2008 PONTIAC G8 tires

Seats and Restraints......... 1-1
Front Seats
.................... 1-2
Rear Seats
.................... 1-5
Safety Belts
................... 1-5
Airbag System
..............1-19
Child Restraints
.............1-32
Keys, Doors and
Windows............................ 2-1
Keys
............................. 2-2
Doors and Locks
............ 2-8
Theft-Deterrent
Systems
...................2-11
Windows
......................2-14
Mirrors
.........................2-16
Sunroof
........................2-18
Storage.............................. 3-1
Storage
......................... 3-1
Instruments and
Controls............................. 4-1
Instrument Panel
Overview
.................... 4-2
Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators
............4-10Driver Information
Center (DIC)
.............4-23
OnStar
®System
............4-36
Lighting............................. 5-1
Lighting
......................... 5-1
Infotainment...................... 6-1
Audio System(s)
............. 6-1
Climate Controls............... 7-1
Climate Controls
............. 7-1
Driving and Operating....... 8-1
Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
....................... 8-2
Driving Your Vehicle
......8-13
Fuel
............................8-32
Vehicle Service
and Care............................ 9-1
Service
.......................... 9-2
Owner Checks
................ 9-5
Headlamp Aiming
..........9-27
Bulb Replacement
.........9-29Electrical System
...........9-32
Tires
...........................9-39
Tire Changing
...............9-62
Jump Starting
...............9-80
Towing
........................9-84
Appearance Care
..........9-91
Technical Data.................10-1
Vehicle Identication
. . . . . . 10-1
Capacities and
Specications
............10-2
Service and
Maintenance.....................11-1
Service and
Maintenance
..............11-1
Customer Information. . . . . . 12-1
Customer Information
. . . . . 12-1
Reporting Safety
Defects
...................12-14
Vehicle Data Recording
and Privacy
.............12-16
Index................................... i-1
2008 Pontiac G8 Owner ManualM
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Tire Pressure Light
TPMS Light
This light comes on briey when the
engine is started and provides
information about tire pressures and
the Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
When the Light is Solid
This light will also come on when
one or more of your tires are
signicantly underinated. A CHECK
TIRE PRESSURE DIC message
will accompany the light.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4-27for more information.Stop and check your tires as soon as
it is safe to do so. If underinated,
inate to the proper pressure. See
Tires on page 9-39for more
information.
When the Light Flashes First and
Then is Solid
This indicates that there may be a
problem with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System.
The light ashes for about a minute
and stays on solid for the
remainder of the ignition cycle. This
sequence will repeat with every
ignition cycle. SeeTire Pressure
Monitor System on page 9-49
andTire Pressure Monitor Operation
on page 9-51for more information.
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
A computer system called OBD II
(On-Board Diagnostics-Second
Generation) monitors operation of
the fuel, ignition, and emission
control systems. It makes sure that
emissions are at acceptable
levels for the life of the vehicle,
helping to produce a cleaner
environment.
This light comes on briey, as a
check to show it is working,
when the ignition is turned to
ON/RUN. If the light does not come
on, see your dealer/retailer.
If the light stays on it indicates that
there is an OBD II problem and
service is required.
4-18 Instruments and Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Malfunctions often are indicated by
the system before any problem
is apparent. Heeding the light can
prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle. This system assists
your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:If you keep driving your
vehicle with this light on, after
a while, the emission controls
might not work as well, your
vehicle’s fuel economy might not
be as good, and the engine
might not run as smoothly. This
could lead to costly repairs
that might not be covered by your
warranty.
Notice:Modications made to
the engine, transmission, exhaust,
intake, or fuel system of your
vehicle or the replacement of the
original tires with other than those
of the same Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) can affect your
vehicle’s emission controls and
can cause this light to come on.
Modications to these systemscould lead to costly repairs not
covered by your warranty. This
could also result in a failure to
pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test.
SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 9-3.
This light comes on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing:A misre condition
has been detected. A misre
increases vehicle emissions and
could damage the emission control
system on your vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required.
The following can prevent more
serious damage to your vehicle:
Reduce vehicle speed.
Avoid hard accelerations.
Avoid steep uphill grades.
If you are towing a trailer, reduce
the amount of cargo being
hauled as soon as it is possible.If the light continues to ash, when
it is safe to do so, stop the
vehicle. Find a safe place to park
the vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at
least 10 seconds, and restart the
engine. If the light is still ashing,
follow the previous steps and
see your dealer/retailer for service
as soon as possible.
Light On Steady:An emission
control system malfunction has been
detected on your vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required.
You might be able to correct the
emission system malfunction
by considering the following:
Make sure the fuel cap is fully
installed. SeeFilling the Tank
on page 8-35. The diagnostic
system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or
improperly installed. A loose or
missing fuel cap allows fuel
to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap
properly installed should turn
the light off.
Instruments and Controls 4-19
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Speedometer
Press
3until the speedometer is
displayed.
The speedometer shows how fast
the vehicle is moving in either miles
per hour (MPH) or kilometers per
hour (km/h). To switch between
English and metric measurements,
see “UNITS” later in this section.
The digital speedometer display can
be enabled or disabled. See
“Digital Speedometer” underDIC
Vehicle Customization on page 4-32
for more information.
UNITS
Move the thumbwheel up
Qor down
Rto highlight English or Metric
when the UNITS display is active.
Press
8to conrm the setting. This
will change the displays on the
cluster, DIC, and the temperature
display in the mirror to either English
or metric measurements.Tire Pressure
Press
3until Tire Pressure is
displayed.
The display will show a vehicle and
the approximate pressures of all
four tires. Tire pressure is displayed
in either pounds per square
inch (PSI) or in kilopascal (kPa).
This display can be customized. See
DIC Vehicle Customization on
page 4-32for more information.
Customize Options
SeeDIC Vehicle Customization on
page 4-32for more information.
Odometer/Trip Odometer
Press
3until the Odometer/Trip
Odometer is displayed.
The odometer display shows the
distance the vehicle has been driven
in either miles (MI) or kilometers
(km). To switch between English
and metric measurements, see
“UNITS” earlier in this section.The Trip Odometer display shows
the current distance traveled
since the last reset for the trip
odometer. The trip odometer can be
reset to zero by pressing and
holding
8while the trip odometer
value is highlighted. If
8is only
pressed briey, the Avg Speed/Avg
Fuel will be reset as well.
Distance/Time To Go
Press
3until To Go is displayed.
If this item doesn’t display, check
that the display is turned on through
the Customize Options menu.
SeeDIC Vehicle Customization on
page 4-32for more information.
At the start of a trip, estimate
the distance to arrival (for example,
from maps, road signs). Move
the thumbwheel up or down until the
display shows the estimated trip
4-24 Instruments and Controls
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

ease pressure on the shift lever and
push the shift lever all the way
into P (Park) while maintaining brake
application. Then press the shift
lever button and move the shift lever
into another gear. SeeShifting
Out of Park on page 8-11.
Notice:Shifting to R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving
forward could damage the
transmission. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse)
only after the vehicle is stopped.
R (Reverse):Use this gear to
back up.
At low vehicle speeds, R (Reverse)
can also be used to rock the
vehicle back and forth to get out
of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission.
SeeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in
Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on
page 8-27for additional information.N (Neutral):In this position, the
engine does not connect with
the wheels. To restart when the
vehicle is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
{CAUTION
Shifting into a drive gear while
the engine is running at high
speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is rmly on the brake
pedal, the vehicle could move
very rapidly. You could lose
control and hit people or
objects. Do not shift into a
drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of P (Park)
or N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure
the engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.D (Drive):This position is for
normal driving. It provides the best
fuel economy from the vehicle.
If more power is needed for passing,
and the vehicle is:
Going less than 35 mph
(55 km/h), push the accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or
more, push the accelerator all
the way down.
The transmission will shift down
to a lower gear and have
more power.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding, see Skidding under
Loss of Control on page 8-21.
Notice:Spinning the tires or
holding the vehicle in one place
on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage
the transmission. If you are stuck,
do not spin the tires. When
stopping on a hill, use the brakes
to hold the vehicle in place.
Driving and Operating 8-7
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Police records show that
almost 40 percent of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve
alcohol. In most cases, these deaths
are the result of someone who
was drinking and driving. In recent
years, more than 17,000 annual
motor vehicle-related deaths have
been associated with the use of
alcohol, with about 250,000 people
injured.
For persons under 21, it is against
the law in every U.S. state to
drink alcohol. There are good
medical, psychological, and
developmental reasons for
these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the
leading highway safety problem
is for people never to drink alcohol
and then drive.
Medical research shows that alcohol
in a person’s system can make crash
injuries worse, especially injuries
to the brain, spinal cord, or heart.This means that when anyone who
has been drinking — driver or
passenger — is in a crash, that
person’s chance of being killed or
permanently disabled is higher than
if the person had not been drinking.
Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems help
to control your vehicle while
driving — brakes, steering, and
accelerator. At times, as when
driving on snow or ice, it is easy to
ask more of those control systems
than the tires and road can provide.
Meaning, you can lose control of
your vehicle.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 9-3.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 4-16.
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. First,
you have to decide to push on the
brake pedal. That is perception time.
Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about
three-fourths of a second. But that is
only an average. It might be less with
one driver and as long as two or
three seconds or more with another.
Age, physical condition, alertness,
coordination, and eyesight all play a
part. So do alcohol, drugs, and
frustration. But even in three-fourths
of a second, a vehicle moving at
60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet
(20 m). That could be a lot of
distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your
vehicle and others is important.
8-14 Driving and Operating
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist
because the engine stops or
the system is not functioning, you
can steer but it will take much
more effort.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a
reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control”
accidents mentioned on the news
happen on curves. Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner,
each of us is subject to the same
laws of physics when driving
on curves. The traction of the tires
against the road surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change
its path when you turn the front
wheels. If there is no traction, inertia
will keep the vehicle going in thesame direction. If you have ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice,
you will understand this.
Traction in a curve depends on
the condition of the tires and
the road surface, the angle at which
the curve is banked, and your
speed. While in a curve, speed is
the one factor you can control.
Suppose you are steering through
a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems — steering and
acceleration — have to do their
work where the tires meet the road.
Adding the sudden acceleration
can demand too much of those
places. You can lose control.
What should you do if this ever
happens? Ease up on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle
the way you want it to go, and
slow down.Speed limit signs near curves warn
that you should adjust your
speed. Of course, the posted
speeds are based on good weather
and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you will want to
go slower.
If you need to reduce speed when
approaching a curve, do it before
you enter the curve, while the front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust the speed so you can
drive through the curve. Maintain
a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the
curve, and then accelerate
gently into the straightaway.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 9-3.
Driving and Operating 8-19
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Passing
Passing another vehicle on a
two-lane road can be dangerous.
To reduce the risk of danger
while passing:
Look down the road, to the sides,
and to crossroads for situations
that might affect a successful
pass. If in doubt, wait.
Watch for traffic signs, pavement
markings, and lines that could
indicate a turn or an intersection.
Never cross a solid or
double-solid line on your side of
the lane.
Do not get too close to the
vehicle you want to pass. Doing
so can reduce your visibility.
Wait your turn to pass a slow
vehicle.
When you are being passed,
ease to the right.
Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts
say about what happens when
the three control systems — brakes,
steering, and acceleration — do
not have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what
the driver has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up.
Keep trying to steer and constantly
seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control
of the vehicle. Defensive drivers
avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing
conditions, and by not overdriving
those conditions. But skids are
always possible.The three types of skids correspond
to your vehicle’s three control
systems. In the braking skid, the
wheels are not rolling. In the steering
or cornering skid, too much speed or
steering in a curve causes tires to
slip and lose cornering force. And in
the acceleration skid, too much
throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin.
If your vehicle starts to slide,
ease your foot off the accelerator
pedal and quickly steer the way
you want the vehicle to go. If you
start steering quickly enough,
your vehicle may straighten out.
Always be ready for a second skid
if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is on the road. For safety,
you want to slow down and
adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow
down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance is longer and
vehicle control more limited.
Driving and Operating 8-21
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual