tow PONTIAC G8 2009 User Guide

Storage
Storage
Glove Box..........................3-1
Cupholders.........................3-1
Center Console Storage.....3-1
Convenience Net................3-2
Storage
Glove Box
Lift the glovebox handle up to open
it. Use the key to lock and unlock
the glovebox.
Cupholders
For vehicles with a rear seat
cupholder, there is a cupholder on
the front edge of the rear seat
cushion. To open or close, press on
the cupholder.
Center Console Storage
A storage area is provided under the
front armrest.
To open, lift the latch on the
underside of the front edge and lift
the cover.
There is a coin holder towards the
front of the center console storage.
A rubber lining inside the storage
area has slots to hold CDs.
Storage 3-1

When going downhill, you might
have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep the vehicle speed down.
When the brakes are applied
the cruise control is turned off.
Ending Cruise Control
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
When the cruise control is
deactivated, the CRUISE
INACTIVE message appears in
the instrument panel cluster.
Press theOQbutton at the
end of the lever two times.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory
is erased when the cruise control or
the ignition is turned off.
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
An arrowGon the instrument
panel cluster ashes in the direction
of the turn or lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all
the way up or down.
To signal a lane change, slightly
raise or lower the lever until the
arrow starts to ash and release
the lever. The turn signal ashes
automatically three times.
The lever returns to its starting
position when it is released.
To cancel the lane change, move the
lever back to the starting position.
Headlamp High/
Low-Beam Changer
The headlamps must be on for this
feature to work.
Push the turn signal lever away
from you to turn the high beams on.
The fog lamps turn off automatically
when high beam is selected.
This instrument panel cluster light
3comes on while the high
beam headlamps are on.
Pull the lever towards you to return
to low beams.
To ash the high beams, pull the
lever towards you. The lamps
remain on high beam as long as
the lever is held.
Instruments and Controls 4-7

Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper/washer lever
is located on the right side of
the steering column.
The ignition must be turned to the
ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY
position to use the windshield wipers.
Move the lever to the following
positions:
z(Mist):Hold the lever in this
position for continuous wiping cycles.
((Off):Turns the wipers off.
&(Intermittent):For a delayed
wiping cycle. Turn the
&band
forward or rearward for more
frequent or less frequent wipes.
The frequency of wipes also
depends on the vehicle speed.
As the vehicle speed increases,
so does the wiper rate.
1 (Low):For steady wiping at
low speed.
2 (High):For steady wiping at
high speed.
Never use the wipers on dry glass,
as this could damage the wiper
blade inserts and scratch the glass.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from
the wiper blades before using them.
If the blades are frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw
them. If they become damaged, get
new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the
wipers. A circuit breaker stops them
until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Windshield Washer
Pull the lever toward you to spray
washer uid on the windshield.
The spray continues until the lever
is released. The wipers will run
a few times. SeeWindshield Washer
Fluid on page 9-23for information
on lling the windshield washer uid
reservoir.
{CAUTION
In freezing weather, do not use
your washer until the windshield
is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the
windshield, blocking your vision.
4-8 Instruments and Controls

When the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will also
come on when you set your parking
brake. The light will stay on if
your parking brake does not release
fully. If it stays on after your
parking brake is fully released, it
means you have a brake problem.
If the light comes on and Brake
message comes on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), while you
are driving, pull off the road and
stop carefully. You may notice that
the pedal is harder to push or
the pedal may go closer to the oor.
It may take longer to stop. If the
light is still on, have the vehicle
towed for service. SeeAntilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
on page 4-16andTowing Your
Vehicle on page 9-88.{CAUTION
The brake system might not be
working properly if the brake
system warning light is on.
Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after the
vehicle has been pulled off the
road and carefully stopped, have
the vehicle towed for service.
The Brake message will remain until
3(Trip/Fuel) or8(Enter) are
pressed, but the brake light will
remain until the problem is xed.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4-26for more information.
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
For vehicles with the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), this light will come on
briey, as a check, when you start
your vehicle.
If it does not, have your vehicle
serviced so that the light works
properly when it needs to.
If the light and a message in the DIC
stays on longer than a few seconds
after you start your engine, or comes
on and stays on while you are
driving, try resetting the system.
To reset the system:
1. If you are driving, pull over when
it is safe to do so.
2. Place the vehicle in P (Park).
3. Turn off the ignition.
4. Then restart the engine.
4-16 Instruments and Controls

If the light remains on after resetting
the system or comes on again
while driving, your vehicle needs
service. If the ABS light is on,
but the regular brake system
warning light is not on, the antilock
brakes are not working properly,
but the regular brakes are still
functioning. Have your vehicle
serviced right away. If both brake
lights are on, you do not have
antilock brakes, and there’s a
problem with your regular brakes as
well. Have your vehicle towed for
service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle
on page 9-88.
The ABS Fault message will remain
until
3(Trip/Fuel) or8(Enter)
are pressed, but the warning
light will remain until the problem is
xed. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 4-26for more
information.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant
temperature. If the gage pointer
moves into the red area, the engine
is too hot. It means that the engine
has overheated. Pull off the road,
stop the vehicle, and turn off the
engine as soon as possible. See
Engine Overheating on page 9-20.
Tire Pressure Light
TPMS Light
This light comes on briey when the
engine is started and provides
information about tire pressures and
the Tire Pressure Monitoring System.When the Light is On Steady
This light will also come on when
one or more of your tires are
signicantly underinated. A CHECK
TIRE PRESSURE DIC message
will accompany the light.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4-26for more information.
Stop and check your tires as soon
as it is safe to do so. If underinated,
inate to the proper pressure.
SeeTires on page 9-42for more
information.
When the Light Flashes First and
Then is On Steady
This indicates that there may be a
problem with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System.
The light ashes for about a minute
and stays on on steady for the
remainder of the ignition cycle.
This sequence will repeat with every
ignition cycle. SeeTire Pressure
Monitor System on page 9-52
andTire Pressure Monitor Operation
on page 9-54for more information.
Instruments and Controls 4-17

This light comes on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing:A misre condition
has been detected. A misre
increases vehicle emissions and
could damage the emission control
system on the vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required.
The following can prevent more
serious damage to the vehicle:
Reduce vehicle speed.
Avoid hard accelerations.
Avoid steep uphill grades.
If towing a trailer, reduce the
amount of cargo being hauled
as soon as it is possible.
If the light continues to ash,
when it is safe to do so, stop the
vehicle. Find a safe place to
park the vehicle. Turn the key off,
wait at least 10 seconds, and restart
the engine. If the light is still ashing,
follow the previous steps and see
your dealer/retailer for service as
soon as possible.Light On Steady:An emission
control system malfunction has been
detected on the vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required.
An emission system malfunction
might be corrected by doing
the following:
Make sure the fuel cap is fully
installed. SeeFilling the Tank on
page 8-37. The diagnostic system
can determine if the fuel cap
has been left off or improperly
installed. A loose or missing fuel
cap allows fuel to evaporate into
the atmosphere. A few driving
trips with the cap properly
installed should turn the light off.
If the vehicle has been driven
through a deep puddle of water,
the vehicle’s electrical system
might be wet. The condition is
usually corrected when the
electrical system dries out.
A few driving trips should turn
the light off.
Make sure to fuel the vehicle with
quality fuel. Poor fuel quality
causes the engine not to run as
efficiently as designed and may
cause: stalling after start-up,
stalling when the vehicle is
changed into gear, misring,
hesitation on acceleration, or
stumbling on acceleration.
These conditions might go away
once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions
occurs, change the fuel brand
used. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn
the light off.
SeeGasoline Octane on
page 8-35.
If none of the above have made the
light turn off, your dealer/retailer can
check the vehicle. The dealer/retailer
has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to x any mechanical
or electrical problems that might
have developed.
Instruments and Controls 4-19

9Airbag Fault
This message is displayed if there is
a problem with the airbag system
or safety belt pretensioner system.
SeeAirbag System on page 1-20
and “Safety Belt Pretensioners”
underLap-Shoulder Belt on
page 1-14. The Airbag Readiness
light may also come on in the
instrument panel cluster. SeeAirbag
Readiness Light on page 4-13.
See your dealer/retailer.
{Alarm Activated
This message is displayed when
the content theft-deterrent system
was activated by an attempted
break-in. The messages may
also include the location on the
vehicle where the break-in
was attempted. SeeContent
Theft-Deterrent on page 2-13
for more information.
"Alternator
This message is displayed if there is
a problem with the battery charging
system. The charging system light
may also come on in the instrument
panel cluster. SeeCharging System
Light on page 4-15. Driving while this
message is on could drain the
battery. Turn off all unnecessary
accessories. Have the electrical
system checked as soon as possible.
See your dealer/retailer.
Battery Saver Mode On
This message is displayed when the
battery voltage level is low.
$Brake
This message is displayed if there is
a problem with the brake system.
The Brake System Warning light may
also come on in the instrument panel
cluster. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 4-15. When this
message is on, stop the vehicle onthe side of the road. Do not continue
driving until you know that braking is
possible or that the cause of the
problem has been corrected, see
your dealer/retailer. This message
also indicates low brake uid. Check
the brake uid level. SeeBrakes on
page 9-25.
*Check Engine
If this message and the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp come on and
stay on when driving, the system
may require servicing. Although the
vehicle may still be drivable and
not require towing, take the vehicle
to your dealer/retailer as soon
as possible. If this message comes
on when the Malfunction Indicator
Lamp is ashing, reduce the
vehicle’s speed and load until the
lamp stops ashing, then take
the vehicle to your dealer/retailer as
soon as possible. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 4-18
for more information.
Instruments and Controls 4-27

Air Conditioning
#(Air Conditioning):Press to
turn the air conditioning system on or
off. The
#appears in the display
when the air conditioning is on.
When the air conditioning is turned
off
#OFF appears in the display.
The air conditioning cannot be turned
off in defrost mode. If
#is pressed,
the indicator light ashes three times
and the air conditioning stays on.
For quick cool down on hot days,
open the windows to let the hot air to
escape. After a few minutes, close
the windows so the system will work
more effectively.
The air conditioning system removes
moisture from the air, so a small
amount of water might drip under the
vehicle while idling or after turning off
the engine. This is normal.The air conditioning might
automatically turn off during heavy
acceleration or towing with your
vehicle, but the
#will still display.
Recirculation
/(Recirculation):Press to
change the air intake between
recirculated air and outside air.
An indicator light comes when
the recirculation is activated.
The recirculation mode recycles
interior air and is not recommended
for extended use. If it is used for
a long period of time, the system
automatically lets some fresh air into
the vehicle for ventilation.
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.
Climate Controls 7-7

Starting and
Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not
need an elaborate break-in. But it
will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:
Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not make full-throttle
starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
During the rst 600 miles
(1 000 km), avoid using more
than moderate acceleration
in lower gears and avoid
vehicle speeds above 68 mph
(110 km/h).
Between the rst 600 miles
(1 000 km) and 3,000 miles
(5 000 km), heavy acceleration
in lower gears can be used.
Vehicle speeds above 68 mph
(110 km/h) should be limited to
ve minutes per use.
Avoid making hard stops for the
rst 200 miles (322 km) or so.
During this time the new brake
linings are not yet broken in.
Hard stops with new linings can
mean premature wear and
earlier replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. SeeTowing a Trailer
on page 9-89for the trailer
towing capabilities of your
vehicle and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has four different
positions.
Notice:Using a tool to force the
key to turn in the ignition could
cause damage to the switch or
break the key. Use the correct key,
make sure it is all the way in, and
turn it only with your hand. If the
key cannot be turned by hand,
see your dealer/retailer.
To shift out of P (Park), turn the
ignition to ON/RUN and apply
the brake pedal.
8-2 Driving and Operating

The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer/retailer
in the area where you will be
parking the vehicle for the best
advice on this.
Automatic Transmission
Operation
The shift lever is located on the
center console between the
front seats.
There are several different positions
for the shift lever. When the
position of the shift lever is changed,a message is shown in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The
selected gear is magnied in the
DIC, and changes according to the
shift lever’s movement. There
are also messages for Sport Shift
Mode, Normal Shift Mode and Driver
Shift Control.
P (Park):This position locks the
rear wheels. It is the best position
to use when the engine is started
because the vehicle cannot
move easily.
{CAUTION
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
rmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you have
to. If you have left the engine
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, always set the
parking brake and move the shift
lever to P (Park). SeeShifting Into
Park (Automatic Transmission) on
page 8-12. If you are pulling a
trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 9-89.
Make sure the shift lever is fully
in P (Park) before starting the
engine. The vehicle has an
automatic transmission shift lock
control system. Fully apply the brake
pedal rst and then press the shift
lever button before shifting from
P (Park) when the ignition key is in
ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY.
If you cannot shift out of P (Park),
8-6 Driving and Operating