2009 PONTIAC G6 brakes

Total Weight on the Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure the vehicle’s tires are inated to the upper limit
for cold tires. These numbers can be found on the
Certication/Tire label. SeeLoading the Vehicle on
page 4-20. Make sure not to go over the GVW limit for
the vehicle, including the weight of the trailer tongue.
Hitches
It is important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads are
a few reasons why the right hitch is needed. Here
are some rules to follow:
The rear bumper on the vehicle is not intended
for hitches. Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to it. Use only a frame-mounted
hitch that does not attach to the bumper.
Will any holes be made in the body of the vehicle
when the trailer hitch is installed? If there are, then
be sure to seal the holes later when the hitch is
removed. If the holes are not sealed, dirt, water, and
deadly carbon monoxide (CO) from the exhaust can
get into the vehicle. SeeEngine Exhaust on
page 2-35in the Index for more information.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the vehicle and the trailer.
Cross the safety chains under the tongue of the trailer to
help prevent the tongue from contacting the road if it
becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions about
safety chains may be provided by the hitch manufacturer
or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s
recommendation for attaching safety chains and do not
attach them to the bumper. Always leave just enough
slack so the rig can turn. Never allow safety chains to
drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Because the vehicle has antilock brakes, do not try to
tap into the vehicle’s hydraulic brake system. If you
do, both brake systems will not work well, or at all.
Does your trailer have its own brakes? Be sure to read
and follow the instructions for the trailer brakes so you will
be able to install, adjust and maintain them properly.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Get to know the rig before setting out for the open road.
Get acquainted with the feel of handling and braking with
the added weight of the trailer. And always keep in mind
that the vehicle you are driving is now longer and not as
responsive as the vehicle is by itself.
4-33

Before starting, check all trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires and mirror adjustments. If the trailer has electric
brakes, start the vehicle and trailer moving and then
apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure the
brakes are working. This checks the electrical connection
at the same time.
During the trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer brakes
are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as
you would when driving the vehicle without a trailer. This
can help to avoid situations that require heavy braking
and sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed when towing a trailer.
Because the rig is longer, it is necessary to go much
farther beyond the passed vehicle before returning to
the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,
have someone guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while trailering
could cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. The vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal. Do this so the trailer will not strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
The arrows on the instrument panel ash whenever
signaling a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the
trailer lamps also ash, telling other drivers the vehicle is
turning, changing lanes or stopping.
4-34

When towing a trailer, the arrows on the instrument panel
ash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are burned
out. For this reason you may think other drivers are
seeing the signal when they are not. It is important to
check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving on Grades
Notice:Do not tow on steep continuous grades
exceeding 6 miles (9.6 km). Extended, higher
than normal engine and transmission temperatures
may result and damage the vehicle. Frequent
stops are very important to allow the engine and
transmission to cool.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbeforestarting
down a long or steep downgrade. If the transmission is
not shifted down, the brakes might have to be used so
much that they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce the
vehicle’s speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce
the possibility of the engine and the transmission
overheating. If the engine does overheat, seeEngine
Overheating on page 5-37.
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. 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
brake pedal until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking
brake and shift the transmission into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
4-35

Service............................................................5-4
Accessories and Modications..........................5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-5
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements.....5-5
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-5
Adding Equipment to the Outside of the
Vehicle......................................................5-6
Fuel................................................................5-6
Gasoline Octane............................................5-7
Gasoline Specications....................................5-7
California Fuel...............................................5-7
Additives.......................................................5-8
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)..................................5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-9
Filling the Tank............................................5-10
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-12
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-12
Hood Release..............................................5-13
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-14
Engine Oil...................................................5-21
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-24
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
(3.5 L V6 Engine)......................................5-26Engine Air Cleaner/Filter (All Other Engines).....5-27
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(2.4L L4, 3.5L and 3.6L V6 Engines)............5-29
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(3.9L Engine)............................................5-29
Cooling System............................................5-32
Engine Coolant.............................................5-33
Pressure Cap...............................................5-37
Engine Overheating.......................................5-37
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-39
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-39
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-40
Brakes........................................................5-42
Battery........................................................5-45
Jump Starting...............................................5-46
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-51
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-51
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-51
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps....................................5-52
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
(Sedan)...................................................5-53
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Service
For service and parts needs, visit your dealer/retailer.
You will receive genuine GM parts and GM-trained and
supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
Accessories and Modications
When non-dealer/non-retailer accessories are added to
the vehicle, they can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as airbags, braking, stability,
ride and handling, emissions systems, aerodynamics,
durability, and electronic systems like antilock brakes,
traction control, and stability control. Some of these
accessories could even cause malfunction or damage
not covered by the vehicle warranty.
GM Accessories are designed to complement and
function with other systems on the vehicle. Your GM
dealer/retailer can accessorize the vehicle using genuine
GM Accessories. When you go to your GM dealer/retailer
and ask for GM Accessories, you will know that
GM-trained and supported service technicians will
perform the work using genuine GM Accessories.
Also, seeAdding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 1-75.
5-4

A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter (3.5 L V6 Engine) on
page 5-26orEngine Air Cleaner/Filter (All Other
Engines) on page 5-27.
B. Engine Cooling Fan. SeeCooling System on
page 5-32.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-21.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “Checking
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on page 5-21.
E. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 5-33.F. Pressure Cap. SeeCooling System on page 5-32.
G. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 5-42.
H.Battery on page 5-45.
I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-40.
J.Engine Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-112.
5-15

A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter (3.5 L V6 Engine) on
page 5-26orEngine Air Cleaner/Filter (All Other
Engines) on page 5-27.
B.Power Steering Fluid on page 5-39.
C. Engine Cooling Fan. SeeCooling System on
page 5-32.
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-21.
E. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-21.
F. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 5-33.G. Pressure Cap. SeeCooling System on page 5-32.
H. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 5-42.
I.Battery on page 5-45.
J. SeeEngine Compartment Fuse Block on
page 5-112.
K. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-40.
5-17

A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter (3.5 L V6 Engine) on
page 5-26orEngine Air Cleaner/Filter (All Other
Engines) on page 5-27.
B.Power Steering Fluid on page 5-39.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-21.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-21.
E. Electric Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View).
SeeCooling System on page 5-32.
F. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-33.
G. Pressure Cap. SeeCooling System on page 5-32.H. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-42.
I. Automatic Transmission Fluid Cap/Dipstick.
See “Checking the Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transmission Fluid (2.4L L4, 3.5L and 3.6L V6
Engines) on page 5-29orAutomatic Transmission
Fluid (3.9L Engine) on page 5-29.
J.Battery on page 5-45.
K. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeEngine Compartment
Fuse Block on page 5-112.
L. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-40.
5-19