2008 PONTIAC G8 automatic transmission

(e)Make sure the safety belt
reminder light and safety belt
assemblies are working properly.
Look for any other loose or
damaged safety belt system parts. If
you see anything that might keep
a safety belt system from doing
its job, have it repaired. Have any
torn or frayed safety belts replaced.
Also see Airbag System Check
on page 1-31.
(f)Lubricate all key lock cylinders,
door hinges and latches, hood
hinges and latches and trunk lid
hinges and latches. More frequent
lubrication may be required
when exposed to a corrosive
environment. Applying silicone
grease on weatherstrips with a clean
cloth will make them last longer,
seal better, and not stick or squeak.
(g)Visually inspect belt for fraying,
excessive cracks, or obvious
damage. Replace belt if necessary.(h)Change automatic transmission
fluid and filter if the vehicle is
mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the
outside temperature regularly
reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer
towing.
Uses such as found in taxi,
police, or delivery service.
(i)Drain, flush, and refill cooling
system. This service can be
complex; you should have your
dealer/retailer perform this service.
See Engine Coolant on page 9-13 for
what to use. Inspect hoses. Clean
radiator, condenser, pressure cap,
and filler neck. Pressure test the
cooling system and pressure cap.(j)A fluid loss in any vehicle system
could indicate a problem. Have
the system inspected and repaired
and the fluid level checked. Add
fluid if needed.
(k)If you drive regularly under dusty
conditions, inspect the filter at
each engine oil change.
(l)If you drive regularly under dusty
conditions, the filter may require
replacement more often.
(m)Drain, flush, and refill brake
hydraulic system at a regular service
interval (IorII) every two years.
This service can be complex;
you should have your dealer/retailer
perform this service. See Brakes
on page 9-24.
11-8 Service and Maintenance
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

At Least Once a Year
Starter Switch Check
{CAUTION
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before you start, be sure you
have enough room around
the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking
brake and the regular brake.
SeeParking Brake on page 8-9.
Do not use the accelerator
pedal, and be ready to turn off
the engine immediately if it starts.3. Try to start the engine in each
gear. The vehicle should start
only in PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N). If the vehicle
starts in any other position,
contact your dealer/retailer for
service.
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control System Check
{CAUTION
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before you start, be sure you
have enough room around
the vehicle. It should be parked
on a level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake.
SeeParking Brake on page 8-9.Be ready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the
ignition to ON/RUN, but do
not start the engine. Without
applying the regular brake, try to
move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) with normal effort. If
the shift lever moves out of
PARK (P), contact your
dealer/retailer for service.Ignition Transmission Lock
Check
While parked, and with the parking
brake set, try to turn the ignition
to LOCK/OFF in each shift
lever position.
The ignition should turn to
LOCK/OFF only when the
shift lever is in PARK (P).
The ignition key should come out
only in LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer/retailer if
service is required.
11-10 Service and Maintenance
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Parking Brake and Automatic
Transmission Park (P)
Mechanism Check
{CAUTION
When you are doing this check,
your vehicle could begin to
move. You or others could be
injured and property could be
damaged. Make sure there is
room in front of your vehicle in
case it begins to roll. Be ready
to apply the regular brake at
once should the vehicle begin
to move.Park on a fairly steep hill, with the
vehicle facing downhill. Keeping
your foot on the regular brake, set
the parking brake.
To check the parking brake’s
holding ability: With the engine
running and the transmission
in NEUTRAL (N), slowly remove
foot pressure from the regular
brake pedal. Do this until
the vehicle is held by the parking
brake only.
To check the PARK (P)
mechanism’s holding ability: With
the engine running, shift to
PARK (P). Then release the
parking brake followed by
the regular brake.
Contact your dealer/retailer if
service is required.
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain
water to ush any corrosive
materials from the underbody. Take
care to clean thoroughly any
areas where mud and other debris
can collect.
Service and Maintenance 11-11
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identied below by name, part number, or specication can be obtained from your
dealer/retailer.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine Oil Engine oil which meets GM Standard GM6094M and displays the
American Petroleum Institute Certied for Gasoline Engines starburst
symbol. To determine the proper viscosity for your vehicle’s engine,
see
Engine Oil on page 9-8 .
Engine Coolant 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and use only DEX-COOL
®
Coolant. See
Engine Coolant on page 9-13 .
Hydraulic Brake System Hydraulic Brake Fluid. Use only GM Part No. U.S. 88958860,
in Canada 88901244, Super DOT-4 brake uid.
Windshield Washer Optikleen
®Washer Solvent.
Hydraulic Power Steering System DEXRON®-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Automatic Transmission DEXRON®-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Key Lock Cylinders Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Hood Latch Assembly, Secondary Latch, Pivots, Spring Anchor, and Release Pawl Lubriplate Lubricant Aerosol (GM Part No. U.S. 12346293, in
Canada 992723) or lubricant meeting requirements of NLGI #2,
Category LB or GC-LB.
Hood and Door Hinges Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in
Canada 109435474).
Weatherstrip Conditioning Weatherstrip Lubricant (GM Part No. U.S. 3634770, in Canada 10953518)
or Dielectric Silicone Grease (GM Part No. U.S. 12345579, in
Canada 992887).
11-12 Service and Maintenance
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

A
Accessories and
Modications...................... 9-3
Accessory Power Outlets........ 4-9
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . 1-30
Additives, Fuel.....................8-34
Add-On Electrical
Equipment .......................9-32
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine .......9-11
Air Conditioning...............7-1, 7-4
Airbag
Passenger Status
Indicator .......................4-14
Readiness Light . ...............4-13
System, Replacing Parts
After a Crash . ...............1-32
Airbag System.....................1-19
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle . .......................1-30
Check . . . . .........................1-31
How Does an Airbag
Restrain?.....................1-24Airbag System (cont.)
Servicing Your
Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle........................1-30
What Makes an Airbag
Inate?........................1-24
What Will You See After an
Airbag Inates? . ............1-24
When Should an Airbag
Inate?........................1-22
Where Are the
Airbags?..............1-21, 1-26
Antenna, Fixed Mast . ...........6-24
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)..................8-15
Anti-lock Brake, System
Warning Light...................4-17
Appearance Care
Chemical Paint Spotting.....9-98
Exterior Cleaning . . ............9-94
Finish Damage.................9-98
Interior Cleaning . . .............9-91
Sheet Metal Damage........9-98
Underbody Maintenance....9-98
Vehicle Care/Appearance
Materials......................9-99
Appointments, Scheduling
Service . ..........................12-8
Audio System . . ...................... 6-1
Audio Steering Wheel
Controls .......................6-23
Fixed Mast Antenna ..........6-24
Radio Reception . . .............6-24
Setting the Clock . . . . . . .......... 6-2
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . 6-23
Audio System(s) . . . ................. 6-3
Automatic Climate Control
System ............................. 7-4
Automatic Headlamp System . . . 5-2
Automatic Transmission
Fluid...............................9-13
Operation . . . ....................... 8-6
B
Battery...............................9-26
Run-Down Protection . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Brakes...............................9-24
System Warning Light . . . . . . . 4-16
Braking...............................8-14
Break-In, New Vehicle............ 8-2
INDEX i-1
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

D
Daytime Running Lamps......... 5-2
Daytime Running Lamps
Indicator Light..................4-21
Defensive Driving . . ...............8-13
DIC Vehicle Customization . . . . 4-32
Disc, MP3 . . .........................6-19
Doing Your Own
Service Work..................... 9-4
Dome Lamps........................ 5-4
Door
Ajar Light . .......................4-21
Locks . . . . . . . ........................ 2-8
Power Door Locks.............. 2-9
Rear Door Security Locks . . . . 2-9
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . ...........4-23, 4-32
DIC Operation and
Displays .......................4-23
DIC Warnings and
Messages....................4-27
Driving
At Night ..........................8-22
Before a Long Trip............8-24
Defensive . .......................8-13
Drunken ..........................8-13
Highway Hypnosis............8-24
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . 8-24Driving (cont.)
In Rain and on
Wet Roads...................8-23
Rocking Your Vehicle to
Get it Out ....................8-28
Winter .............................8-25
E
EDR .................................12-16
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment . ...........9-32
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block...........................9-35
Headlamp Wiring . . ............9-33
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block...........................9-33
Power Windows and Other
Power Options . . ............9-33
Rear Compartment
Fuse Block...................9-38
Windshield Wiper Fuses....9-33
Electronic Stability Program . . . 8-16
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . .............9-11
Check and Service Engine
Soon Light...................4-18
Coolant...........................9-13
Coolant Heater................... 8-5Engine (cont.)
Coolant
Temperature Gage.........4-17
Drive Belt Routing...........11-14
Engine Compartment
Overview . . . . . .................. 9-6
Exhaust . ..........................8-12
Oil ................................... 9-8
Oil Life System.................9-10
Overheating.....................9-16
Starting ............................. 8-4
Event Data Recorders .........12-16
Extender, Safety Belt ............1-17
Exterior Lamps . ..................... 5-1
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner ............9-11
Finish Damage....................9-98
Fixed Mast Antenna . . . . .........6-24
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . . 4-4
Flat Tire . . . ...........................9-62
Flat Tire, Changing . . .............9-71
Flat Tire, Storing . . . . ..............9-78
Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-13
Power Steering.................9-21
Windshield Washer . ..........9-22
INDEX i-3
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Tires (cont.)
Pressure Monitor
Operation.....................9-51
Pressure Monitor System . . . 9-49
Removing the Flat Tire......9-73
Removing the Spare Tire
and Tools.....................9-72
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools.....................9-78
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit .............9-64
Tire Sidewall Labeling .......9-40
Tire Terminology and
Denitions....................9-43
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading .......................9-59
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance .......................9-60
Wheel Replacement . . ........9-61
When It Is Time for
New Tires....................9-56Towing
Recreational Vehicle ..........9-85
Towing a Trailer................9-85
Your Vehicle.....................9-84
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic................9-13
Transmission Operation,
Automatic.......................... 8-6
Trunk . . ...............................2-10
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals............................. 4-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction
Lever . ............................... 4-4
U
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading...........................9-59
Using this Manual . .................... ii
V
Vehicle
Control............................8-14
Loading . ..........................8-28
Running While Parked . . . . . . . 8-12
Symbols.............................. iii
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy . . . . ......................12-16
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN)...................10-1
Service Parts Identication
Label . ..........................10-1
Vehicle, Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Ventilation Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Visors.................................2-15
Voltmeter Gage....................4-15
INDEX i-9
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual