2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX four wheel drive

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.
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. See
Towing a Trailer on page 4-29for 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 is located on the instrument panel,
to the right of the steering column.
There are four different
positions. Insert the
key in the ignition and
turn it to the right for
each position.
In order to shift out of PARK (P), ignition must be in the
ON/RUN and the regular brake pedal must be applied.
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 all the way in. If none of
this works, then your vehicle needs service.
9(LOCK/OFF):This position locks the ignition,
steering wheel and transmission. It is a theft-deterrent
feature. This is the only position from which the key
can be removed.
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Here are some important things to consider before you
do recreational vehicle towing:
What is the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
Be sure to read the tow vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendations.
How far will the vehicle be towed? Some vehicles
have restrictions on how far and how long they
can tow.
Do you have the proper towing equipment? See
your dealer/retailer or trailering professional for
additional advice and equipment recommendations.
Is the vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you would
prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you will want to
make sure the vehicle is prepared to be towed.
SeeBefore Leaving on a Long Trip on page 4-15.
Dinghy Towing
Notice:If you tow your vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground, the drivetrain components could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Do not tow your vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground.
The vehicle was not designed to be towed with all
four wheels on the ground. If the vehicle must be
towed, use a dolly. See “Dolly Towing” following for
more information.
Dolly Towing
The vehicle can be towed using a dolly. To tow your
vehicle using a dolly, follow these steps:
1. Put the front wheels on the dolly.
2. Put the vehicle in PARK (P).
3. Set the parking brake and then remove the key.
4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position.
5. Release the parking brake.
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You have two minutes to match each tire and wheel
position. If it takes longer than two minutes to match any
tire and wheel position, the matching process stops and
you need to start over.
The TPMS matching process is outlined below:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition switch to ON/RUN with the
engine off.
3. Press the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter’s
LOCK and UNLOCK buttons at the same time for
approximately ve seconds. The horn sounds twice
to signal the receiver is in relearn mode.
4. Start with the driver side front tire.
5. Remove the valve cap from the tire’s valve stem.
Activate the TPMS sensor by increasing or
decreasing the tire’s air pressure for 10 seconds, or
until a horn chirp sounds. The horn chirp, which
may take up to 30 seconds to sound, conrms that
the sensor identication code has been matched to
the tire/wheel position.
6. Proceed to the passenger side front tire, and repeat
the procedure in Step 5.
7. Proceed to the passenger side rear tire, and repeat
the procedure in Step 5.8. Proceed to the driver side rear tire, and repeat the
procedure in Step 5. The horn sounds two times to
indicate the sensor identication code has been
matched to the driver side rear tire, and the TPMS
sensor matching process is no longer active.
9. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK/OFF.
10. Set all four tires to the recommended air pressure
level as indicated on the tire and loading
information label.
11. Put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
We recommend that you regularly inspect your
vehicle’s tires, including the spare tire, for signs of
wear or damage. SeeWhen It Is Time for New
Tires on page 5-77for more information.
Tire rotation is not recommended if your vehicle is
a GXP model equipped with P255/45R18 size tires
on the front wheels and P225/50R18 size tires on
the rear wheels. Different tire sizes front to rear
should not be rotated.
Tire rotation is recommended if the original
equipment tires installed on your vehicle are of the
same size and type on all four tire/wheel positions.
Original equipment tires of the same size and type
should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km). SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4.
5-75

Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched specic tires for
your vehicle. The original equipment tires installed
on your vehicle, when it was new, were designed to
meet General Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specication (TPC Spec) system rating. If you need
replacement tires, GM strongly recommends that
you get tires with the same TPC Spec rating. This
way, your vehicle will continue to have tires that are
designed to give the same performance and vehicle
safety, during normal use, as the original tires.
GM’s exclusive TPC Spec system considers over
a dozen critical specications that impact the
overall performance of your vehicle, including brake
system performance, ride and handling, traction
control, and tire pressure monitoring performance.
GM’s TPC Spec number is molded onto the tire’s
sidewall near the tire size. If the tires have an
all-season tread design, the TPC Spec number will
be followed by an MS for mud and snow. SeeTire
Sidewall Labeling on page 5-63for additional
information.GM recommends replacing tires in sets of four.
This is because uniform tread depth on all tires will
help keep your vehicle performing most like it did
when the tires were new. Replacing less than a full
set of tires can affect the braking and handling
performance of your vehicle. SeeTire Inspection
and Rotation on page 5-75for information on
proper tire rotation.
{CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose
control while driving. If you mix tires of
different sizes (other than those originally
installed on your vehicle), brands, or types
(radial and bias-belted tires), the vehicle
may not handle properly, and you could
have a crash. Using tires of different sizes
(other than those originally installed on
your vehicle) may also cause damage to
your vehicle. Be sure to use the correct
size, brand, and type tires on all wheels.
If your vehicle has a compact spare tire, it
is all right to drive your vehicle with the
compact spare temporarily. It was
developed for use on your vehicle. See
Compact Spare Tire on page 5-109.
5-78