battery PONTIAC SOLSTICE 2008 Owner's Manual

Notice:If you leave your radio or other accessories
on during the jump starting procedure, they could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Always turn off your radio and
other accessories when jump starting your vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or the accessory power outlet. Turn off the
radio and all lamps that are not needed. This will
avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it
could save the radio!
4. Open the hood on the other vehicle and locate the
positive (+) and negative (−) terminal locations on
that vehicle.
You will not need to access your battery for jump
starting. Your vehicle has a remote positive (+) and
a remote negative (−) jump starting terminal.
The remote positive (+)
terminal is located under a
red plastic cover on the
engine compartment fuse
block. Open the red plastic
cover to access the
terminal.Do not remove fuse block cover to jump start the
vehicle.
The remote negative (−)
ground bracket is located
in the rear of the engine
compartment, on the
passenger’s side of the
vehicle, and is marked
GND (−).
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12
for more information on the location of the
positive (+) and negative (−) terminals on
your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
An electric fan can start up even when the
engine is not running and can injure you.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from
any underhood electric fan.
5-42

{CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing
this, and some have been blinded. Use a
ashlight if you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You do
not need to add water to the battery installed
in your new vehicle. But if a battery has ller
caps, be sure the right amount of uid is there.
If it is low, add water to take care of that rst.
If you don’t, explosive gas could be present.
Battery uid contains acid that can burn you.
Do not get it on you. If you accidentally get it
in your eyes or on your skin, ush the place
with water and get medical help immediately.
{CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure
you badly. Keep your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running.
5. Check that the jumper cables do not have loose
or missing insulation. If they do, you could get a
shock. The vehicles could be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some
basic things you should know. Positive (+) will go
to positive (+) or to a remote positive (+) terminal
if the vehicle has one. Negative (−) will go to a
heavy, unpainted metal engine part or to a remote
negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Do not connect positive (+) to negative (−)oryou
will get a short that would damage the battery
and maybe other parts too. And do not connect the
negative (−) cable to the negative (−) terminal on
the dead battery because this can cause sparks.
6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+)
terminal location on the vehicle with the dead battery.
Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle
has one.
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7. Do not let the other end touch metal. Connect it to
the positive (+) terminal of the good battery. Use a
remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the black negative (−) cable to the
negative (−) terminal of the good battery. Use a
remote negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Do not let the other end touch anything until the next
step. The other end of the negative (−) cable does
not go to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy,
unpainted metal engine part or to a remote
negative (−) terminal on the vehicle with the
dead battery.
9. Connect the other end of the negative (−) cable to
the negative (−) terminal location on the vehicle
with the dead battery. Your vehicle has a remote
negative (−) ground bracket for this purpose.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
11. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery.
If it will not start after a few tries, it probably needs
service.
Notice:If the jumper cables are connected or
removed in the wrong order, electrical shorting may
occur and damage the vehicle. The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Always connect
and remove the jumper cables in the correct
order, making sure that the cables do not touch
each other or other metal.A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part or Remote
Negative (−) Terminal
B. Good Battery or Remote Positive (+) and Remote
Negative (−) Terminals
C. Dead Battery or Remote Positive (+) TerminalJumper Cable Removal
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To disconnect the jumper cables from both vehicles, do
the following:
1. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the
vehicle that had the dead battery.
2. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the other
vehicle.
5. Return the positive (+) terminal cover to its original
position.
Rear Axle
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check rear axle uid
unless you suspect there is a leak or you hear an
unusual noise. A uid loss could indicate a problem.
Have it inspected and repaired.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on a
level surface.
If the level is below the bottom of the ller plug hole,
located on the rear axle, you’ll need to add some
lubricant. Add enough lubricant to raise the level
to the bottom of the ller plug hole.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant to use. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-12.
5-45

Electrical System
Add-On Electrical Equipment
Notice:Do not add anything electrical to your
vehicle unless you check with your dealer/retailer
rst. Some electrical equipment can damage
your vehicle and the damage would not be covered
by your warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment
can keep other components from working as they
should.
Add-on equipment can drain your vehicle’s battery, even
if your vehicle is not operating.
Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your vehicle, seeServicing
Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-48.
Headlamp Wiring
The headlamp wiring is protected by fuses in the fuse
block. An electrical overload will cause the lamps to turn
off. If this happens, have your headlamp wiring checked
right away.
Power Windows and Other Power
Options
Circuit breakers in the fuse block protect the power
windows and other power accessories. When the
current load is too heavy, the circuit breaker opens and
closes, protecting the circuit until the problem is xed or
goes away.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected
from short circuits by a combination of J-Case fuses,
mini-fuses and circuit breakers. This greatly reduces
the chance of res caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure
you replace a bad fuse with a new one of the identical
size and rating.
If you ever have a problem on the road and do not have
a spare fuse, you can borrow one that has the same
amperage. Just pick some feature of your vehicle
that you can get along without – like the radio or
cigarette lighter – and use its fuse, if it is the correct
amperage. Replace it as soon as you can.
5-95

Flat Tire Change:Installation of a spare tire in good
condition, when equipped and properly inated, is
covered at no charge. The customer is responsible
for the repair or replacement of the tire if not covered
by a warrantable failure.
Jump Start:A battery jump start is covered at no
charge if the vehicle does not start.
Trip Routing Service (Canada only):Upon request,
Roadside Assistance will send you detailed,
computer personalized maps, highlighting your
choice of either the most direct route or the most
scenic route to your destination, anywhere in North
America, along with helpful travel information
pertaining to your trip.
Please allow three weeks before your planned
departure date. Trip routing requests will be limited to
six per calendar year.
Trip Interruption Benets and Assistance
(Canada only):In the event of a warranty related
vehicle disablement, while en route and over
250 kilometres from the original point of departure,
you may qualify for trip interruption expense
assistance. This assistance covers reasonable
reimbursement of up to a maximum of $500
(Canadian) for (A) meals (maximum of $50/day),(B) lodging (maximum of $100/night) and
(C) alternate ground transportation (maximum of
$40/day). This benet is to assist you with some of
the unplanned expense you may incur while waiting
for your vehicle to be repaired.
Pre-authorization, original detailed receipts and a
copy of the repair order are required.
Once authorization has been given, your advisor will
help you make any necessary arrangements and
explain how to claim for trip interruption expense
assistance.
Alternative Service (Canada only):There may be
times, when Roadside Assistance cannot provide
timely assistance. Your advisor may authorize you to
secure local emergency road service, and you will be
reimbursed up to $100 upon submission of the
original receipt to Roadside Assistance.
In many instances, mechanical failures may be covered.
However, any cost for parts and labor for non-warranty
repairs are the responsibility of the driver.
Pontiac and General Motors of Canada Limited reserve
the right to limit services or reimbursement to an owner
or driver when, in their sole discretion, the claims become
excessive in frequency or type of occurrence.
7-8

Audio System(s).............................................3-53
Automatic Door Lock......................................... 2-8
Automatic Door Unlock...................................... 2-8
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-23
Operation...................................................2-22
B
Battery..........................................................5-40
Run-Down Protection...................................3-15
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-5
Brakes..........................................................5-37
System Warning Light..................................3-27
Braking........................................................... 4-3
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-5
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-17
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-46
Back-Up Lamps...........................................5-48
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Fog Lamps.....5-47
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-46
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-46
Headlamps.................................................5-47
License Plate Lamps....................................5-49
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-49
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-48
Buying New Tires...........................................5-68
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements....... 5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-101
Carbon Monoxide.....................2-9, 2-29, 4-19, 4-29
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-88
CD, MP3 .......................................................3-63
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-36
Chains, Tire...................................................5-74
Charging System Light....................................3-27
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-32
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-92
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-29
Infants and Young Children...........................1-25
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-31
Older Children.............................................1-22
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position..........................1-32
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-16
Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels..............5-91
Convertible Top...........................................5-90
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