2009 PONTIAC G5 manual transmission

Charging System Light
This light comes on briey
when the ignition key is
turned to START, but the
engine is not running, as a
check to show it is working.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer.
The light should go out once the engine starts. If it stays
on, or comes on while driving, there could be a problem
with the charging system. A charging system message
in the Driver Information Center (DIC) can also appear.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-42for
more information. This light could indicate that there are
problems with a generator drive belt, or that there is an
electrical problem. Have it checked right away. If the
vehicle must be driven a short distance with the light
on, turn off accessories, such as the radio and air
conditioner.
Up-Shift Light
The vehicle may have an
up-shift light.
When this light comes on, shift to the next higher gear if
weather, road, and traffic conditions allow.
SeeManual Transmission Operation on page 2-28for
more information.
3-28

DELAY LOCK
This feature, which delays the actual locking of the
vehicle, can be enabled or disabled. When DELAY LOCK
appears on the display, press and hold the reset button
for at least one second to scroll through the available
settings:
ON (default):The doors will not lock until ve seconds
after the last door is closed. You can temporarily
override delayed locking by pressing the power lock
switch or the lock button on the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter a second time.
OFF:The doors will lock immediately when pressing
the power lock switch or the lock button on the
RKE transmitter.
SeePower Door Locks on page 2-9,Delayed Locking
on page 2-9, andRemote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2-3for more information.
To select a setting and move on to the next feature,
press the information button while the desired setting is
displayed on the DIC.
AUTO UNLK (Unlock)
This feature, which allows the vehicle to automatically
unlock certain doors, can be enabled or disabled.
When AUTO UNLK appears on the display, press
and hold the reset button for at least one second
to scroll through the available settings:
ALL (default):All of the doors will automatically unlock.
DRIVER:The driver’s door will automatically unlock.
NONE:None of the doors will automatically unlock.
You will need to manually unlock the doors.
If you have a manual transmission vehicle, the door(s)
will automatically unlock when the ignition is turned off.
If you have an automatic transmission vehicle, you
can select when the automatic unlocking will occur.
See “UNLK (Unlock) (Automatic Transmission Only)”
following.
SeeProgrammable Automatic Door Unlock on page 2-10
for more information.
To select a setting and move on to the next feature,
press the information button while the desired setting is
displayed on the DIC.
3-50

Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle............4-2
Driving for Better Fuel Economy.......................4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunk Driving.................................................4-3
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-3
Braking.........................................................4-4
Antilock Brake System (ABS)...........................4-4
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-5
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)......................4-6
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-7
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)....................4-10
Steering......................................................4-12
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-13
Passing.......................................................4-14
Loss of Control.............................................4-14
Driving at Night............................................4-15Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-16
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-17
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-17
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-18
Winter Driving..............................................4-19
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.............................................4-21
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-22
Loading the Vehicle......................................4-22
Towing..........................................................4-28
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-28
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-28
Towing a Trailer (Automatic Transmission)........4-31
Towing a Trailer (Manual Transmission)...........4-38
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to clear the
area around the front wheels. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a forward gear, or with
a manual transmission, between 1 (First) or 2 (Second)
and R (Reverse), spinning the wheels as little as
possible. To prevent transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting gears. Release the
accelerator pedal while shifting, and press lightly on
the accelerator pedal when the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the forward and reverse
directions causes a rocking motion that could free
the vehicle. If that does not get the vehicle out after a
few tries, it might need to be towed out. If the vehicle
does need to be towed out, seeTowing Your Vehicle on
page 4-28.
Loading the Vehicle
It is very important to know how much weight your
vehicle can carry. This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo and all nonfactory-installed
options. Two labels on your vehicle show how much
weight it may properly carry, the Tire and Loading
Information label and the Certication label.
{CAUTION:
Do not load the vehicle any heavier than the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or
either the maximum front or rear Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on the
vehicle can break, and it can change the way
your vehicle handles. These could cause you
to lose control and crash. Also, overloading
can shorten the life of the vehicle.
4-22

Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1.Locate the statement “The combined weight
of occupants and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or XXX lbs” on your vehicle placard.
2.Determine the combined weight of the driver
and passengers that will be riding in your
vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting gure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals
1400 lbs and there will be ve 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400−750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in
Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load
from your trailer will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how
this reduces the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
If your vehicle can tow a trailer, seeTowing a
Trailer (Automatic Transmission) on
page 4-31orTowing a Trailer (Manual
Transmission) on page 4-38for important
information on towing a trailer, towing safety
rules, and trailering tips.
4-24

Dinghy Towing
Dinghy Towing From the Front
To dinghy tow the vehicle from the front with four
wheels on the ground:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition key to ACC/ACCESSORY to
unlock the steering wheel.
3. Shift an automatic transmission to N (Neutral) or a
manual transmission to Neutral.
4. Release the parking brake.
To prevent the battery from draining while the vehicle is
being towed, remove the following fuse from the oor
console fuse block: 8 (Ignition Switch, PASS-Key
®III+).
SeeFloor Console Fuse Block on page 5-104for
more information.
Remember to reinstall the fuse once the destination has
been reached.
Notice:If 65 mph (105 km/h) is exceeded while
towing the vehicle, it could be damaged. Never
exceed 65 mph (105 km/h) while towing the vehicle.
4-29

Dinghy Towing From the Rear
Notice:Towing the vehicle from the rear could
damage it. Also, repairs would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Never have the vehicle towed
from the rear.
Dolly Towing
To dolly tow the vehicle from the front with two wheels
on the ground:
1. Attach the dolly to the tow vehicle following the
dolly manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Put the front wheels on a dolly.
3. Move the shift lever to P (Park) for an automatic
transmission and in Neutral for a manual
transmission.
4. Set the parking brake.
4-30

Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
Parking the vehicle on a hill with the trailer
attached can be dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move. People can be
injured, and both the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always park the rig on a
at surface.If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park)
yet for an automatic transmission, or into gear for a
manual transmission. Turn the wheels into the
curb if facing downhill or into traffic if facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply the parking
brake, and then shift into P (Park) for an automatic
transmission or R (Reverse) for a manual
transmission.
5. Release the brake pedal.
4-37