2008 PONTIAC G8 engine

Air Delivery Mode Control
Use the right knob to select from
the following modes.
0(Vent):Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
1(Bi-Level):Air is divided
between the instrument panel
outlets and the oor outlets.
d(Floor):Air is directed to the
oor outlets with some air directed to
the windshield and side window
outlets.
4(Defog):Air is directed to the
windshield, oor outlets, and
side window vents. Use this mode
to clear the windows of fog or
moisture and warm the passengers.
5(Defrost):Air is directed to
the windshield, with some air
directed to the side window vents.
Use this mode to quickly remove
fog or frost from the windshield.When defrost is selected, the air
conditioning turns on automatically
to improve defrosting performance.
In this mode the air conditioning
cannot be turned off and the
recirculation mode cannot be
turned on.
Air Conditioning
#(Air Conditioning):Press to
turn on or off. An indicator comes on
when the air conditioning is on.
The fan must be on to use the
air conditioning.
The air conditioning cannot be turned
off in defrost mode. If
#is pressed,
the indicator light ashes three times
and the air conditioning stays on.
For quick cool down on hot days,
select the following settings together:
1. Press
#to turn on the air
conditioning.
2. Press
/to turn on the
recirculation.3. Select the coolest temperature
and highest fan speed.
4. Open the windows briey to
let hot air escape and then
close them.
5. Once the vehicle’s interior cools
down, turn off the recirculation,
and select
0. This maintains
the best comfort level during
extended driving.
The air conditioning system removes
moisture from the air, so a small
amount of water might drip under the
vehicle while idling or after turning off
the engine. This is normal.
The air conditioning should be
turned on for at least ve to
ten minutes once every two weeks
to lubricate the air conditioning
seals, even in the winter.
7-2 Climate Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Automatic Climate Control System
The heating, cooling, and ventilation for the vehicle can be controlled with
this system. For vehicles with the remote start feature, the climate control
system will turn on with a remote start. SeeRemote Vehicle Start on page 2-6.
O(OFF):Press to turn the climate
control system off. Press any
button to turn the system on again.
While the climate control system is
off the recirculation and rear window
defogger can still be turned on.
Automatic Operation
AUTO (Automatic): When this
button is pressed, the system
automatically controls the inside
temperature, the air delivery mode,
the air conditioning compressor, and the fan speed. When AUTO
appears in the display, the system is
in full automatic operation. If any
of the controls are manually
adjusted, the AUTO indicator turns
off in the display.
1. Press the AUTO button, if the
AUTO indicator does not
appear on the display.
2. Adjust the temperature to a comfortable setting between
72°F (22°C) and 75°F (24°C). Choosing the coldest or warmest
temperature setting will not
cause the system to heat or cool
any faster.
3. Let the system stabilize for a few minutes.
4. Adjust the air outlets or temperature.
In cold weather, the system starts in
the recirculation mode with the
fan off. As the engine warms up,
warm air is directed to the oor
outlets, before automatically
changing to bi-level mode with a
reduced fan speed.
Do not cover the solar sensor
located in the center of the
instrument panel, near the
windshield. For more information
on the solar sensor, see “Sensors”
later in this section.
7-4 Climate Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Select from the following modes:
0(Vent):Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
1(Bi-Level):Air is divided
between the instrument panel
outlets and the oor outlets. Cooler
air is directed to the upper outlets
and warmer air to the oor outlets.
d(Floor):Air is directed to
the oor outlets with some air
directed to the outer instrument
panel, windshield and side window
outlets.
4(Defog):Air is directed to the
windshield, oor and side window
outlets. Use this mode to clear
the windows of fog or moisture and
warm the passengers.
5(Defrost):Press to turn the
defrost on or off. The
5indicator
appears in the display. A portion of
the air is directed to the windshield,
with some air directed to the side
window vents.When defrost is selected, the air
conditioning turns on automatically to
improve defrosting performance. In
this mode the air conditioning cannot
be turned off and the recirculation
mode cannot be turned on.
Air Conditioning
#(Air Conditioning):Press to
turn the air conditioning system on or
off. The
#appears in the display
when the air conditioning is on.
When the air conditioning is turned
off
#OFF appears in the display.
The air conditioning cannot be turned
off in defrost mode. If
#is pressed,
the indicator light ashes three times
and the air conditioning stays on.
For quick cool down on hot days,
open the windows to let the hot air to
escape. After a few minutes, close
the windows so the system will work
more effectively.The air conditioning system removes
moisture from the air, so a small
amount of water might drip under the
vehicle while idling or after turning off
the engine. This is normal.
The air conditioning might
automatically turn off during heavy
acceleration or towing with your
vehicle, but the
#will still display.
Recirculation
/(Recirculation):Press to
change the air intake between
recirculated air and outside air.
An indicator light comes when the
recirculation is activated.
The recirculation mode recycles
interior air and is not recommended
for extended use. If it is used for
a long period of time, the system
automatically lets some fresh air into
the vehicle for ventilation.
7-6 Climate Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Driving and
Operating
Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In.........8-2
Ignition Positions................8-2
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP).....................8-3
Starting the Engine.............8-4
Engine Coolant Heater.......8-5
Automatic Transmission
Operation..........................8-6
Parking Brake.....................8-9
Shifting Into Park
(Automatic
Transmission)
..................8-10
Shifting Out of Park..........8-11
Parking Over Things
That Burn........................8-11
Engine Exhaust.................8-12
Running the Vehicle
While Parked..................8-12
Driving Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving..............8-13
Drunk Driving....................8-13
Control of a Vehicle..........8-14
Braking.............................8-14
Antilock Brake
System (ABS).................8-15
Electronic Stability
Program..........................8-16
Steering............................8-19
Off-Road Recovery............8-20
Passing.............................8-21
Loss of Control.................8-21
Driving at Night.................8-22
Driving in Rain and on
Wet Roads......................8-23
Before Leaving on a
Long Trip........................8-24
Highway Hypnosis.............8-24
Hill and Mountain Roads. . . .8-24
Winter Driving...................8-25
If Your Vehicle is Stuck
in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow
..........................8-27
Rocking Your Vehicle to
Get It Out.......................8-28
Loading the Vehicle..........8-28
Fuel
Fuel..................................8-32
Gasoline Octane...............8-33
Gasoline Specications. . . . .8-33
California Fuel..................8-33
Additives...........................8-34
Fuels in Foreign
Countries........................8-34
Filling the Tank.................8-35
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container........................8-36
Driving and Operating 8-1
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Starting and
Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not
need an elaborate break-in. But it
will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:
Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not make full-throttle
starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
During the rst 600 miles
(1 000 km), avoid using
more than moderate
acceleration in lower gears and
avoid vehicle speeds above
68 mph (110 km/h).
Between the rst 600 miles
(1 000 km) and 3,000 miles
(5 000 km), heavy acceleration
in lower gears can be used.
Vehicle speeds above 68 mph
(110 km/h) should be limited
to ve minutes per use.
Avoid making hard stops for the
rst 200 miles (322 km) or so.
During this time the new brake
linings are not yet broken in.
Hard stops with new linings can
mean premature wear and
earlier replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. SeeTowing a Trailer
on page 9-85for the trailer
towing capabilities of your
vehicle and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has four different
positions.
Notice:Using a tool to force the
key from the ignition switch
could cause damage or break the
key. Use the correct key and
turn the key only with your hand.
Make sure the key is in all the
way. If none of this works,
then your vehicle needs service.
To shift out of P (Park), turn the
ignition to ON/RUN and apply
the brake pedal.
8-2 Driving and Operating
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

A (LOCK/OFF):This is the only
position from which you can remove
the key. This locks the steering
wheel, ignition and automatic
transmission.
On vehicles with an automatic
transmission, the shift lever must be
in P (Park) to turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK/OFF position.
The ignition switch can bind in
the LOCK/OFF position with your
wheels turned off center. If this
happens, move the steering wheel
from right to left while turning the
key to ACC/ACCESSORY. If this
doesn’t work, then the vehicle needs
service.
B (ACC/ACCESSORY):This
position provides power to some
of the electrical accessories.
It unlocks the steering wheel and
ignition. The transmission is
also unlocked in this position
on automatic transmission
vehicles. To move the key from
ACC/ACCESSORY to LOCK/OFF,
push in the key and then turn it
to LOCK/OFF.C (ON/RUN):The ignition switch
stays in this position when the
engine is running. This position can
be used to operate the electrical
accessories, including the ventilation
fan and 12 volt power outlet, as
well as to display some warning and
indicator lights.
The battery could be drained
if you leave the key in the
ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN
position with the engine off.
You may not be able to start the
vehicle if the battery is allowed
to drain for an extended period
of time.
D (START):This position starts the
engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch
will return to ON/RUN for normal
driving.
A warning tone will sound when the
driver door is opened when the
ignition is still in ACC/ACCESSORY
and the key is in the ignition.Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories may be
used for up to 10 minutes after
the engine is turned off.
Audio System
Power Windows
The power windows will continue to
work for up to 10 minutes or until
any door is opened. The radio
will work when the key is in ON/RUN
or ACC/ACCESSORY. Once the
key is turned from ON/RUN to
LOCK/OFF, the radio will continue
to work for 10 minutes or until
the driver’s door is opened.
Driving and Operating 8-3
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Starting the Engine
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart
when you are already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
Notice:Do not try to shift to
P (Park) if your vehicle is moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to P (Park)
only when your vehicle is stopped.
1. With your foot off the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to
START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle
speed will go down as your
engine gets warm. Do not race
the engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine
and transmission gently to allow
the oil to warm up and lubricate
all moving parts.The vehicle has a
Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists
in starting the engine and
protects components. If the
ignition key is turned to
the START position, and then
released when the engine
begins cranking, the engine will
continue cranking for a few
seconds or until the vehicle
starts. If the engine does not start
and the key is held in START
for many seconds, cranking
will be stopped after 15 seconds
to prevent cranking motor
damage. 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 ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF.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 let the
cranking motor 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.
8-4 Driving and Operating
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

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 transmission gently
until the oil warms up and
lubricates all moving parts.
Notice:The engine is designed
to work with the electronics
in the vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could
change the way the engine
operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your
dealer/retailer. If you do not,
the engine might not perform
properly. Any resulting damage
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.Engine Coolant Heater
The engine coolant heater, if
available, can help in cold weather
conditions at or below 0°F (−18°C)
for easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up.
Plug in the coolant heater at least
four hours before starting your
vehicle. An internal thermostat in the
plug-end of the cord will prevent
engine coolant heater operation at
temperatures above 0°F (−18°C).
To Use The Engine Coolant
Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord.
The electrical cord is located on
the driver side of the engine
compartment, behind the
air cleaner for V8 models.
The electrical cord is located on
the passenger side of the
engine compartment, behind the
engine compartment fuse
block for V6 models.3. Plug it 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.
Driving and Operating 8-5
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual