steering PONTIAC G8 2009 User Guide

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

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
The instrument panel lighting
buttons are located above the
exterior lamps control.
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

Infotainment
Audio System(s)
Audio System(s).................6-1
Setting the Clock................6-2
Radio(s).............................6-3
Using an MP3...................6-20
XM Radio Messages.........6-24
Bluetooth®........................6-25
Theft-Deterrent Feature.....6-35
Audio Steering Wheel
Controls..........................6-36
Radio Reception...............6-36
Fixed Mast Antenna..........6-37
XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna System..............6-37
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. See
Defensive Driving on page 8-16.
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

Bluetooth Controls
Use the buttons located on the
steering wheel to operate the
in-vehicle Bluetooth system. See
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
on page 6-36for more information.
%(Voice In):Press to answer
incoming calls, to conrm system
information, and to start speech
recognition.
{(Call End):Press to end a
call, reject a call, or to cancel an
operation.
Pairing
A Bluetooth enabled cell phone
must be paired to the in-vehicle
Bluetooth system rst and then
connected to the vehicle before it
can be used. See the cell phone
manufacturers user guide for
Bluetooth functions before pairing
the cell phone. If a Bluetooth phone
is not connected, calls will bemade using OnStar
®Hands Free
Calling, if available. Refer to
the OnStar owner’s guide for more
information.
Pairing Information:
Up to ve cell phones can be
paired to the in-vehicle
Bluetooth system.
The pairing process is disabled
when the vehicle is moving.
The in-vehicle Bluetooth system
automatically links with the rst
available paired cell phone in the
order the phone was paired.
Only one paired cell phone can
be connected to the in-vehicle
Bluetooth system at a time.
Pairing should only need to be
completed once, unless
changes to the pairing
information have been made or
the phone is deleted.
To link to a different paired phone,
see Linking to a Different Phone
later in this section.Pairing a Phone
1. Press and hold
%for
two seconds. The system
responds with “Ready”
followed by a tone.
2. Say “Bluetooth”. The system
responds with “Bluetooth
ready” followed by a tone.
3. Say “Pair”. The system responds
with instructions and a four digit
PIN number. The PIN number
will be used in Step 4.
4. Start the Pairing process on the
cell phone that will be paired to
the vehicle. Reference the
cell phone manufacturers user
guide for information on this
process.
Locate the device named
“General Motors” in the list on
the cellular phone and follow the
instructions on the cell phone
to enter the four digit PIN number
that was provided in Step 3.
6-26 Infotainment

Audio Steering Wheel
Controls
The vehicle has audio steering
wheel controls.
Some audio controls can be
adjusted at the steering 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 Recognition):For
vehicles with OnStar®or Bluetooth®
systems, press to interact with
those systems. SeeOnStar®
System on page 4-35and
Bluetooth®on page 6-25in this
manual for more information.
{(Call End):Press to end an
OnStar or Bluetooth 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.
Radio Reception
Frequency interference and static
can occur during normal radio
reception if items such as cell phone
chargers, vehicle convenience
accessories, and external electronic
devices are plugged into the
accessory power outlet. If there is
interference or static, unplug the item
from the accessory power outlet.
AM
The range for most AM stations is
greater than for FM, especially at
night. The longer range can cause
station frequencies to interfere
with each other. For better radio
reception, most AM radio stations
boost the power levels during the
day, and then reduce these levels
during the night. Static can also
occur when things like storms and
power lines interfere with radio
reception. When this happens, try
reducing the treble on the radio.
FM Stereo
FM signals only reach about
10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km).
Although the radio has a built-in
electronic circuit that automatically
works to reduce interference,
some static can occur, especially
around tall buildings or hills, causing
the sound to fade in and out.
6-36 Infotainment

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 4-31.
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.By monitoring the solar radiation,
the air inside the vehicle and
air moving across the outside
sensor, the selected temperature
can be maintained while using
the AUTO mode by adjusting the
temperature, fan speed, and
air delivery system. The system
may also supply cooler air to
the side of the vehicle facing the
sun. The recirculation mode will
also be activated, as necessary.
Do not cover the sensors or
the automatic climate control
system will not work properly.Remote Start Climate Control
Operation
For vehicles with the remote start
feature and it is activated, the climate
control system will automatically set
the temperature to 73°F (23°C).
When the ignition is turned to
ON/RUN the climate control system
heats and cools the inside of the
vehicle using the modes that
were set before the vehicle was
turned off.
7-8 Climate Controls

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
Manual Transmission
Operation........................8-10
Parking Brake...................8-11
Shifting Into Park
(Automatic
Transmission)
..................8-12
Shifting Out of Park..........8-13
Parking the Vehicle
(Manual Transmission). . . .8-14
Parking Over Things
That Burn........................8-14
Engine Exhaust.................8-14
Running the Vehicle
While Parked..................8-15
Driving Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving..............8-16
Drunk Driving....................8-16
Control of a Vehicle..........8-17
Braking.............................8-17
Antilock Brake
System (ABS).................8-18
Electronic Stability
Program..........................8-19
Steering............................8-22
Off-Road Recovery............8-23
Passing.............................8-23
Loss of Control.................8-23
Driving at Night.................8-24
Driving in Rain and
on Wet Roads.................8-25
Before Leaving on
a Long Trip.....................8-26
Highway Hypnosis.............8-26
Hill and Mountain Roads. . . .8-26
Winter Driving...................8-27
If Your Vehicle is Stuck
in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow
..........................8-29
Rocking Your Vehicle
to Get It Out...................8-30
Loading the Vehicle..........8-30
Fuel
Fuel..................................8-34
Gasoline Octane...............8-35
Gasoline Specications.....8-35
California Fuel..................8-35
Additives...........................8-36
Fuels in Foreign
Countries........................8-36
Filling the Tank.................8-37
Filling a Portable
Fuel Container................8-38
Driving and Operating 8-1

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 the
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 door is opened.
Driving and Operating 8-3

Alcohol affects four things that
anyone needs to drive a vehicle:
judgment, muscular coordination,
vision, and attentiveness.
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 4-15.
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.
Driving and Operating 8-17

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 on
and the ESP CTRL message will be
displayed at the bottom of the DIC.
The STABILITY CONTROL
ASSISTANCE message will remain
on while the system is working
until the
3button is pressed to
display the trip computer. The
ESP CTRL message stays on at the
bottom of the DIC while the
system is working.
Driving and Operating 8-19