2007 PONTIAC G5 stop start

Keep the windshield and all the glass on your
vehicle clean — inside and out. Glare at night is
made much worse by dirt on the glass. Even
the inside of the glass can build up a lm caused
by dust. Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and
ash more than clean glass would, making the
pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that the headlamps light up far less of
a roadway when you are in a turn or curve.
Keep your eyes moving; that way, it is easier to
pick out dimly lighted objects. Just as the
headlamps should be checked regularly for
proper aim, so should your eyes be
examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from
night blindness — the inability to see in dim
light —and are not even aware of it.Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble.
On a wet road, you cannot stop, accelerate, or turn
as well because your tire-to-road traction is not
as good as on dry roads. And, if your tires do not
have much tread left, you will get even less
traction. It is always wise to go slower and be
cautious if rain starts to fall while you are driving.
The surface may get wet suddenly when your
reexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement.
235

The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see.
Even if your windshield wiper blades are in good
shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see
road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings,
the edge of the road, and even people walking.
It is wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment
in good shape and keep your windshield washer
uid reservoir lled with washer uid. Replace your
windshield wiper inserts when they show signs
of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or
when strips of rubber start to separate from the
inserts.
{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They may
not work as well in a quick stop and may
cause pulling to one side. You could lose
control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of
water or a car wash, apply your brake pedal
lightly until your brakes work normally.Driving too fast through large water puddles or
even going through some car washes can cause
problems, too. The water may affect your brakes.
Try to avoid puddles. But if you cannot, try to slow
down before you hit them.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can
build up under your tires that they can actually ride
on the water. This can happen if the road is wet
enough and you are going fast enough. When your
vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact
with the road.
Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it can if
your tires do not have much tread or if the
pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a
lot of water is standing on the road. If you can
see reections from trees, telephone poles,
or other vehicles, and raindrops dimple the water’s
surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds.
There just is not a hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down
when it is raining.
236

Once you are moving on the freeway, make
certain you allow a reasonable following distance.
Expect to move slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your
exit, do not, under any circumstances, stop and
back up. Drive on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite
sharply. The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce
your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any
distance at higher speeds, you may tend to think
you are going slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you are ready. Try to be well rested.
If you must start when you are not fresh — such as
after a day’s work — do not plan to make too
many miles that rst part of the journey. Wear
comfortable clothing and shoes you can easily
drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it is ready to go. If it
needs service, have it done before starting out.Of course, you will nd experienced and able
service experts in GM dealerships all across
North America. They will be ready and willing to
help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir
full? Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you
checked all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses
clean?
Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough
for long-distance driving? Are the tires
all inated to the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is the weather
outlook along your route? Should you
delay your trip a short time to avoid a major
storm system?
Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
240

Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to come in
contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When you are turning with a trailer, make wider
turns than normal. Do this so your trailer will not
strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or
other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers.
Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal asher and/or extra wiring.
Check with your dealer. The arrows on your
instrument panel will ash whenever you
signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps will also ash, telling other
drivers you are about to turn, change lanes
or stop.When towing a trailer, the arrows on your
instrument panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs
on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind you are seeing your signal when
they are not. It is important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving on Grades
Notice:Do not tow on steep continuous
grades exceeding 6 miles (9.6 km). Extended,
higher than normal engine and transaxle
temperatures may result and damage your
vehicle. Frequent stops are very important to
allow the engine and transaxle to cool.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbefore
you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you
do not shift down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get hot and
no longer work well.
Pay attention to the engine coolant gage. If the
indicator is in the red area, turn off the air
conditioning to reduce engine load. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 290.
262

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal
down while you:
Start your engine.
Shift into a gear.
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the
chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store
the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when
you are pulling a trailer. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 375for more on this.
Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle uid (do not
overll), engine oil, drive belt, cooling system and
brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the
Index will help you nd them quickly. If you
are trailering, it is a good idea to review this
information before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and
bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat
during severe operating conditions. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 290.
264

Service........................................................ 268
Accessories and Modications................... 268
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 269
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 269
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 270
Fuel............................................................. 270
Gasoline Octane........................................ 270
Gasoline Specications.............................. 271
California Fuel........................................... 271
Additives................................................... 272
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 273
Filling the Tank......................................... 274
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 276
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 276
Hood Release........................................... 277
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 278
Engine Oil................................................. 279
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 282
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 284
Automatic Transaxle Fluid......................... 286
Manual Transaxle Fluid............................. 286
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 286Engine Coolant.......................................... 287
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 290
Engine Overheating................................... 290
Cooling System......................................... 292
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 297
Brakes...................................................... 298
Battery...................................................... 303
Jump Starting............................................ 304
Headlamp Aiming........................................ 309
Bulb Replacement....................................... 312
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 312
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps............. 313
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
(CHMSL)................................................ 315
Taillamps and Turn Signal Lamps
(Coupe)................................................. 316
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps (Sedan)......................... 316
Back-Up Lamps (Coupe)........................... 317
License Plate Lamp................................... 318
Replacement Bulbs................................... 318
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
265

While refueling, hang the tethered fuel cap from
the hook on the fuel door.
{CAUTION:
If you spill fuel and then something
ignites it, you could be badly burned. Fuel
can spray out on you if you open the fuel
cap too quickly. This spray can happen if
your tank is nearly full, and is more likely
in hot weather. Open the fuel cap slowly
and wait for any hiss noise to stop. Then
unscrew the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not top off or overll
the tank and wait a few seconds after you have
nished pumping before removing the nozzle.
Clean fuel from painted surfaces as soon as
possible. SeeWashing Your Vehicle on page 356.
When replacing the fuel cap, turn it clockwise until
it clicks. Make sure the cap is fully installed.
The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly installed.This would allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 168.
The CHECK GAS CAP message will be displayed
on the Driver Information Center (DIC) if the fuel
cap is not properly installed. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 177for more information.
{CAUTION:
If a re starts while you are refueling,
do not remove the nozzle. Shut off the
ow of fuel by shutting off the pump or by
notifying the station attendant. Leave the
area immediately.
Notice:If you need a new fuel cap, be sure to
get the right type. Your dealer can get one
for you. If you get the wrong type, it may not
t properly. This may cause your malfunction
indicator lamp to light and may damage
your fuel tank and emissions system. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 168.
275

Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle......... 78
Setting the Time.................................186, 187
Sheet Metal Damage................................... 359
Shifting Into Park (P)................................... 119
Shifting Out of Park (P)............................... 121
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster........................ 30
Signals, Turn and Lane-Change.................. 140
Spare Tire
Compact.................................................. 352
Installing.................................................. 344
Removing................................................ 339
Storing..................................................... 349
Specications, Capacities............................ 369
Speedometer............................................... 159
Starting Your Engine................................... 110
Steering...................................................... 227
Steering Wheel Controls, Audio................... 214
Steering Wheel, Tilt Wheel.......................... 139
Storage Areas
Center Console Storage Area................... 131
Convenience Net..................................... 131
Cupholder(s)............................................ 131
Driver’s Storage Compartment................. 131
Glove Box................................................ 131
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow............... 248
Sun Visors.................................................. 102
Snroof......................................................... 132T
Tachometer................................................. 159
Taillamps
Turn Signal Lamps................................... 316
Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps..................................... 316
Theft-Deterrent, Radio................................. 214
Theft-Deterrent Systems .............................. 102
Content Theft-Deterrent............................ 102
PASS-Key
®III+........................................ 104
PASS-Key®III+ Operation........................ 104
Tilt Wheel.................................................... 139
Tires........................................................... 320
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels,
Cleaning............................................... 358
Buying New Tires..................................... 330
Chains..................................................... 336
Changing a Flat Tire................................ 338
Cleaning.................................................. 359
Compact Spare Tire................................. 352
Different Size........................................... 332
If a Tire Goes Flat................................... 337
Ination - Tire Pressure............................ 327
Inspection and Rotation............................ 328
Installing the Spare Tire........................... 344
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