2008 PONTIAC G8 ESP

Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q:
Will I be trapped in the vehicle
after a crash if I am wearing a
safety belt?
A:Youcouldbe — whether you are
wearing a safety belt or not. But
your chance of being conscious
during and after an accident, so
youcanunbuckle and get out, is
muchgreater if you are belted.
And you can unbuckle a safety
belt, even if you are upside down.
Q:If my vehicle has airbags,
why should I have to wear
safety belts?
A:Airbags are supplemental
systems only; so they workwith
safety belts — not instead of
them. Whether or not an airbag is
provided, all occupants still have
to buckle up to get the most
protection. That is true not only in
frontal collisions, but especially in
side and other collisions.
Q:If I am a good driver, and I
never drive far from home,
why should I wear safety
belts?
A:You may be an excellent driver,
but if you are in a crash — even
one that is not your fault — you
and your passenger(s) can be
hurt. Being a good driver does not
protect you from things beyond
your control, such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within
25 miles (40 km) of home. And
the greatest number of serious
injuries and deaths occur at
speeds of less than 40 mph
(65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly
This section is only for people of
adult size.
Be aware that there are special
things to know about safety
belts and children. And there are
different rules for smaller children
and infants. If a child will be riding in
the vehicle, seeOlder Children on
page 1-32orInfants and Young
Children on page 1-34. Follow those
rules for everyone’s protection.
It is very important for all occupants
to buckle up. Statistics show that
unbelted people are hurt more often
in crashes than those who are
wearing safety belts.
Occupants who are not buckled up
can be thrown out of the vehicle
in a crash. And they can strike
others in the vehicle who are
wearing safety belts.
1-8 Seats and Restraints
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Doors and Locks
Door Locks
{CAUTION
Unlocked doors can be
dangerous.
Passengers, especially
children, can easily open
the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. When a door
is locked, the handle will not
open it. You increase the
chance of being thrown out
of the vehicle in a crash if
the doors are not locked. So,
wear safety belts properly
and lock the doors whenever
you drive.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Young children who get into
unlocked vehicles may be
unable to get out. A child can
be overcome by extreme heat
and can suffer permanent
injuries or even death from
heat stroke. Always lock your
vehicle whenever you leave it.
Outsiders can easily enter
through an unlocked door
when you slow down or stop
your vehicle. Locking your
doors can help prevent this
from happening.
Manual Door Locks
Unlock the driver door manually
from the outside using the key. Turn
the key counter-clockwise once to
unlock the driver door, and twice to
unlock all doors.
Lock all doors manually from the
outside by turning the key clockwise.
Lock and unlock the doors
manually from inside the vehicle
using the knob on the door. Do not
use the manual door lock knob
when the door is open.
2-8 Keys, Doors and Windows
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

There is an emergency trunk
release handle located inside the
trunk on the trunk latch. Access the
release handle by folding the
rear seat center seatback. SeeRear
Seat Operation on page 1-5. Pull
the release handle to open the trunk
from the inside.
The release can also be pulled from
inside the trunk.
Theft-Deterrent
Systems
Vehicle theft is big business,
especially in some cities. This
vehicle has theft-deterrent features,
however, they do not make it
impossible to steal.
Immobilizer
This device complies with Part 15
of the FCC Rules. Operation is
subject to the following two
conditions:
1. This device may not cause
interference.
2. This device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause
undesired operation.This device complies with RSS-210
of Industry Canada. Operation is
subject to the following two
conditions:
1. This device may not cause
interference.
2. This device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause
undesired operation of the
device.
Changes or modications to this
system by other than an authorized
service facility could void
authorization to use this equipment.
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-11
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

How to Detect a Tamper
Condition
IfKis pressed and the horn
sounds, an attempted break-in has
occurred while the system was
armed.
If the alarm has been activated, the
Alarm Activated message appears
followed by a message showing
what location set off the alarm.
If there is more than one, all will
appear. Each message will appear
for about one second and return
to the Alarm Activated message.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4-27for additional
information.
Windows
{CAUTION
Leaving children, helpless
adults, or pets in a vehicle with
the windows closed is
dangerous. They can be
overcome by the extreme heat
and suffer permanent injuries
or even death from heat stroke.
Never leave a child, a helpless
adult, or a pet alone in a
vehicle, especially with the
windows closed in warm or hot
weather.
2-14 Keys, Doors and Windows
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

3. Turn the band down to SET−
and then release it. The
CRUISE ACTIVE light comes on
in the instrument panel cluster.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal.
If the vehicle is in cruise control and
the Electronic Stability Program
(ESP) becomes active, the cruise
control automatically disengages.
SeeElectronic Stability Program on
page 8-16. When road conditions
allow the cruise control can be
used again.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a
desired speed and then the brakes
are applied or the
OQbutton
is pressed once, the cruise control
shuts off.Once the vehicle speed is 21 mph
(33 km/h) (V6 engines) or 24 mph
(38 km/h) (V8 engines) or greater,
turn the band briey to RES+
position. The vehicle returns to the
previously set speed and stays there.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a
higher speed:
Turn theIband up to the
RES+ position. Hold it there until
the desired speed is reached,
then release it.
To increase the vehicle speed in
very small amounts, turn the
band to RES+ briey and then
release it. Each time this is done,
the vehicle goes about 1 mph
(1.6 km/h) faster.Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce the
vehicle speed while using cruise
control:
Turn theIband down to the
SET−position. Hold it there
until the lower speed desired is
reached, then release it.
To slow down in very small
amounts, turn the band to
SET−briey and then release it.
Each time this is done, the
vehicle will go about 1 mph
(1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase the vehicle speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, the
vehicle slows down to the cruise
control speed set earlier.
4-6 Instruments and Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Preset 2:Default setting 45 MPH
(72 km/h)
Preset 3:Default setting 55 MPH
(89 km/h)
Preset 4:Default setting 70 MPH
(113 km/h)
The selection is set automatically
after a few seconds.
The corresponding value of the
presets will be shown on the display.
The preset OverSpeed warnings
can be reprogrammed. See
“Programming the OverSpeed
Presets” later in this section.
Manual OverSpeed
To manually set the OverSpeed
warning:
1. Use the thumbwheel to select
Manual for OverSpeed.
2. Press
8to highlight the current
value.3. Use the thumbwheel to adjust
the value in 5 MPH or km/h
increments and press
8
to conrm the setting.
To set the OverSpeed warning to
the vehicle’s current speed:
1. Use the thumbwheel to select
Manual as described in the
OverSpeed section.
2. Press
8to highlight the current
value.
3. Press and hold
8for more than
3 seconds to set the value to
the nearest 5 MPH or km/h
above the current vehicle’s
speed.
Programming the OverSpeed
Presets
While the vehicle’s speed is 6 MPH
(10 km/h) or below, each of the
presets can be altered and values
can be stored for future use.To reprogram the OverSpeed
presets:
1. Use the thumbwheel to select the
desired preset and press
8.
2. Move the thumbwheel up
Qor
down
Rto adjust the value in
1km/h increments.
3. Press
8to conrm the setting.
Adjusting the Setting During
an OverSpeed Warning
While the OverSpeed warning is
displayed move the thumbwheel up
Qor downRto adjust the
value when in Manual mode or to
select a different preset when
in Preset mode. Press and hold
8
for more than 3 seconds to set
the value to the nearest 5 MPH or
km/h above the current vehicle’s
speed. If Preset mode was selected,
this will change it to Manual mode.
4-26 Instruments and Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Service Charging System
This message is displayed when
there is a fault in the battery
charging system, see your
dealer/retailer.
You can press
3or8to
acknowledge that you received the
message, but
"Low Batt will
continue to appear in the bottom of
the DIC display until the vehicle
has been serviced.
:Service Engine Oil
This message is displayed when the
engine oil needs to be changed.
When you change the engine oil, be
sure to reset the Oil Life System.
SeeEngine Oil Life System on
page 9-10for information on how to
reset the message. SeeEngine
Oil on page 9-8andScheduled
Maintenance on page 11-4for more
information.
vService Vehicle Soon
This message is displayed when
there is a problem with the vehicle,
see your dealer/retailer.
You can press
3or8to
acknowledge that you received the
message, but
*Service will
continue to appear in the bottom of
the DIC display until the vehicle
has been serviced.
DSport Shift
This message is displayed when the
automatic transmission is operating
in sport shift mode.
SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation on page 8-6.
LStability Ctrl (Control)
Assistance
This message is displayed when the
Electronic Stability Program
(ESP
®) is actively helping the
vehicle with road grip and stability.
ESP CTRL appears at the bottom
of the display and remains
illuminated as long as the ESP is
actively helping with road grip
and stability. SeeElectronic Stability
Program on page 8-16.
FStability Ctrl (Control) Off
This message is displayed when the
ESP has been turned off.
SeeElectronic Stability Program on
page 8-16. If this message is
displayed and you have not turned
off the ESP, it means there is a
problem with the ESP, see
your dealer/retailer.
Instruments and Controls 4-31
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

You can press3or8to
acknowledge that you received the
message, but ESP OFF will
continue to appear in the bottom of
the DIC display until the vehicle
has been serviced.
7Check XX Tire Pressure
This message is displayed when the
ination pressure is low or very
low in the indicated tire.
You can press
3or8to
acknowledge that you received the
message, but
7LF Tire,7RF
Tire,
7LR Tire, or7RR Tire will
continue to appear in the bottom
of the DIC display until the tire
pressure is at a normal level. See
Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 9-49for more information.
7Tire Pressure System
Fault
This message is displayed when
there is a problem with the Tire
Pressure Monitor System.
You can press
3or8to
acknowledge that you received the
message, but
7Tire Fault will
continue to appear in the bottom of
the DIC display until the tire
pressure is at a normal level. See
Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 9-49for more information.
xVery Low Fuel
This message is displayed when the
fuel level is very low.
You can press
3or8to
acknowledge that you received the
message, but
.V.Low Fuel will
continue to appear in the bottom of
the DIC display until enough fuel
tank has been lled above the
low fuel level.
DIC Vehicle
Customization
Your vehicle has features that you
can customize through the DIC.
Using the Customization Menu
Press3until you see Customize
Options and then press
8. The
customization options will only be
available when the vehicle speed is
less than 6 mph (10 km/h). If the
vehicle is moving faster than that the
display will show Not Available.
Move the thumbwheel up
Q
or downRto scroll through the
available options. Press
8to select
an item. To exit the current
menu, or go back, use the
thumbwheel to select
qat the top
of the screen and then press
8.
4-32 Instruments and Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual