2007 PONTIAC G6 engine

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
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Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inated to the upper
limit for cold tires. You will nd these numbers on
the Tire-Loading Information label at the rear edge
of the driver’s door or seeLoading Your Vehicle on
page 288. Then be sure you do not go over the
GVW limit for your vehicle, including the weight of
the trailer tongue.
Hitches
It is important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads
are a few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch.
Here are some rules to follow:
The rear bumper on your vehicle is not
intended for hitches. Do not attach rental
hitches or other bumper-type hitches to it. Use
only a frame-mounted hitch that does not attach
to the bumper.
Will you have to make any holes in the body of
your vehicle when you install a trailer hitch? If
you do, then be sure to seal the holes later
when you remove the hitch. If you do not seal
them, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) from your
exhaust can get into your vehicle. SeeEngine
Exhaust on page 140. Dirt and water can, too.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your
vehicle and your trailer. Cross the safety chains
under the tongue of the trailer so that the tongue will
not drop to the road if it becomes separated from
the hitch. Instructions about safety chains may be
provided by the hitch manufacturer or by the trailer
manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s
recommendation for attaching safety chains and do
not attach them to the bumper. Always leave just
enough slack so you can turn with your rig. And,
never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Does your trailer have its own brakes?
Be sure to read and follow the instructions for the
trailer brakes so you will be able to install,
adjust and maintain them properly. And because
you may have anti-lock brakes, do not try to
tap into your vehicle’s brake system. If you do,
both systems will not work well, or at all.
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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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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, and
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. See the Maintenance
Schedule for 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 342.
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Service........................................................ 308
Accessories and Modications................... 308
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 309
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 309
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 310
Fuel............................................................. 310
Gasoline Octane........................................ 310
Gasoline Specications.............................. 310
California Fuel........................................... 311
Additives................................................... 311
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 312
Filling the Tank......................................... 313
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 315
Checking Things Under
the Hood.................................................. 316
Hood Release........................................... 317
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 318
Engine Oil................................................. 325
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 328
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 330
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
(2.4L L4 and 3.5L V6 Engines).............. 332Automatic Transaxle Fluid
(3.6L Engine)......................................... 332
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
(3.9L V6 Engine).................................... 335
Manual Transaxle Fluid............................. 338
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 338
Engine Coolant.......................................... 339
Pressure Cap............................................ 342
Engine Overheating................................... 342
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 344
Cooling System......................................... 345
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 349
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 350
Brakes...................................................... 352
Battery...................................................... 355
Jump Starting............................................ 356
Bulb Replacement....................................... 361
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 361
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps............. 362
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL) (Sedan)................... 363
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
305

Aluminum Wheels...................................... 410
Tires......................................................... 411
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 411
Finish Damage.......................................... 411
Underbody Maintenance............................ 412
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 412
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 413
Vehicle Identication.................................. 414
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)........... 414
Service Parts Identication Label............... 414Electrical System........................................ 415
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 415
Windshield Wiper Fuses............................ 415
Power Windows and Other Power
Options.................................................. 415
Fuses........................................................ 415
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..................... 416
Engine Compartment Fuse Block............... 418
Rear Compartment Fuse Block.................. 421
Capacities and Specications.................... 424
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
307

California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine exhaust,
many parts and systems (including some inside
the vehicle), many uids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or emit these
chemicals.
Doing Your Own Service Work
{CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could
be damaged if you try to do service work
on a vehicle without knowing enough
about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement
parts, and tools before you attempt any
vehicle maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts,
and other fasteners. English and metric
fasteners can be easily confused. If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later
break or fall off. You could be hurt.
If you want to do some of your own service work,
you will want to use the proper service manual.
It tells you much more about how to service
your vehicle than this manual can. To order the
proper service manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 468.
309

Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work, see
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 92.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of any service
work you perform. SeeMaintenance Record
on page 446.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your
vehicle can affect the airow around it. This may
cause wind noise and affect windshield washer
performance. Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part
of the proper maintenance of your vehicle. To
help keep your engine clean and maintain optimum
vehicle performance, GM recommends the use
of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is
less than 87, you may notice an audible knocking
noise when you drive, commonly referred to as
spark knock. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher as soon as possible. If you are
using gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher and you
hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specication D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines may
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). General Motors recommends
against the use of gasolines containing MMT. See
Additives on page 311for additional information.
310