2008 PONTIAC G8 sensor

If the vehicle hits a narrow object
(like a pole), the airbags could
inate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits a wide
object (like a wall).
If the vehicle goes into an object
at an angle, the airbags could
inate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle goes straight
into the object.
Thresholds can also vary with
specic vehicle design.
Frontal airbags are not intended to
inate during vehicle rollovers,
rear impacts, or in many side
impacts.
In addition, the vehicle has
dual-stage frontal airbags.
Dual-stage airbags adjust the
restraint according to crash severity.
The vehicle has electronic frontalsensors, which help the sensing
system distinguish between a
moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. For moderate
frontal impacts, dual-stage airbags
inate at a level less than full
deployment. For more severe frontal
impacts, full deployment occurs.
The vehicle has seat-mounted side
impact and roof-rail airbags. See
Airbag System on page 1-19.
Seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags are intended
to inate in moderate to severe side
crashes. Seat-mounted side
impact and roof-rail airbags will
inate if the crash severity is above
the system’s designed threshold
level. The threshold level can vary
with specic vehicle design.
Seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags are not intended to
inate in frontal impacts, near-frontal
impacts, rollovers, or rear impacts.A seat-mounted side impact airbag
is intended to deploy on the side
of the vehicle that is struck.
A roof-rail airbag is intended to
deploy on the side of the vehicle
that is struck.
In any particular crash, no one can
say whether an airbag should
have inated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because
of what the repair costs were.
For frontal airbags, ination is
determined by what the vehicle hits,
the angle of the impact, and how
quickly the vehicle slows down.
For seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags, deployment is
determined by the location
and severity of the side impact.
Seats and Restraints 1-23
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Passenger Sensing
System
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system for the right front
passenger position. The passenger
airbag status indicator will be
visible in the rearview mirror when
you start the vehicle.
The words ON and OFF, or the
symbol for on and off, will be visible
during the system check. If you are
using remote start to start your
vehicle from a distance, if equipped,
you may not see the system check.
When the system check is complete,either the word ON or the word OFF,
or the symbol for on or the symbol for
off, will be visible. SeePassenger
Airbag Status Indicator on
page 4-14.
The passenger sensing system will
turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag under certain
conditions. The driver airbags are
not part of the passenger sensing
system.
The passenger sensing system
works with sensors that are part of
the right front passenger seat. The
sensors are designed to detect the
presence of a properly-seated
occupant and determine if the right
front passenger frontal airbag should
be enabled (may inate) or not.
Accident statistics show that children
are safer if they are restrained in
the rear rather than the front seat.
We recommend that children
be secured in a rear seat, including:
an infant or a child riding in a
rear-facing child restraint; a child
riding in a forward-facing child seat;an older child riding in a booster
seat; and children, who are
large enough, using safety belts.
A label on the sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child seat
in the front.” This is because the risk
to the rear-facing child is so great,
if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION
A child in a rear-facing child
restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right
front passenger airbag
inates. This is because the
back of the rear-facing child
restraint would be very close to
the inating airbag. A child in a
forward-facing child restraint
can be seriously injured or killed
if the right front passenger
airbag inates and the
passenger seat is in a forward
position.
(Continued) United States
Canada
1-26 Seats and Restraints
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Servicing Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Airbags affect how your vehicle
should be serviced. There are parts
of the airbag system in several
places around your vehicle. Your
dealer/retailer and the service
manual have information about
servicing your vehicle and the airbag
system. To purchase a service
manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 12-15.
{CAUTION
For up to 10 seconds after the
ignition is turned off and the
battery is disconnected, an
airbag can still inate during
improper service. You can be
injured if you are close to an
airbag when it inates. Avoid
yellow connectors. They are
probably part of the airbag
system. Be sure to follow
proper service procedures, and
make sure the person
performing work for you is
qualied to do so.
Adding Equipment to
Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add
to or change about the
vehicle that could keep the
airbags from working
properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that
change the vehicle’s frame,
bumper system, height, front end
or side sheet metal, they may
keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or
moving any parts of the front
seats, safety belts, the airbag
sensing and diagnostic module,
steering wheel, instrument
panel, roof-rail airbag modules,
the inside rearview mirror, ceiling
headliner or pillar garnish trim,
front sensors, or airbag wiring can
affect the operation of the airbag
system.
1-30 Seats and Restraints
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
right front passenger position,
which includes sensors that are
part of the passenger’s seat. The
passenger sensing system may
not operate properly if the original
seat trim is replaced with non-GM
covers, upholstery or trim, or with
GM covers, upholstery or trim
designed for a different vehicle.
Any object, such as an
aftermarket seat heater or a
comfort enhancing pad or device,
installed under or on top of the
seat fabric, could also interfere
with the operation of the
passenger sensing system.
This could either prevent proper
deployment of the passenger
airbag(s) or prevent the
passenger sensing system from
properly turning off the passenger
airbag(s). SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 1-26.If you have any questions
about this, you should contact
Customer Assistance before you
modify your vehicle. The phone
numbers and addresses for
Customer Assistance are in
Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this
manual. SeeCustomer
Satisfaction Procedure on
page 12-1.
Q:Because I have a disability,
I have to get my vehicle
modied. How can I nd out
whether this will affect my
airbag system?
A:If you have questions, call
Customer Assistance. The phone
numbers and addresses for
Customer Assistance are in
Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this
manual. SeeCustomer
Satisfaction Procedure on
page 12-1.In addition, your dealer/retailer
and the service manual have
information about the location of the
airbag sensors, sensing and
diagnostic module and airbag wiring.
Airbag System Check
The airbag system does not need
regularly scheduled maintenance or
replacement. Make sure the
airbag readiness light is working.
SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 4-13for more information.
Notice:If an airbag covering
is damaged, opened, or broken,
the airbag may not work properly.
Do not open or break the airbag
coverings. If there are any opened
or broken airbag covers, have
the airbag covering and/or airbag
module replaced. For the
location of the airbag modules,
seeWhat Makes an Airbag
Inflate? on page 1-24. See your
dealer/retailer for service.
Seats and Restraints 1-31
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness
light which shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag’s
electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an
electrical problem. The system
check includes the airbag sensor,
the pretensioners, the airbag
modules, the wiring and the crash
sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the airbag
system, seeAirbag System on
page 1-19.
This light will come on when you
start your vehicle, and it will ash for
a few seconds. The light should
go out and the system is ready.If the airbag readiness light and the
Airbag Fault message on the
Driver Information Center (DIC)
stays on after you start the vehicle
or comes on when you are
driving, your airbag system may not
work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
{CAUTION
If the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start your
vehicle, it means the airbag
system may not be working
properly. The airbags in your
vehicle may not inate in a
crash, or they could even
inate without a crash. To help
avoid injury to yourself or
others, have your vehicle
serviced right away.The airbag readiness light should
ash for a few seconds when
you start the vehicle. If the light does
not come on then, have it xed
immediately. If there is a problem
with the airbag system, a message
may also come on. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on
page 4-27for more information.
The message will remain until
3
or8are pressed, but the light
will remain until the problem is xed.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4-27for more information.
Instruments and Controls 4-13
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

;(Parking Lamps):Turns on the
parking lamps together with the
following:
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Sidemarker Lamps
2(Headlamps):Turns on the
headlamps together with the
following:
Parking Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Sidemarker Lamps
A warning chime sounds if the
driver side door is opened while
the ignition switch is off and
the headlamps are on.
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can
make it easier for others to see
the front of your vehicle during the
day. Fully functional daytime
running lamps are required on all
vehicles rst sold in Canada.
The DRL system makes the
headlamps come on at a reduced
brightness when the following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps control is
in AUTO.
The light sensor determines
it is daytime.
When the DRL are on, the taillamps,
sidemarker, instrument panel and
other lamps will not be on.
The headlamps automatically switch
from DRL to the regular headlamps
depending on the darkness of
the surroundings. See “Automatic
headlamp system” following.To turn off the DRL lamps, turn the
exterior lamps control to
9and
then release. For vehicles rst sold
in Canada, the DRL lamps cannot
be turned off.
Automatic Headlamp
System
When it is dark enough outside and
the exterior lamps control is in
the automatic position, the
headlamps and parking lamps will
turn on and off automatically.
SeeExterior Lamps Controls on
page 5-1.
If the headlamps or parking lamps
are left on and the ignition is
turned to LOCK/OFF, the lamps
automatically turn off after
10 minutes. The lamps remain off
until the ignition is switched on
or the lamps are turned on again
using the exterior lamps control.
5-2 Lighting
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

The vehicle has a light sensor
located on top of the instrument
panel. Do not cover the sensor or
the headlamps will come on
when they are not needed.
The system may also turn on the
headlamps when driving through a
parking garage or tunnel.
Fog Lamps
For vehicles with this feature, it
provides better visibility in foggy or
misty conditions.
The fog lamp switch is located on
the exterior lamps control on
the instrument panel to the left of
the steering column.
-(Fog Lamps):To turn on the
fog lamps, turn the exterior
lamps control to parking lamps or
headlamps and pull the fog
lamps control. Push the control to
turn the fog lamps off.The fog lamp indicator in the
instrument panel comes on when
the fog lamps are in use.
The fog lamps control can be
pulled out while the exterior lamps
control is in the AUTO position.
If left in this position, the fog lamps
come on automatically whenever
the parking lamps or low-beam
headlamps turn on.
When the high-beam headlamps are
turned on, the fog lamps turn off
automatically. When the high-beam
headlamps are turned off, the
fog lamps come on again.
Some localities have laws that
require the headlamps to be
on along with the fog lamps.
Instrument Panel
Brightness
This feature controls the brightness
of the instrument panel lights.
6:Press to brighten the
instrument panel lights.
f:Press to dim the instrument
panel lights.
Press both instrument panel
brightness buttons at the same time
to turn the night panel mode on
or off.
Night panel mode lights up the
speed, information displays and
warning reminders while the rest of
the instrument panel lights are off.
Lighting 5-3
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