towing PONTIAC G8 2009 User Guide

Parking the Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
If the vehicle has a manual
transmission, before you get out of
the vehicle, move the shift lever into
R (Reverse), and rmly apply the
parking brake. Once the shift lever
has been placed into R (Reverse)
with the clutch pedal pressed in,
turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF,
remove the key and release the
clutch.
If you are parking on a hill, or if the
vehicle is pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on page 9-89.
Parking Over Things
That Burn
{CAUTION
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the vehicle
and ignite. Do not park over
papers, leaves, dry grass, or other
things that can burn.
Engine Exhaust
{CAUTION
Engine exhaust contains Carbon
Monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. Exposure to CO
can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:
The vehicle idles in areas
with poor ventilation (parking
garages, tunnels, deep snow
that may block underbody
airow or tail pipes).
The exhaust smells or
sounds strange or different.
(Continued)
8-14 Driving and Operating

CAUTION (Continued)
The exhaust system leaks
due to corrosion or damage.
The vehicle’s exhaust system
has been modied, damaged
or improperly repaired.
There are holes or openings
in the vehicle body from
damage or after-market
modications that are not
completely sealed.
If unusual fumes are detected or if
it is suspected that exhaust is
coming into the vehicle:
Drive it only with the windows
completely down.
Have the vehicle repaired
immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed
area such as a garage or a
building that has no fresh air
ventilation.
Running the Vehicle
While Parked
It is better not to park with the
engine running. But if you ever have
to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed
area with poor ventilation is
dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust
contains Carbon Monoxide (CO)
which cannot be seen or smelled.
It can cause unconsciousness
and even death. Never run the
engine in an enclosed area that
has no fresh air ventilation. For
more information, see Engine
ExhaustEngine Exhaust on
page 8-14.
{CAUTION
It can be dangerous to get out
of the vehicle if the automatic
transmission 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
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).
Follow the proper steps to be sure
the vehicle will not move. See
Shifting Into Park (Automatic
Transmission) on page 8-12.
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, seeTowing a Trailer
on page 9-89.
Driving and Operating 8-15

Rocking Your Vehicle to
Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right
to clear the area around the front
wheels. Turn off any stability system.
Shift back and forth between
R (Reverse) and a forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as
possible. To prevent transmission
wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears.
Release the accelerator pedal while
shifting, and press lightly on the
accelerator pedal when the
transmission is in gear. Slowly
spinning the wheels in the forward
and reverse directions causes a
rocking motion that could free the
vehicle. If that does not get the
vehicle out after a few tries, it might
need to be towed out. If the vehicle
does need to be towed out, see
Towing Your Vehicle on page 9-88.
Loading the Vehicle
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle show
how much weight it may
properly carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certication label.{CAUTION
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR), or
either the maximum front or
rear Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). If you do, parts on
the vehicle can break, and it
can change the way your
vehicle handles. These could
cause you to lose control and
crash. Also, overloading can
shorten the life of the vehicle.
8-30 Driving and Operating

5.Determine the combined
weight of luggage and
cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load
capacity calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, the load from your
trailer will be transferred to
your vehicle. Consult
this manual to determine how
this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle.
SeeTowing a Trailer on
page 9-89for important
information on towing a trailer,
towing safety rules and
trailering tips.
A.Vehicle Capacity Weight for
Example 1=1,000 lbs
(453 kg).
B.Subtract Occupant Weight
150 lbs (68 kg)×2=300 lbs
(136 kg).
C.Available Occupant and
Cargo Weight=700 lbs
(317 kg).
A.Vehicle Capacity Weight for
Example 2=1,000 lbs
(453 kg).
B.Subtract Occupant Weight
150 lbs (68 kg)×5=750 lbs
(340 kg).
C.Available Cargo
Weight=250 lbs (113 kg).
Example 1Example 2
8-32 Driving and Operating

Gasoline Octane
If the vehicle has a V8 engine, use
regular unleaded gasoline with a
posted octane rating of 87 or higher.
If the octane rating is less than 87,
you might notice an audible knocking
noise when you drive, commonly
referred to as spark knock. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87
octane or higher as soon as possible.
If you are using gasoline rated at 87
octane or higher and you hear heavy
knocking, the engine needs service.
If the vehicle has the 3.6L V6 engine
(VIN Code 7), use regular unleaded
gasoline with a posted octane rating
of 87 or higher. For best performance
or trailer towing, you could choose
to use middle grade 89 octane
unleaded gasoline. If the octane
rating is less than 87, you might
notice an audible knocking noise
when you drive, commonly referredto as spark knock. If this occurs,
use a gasoline rated at 87 octane
or higher as soon as possible. If you
are using gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher and you hear
heavy knocking, the engine needs
service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should
meet ASTM specication D 4814
in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 or 3.511 in Canada.
Some gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. SeeAdditives on
page 8-36for additional information.
California Fuel
If the vehicle is certied to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California emissions
standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specications, but emission control
system performance might be
affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp could turn on and the vehicle
might fail a smog-check test. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 4-18. If this occurs, return to
your authorized dealer/retailer for
diagnosis. If it is determined that the
condition is caused by the type of
fuel used, repairs might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Driving and Operating 8-35

Uniform Tire Quality
Grading...........................9-62
Wheel Alignment and
Tire Balance....................9-64
Wheel Replacement..........9-64
Tire Chains.......................9-65
Tire Changing
If a Tire Goes Flat............9-66
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
(V8 Engine)
.....................9-67
Changing a Flat Tire.........9-75
Removing the Spare
Tire and Tools.................9-76
Removing the Flat Tire
and Installing the
Spare Tire
.......................9-77
Storing a Flat or Spare
Tire and Tools.................9-82
Compact Spare Tire..........9-83
Jump Starting
Jump Starting...................9-84
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle.........9-88
Shift Lock Manual
Release...........................9-88
Recreational Vehicle
Towing............................9-89
Towing a Trailer................9-89
Appearance Care
Interior Cleaning................9-95
Exterior Cleaning..............9-98
Sheet Metal Damage.......9-102
Finish Damage................9-102
Underbody Maintenance. . .9-102
Chemical Paint
Spotting.........................9-102
Service
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer/retailer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one
of these marks:
9-2 Vehicle Service and Care

Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
To avoid damage, the disabled
vehicle should be towed with all four
wheels off the ground. Consult your
dealer/retailer or a professional
towing service if the disabled vehicle
must be towed. SeeRoadside
Assistance Program on page 12-6.
Shift Lock Manual
Release
The transmission has an electric
park lock called a shift lock manual
release. The key must be in the
ON/RUN position, and the brake
pedal pressed so the transmission
gear selector can be moved from the
P (Park) position. If the battery
has lost power, the selector cannot
be moved to neutral for towing
unless the shift lock manual release
is disengaged manually.To access the shift lock manual
release:
1. Apply the park brake.
2. Remove the console trim
panel (A) from the console.
2.1. Gently lift the back corners
of the trim panel directly in
front of the cupholders (C)
until the two clips are
released from the console.
2.2. Gently lift the console trim
panel from the rear until the
four clips around the shift
lever are released.
3. Raise the panel (A) no more
than 2–3 inches (50–75 mm)
to avoid disconnecting the wiring
from the switches (B).
4. With the console trim panel
raised, remove the retainer (E)
and the shift lock manual release
cover plate (D).
5. Push and hold the manual
release lever (F) toward the
passenger side of the vehicle.
9-88 Vehicle Service and Care

6. Press the select button and
move the transmission gear
selector to the N (Neutral)
position (G).
7. Release the lever (F).
8. After the vehicle has been
moved, align the shift lock
manual release cover plate (D)
and install the retainer (E) so the
automatic transmission can
operate properly.
9. Place the trim panel (A) and the
wires in their original position
and gently press down around
the outside until it clicks in place.
10. Check the operation of the
switches (B) before operating
the vehicle.
The transmission selector locks if it
is moved back to the P (Park)
position.Recreational Vehicle
Towing
Notice:Dolly towing or dinghy
towing the vehicle may cause
damage because of reduced
ground clearance. Always put the
vehicle on a atbed truck.
The vehicle was neither designed
nor intended to be towed with any of
its wheels on the ground. If the
vehicle must be towed, see “Towing
Your Vehicle” earlier in this section.
Towing a Trailer
{CAUTION
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly. For
example, if the trailer is too heavy,
the brakes may not work well — or
even at all. The driver and
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
passengers could be seriously
injured. The vehicle may also be
damaged; the resulting repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer only
if all the steps in this section have
been followed. Ask your
dealer/retailer for advice and
information about towing a trailer
with the vehicle.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is
equipped with the proper trailer
towing equipment. To identify the
trailering capacity of your vehicle,
you should read the information
in “Weight of the Trailer” that
appears later in this section.
Trailering is different than just
driving your vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in
handling, acceleration, braking,
durability and fuel economy.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-89

Successful, safe trailering takes
correct equipment, and it has
to be used properly.
That is the reason for this part. In it
are many time-tested, important
trailering tips and safety rules. Many
of these are important for your
safety and that of your passengers.
So please read this section
carefully before you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such
as the engine, transmission, wheel
assemblies and tires are forced
to work harder against the drag of
the added weight. The engine
is required to operate at relatively
higher speeds and under greater
loads, generating extra heat.
Also, the trailer adds considerably to
wind resistance, increasing the
pulling requirements.If You Do Decide To Pull A
Trailer
If you do, here are some important
points:
There are many different laws,
including speed limit restrictions,
having to do with trailering. Make
sure your rig will be legal, not only
where you live but also where you
will be driving. A good source for
this information can be state or
provincial police.
Consider using a sway control.
You can ask a hitch dealer about
sway controls.
Do not tow a trailer at all during
the rst 1,000 miles (1 600 km)
your new vehicle is driven. Your
engine, axle or other parts could
be damaged.
Then, during the rst 500 miles
(800 km) that you tow a trailer, do
not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h)
and do not make starts at fullthrottle. This helps your engine
and other parts of your vehicle
wear in at the heavier loads.
Use the Sport Shift mode and the
cruise control when towing. The
Active Select (A/S) may also be
used under light load conditions.
Obey speed limit restrictions
when towing a trailer. Do not drive
faster than the maximum posted
speed for trailers, or no more than
55 mph (90 km/h), to save wear
on your vehicle’s parts.
Three important considerations have
to do with weight:
The weight of the trailer.
The weight of the trailer tongue.
The total weight on your
vehicle’s tires.
9-90 Vehicle Service and Care

Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. Before setting
out for the open road, you will want to
get to know your rig. Acquaint
yourself with the feel of handling and
braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep in mind that
the vehicle you are driving is now a
good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by
itself.
Before you start, check all trailer
hitch parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment.
If the trailer has electric brakes,
start your vehicle and trailer moving
and then apply the trailer brake
controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working. This lets
you check your electrical connection
at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure,
and that the lamps and any
trailer brakes are still working.
Towing with the Electronic
Stability Program (ESP®)
When towing, the sound of the ESP
modulator might be heard. The ESP
is reacting to the vehicle movement
caused by the trailer, which mainly
occurs during cornering. This is
normal when towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as when driving
your vehicle without a trailer. This
can help avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed up
ahead when you are towing a trailer.
And, because the vehicle is longer, it
is necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. Then, to move
the trailer to the left, just move that
hand to the left. To move the trailer to
the right, move the hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and, if
possible, have someone guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns
while trailering could cause the
trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. The vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering.
When you are turning with a trailer,
make wider turns than normal. Do
this so your trailer will not strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or
other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-93