brake light PONTIAC G8 2009 Owners Manual

Instruments and
Controls
Instrument Panel
Overview
Instrument Panel
Overview...........................4-2
Hazard Warning
Flashers............................4-4
Horn...................................4-4
Tilt Wheel...........................4-4
Turn Signal/Multifunction
Lever................................4-4
Cruise Control....................4-5
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals.............................4-7
Headlamp High/
Low-Beam Changer..........4-7
Windshield Wipers..............4-8
Windshield Washer.............4-8
Accessory Power
Outlet(s)............................4-9
Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators
Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators.................4-10
Instrument Panel
Cluster............................4-11
Speedometer....................4-12
Tachometer.......................4-12
Safety Belt Reminders......4-12
Airbag Readiness Light.....4-13
Passenger Airbag
Status Indicator...............4-14
Voltmeter Gage.................4-15
Charging System Light......4-15
Brake System Warning
Light................................4-15
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light.......4-16
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage..........4-17
Tire Pressure Light...........4-17
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp................4-18
Security Light....................4-20
Fog Lamp Light................4-20
Highbeam On Light...........4-20
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
Indicator Light
.................4-21
Door Ajar Light.................4-21
Oil Pressure Gage............4-21
Fuel Gage........................4-21
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
Driver Information
Center (DIC)...................4-22
DIC Operation and
Displays..........................4-22
DIC Warnings and
Messages........................4-26
DIC Vehicle
Customization..................4-31
OnStar®System
OnStar®System................4-35
Instruments and Controls 4-1

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

Voltmeter Gage
The voltmeter shows the voltage
output of your battery.
It is located in the center of the
instrument panel.
Charging System Light
This light will come on briey when
you turn on the ignition, and the
engine is not running, as a check to
show it is working. Then it should
go out when the engine is started.If the light comes on and an
Alternator message on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) stays
on, you may have a problem with
the electrical charging system.
Have it checked by your
dealer/retailer.
Driving while this light is on could
drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance
with the light on, be sure to turn off
all accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
The Alternator message will remain
until
3(Trip/Fuel) or8(Enter)
are pressed, but the light will remain
until the problem is xed. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on
page 4-26for more information.
Brake System Warning
Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake
system is divided into two parts.
If one part is not working, the other
part can still work and stop you.
For good braking, though, you need
both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there
is a brake problem. Have your
brake system inspected right away.
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes,
this light should come on when
you turn the key to START. If it does
not come on, have it xed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is
a problem.
United StatesCanada
Instruments and Controls 4-15

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

Adjusting the Setting During an
OverSpeed Warning
While the OverSpeed warning is
displayed move the thumbwheel up
Qor downRto adjust the
value when in Manual mode or to
select a different preset when
in Preset mode. Press and hold
8
for more than 3 seconds to set
the value to the nearest 5 MPH or
km/h above the current vehicle’s
speed. If Preset mode was selected,
this will change it to Manual mode.
Underspeed Chime
If an OverSpeed warning appeared
and the vehicle’s speed drops
below the set value, you will hear a
chime. The underspeed chime
can be turned on or off through the
vehicle customization. SeeDIC
Vehicle Customization on page 4-31
for more information.
DIC Warnings and
Messages
Messages are displayed on the DIC
to notify the driver that the status
of the vehicle has changed and that
some action may be needed by
the driver to correct the condition.
Multiple messages may appear
one after another.
Some messages may not require
immediate action, but you can press
3or8to acknowledge that
you received the messages and
to clear them from the display.
Some messages cannot be cleared
from the DIC display because
they are more urgent. These
messages require action before they
can be cleared. You should take
any messages that appear on
the display seriously and remember
that clearing the messages will
only make the messages disappear,
not correct the problem.The following are the possible
messages that can be displayed
and some information about them.
!ABS Fault
This message is displayed if there is
a problem with the ABS system.
The ABS light may also turn on
in the instrument panel cluster.
SeeAntilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light on page 4-16.
When this message is on, the brake
system will still operate with the
antilock operation disabled.
See your dealer/retailer.
uActive Select On
This message is displayed when
the automatic transmission
active select mode is enabled.
See “Active Select Mode” under
Automatic Transmission Operation
on page 8-6.
4-26 Instruments and Controls

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

One to Four Shift Light
When this light comes on, you can
only shift from 1 (First) to 4 (Fourth)
instead of 1 (First) to 2 (Second).
The light will be displayed on theinstrument panel cluster and a
message will be displayed in
the Driver Information Center.
You must complete the shift into
4 (Fourth) to turn off this feature.
This helps you get the best possible
fuel economy.
After shifting to 4 (Fourth), you may
downshift to a lower gear if you
prefer.
Notice:Forcing the shift lever
into any gear except FOURTH (4)
when the 1 TO 4 SHIFT light
comes on may damage the
transmission. Shift only from
FIRST (1) to FOURTH (4) when the
light comes on.
This light will come on when:
The engine coolant temperature
is higher than 169°F (76°C),
you are going 15 to 19 mph
(24 to 31 km/h) and
you are 21 percent throttle
or less.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, pull up on
the parking brake handle. If the
ignition is in the ON/RUN position,
the brake system warning light
will come on. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 4-15. Instrument Panel
Cluster
Driver Information
Center
Driving and Operating 8-11

To release the parking brake:
1. Hold the brake pedal down.
2. Pull the parking brake handle up
until you can press the release
button.
3. Hold the release button in as you
move the brake handle all the
way down.
Notice:Driving with the parking
brake on can overheat the brake
system and cause premature wear
or damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
Driving with the park brake applied
will cause a warning chime to
sound and the Park Brake message
to appear in the DIC. The message
will remain on until:
the park brake is released
the vehicle comes to a stop.
If you are towing a trailer and you
are parking on a hill, seeTowing a
Trailer on page 9-89.
Shifting Into Park
(Automatic
Transmission)
{CAUTION
It can be 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. 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, use the steps
that follow. If you are pulling a
trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 9-89.Use this procedure to shift into
P (Park):
1. Hold the brake pedal down and
set the parking brake.
SeeParking Brake on page 8-11
for more information.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park)
by holding in the button on the
shift lever and pushing the
lever all the way toward the front
of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to
LOCK/OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with
you. If you can leave the vehicle
with the ignition key in your
hand, the vehicle is in P (Park).
8-12 Driving and Operating

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