service PONTIAC G8 2009 Repair Manual

Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Front Windshield Wiper
Windshield wiper blades should be
inspected for wear or cracking.
See “Maintenance Replacement
Parts” in the Limited Warranty,
Maintenance and owner Assistance
Information manual for the proper
type and length.
Raise the wiper arm, tilt the wiper
blade at a 90° angle to the
wiper arm, and remove to the side.
1. Turn the ignition off.
2. With the key in the ignition and
key in the LOCK position, press
the wiper lever down. Release the
wiper lever when the wipers are in
the vertical position.3. Raise the wiper arm away from
the windshield.
4. Turn the wiper blade at a
90° angle to the wiper arm and
remove the blade to the side.
5. Install the new wiper blade.
6. Lower the wiper arm on to the
windshield.
Rear Windshield Wiper
1. Lift the wiper arm straight up.
2. Push the wiper blade straight out
of the wiper arm to remove.
3. Install the new wiper blade.
9-24 Vehicle Service and Care

Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir
is lled with DOT-4 brake uid.
There are only two reasons why the
brake uid level in the reservoir
might go down:
The brake uid level goes down
because of normal brake lining
wear. When new linings are
installed, the uid level goes
back up.
A uid leak in the brake hydraulic
system can also cause a low uid
level. Have the brake hydraulic
system xed, since a leak means
that sooner or later the brakes will
not work well.
Do not top off the brake uid.
Adding uid does not correct a leak.
If uid is added when the linings
are worn, there will be too much
uid when new brake linings
are installed. Add or remove brake
uid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.{CAUTION
If too much brake uid is added,
it can spill on the engine and
burn, if the engine is hot enough.
You or others could be burned,
and the vehicle could be
damaged. Add brake uid only
when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When the brake uid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 4-15.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-25

What to Add
Use only new DOT-4 brake uid
from a sealed container. It is
recommended that the brake
hydraulic system be ushed and
relled with new DOT-4 uid
at a regular maintenance service
every two years. SeeAdditional
Required Services on page 11-6
andRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11-12.
Always clean the brake uid reservoir
cap and the area around the cap
before removing it. This helps keep
dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION
With the wrong kind of uid in
the brake hydraulic system,
the brakes might not work well.
This could cause a crash.
Always use the proper brake uid.Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly
damage brake hydraulic system
parts. For example, just a few
drops of mineral-based oil,
such as engine oil, in the brake
hydraulic system can damage
brake hydraulic system parts so
badly that they will have to be
replaced. Do not let someone
put in the wrong kind of uid.
If brake uid is spilled on the
vehicle’s painted surfaces, the
paint nish can be damaged.
Be careful not to spill brake
uid on the vehicle. If you do,
wash it off immediately. See
Exterior Cleaning on page 9-98.
Brake Wear
This vehicle has disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake
pads are worn and new pads are
needed. The sound can come
and go or be heard all the time the
vehicle is moving, except when
applying the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
an accident. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
9-26 Vehicle Service and Care

Notice:Continuing to drive with
worn-out brake pads could
result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when
the brakes are rst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent
brake pulsation. When tires are
rotated, inspect brake pads for wear
and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to torque
specications inCapacities and
Specifications on page 10-2.
Brake linings should always be
replaced as complete axle sets.Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer/retailer if the brake
pedal does not return to normal
height, or if there is a rapid increase
in pedal travel. This could be a
sign that brake service might
be required.
Brake Adjustment
Every time he brakes are applied,
with or without the vehicle moving,
the brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle
is complex. Its many parts have
to be of top quality and work
well together if the vehicle is
to have really good braking.The vehicle was designed and
tested with top-quality brake parts.
When parts of the braking system
are replaced — for example,
when the brake linings wear
down and new ones are
installed — be sure to get new
approved replacement parts. If this
is not done, the brakes might
not work properly. For example,
if someone puts in brake linings that
are wrong for the vehicle, the
balance between the front and rear
brakes can change — for the
worse. The braking performance
expected can change in many other
ways if the wrong replacement
brake parts are installed.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-27

Battery
This vehicle has a maintenance free
battery. When it is time for a new
battery, see your dealer/retailer
for one that has the replacement
number shown on the original
battery’s label. The battery is located
in the trunk behind a trim panel
on the driver’s side.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals,
and related accessories contain
lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and
reproductive harm. Wash hands
after handling.
Vehicle Storage
{CAUTION
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. SeeJump Starting on
page 9-84for tips on working
around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: If the vehicle is
driven infrequently, remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery. This helps keep the battery
from running down.
Extended Storage: For extended
storage of the vehicle, remove
the black, negative (−) cable from
the battery or use a battery
trickle charger. This helps maintain
the charge of the battery over
an extended period of time.
Headlamp Aiming
The optical headlamp aiming system
has been preset at the factory
and should need no further
adjustment
However, if the vehicle is damaged
adjustment may be necessary.
If oncoming vehicles ash their
high beams at you, this may also
mean the vertical aim needs to
be adjusted.
It is recommended that the vehicle
is taken to your dealer/retailer
for service if the headlamps need to
be re-aimed. It is possible however,
to re-aim the headlamps as
described.
9-28 Vehicle Service and Care

The vehicle should:
Be placed so the headlamps
are 25 ft. (7.6 m) from a light
colored wall.
Have all four tires on a perfectly
level surface which is level all
the way to the wall.
Be placed so it is at a right angle
to the wall.
Not have any snow, ice, or
mudonit.
Be fully assembled and all other
work stopped while headlamp
aiming is being done.
Have a full tank of fuel and one
person or 160 lbs (75 kg) on
the driver seat.
Have all tires properly inated.
Headlamp aiming is done with
the vehicle’s low-beam headlamps.
The high-beam headlamps will
be correctly aimed if the low-beam
headlamps are aimed properly.To adjust the vertical aim on the
headlamps:
1. Open the hood.Hood Release
on page 9-5.
2. Locate the aim dot on the lens of
the low-beam headlamp.
3. Record the distance from the
ground to the aim dot on the
low-beam headlamp.4. At the wall, measure from the
ground upward (A) to the
recorded distance from Step 3
and mark it.
5. Draw or tape a horizontal line (B)
on the wall the width of the
vehicle at the height of the
mark in Step 4.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-29

Notice:Do not cover a headlamp
to improve beam cut-off when
aiming. Covering a headlamp may
cause excessive heat build-up
which may cause damage to the
headlamp.
6. Turn on the low-beam headlamps
and place a piece of cardboard
or equivalent in front of the
headlamp not being adjusted.
Do not place it directly on
the headlamp. This allows only
the beam of light from the
headlamp being adjusted to be
seen on the at surface.
7. Locate the vertical headlamp
aiming screws, which are
under the hood near each
headlamp assembly.
The adjustment screw can be
turned with a 6 mm socket
wrench.
8. Turn the vertical aiming screw
clockwise or counterclockwise
until the headlamp beam is
aimed to the horizontal tape line.9. Make sure that the light from the
headlamp is positioned at the
bottom edge of the horizontal
tape line. The lamp on the left (A)
shows the correct headlamp aim.
The lamp on the right (B) shows
the incorrect headlamp aim.
10. Repeat Steps 7 through 9 for
the opposite headlamp. Driver Side
(Passenger Side Similar)
9-30 Vehicle Service and Care

Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, seeReplacement Bulbs
on page 9-35.
For any bulb changing procedure
not listed in this section, contact
your dealer/retailer.
Halogen Bulbs
{CAUTION
Halogen bulbs have pressurized
gas inside and can burst if you
drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure
to read and follow the instructions
on the bulb package.
Headlamps and
Parking Lamps
To replace one of these bulbs:
If the front turn signal lamp
or parking lamp needs to be
changed, see your dealer/retailer.
A. Front Turn Signal Lamp/
Parking Lamp
B. Low Beam Headlamp
C. High Beam Headlamp1. Open the hood. SeeHood
Release on page 9-5.
2. Remove the radiator support
by turning the head screws
counterclockwise and then
pulling them straight out.
3. For the passenger side pull up
on the coolant bottle ller neck
to remove it and place it to
one side.
Let the ller neck drain before
pulling it all the way out. Place a
clean towel over the opening
of the coolant bottle after
removing it.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-31

4. For the driver side remove the
clip from the air cleaner/lter
cover. Move the cover to
the back, out of the way.5. Turn the dust cap
counterclockwise to remove.
6. Press the two prongs together
on the connector to remove
the wiring harness connector.7. Turn the bulb socket
counterclockwise and pull it
out to remove from the lamp
assembly.
8. Pull the old bulb straight out of
the bulb socket.
9. Push the new bulb straight into
the bulb socket until it clicks.
9-32 Vehicle Service and Care

10. Reconnect the wiring harness
to the bulb socket.
11. Push the bulb socket into the
lamp assembly and turn it
clockwise to lock it into place.
12. Turn the dust cap clockwise to
lock it into place.
13. For the driver side reinstall the
air cleaner/lter cover.
14. For the passenger side reinstall
the coolant bottle ller neck.
15. Reinstall the radiator support
screws.Front Turn Signal Lamps
Front Turn Signal Lamps
1. Open the hood. SeeHood
Release on page 9-5.
2. Remove the radiator support by
unscrewing and prying out the
head screws.3. Turn the bulb socket
counterclockwise and pull
straight out.
4. Push and turn bulb
counterclockwise and remove.
5. Push the bulb straight in and turn
clockwise to lock into place.
6. Push the bulb socket and turn it
clockwise to lock it into place.
7. Reinstall the radiator support
head screws.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-33