2008 PONTIAC G8 Owners Manual

Vehicle Service
and Care
Service
Service...............................9-2
Accessories and
Modications.....................9-3
California Proposition 65
Warning............................9-3
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements.....9-3
Doing Your Own
Service Work....................9-4
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle......9-4
Owner Checks
Owner Checks....................9-5
Hood Release.....................9-5
Engine Compartment
Overview...........................9-6
Engine Oil..........................9-8
Engine Oil Life System.....9-10
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. . .9-11
Automatic Transmission
Fluid................................9-13
Engine Coolant.................9-13
Radiator Pressure Cap......9-15
Engine Overheating...........9-16
Cooling System.................9-17
Power Steering Fluid.........9-21
Windshield Washer Fluid. . .9-22
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement...................9-23
Brakes..............................9-24
Battery..............................9-26
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming..............9-27
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement.............9-29
Halogen Bulbs..................9-29
Headlamps and Parking
Lamps.............................9-29
Taillamps..........................9-31
Replacement Bulbs...........9-32
Electrical System
Add-On Electrical
Equipment.......................9-32
Headlamp Wiring..............9-33
Windshield Wiper Fuses. . . .9-33
Power Windows and
Other Power Options. . . . . . .9-33
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block...............................9-33
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block......................9-35
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block...............................9-38
Tires
Tires.................................9-39
Tire Sidewall Labeling. . . . . . .9-40
Tire Terminology and
Denitions.......................9-43
Ination - Tire Pressure. . . .9-46
High-Speed Operation. . . . . . .9-48
Tire Pressure Monitor
System............................9-49
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation........................9-51
Tire Inspection and
Rotation..........................9-54
When It Is Time for
New Tires.......................9-56
Buying New Tires.............9-56
Different Size Tires and
Wheels............................9-58
Vehicle Service and Care 9-1
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Uniform Tire Quality
Grading...........................9-59
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance...........................9-60
Wheel Replacement..........9-61
Tire Chains.......................9-62
Tire Changing
If a Tire Goes Flat............9-62
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
(V8 Engine)
.....................9-64
Changing a Flat Tire
(V6 Engine).....................9-71
Removing the Spare Tire
and Tools........................9-72
Removing the Flat Tire
and Installing the
Spare Tire
.......................9-73
Storing a Flat or Spare
Tire and Tools.................9-78
Compact Spare Tire..........9-79
Jump Starting
Jump Starting...................9-80
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle.........9-84
Shift Lock Manual
Release...........................9-84
Recreational Vehicle
Towing............................9-85
Towing a Trailer................9-85
Appearance Care
Interior Cleaning................9-91
Exterior Cleaning..............9-94
Sheet Metal Damage........9-98
Finish Damage..................9-98
Underbody Maintenance. . . .9-98
Chemical Paint Spotting. . . .9-98
Vehicle Care/Appearance
Materials.........................9-99
Service
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer/retailer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one
of these marks:
9-2 Vehicle Service and Care
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Accessories and
Modications
When non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories are added to your
vehicle they can affect your vehicle’s
performance and safety, including
such things as, airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling,
emissions systems, aerodynamics,
durability, and electronic systems
like antilock brakes, traction control
and stability control. Some of
these accessories could even cause
malfunction or damage not
covered by warranty.
GM Accessories are designed to
complement and function with other
systems on your vehicle. Your
GM dealer/retailer can accessorize
your vehicle using genuine GM
Accessories. When you go to yourGM dealer/retailer and ask for GM
Accessories, you will know that
GM-trained and supported service
technicians will perform the
work using genuine GM
Accessories.
Also, seeAdding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 1-30.
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.
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained
in remote keyless entry transmitters,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-3
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

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 should 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 12-15.
Your vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your
own service work, seeAirbag
System Check on page 1-31.
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 11-15.
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside
of your vehicle can affect the
airow around it. This can cause
wind noise and can affect fuel
economy and windshield washer
performance. Check with your
dealer/retailer before adding
equipment to the outside of your
vehicle.
9-4 Vehicle Service and Care
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Owner Checks
{CAUTION
An electric fan under the hood
can start up and injure you
even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing,
and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION
Things that burn can get on hot
engine parts and start a re.
These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake uid,
windshield washer and other
uids, and plastic or rubber.
You or others could be burned.
Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot
engine.
Hood Release
To open the hood:
1. Pull the release handle with the
above symbol on it. It is located
below the instrument panel to
the left of the steering wheel.2. Pull up on the secondary hood
release. The lever is located
near the middle of the hood.
3. Lift the hood.
4. Release the hood prop rod from
its retainer and put it into the
slot in the hood. To insert
the hood prop rod into the slot.
Before closing the hood, be sure all
the ller caps are on properly.
Make sure to return the hood prop
rod carefully back to its retainer
to avoid damaging the vehicle.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-5
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood, this is what you will see:A. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block. See Engine Compartment
Fuse Block on page 9-35 .
B. Coolant Reservoir and Dipstick. See Cooling System on
page 9-17 .
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil” under Engine
Oil on page 9-8 .
D. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 9-8 .
E. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under Brakes
on page 9-24 .
F. Power Steering Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid on
page 9-21 .
G. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
on page 9-11 .
H. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Windshield
Washer Fluid on page 9-22 .
I. Radiator Pressure Cap. See Cooling System on page 9-17 .
V6 Engine
9-6 Vehicle Service and Care
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

A. Engine Compartment FuseBlock. See Engine Compartment
Fuse Block on page 9-35 .
B. Coolant Reservoir and Dipstick. See Cooling System on
page 9-17 .
C. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 9-8 .
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Oil” under Engine Oil on
page 9-8 .
E. Power Steering Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid on
page 9-21 .
F. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under Brakes
on page 9-24 .
G. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 9-11 .
H. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Windshield
Washer Fluid on page 9-22 .
I. Radiator Pressure Cap. See Cooling System on page 9-17 .
V8 Engine
Vehicle Service and Care 9-7
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the
engine oil every time you get fuel.
In order to get an accurate reading,
the oil must be warm and the
vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle
is a yellow loop. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 9-6
for the location of the engine oil
dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the
oil several minutes to drain back
into the oil pan. If you do not
do this, the oil dipstick might not
show the actual level.
2. Pull the dipstick and clean it with
a paper towel or cloth, then push
it back in all the way. Remove
it again, keeping the tip down and
check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the MIN (minimum)
mark, add at least one quart/liter
of the recommended oil. This
section explains what kind of oil to
use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, seeCapacities and
Specifications on page 10-2.
Notice:Do not add too much oil.
If the engine has so much oil
that the oil level gets above the
upper mark that shows the proper
operating range, the engine
could be damaged.SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 9-6for the location of
the engine oil ll cap.
Be sure to add enough oil to put the
level somewhere in the proper
operating range. Push the dipstick
all the way back in when you
are through.
9-8 Vehicle Service and Care
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual