2006 PONTIAC G6 traction control

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-3
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-5
Braking.........................................................4-6
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).........................4-7
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-8
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-9
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)....................4-11
StabiliTrak
®System......................................4-12
Steering......................................................4-13
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-15
Passing.......................................................4-16
Loss of Control.............................................4-17
Driving at Night............................................4-18
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-20City Driving..................................................4-22
Freeway Driving...........................................4-23
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-24
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-25
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-26
Winter Driving..............................................4-27
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow..............................................4-32
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-32
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-33
Towing..........................................................4-38
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-38
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-38
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-40
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

What if there is an emergency, a need to take sudden
action, as when a child darts into the street? A person
with even a moderate BAC might not be able to react
quickly enough to avoid the collision.
There is something else about drinking and driving that
many people do not know. 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.
{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.
Your reexes, perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even a small
amount of alcohol. You can have a serious — or
even fatal — collision if you drive after drinking.
Please do not drink and drive or ride with a
driver who has been drinking. Ride home in a
cab; or if you are with a group, designate a
driver who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering, and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at
the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or ice, it
is easy to ask more of those control systems than
the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose
control of your vehicle. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-9,Enhanced Traction System (ETS) on
page 4-11andStabiliTrak
®System on page 4-12.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories and Modications
on page 5-3.
4-5

If you do not have anti-lock brakes, use a “squeeze”
braking technique. This will give you maximum braking
while maintaining steering control. You can do this
by pushing on the brake pedal with steadily increasing
pressure.
In an emergency, you will probably want to squeeze the
brakes hard without locking the wheels. If you hear or
feel the wheels sliding, ease off the brake pedal.
This will help you retain steering control. If you do have
anti-lock brakes, it is different. SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System (ABS) on page 4-7.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more than
even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle may have a Traction Control System (TCS)
that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that one or both of the front wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system reduces engine power and may also upshift the
transaxle to limit wheel spin. Also, the traction control
system activates the appropriate corner brakes to gain
even quicker control to limit wheel spin.This light, located on the
instrument panel, will come
on when your Traction
Control System is limiting
wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this is
normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
re-engage the cruise control. SeeCruise Control
on page 3-10.
The Traction Control System operates in all transaxle
shift lever positions except park or neutral. But the
system can upshift the transaxle only as high as the shift
lever position you’ve chosen, so you should use the
lower gears only when necessary. SeeAutomatic
Transaxle Operation on page 2-28.
4-9

When the system is on,
this warning light, located
on the instrument panel
cluster, will come on to let
you know if there’s a
problem, or if the system
has been turned off.
When this warning light is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions, you should always leave the Traction Control
System on. But you can turn the system off if you
prefer.
To turn the system on or off, press the traction control
button (TC) located under the climate controls. In
order to effectively “rock” the vehicle, you will need to
turn off TCS.If you press the TC button once, the traction control
system will turn off and the traction control system
warning light will come on. The StabiliTrak
®system will
stay on. Press the TC button again to turn the system
back on. The traction control system warning light will go
off. If you press and hold the TC button, the StabiliTrak
®
system and the traction control system will turn off.
Press the TC button again to turn StabiliTrak®and the
traction control system back on. For more information,
seeStabiliTrak
®System on page 4-12.
When you turn the system off, the Traction Control
System warning light will come on and stay on. If the
Traction Control System is limiting wheel spin when you
press the button to turn the system off, the warning
light will come on – but the system won’t turn off right
away. It will wait until there’s no longer a current need to
limit wheel spin.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories and Modications
on page 5-3for more information.
4-10

Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
Your vehicle may have an Enhanced Traction System
(ETS) that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. The system operates only if
it senses that one or both of the front wheels are
spinning or beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, the system reduces engine power and may
also upshift the transaxle to limit wheel spin.
This light, located on the
instrument panel, will come
on when your Enhanced
Traction System is
limiting wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this is
normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the enhanced
traction system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
re-engage the cruise control. SeeCruise Control
on page 3-10.The Enhanced Traction System operates in all transaxle
shift lever positions except park, neutral or reverse.
But the system can upshift the transaxle only as high as
the shift lever position you’ve chosen, so you should
use the lower gears only when necessary. See
Automatic Transaxle Operation on page 2-28.
When the system is on,
this warning light, located
on the instrument panel
cluster, will come on to let
you know if there’s a
problem, or if the system
has been turned off.
When this warning light is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions, you should always leave the Enhanced
Traction System on. But you can turn the system off if
you prefer.
To turn the system on or off, press the traction control
button located on the instrument panel. In order to
effectively “rock” the vehicle, you will need to turn off
the traction control system.
4-11

When you turn the system off, the Enhanced Traction
System warning light will come on and stay on. If
the Enhanced Traction System is limiting wheel spin
when you press the button to turn the system off,
the warning light will come on – but the system won’t
turn off right away. It will wait until there’s no longer
a current need to limit wheel spin.
You can turn the system back on at any time by
pressing the button again. The Enhanced Traction
System warning light should go off.
StabiliTrak®System
Your vehicle may be equipped with a vehicle stability
enhancement system called StabiliTrak®.Itisan
advanced computer controlled system that assists you
with directional control of the vehicle in difficult
driving conditions.
StabiliTrak
®activates when the computer senses a
discrepancy between your intended path and the
direction the vehicle is actually traveling. StabiliTrak
®
selectively applies braking pressure at any one of
the vehicle’s brakes to help steer the vehicle in the
direction which you are steering.This symbol will appear
when the StabiliTrak
®
system is activated.
When you rst start your vehicle and begin to drive
away, the system performs several diagnostic checks to
insure there are no problems. You may hear or feel
the system working. This is normal and does not mean
there is a problem with your vehicle.
A STABIL NOT READY message may appear on the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-48for
more information. When this message is displayed, the
system is not operational. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
When the system is on,
this warning light, located
on the instrument panel
cluster, will come on to let
you know if there’s a
problem, or if the system
has been turned off.
4-12

StabiliTrak®comes on automatically whenever you start
your vehicle. To help assist you with directional
control of the vehicle, you should always leave the
system on. You can turn the traction control system and
StabiliTrak
®off if you ever need to by pressing and
holding the TC (traction control) on/off button. Press the
TC button again to turn StabiliTrak
®and the traction
control system back on. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-9for more information.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the StabiliTrak
®
activates, the cruise control will automatically
disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, you may reengage the cruise control. See
Cruise Control on page 3-10for more information.
Steering
Electric Power Steering
If your vehicle has the electric power steering system
and the engine stalls while you are driving, the
power steering assist system will continue to operate
until you are able to stop your vehicle. If you lose power
steering assist because the electric power steering
system is not functioning, you can steer, but it will take
more effort.
If you turn the steering wheel in either direction several
times until it stops, or hold the steering wheel in the
stopped position for an extended amount of time, youmay notice a reduced amount of power steering assist.
The normal amount of power steering assist should
return shortly after a few normal steering movements.
The electric power steering system does not require
regular maintenance. If you suspect steering system
problems, contact your dealer for service repairs.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-48and
Service Vehicle Soon Light on page 3-44.
Hydraulic Power Steering
If your vehicle has the hydraulic power steering system
and you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the power steering system is not functioning, you
can steer, but it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves.
The traction of the tires against the road surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change its path when
you turn the front wheels. If there is no traction, inertia
will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If
you have ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you
will understand this.
4-13

The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While
you are in a curve, speed is the one factor you
can control.
Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly apply the brakes. Both control
systems — steering and braking — have to do their work
where the tires meet the road. Unless you have
four-wheel anti-lock brakes, adding the hard braking can
demand too much of those places. You can lose control.
The same thing can happen if you are steering through
a sharp curve and you suddenly accelerate. Those
two control systems — steering and acceleration — can
overwhelm those places where the tires meet the
road and make you lose control. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-9,Enhanced Traction System
(ETS) on page 4-11andStabiliTrak
®System on
page 4-12.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on
the brake or accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way
you want it to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds
are based on good weather and road conditions. Under
less favorable conditions you will want to go slower.If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories and Modications
on page 5-3.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example, you come over a hill and nd
a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of you. You
can avoid these problems by braking — if you can stop
in time. But sometimes you cannot; there is not
room. That is the time for evasive action — steering
around the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes — but, unless you
have anti-lock brakes, not enough to lock your wheels.
SeeBraking on page 4-6. It is better to remove as
much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then
steer around the problem, to the left or right depending
on the space available.
4-14