2007 PONTIAC G6 engine overheat

To prevent gear damage, this system also
prevents cranking if the engine is already
running. Engine cranking can be stopped by
turning the ignition switch to the ACC or OFF
position.
Notice:Cranking the engine for long periods of
time, by returning the key to the START position
immediately after cranking has ended, can
overheat and damage the cranking motor,
and drain the battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to allow the cranking motor to
cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after 5-10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather (below 0°F
or−18°C), it could be ooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the accelerator pedal all
the way to the oor and holding it there as you
hold the key in START for up to a maximum of
15 seconds. Wait at least 15 seconds between
each try, to allow the cranking motor to cool
down. When the engine starts, let go of the
key and accelerator. If the vehicle starts briey
but then stops again, do the same thing.This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.
Do not race the engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine and transaxle
gently until the oil warms up and lubricates
all moving parts.
Notice:Your engine is designed to work with
the electronics in your vehicle. If you add
electrical parts or accessories, you could
change the way the engine operates. Before
adding electrical equipment, check with
your dealer. If you do not, your engine might
not perform properly. Any resulting damage
would not be covered by your vehicle’s
warranty.
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Engine Coolant Heater
Your vehicle may have this feature. In very cold
weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder, the engine coolant
heater can provide easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up. Usually, the
coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum
of four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At
temperatures above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant
heater is not required. Your vehicle may also have
an internal thermostat in the plug end of the cord.
This will prevent operation of the engine coolant
heater when the temperature is at or above
0°F (−18°C) as noted on the cord.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
On the 2.4L L4 ECOTEC
®engine, the engine
coolant heater cord is located near the air
cleaner box on the passenger’s side of the
engine compartment. On the 3.5L, 3.6L and
3.9L V6 engines, the engine coolant heater
cord is located on the driver’s side around
the battery box. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 318for more information
on location.3. Plug the cord into a normal, grounded
110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded
outlet could cause an electrical shock.
Also, the wrong kind of extension cord
could overheat and cause a re. You
could be seriously injured. Plug the cord
into a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will not
reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug
and store the cord as it was before to keep it
away from moving engine parts. If you do
not, it could be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant
heater plugged in? The answer depends
on the outside temperature, the kind
of oil you have, and some other things.
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The transaxle will only allow you to shift into gears
appropriate for the vehicle speed and engine
revolutions per minute (RPM):
The transaxle will not automatically shift to the
next higher gear if the engine RPM is too high.
The transaxle will not allow shifting to the next
lower gear if the engine RPM is too high.
If the vehicle does not respond to a gear change, or
detects a problem with the transaxle, the range of
gears may be reduced and the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp will come on. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 204for more information.
SECOND (2)/THIRD (3)
Gear Start Feature
Notice:If you attempt a third gear start while
trailering or towing a heavy load, you will notice
reduced engine power. This could overheat and
damage your transaxle. Do not attempt a third
gear start while trailering or towing your
vehicle.If your vehicle has the 6-speed transaxle, when
accelerating your vehicle from a stop in snowy
and icy conditions, you may want to shift into
SECOND (2), or THIRD (3) gear. A higher gear,
and light application of the gas pedal, may allow
you to gain more traction on slippery surfaces.
With the TAP-Shift feature, the vehicle can
accelerate from a stop in SECOND (2) or
THIRD (3).
1. Move the shift lever from DRIVE (D) into the
MANUAL MODE (M) position.
2. With the vehicle stopped, press the plus (+)
paddle forward to select SECOND (2) or
THIRD (3)gear. The vehicle will start
from a stop position in SECOND (2) or
THIRD (3)gear.
3. Once the vehicle is moving select the desired
drive gear.
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Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transaxle)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle
with the engine running. Your vehicle
could move suddenly if the shift lever is
not fully in PARK (P) with the parking
brake rmly set. And, if you leave the
vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch re. You or
others could be injured. Do not leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your automatic transaxle
vehicle with the engine running, be sure
your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your parking
brake is rmly set before you leave it. After you
have moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the
regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can
move the shift lever away from PARK (P) without
rst pushing the button.If you can, it means that the shift lever was not
fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock (Automatic Transaxle)
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your
automatic transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the
weight of the vehicle may put too much force on
the parking pawl in the transaxle. You may nd it
difficult to pull the shift lever out of PARK (P). This is
called torque lock. To prevent torque lock, set the
parking brake and then shift into PARK (P) properly
before you leave the driver’s seat. To nd out how,
see “Shifting Into Park (P)” previously in the section.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever
out of PARK (P) before you release the parking
brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have
another vehicle push yours a little uphill to take
some of the pressure from the parking pawl in the
transaxle, so you can pull the shift lever out of
PARK (P).
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StabiliTrak®Not Ready Light
If your vehicle has the
StabiliTrak®system, this
light will come on if
there is a problem
detected with the
StabiliTrak
®system.
This light will also come on when the StabiliTrak
®
system has been turned off.
For more information, seeStabiliTrak
®System on
page 265.
StabiliTrak®Indicator Light
If your vehicle has the
StabiliTrak®system, this
light will come on
when the StabiliTrak
®
system is activated.
For more information, seeStabiliTrak
®System on
page 265.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves into the red area,
the light comes on and you hear a chime, the
engine is too hot! It means that your engine
coolant has overheated. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 342.
United StatesCanada
203

You will need a well-charged battery to restart the
vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with
your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window
almost all the way to preserve the heat. Start
the engine again and repeat this only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as
little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as
you can. To help keep warm, you can get out of
the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you
will need to spin the wheels, but you do not
want to spin your wheels too fast. The method
known as rocking can help you get out when you
are stuck, but you must use caution.
If your vehicle has a traction system, the traction
system can often help to free a stuck vehicle.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 262,
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 263,
orStabiliTrak
®System on page 265.Ifthestuck condition is too severe for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the traction system
off and use the rocking method.
{CAUTION:
If you let your vehicle’s tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or others
could be injured. And, the transaxle or
other parts of the vehicle can overheat.
That could cause an engine compartment
re or other damage. When you are stuck,
spin the wheels as little as possible. Do not
spin the wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h) as
shown on the speedometer.
Notice:Spinning the wheels can destroy parts
of your vehicle as well as the tires. If you
spin the wheels too fast while shifting
the transaxle back and forth, you can destroy
the transaxle. SeeRocking Your Vehicle to
Get It Out on page 288.
For information about using tire chains on your
vehicle, seeTire Chains on page 389.
287

Three important considerations have to do with
weight:
the weight of the trailer
the weight of the trailer tongue
and the total weight on your vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than 1,000 lbs
(453 kg). But even that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used to
pull a trailer are all important. It can also depend
on any special equipment that you have on
your vehicle, and the amount of tongue weight the
vehicle can carry. See “Weight of the Trailer
Tongue” later in this section for more information.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming
only the driver is in the tow vehicle and it has all
the required trailering equipment. The weight
of additional optional equipment, passengers and
cargo in the tow vehicle must be subtracted
from the maximum trailer weight.When towing a trailer on long uphill grades and
the outside temperature is above 85°F (29°C),
reduce your vehicle speed to 45 mph (72 km/h) to
avoid overheating the engine cooling system.
You can ask your dealer for additional trailering
information or advice, or you can write us at:
Pontiac-GMC Customer Assistance
P.O. Box 33172
Detroit, MI 48232-5172
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
298

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
When towing a trailer on long uphill grades and
the outside temperature is above 85°F (29°C),
reduce your vehicle speed to 45 mph (72 km/h) to
avoid overheating the engine cooling system.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbeforeyou
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.
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