2008 PONTIAC G8 automatic transmission

The main components of the
instrument panel are the following:
A.Turn Signal/Multifunction
Lever on page 4-4 .
B. Audio Steering Wheel Controls
on page 6-23 andDIC Operation
and Displays on page 4-23 .
C. Instrument Panel Cluster on
page 4-11 .
D. Audio Steering Wheel Controls
on page 6-23 .
E. Windshield Wipers on page 4-8 .
F. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 4-4 .
G. Voltmeter, Oil Gage. Voltmeter
Gage on page 4-15 .
H. Outlet Adjustment on page 7-8 .I.
Exterior Lamps Controls on
page 5-1 .Instrument Panel
Brightness on page 5-3 .Fog
Lamps on page 5-3 (If Equipped).
J. Hood Release on page 9-5.
K. Tilt Wheel on page 4-4 .
L. Horn on page 4-4.
M. Ignition Positions on page 8-2 .
N. Climate Control System on
page 7-1 .Automatic Climate
Control System on page 7-4
(If Equipped).
O. Shift Lever. Automatic
Transmission Operation on
page 8-6 . P.
Power Door Locks on page 2-9 .
Q. Outside Power Mirror(s) on
page 2-17 .
R. Power Windows on page 2-15 .
S. Traction Control System (TCS) Disable Button. Electronic
Stability Program on page 8-16 .
T. Heated Seats on page 1-5
(If Equipped).
U. Accessory Power Outlet(s) on
page 4-9 .
V. Audio System(s) on page 6-1 .
W. Glove Box on page 3-1 .
Instruments and Controls 4-3
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Underspeed Chime
If an OverSpeed warning appeared
and the vehicle’s speed drops
below the set value, you will hear a
chime. The underspeed chime
can be turned on or off through the
vehicle customization. SeeDIC
Vehicle Customization on page 4-32
for more information.
DIC Warnings and
Messages
Messages are displayed on the DIC
to notify the driver that the status
of the vehicle has changed and that
some action may be needed by
the driver to correct the condition.
Multiple messages may appear one
after another.
Some messages may not require
immediate action, but you can press
3or8to acknowledge that
you received the messages and to
clear them from the display.
Some messages cannot be cleared
from the DIC display becausethey are more urgent. These
messages require action before they
can be cleared. You should take
any messages that appear on
the display seriously and remember
that clearing the messages will
only make the messages disappear,
not correct the problem.
The following are the possible
messages that can be displayed
and some information about them.
!ABS Fault
This message is displayed if there is
a problem with the ABS system.
The ABS light may also turn on in
the instrument panel cluster.
SeeAntilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light on page 4-17.
When this message is on, the brake
system will still operate with the
antilock operation disabled.
See your dealer/retailer.
uActive Select On
This message is displayed when the
automatic transmission active
select mode is enabled. See “Active
Select Mode” underAutomatic
Transmission Operation on
page 8-6.
9Airbag Fault
This message is displayed if there is
a problem with the airbag system
or safety belt pretensioner system.
SeeAirbag System on page 1-19
and “Safety Belt Pretensioners”
underLap-Shoulder Belt on
page 1-14. The Airbag Readiness
light may also come on in the
instrument panel cluster. SeeAirbag
Readiness Light on page 4-13.
See your dealer/retailer.
Instruments and Controls 4-27
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

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

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

The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer/retailer
in the area where you will be
parking the vehicle for the best
advice on this.
Automatic Transmission
Operation
The shift lever is located on the
center console between the
front seats.
There are several different positions
for the shift lever. When the
position of the shift lever is changed,a message is shown in the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
The selected gear is magnied in
the DIC, and changes according
to the shift lever’s movement.
There are also messages for
Sport Shift Mode, Normal Shift
Mode and Driver Shift Control.
P (Park):This position locks the
rear wheels. It is the best position
to use when the engine is started
because the vehicle cannot
move easily.
{CAUTION
It is dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is
not fully in P (Park) with the
parking brake rmly set.
The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when
the engine is running unless
you have to. If you have left the
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level
ground, always set the parking
brake and move the shift lever
to P (Park). SeeShifting Into
Park (Automatic Transmission)
on page 8-10. If you are pulling
a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer
on page 9-85.
Make sure the shift lever is fully
in P (Park) before starting the
engine. The vehicle has an
automatic transmission shift lock
control system. Fully apply the brake
pedal rst and then press the shift
lever button before shifting from
P (Park) when the ignition key is in
ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY.
If you cannot shift out of P (Park),
8-6 Driving and Operating
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Sport Shift Mode
The automatic transmission has a
Sport Shift Mode. When you
are in the Sport Shift Mode the
vehicle will still shift automatically.
The transmission may remain
in a gear longer than it would in the
normal driving mode based on
braking, throttle input, and vehicle
lateral acceleration. To use this
feature, move the shift lever
over from D (Drive) to the right
quadrant. The Sport Shift message
in the DIC displays. If the shift
lever is not moved forward or
rearward, the vehicle remains in
sport mode.
Performance Mode Lift Foot Mode
Within Sport Shift Mode there is
a further performance feature called
Performance Mode Lift Foot (PMLF)
Mode. The feature is activated
automatically when sports oriented
driving is detected, based on
cornering and on/off throttleapplication. PMLF allows the
transmission to hold the current
gear instead of upshifting when the
throttle is lifted.
Driver Shift Control (DSC)
Notice:If you drive your vehicle
at high RPMs without upshifting
while using DSC, you could
damage the vehicle. Always
upshift when necessary while
using DSC.
The automatic transmission has
DSC that allows gear changes
similar to a manual transmission.
To use this feature:
1. Move the shift lever over from
D (Drive) to the right quadrant.
The Sport Shift message in
the DIC displays.
2. To enter DSC, press the shift
lever forward to upshift or
rearward to downshift. The Active
Select On message in the DIC
will come on.The DIC will indicate the requested
gear range when moving the
shift lever forward or rearward.
While using DSC, the vehicle has
rmer shifting and increased
performance. This can be used for
sport driving or when climbing
or descending hills, to stay in gear
longer, or to down shift for more
power or engine braking.
The transmission will only allow the
driver to shift into gears appropriate
for the vehicle speed and engine
Revolutions Per Minute (RPM).
The transmission will not
automatically shift to the next lower
gear if the engine RPM is too high.
If shifting is prevented for any
reason, the currently selected gear
will ash multiple times, indicating
that the transmission has not
shifted gears.
While in DSC, the transmission
automatically downshifts when the
vehicle comes to a stop.
8-8 Driving and Operating
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

When accelerating the vehicle from
a stop in snowy and icy conditions,
1st, 2nd or 3rd gear starts can
be selected from a standing start.
This is useful for gentle acceleration
on slippery surfaces.
To return to Normal Shift mode,
slide the shift lever over from
the right quadrant to the left into
D (Drive). A Normal Shift message
will be displayed in the DIC.
Normal Shift Mode is recommended
for normal or freeway driving, as
it provides optimum fuel economy.
Powertrain Braking
For vehicles with a 6 speed
automatic transmission, there is
an additional feature known
as Powertrain Braking. When driving
on steep descents where frequent
braking is required, the vehicle
will automatically downshift to
provide engine braking assistance.
This feature also reduces brake
temperatures and wear.Downshifting will only occur when
the driver’s foot is applied to the
brake. Driver Shift Control can
be switched on to override the
feature and gain complete control
of shifts if desired.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, pull up on
the parking brake handle. If the
ignition is in the ON/RUN position,
the brake system warning light
will come on. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 4-16.To release the parking brake:
1. Hold the brake pedal down.
2. Pull the parking brake handle up
until you can press the release
button.
3. Hold the release button in as you
move the brake handle all the
way down.
Notice:Driving with the parking
brake on can overheat the
brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to
brake system parts. Make
sure that the parking brake is
fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
Driving with the park brake applied
will cause a warning chime to
sound and the Park Brake message
to appear in the DIC. The message
will remain on until:
the park brake is released
the vehicle comes to a stop.
If you are towing a trailer and you
are parking on a hill, seeTowing a
Trailer on page 9-85.
Driving and Operating 8-9
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual