key PONTIAC SOLSTICE 2008 Owners Manual

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-6
Child Restraints
.......................................1-22
Airbag System
.........................................1-36
Restraint System Check
............................1-50
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
.................................................2-10
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-13
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-17
Mirrors
....................................................2-31
OnStar
®System
......................................2-32
Storage Areas
.........................................2-35
Convertible Top
.......................................2-36
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-17
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-20
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-37
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-49Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-29
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Rear Axle
...............................................5-45
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-46
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-46
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-50
Tires
......................................................5-51
Appearance Care
.....................................5-85
Vehicle Identication
.................................5-94
Electrical System
......................................5-95
Capacities and Specications
...................5-101
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-15
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy
...........7-17
Index................................................................ 1
2008 Pontiac Solstice Owner ManualM

A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt,
and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible,
below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.
The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the
mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it is
more likely that the fetus will not be hurt in a crash.
For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to
making safety belts effective is wearing them properly.
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you,
you should use it.
But if a safety belt is not long enough, your
dealer/retailer will order you an extender. When you
go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear,
so the extender will be long enough for you. To help
avoid personal injury, do not let someone else use it,
and use it only for the seat it is made to t. The extender
has been designed for adults. Never use it for securing
child seats. To wear it, attach it to the regular safety belt.
For more information, see the instruction sheet that
comes with the extender.
1-21

Keys...............................................................2-2
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation...................................................2-4
Doors and Locks.............................................2-7
Manual Door Locks.........................................2-7
Power Door Locks..........................................2-8
Delayed Locking.............................................2-8
Automatic Door Lock.......................................2-8
Automatic Door Unlock....................................2-8
Trunk............................................................2-9
Windows........................................................2-10
Manual Windows..........................................2-11
Power Windows............................................2-12
Sun Visors...................................................2-13
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-13
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-13
PASS-Key
®III+............................................2-15
PASS-Key®III+ Operation..............................2-15
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-17
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-17
Ignition Positions..........................................2-17
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-20Starting the Engine (Key Access)....................2-20
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-22
Manual Transmission Operation......................2-24
Parking Brake..............................................2-25
Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)............................2-26
Shifting Out of PARK (P)...............................2-28
Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission).....2-28
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-29
Engine Exhaust............................................2-29
Running the Engine While Parked...................2-30
Mirrors...........................................................2-31
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-31
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar
®..............2-31
Outside Manual Mirror...................................2-31
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-31
OnStar
®System.............................................2-32
Storage Areas................................................2-35
Glove Box...................................................2-35
Cupholder(s)................................................2-35
Center Console Storage.................................2-36
Convertible Top..............................................2-36
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Keys
{CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons, children
or others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power windows or
other controls or even make the vehicle move.
The windows will function with the keys in the
ignition and they could be seriously injured
or killed if caught in the path of a closing
window. Do not leave the keys in a vehicle
with children.
The key can be used for the ignition and all locks.
2-2

Your vehicle has a vehicle theft-deterrent system.
The key has a transponder in the key head that is
electronically coded to match a decoder in your
vehicle that allows the key to start the vehicle. If a
replacement key or any additional key is needed,
you must purchase it from your dealer/retailer.
SeePASS-Key
®III+ Operation on page 2-15for
additional information.
The key has a bar-coded key tag that a dealer/retailer
or qualied locksmith can use to make new keys.
Store this information in a safe place, not in your vehicle.
Notice:If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle,
you may have to damage the vehicle to get in.
Be sure you have spare keys.
If you are locked out of your vehicle, contact
Roadside Assistance. SeeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 7-7.
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System
Your Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) system operates on
a radio frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
2-3

At times you may notice a decrease in operating range.
This is normal for any RKE system. If the transmitter
does not work or if you have to stand closer to
your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:
Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during
rainy or snowy weather.
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may
be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the
left or right, hold the transmitter higher, and
try again.
Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See “Battery Replacement” later
in this section.
If you are still having trouble, see your
dealer/retailer or a qualied technician for
service.
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation
The vehicle’s doors can
be locked and unlocked,
and the trunk can be
unlatched from about
3 feet (1 m) up to
60 feet (18 m) away
with the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter.
Q(Lock):Press the lock button to lock all the doors.
If enabled through the Driver Information Center (DIC),
the parking lamps may ash once and the horn may chirp
to indicate locking has occurred. See “LOCK HORN”
underDIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-44.
2-4

Doors and Locks
Manual Door Locks
{CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers, especially children, can easily
open the doors and fall out of a moving
vehicle. When a door is locked, the handle
will not open it. You increase the chance
of being thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash if the doors are not locked. So, wear
safety belts properly and lock the doors
whenever you drive.
Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out. A child
can be overcome by extreme heat and can
suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Always lock your vehicle
whenever you leave it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down or
stop your vehicle. Locking your doors can
help prevent this from happening.There are a couple of ways to lock and unlock your
vehicle manually.
From inside the vehicle,
use the manual door lock
knob. Pull up or down
on the knob to unlock or
lock the door.
To lock either door from the outside, turn the key
toward the rear of the vehicle. To unlock the door,
turn the key toward the front of the vehicle.
2-7

Power Door Locks
You can use the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter to lock and unlock the doors from inside
or outside the vehicle. SeeRemote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2-4for more information.
In vehicles with power door lock switches, the switches
are located on the doors.
T:Press the top of the switch to lock all doors.
Press the bottom of the switch to unlock all doors.
Delayed Locking
If your vehicle has power door locks, it will have the
delayed locking feature. This feature delays the actual
locking of the doors when the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter is used to lock the vehicle.
If any door is open when locking the vehicle using the
RKE transmitter, three chimes will sound signaling
that the delayed locking feature is active. Five seconds
after the last door is closed, both doors will lock and
the parking lamps will ash. To cancel the delay
and lock the doors immediately, press the lock button
on the RKE a second time.
If the key is in the ignition, this feature will not lock
the doors.
Automatic Door Lock
If your vehicle has power door locks, the doors will
automatically lock when the shift lever is moved out of
PARK (P) for a vehicle with an automatic transmission.
For a vehicle with a manual transmission, the speed
must be greater than 5 mph (8 km/h).
The automatic door locking feature cannot be disabled.
Automatic Door Unlock
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission and power
door locks, the doors with automatically unlock when
the shift lever is moved into PARK (P).
If your vehicle has a manual transmission and power
door locks, the doors will automatically unlock when
the key is removed from the ignition.
The automatic unlock feature can be disabled or
programmed in different ways if the vehicle has an
automatic transmission and a Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Vehicle Personalization on
page 3-44for more information.
2-8

Trunk
To release the trunk lid use either the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter, or see “Remote
Trunk Release” following.
To close the trunk, push down rmly from the rear
center of the trunk lid.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You cannot see or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even
death. If you must drive with the trunk lid open
or if electrical wiring or other cable connections
must pass through the seal between the body
and the trunk lid:
Make sure all other windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed and select the
control setting that will force outside air
into your vehicle. See Climate Control
System.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 2-29.
Remote Trunk Release
To open the trunk
from inside the vehicle,
press the remote
trunk release button
located in the glovebox.
The remote trunk release will only work when either
the ignition is off or in ACC/ACCESSORY, the parking
brake is engaged, or the vehicle speed is less than
2 mph (3 km/h).
2-9

Power Windows
{CAUTION:
Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a
vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous.
They can be overcome from extreme heat in
warm or hot weather and suffer permanent
injuries or even death from heat stroke.
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons, children
or others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power windows or
other controls or even make the vehicle move.
The windows will function with the keys in the
ignition and they could be seriously injured
or killed if caught in the path of a closing
window. Do not leave keys in a vehicle with
children.
When there are children in the rear seat
use the window lockout button to prevent
unintentional operation of the windows.On vehicles with power
windows, the switches on
the driver’s door armrest
control both windows.
The passenger’s door has a window switch that controls
that window. Press the front of the switch to open the
window. Pull the switch up to close it.
2-12