2009 PONTIAC G3 window

Seats and Restraint System............................. 1-1
Head Restraints
......................................... 1-2
Front Seats
............................................... 1-4
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-8
Safety Belts
.............................................1-14
Child Restraints
.......................................1-32
Airbag System
.........................................1-58
Restraint System Check
............................1-72
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-6
Windows
.................................................2-11
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-13
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-16
Mirrors
....................................................2-32
OnStar
®System
......................................2-34
Storage Areas
.........................................2-37
Sunroof
..................................................2-38
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-18
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-23
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-38Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle
....... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-28
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-42
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-42
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-49
Tires
......................................................5-50
Appearance Care
.....................................5-79
Vehicle Identication
.................................5-86
Electrical System
......................................5-87
Capacities and Specications
.....................5-93
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-14
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy
...........7-16
Index................................................................ 1
2009 Pontiac G3 Owner ManualM

A forward-facing child
seat (B) provides restraint
for the child’s body
with the harness.
A booster seat (C-D) is a child restraint designed to
improve the t of the vehicle’s safety belt system.
A booster seat can also help a child to see out the
window.
1-40

{CAUTION:
Airbags inate with great force, faster than the blink
of an eye. Anyone who is up against, or very close
to, any airbag when it inates can be seriously
injured or killed. Do not sit unnecessarily close to
the airbag, as you would be if you were sitting on
the edge of your seat or leaning forward. Safety
belts help keep you in position before and during a
crash. Always wear your safety belt, even with
airbags. The driver should sit as far back as
possible while still maintaining control of the
vehicle.
Occupants should not lean on or sleep against the
door or side windows in seating positions with
seat-mounted airbags.
{CAUTION:
Children who are up against, or very close to, any
airbag when it inates can be seriously injured or
killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer
protection for adults and older children, but not for
young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s
safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed
for them. Young children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint system can provide.
Always secure children properly in your vehicle. To
read how, seeOlder Children on page 1-32or
Infants and Young Children on page 1-36.
There is an airbag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 3-26
for more information.
1-59

What Will You See After an Airbag
Inates?
After the frontal and seat-mounted side impact airbags
inate, they quickly deate, so quickly that some
people may not even realize the airbags inated. Some
components of the airbag module may be hot for several
minutes. For location of the airbag modules, seeWhat
Makes an Airbag Inflate? on page 1-63.
The parts of the airbag that come into contact with you
may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There may be
some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the
deated airbags. Airbag ination does not prevent the
driver from seeing out of the windshield or being able to
steer the vehicle, nor does it prevent people from leaving
the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an airbag inates, there may be dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or other breathing
trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle
should get out as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but cannot get out
of the vehicle after an airbag inates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or a door. If you
experience breathing problems following an airbag
deployment, you should seek medical attention.
The vehicle has a feature that may automatically unlock
the doors, turn the interior lamps on, and turn on the
hazard warning ashers when the airbags inate. You
can lock the doors, turn the interior lamps off, and turn
the hazard warning ashers off by using the controls for
those features.
1-64

Keys...............................................................2-2
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation...................................................2-4
Doors and Locks.............................................2-6
Door Locks....................................................2-6
Central Door Unlocking System........................2-6
Door Ajar Reminder........................................2-7
Rear Door Security Locks................................2-7
Trunk (Sedan)................................................2-8
Liftgate (Hatchback)......................................2-10
Windows........................................................2-11
Manual Windows..........................................2-12
Power Windows............................................2-12
Sun Visors...................................................2-13
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-13
Immobilizer..................................................2-13
Immobilizer Operation....................................2-14
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-15
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-16
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-16
Ignition Positions..........................................2-17
Starting the Engine.......................................2-18Engine Heater..............................................2-19
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-20
Manual Transmission Operation......................2-24
Parking Brake..............................................2-26
Shifting Into Park (Automatic Transmission)......2-27
Shifting Out of Park......................................2-28
Parking the Vehicle (Manual Transmission).......2-29
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-30
Engine Exhaust............................................2-30
Running the Vehicle While Parked..................2-31
Mirrors...........................................................2-32
Manual Rearview Mirror
.................................2-32
Outside Manual Mirrors..................................2-32
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-33
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-33
Outside Heated Mirrors..................................2-33
OnStar
®System.............................................2-34
Storage Areas................................................2-37
Glove Box...................................................2-37
Cupholders..................................................2-37
Sunglasses Storage Compartment...................2-38
Sunroof.........................................................2-38
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Keys
{CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition key
is dangerous for many reasons, children or others
could be badly injured or even killed. They could
operate the power windows or other controls or
even make the vehicle move. The windows will
function with the keys in the ignition and children
could be seriously injured or killed if caught in the
path of a closing window. Do not leave the keys in
a vehicle with children.
The key can be used for the ignition, doors and all other
locks.
The key has a key code tag that the dealer/retailer or
qualied locksmith can use to make new keys. Store this
information in a safe place, not in your vehicle.
2-2

Trunk (Sedan)
{CAUTION:
Exhaust gases can enter the vehicle if it is driven
with the liftgate, trunk/hatch open, or with any
objects that pass through the seal between the
body and the trunk/hatch or liftgate. Engine exhaust
contains Carbon Monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause unconsciousness
and even death.
If the vehicle must be driven with the liftgate, or
trunk/hatch open:
Close all of the windows.
Fully open the air outlets on or under the
instrument panel.
Adjust the Climate Control system to a setting
that brings in only outside air and set the fan
speed to the highest setting. See Climate
Control System in the Index.
If the vehicle is equipped with a power liftgate,
disable the power liftgate function.
For more information about carbon monoxide, see
Engine Exhaust on page 2-30.To open the trunk on a sedan from outside of the
vehicle, insert the key into the lock cylinder and turn the
key clockwise or use the RKE transmitter, if equipped.
SeeRemote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation on
page 2-4.
Remote Trunk Release
If the vehicle has a trunk
release button located on
the driver door, the trunk
can be opened from inside
the vehicle by pressing the
release button.
When closing the trunk, close from the center to ensure
it fully latches.Trunk Release Button
2-8

Liftgate (Hatchback)
{CAUTION:
Exhaust gases can enter the vehicle if it is driven
with the liftgate, trunk/hatch open, or with any
objects that pass through the seal between the
body and the trunk/hatch or liftgate. Engine exhaust
contains Carbon Monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
If the vehicle must be driven with the liftgate, or
trunk/hatch open:
Close all of the windows.
Fully open the air outlets on or under the
instrument panel.
Adjust the Climate Control system to a setting
that brings in only outside air and set the fan
speed to the highest setting. See Climate
Control System in the Index.
If the vehicle is equipped with a power liftgate,
disable the power liftgate function.
For more information about carbon monoxide, see
Engine Exhaust on page 2-30.To open the liftgate on a hatchback from outside of the
vehicle, insert the key into the lock cylinder and turn it
counterclockwise or use the RKE transmitter, if equipped.
Then pull up the handle above the license plate to open
the liftgate.
When closing the liftgate, close from the center to
ensure it fully latches.
To lock the liftgate, insert the key into the lock cylinder
and turn it clockwise or use the RKE transmitter,
if equipped.
The liftgate can also be locked or unlocked by the
central door unlocking system or RKE transmitter,
if equipped. SeeCentral Door Unlocking System on
page 2-6andRemote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2-4.
2-10