannot inate the tire. Remove the
air compressor accessory plug
from the accessory power outlet
and unscrew the sealant/air hose
from the tire valve or tire pressure
monitoring sensor valve. See
Roadside Assistance Program on
page 12-6.The tire is not sealed and will
continue to leak air until
the vehicle is driven and the
sealant is distributed in the tire.
Steps 11 through 19 must be
done right after Step 10.
Be careful while handling the
tire sealant and compressor kit
as they could be hot after
usage.
11. Unplug the air compressor
accessory plug (B) from the
accessory power outlet in
the vehicle.
12. Turn the sealant/air hose (E)
counterclockwise to remove.
13. Replace the tire valve
stem cap.
14. Stow the sealant/air hose (E)
and air compressor accessory
plug (B) in their original
locations.
9-70 Vehicle Service and Care

15. If the at tire was able to be
inated to the recommended
ination pressure, remove the
maximum speed label from the
sealant canister and place it in a
highly visible location.
The maximum speed label
reminds you to drive cautiously
and not to exceed 55 mph
(90 km/h) until you have the
damaged tire inspected and
repaired.
{CAUTION
Storing the tire sealant and
compressor kit or other equipment
in the passenger compartment of
the vehicle could cause injury.
In a sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone.
Store the tire sealant and
compressor kit in its original
location.
16. Return the equipment to its
original storage location in
the trunk.
17. Immediately drive the vehicle
5 miles (8 km) to distribute the
sealant evenly in the tire.18. Stop at a safe location and
check the tire pressure, refer
to Steps 1 through 9 under
“Using the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit without Sealant
to Inate an Underinated Tire”
later in this section.
If the tire pressure has fallen
more then 10 psi (68 kPa),
below the recommended
ination pressure, stop driving
the vehicle. The tire is too
severely damaged and the tire
sealant and compressor
cannot seal the tire. See
Roadside Assistance Program
on page 12-6if you need
assistance.
If the tire pressure has not
dropped more than 10 psi
(68 kPa) from the
recommended ination
pressure, inate the tire back
up to the recommended ination
pressure.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-71

19. Wipe off any sealant from the
wheel, tire or vehicle.
20. Dispose of the used sealant
canister at a local dealer/retailer
or in accordance with local
state codes and practices.
After using the sealant canister,
replace it with a new canister
available from your
dealer/retailer.
This is a temporary repair. Take
the vehicle to your
dealer/retailer to have the tire
repaired or replaced as soon as
possible.Using the Air Compressor
without Sealant to Inate an
Underinated Tire
To use the air compressor to inate
a tire with air only and not sealant:
A. Air Compressor Accessory Plug
B. Air Compressor
C. Sealant Canister
D. Sealant/Air Hose
E. Air-only Hose
F. Pressure Gage
G. On/Off SwitchDo a safety check before
proceeding. SeeIf a Tire Goes Flat
on page 9-66.
To use the air compressor to inate
a tire with air only and not sealant:
1. Lift the lever and pull the air-only
hose (E) from the bottom of
the kit.
2. Remove the tire valve stem cap
from the at tire by turning it
counterclockwise.
3. Push the air-only hose (E) onto
the tire valve stem and push
the lever down to secure in place.
4. Plug the air compressor
accessory plug (A) into an
accessory power outlet in the
vehicle. SeeAccessory Power
Outlet(s) on page 4-9for
more information.
9-72 Vehicle Service and Care

{CAUTION
Idling the engine in a closed-in
place or with the climate control
system off can cause deadly
carbon monoxide (CO). See
Engine Exhaust on page 8-14.
5. Start the vehicle. The vehicle
must be running while using
the air compressor.
{CAUTION
Overination could cause the tire
to rupture, and you or others could
be injured. Be sure to read the
inator instructions, and inate the
tire to its recommended pressure.
Do not exceed 36 psi (248 kPa).
6. Push the On/Off switch (G) to
the I (on) position.
Check the pressure gage (F).
If there is not a pressure reading
while the compressor isrunning, check for leaks at the
connection between the
hose and the tire valve stem.
7. Inate the tire up to the
recommended ination pressure
using the air pressure gage (F)
on the top of the unit. See
Inflation - Tire Pressure on
page 9-49.
The pressure gage (F) reads
slightly high while the compressor
is on. Turn the compressor off to
get an accurate reading. The
compressor may be turned on
and off until the correct pressure
is reached.
8. Push the On/Off switch (G) to
the O (off) position.
Be careful while handling the tire
sealant and compressor kit as
they could be hot after usage.
9. Unplug the air compressor
accessory plug (A) from the
accessory power outlet in
the vehicle and stow it in its
original location.10. Disconnect the air-only hose (E)
from the tire valve stem and
stow it back in its original
location.
11. Replace the tire valve
stem cap.
{CAUTION
Storing the tire sealant and
compressor kit or other equipment
in the passenger compartment of
the vehicle could cause injury. In
a sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone.
Store the tire sealant and
compressor kit in its original
location.
12. Place the equipment in the
original location in the trunk
of your vehicle.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-73