2009 PONTIAC G8 heating

Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an indicator to
warn of engine overheating.
There is an engine coolant
temperature warning light on
your vehicle’s instrument panel.
SeeEngine Coolant Temperature
Gage on page 4-17.
You may decide not to lift the hood
when this warning appears, but
instead get service help right away.
SeeRoadside Assistance Program
on page 12-6.
If you do decide to lift the hood,
make sure the vehicle is parked on
a level surface.Then check to see if the engine
cooling fans are running. If the
engine is overheating, both fans
should be running. If they are
not, do not continue to run the
engine and have the vehicle
serviced.
Notice:Engine damage from
running the engine without
coolant is not covered by the
warranty.
Notice:If the engine catches re
because of being driven with
no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty.
If Steam Is Coming From The
Engine Compartment
{CAUTION
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away from
the vehicle until it cools down.
Wait until there is no sign of
steam or coolant before you
open the hood.
If you keep driving when your
engine is overheated, the liquids
in it can catch re. You or others
could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if it overheats, and get out
of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.
9-20 Vehicle Service and Care

Tires
Your new vehicle comes with
high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer.
If you ever have questions about
your tire warranty and where
to obtain service, see your
vehicle Warranty booklet for
details.
{CAUTION
Poorly maintained and
improperly used tires are
dangerous.
Overloading your
vehicle’s tires can cause
overheating as a result
of too much exing.
You could have an air-out
and a serious accident.
SeeLoading the Vehicle
on page 8-30.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Underinated tires
pose the same danger
as overloaded tires.
The resulting accident
could cause serious
injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the
recommended pressure.
Tire pressure should be
checked when your
vehicle’s tires are cold.
SeeInflation - Tire
Pressure on page 9-49.
Overinated tires are more
likely to be cut, punctured,
or broken by a sudden
impact — such as when
you hit a pothole. Keep
tires at the recommended
pressure.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Worn, old tires can cause
accidents. If the tire’s
tread is badly worn, or
if your vehicle’s tires
have been damaged,
replace them.
Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire
is molded into its sidewall.
The examples show a typical
passenger vehicle tire and
a compact spare tire sidewall.
9-42 Vehicle Service and Care

Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle
may need a different turn signal
asher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your dealer/retailer. The arrows
on your instrument panel will ash
whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the
trailer lamps will also ash, telling
other drivers you are about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on
your instrument panel will ash
for turns even if the bulbs on the
trailer are burned out. Thus,
you may think drivers behind you
are seeing your signal when
they are not. It is important to check
occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Your vehicle has bulb warning
lights. When you plug a trailer
lighting system into your vehicle’s
lighting system, its bulb warning
lights may not let you know if one of
your lamps goes out. So, whenyou have a trailer lighting system
plugged in, be sure to check
your vehicle and trailer lamps from
time to time to be sure they are
all working. Once you disconnect the
trailer lamps, the bulb warning
lights again can tell you if one of
your vehicle lamps is out.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gearbeforeyou start down a long or
steep downgrade. If you do not shift
down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get
hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down to
a lower gear and reduce your
speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h)
to reduce the possibility of engine
and transmission overheating.
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.
But if you ever have to park your rig
on a hill, here is how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but do
not shift into P (Park) yet.
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 your parking
brake, and then shift to P (Park).
5. Release the regular brakes.
9-94 Vehicle Service and Care

When You Are Ready to Leave
After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and
hold the pedal down while you:
Start your engine.
Shift into a gear.
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is
clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up
and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
Your vehicle will need service more
often when you’re pulling a trailer.
See the Maintenance Schedule for
more on this. Things that are
especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission
uid (don’t overll), engine oil, drivebelt, cooling system and brake
system. Each of these is covered in
this manual, and the Index will help
you nd them quickly. If you’re
trailering, it’s a good idea to review
this information before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
Your cooling system may
temporarily overheat during severe
operating conditions. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 9-20.
Appearance Care
Interior Cleaning
Your vehicle’s interior will continue to
look its best if it is cleaned often.
Although not always visible, dust and
dirt can accumulate on your
upholstery. Dirt can damage carpet,
fabric, leather, and plastic surfaces.
Regular vacuuming is recommended
to remove particles from the
upholstery. It is important to keep
your upholstery from becoming and
remaining heavily soiled. Soils
should be removed as quickly as
possible. Your vehicle’s interior may
experience extremes of heat that
could cause stains to set rapidly.
Lighter colored interiors may require
more frequent cleaning. Use care
because newspapers and garments
that transfer color to your home
furnishings may also transfer color
to your vehicle’s interior.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-95

Electrical System (cont.)
Power Windows and
Other Power Options.....9-36
Rear Compartment
Fuse Block...................9-41
Windshield Wiper Fuses....9-36
Electronic Stability Program....8-19
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter...............9-11
Check and Service Engine
Soon Lamp..................4-18
Coolant...........................9-15
Coolant Heater................... 8-5
Coolant
Temperature Gage.........4-17
Drive Belt Routing...........11-14
Engine Compartment
Overview....................... 9-6
Exhaust...........................8-14
Oil ................................... 9-8
Oil Life System.................9-10
Overheating.....................9-20
Starting............................. 8-4
Event Data Recorders.........12-16
Extender, Safety Belt............1-18
Exterior Lamps...................... 5-1F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner............9-11
Finish Damage...................9-102
Fixed Mast Antenna.............6-37
Flashers, Hazard Warning....... 4-4
Flat Tire..............................9-66
Flat Tire, Changing...............9-75
Flat Tire, Storing..................9-82
Fluid
Power Steering.................9-21
Windshield Washer...........9-23
Fog Lamp
Fog .................................. 5-3
Fog Lamp Light...................4-20
Fuel...................................8-34
Additives.........................8-36
California Fuel..................8-35
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container.....................8-38
Filling the Tank.................8-37
Fuels in Foreign
Countries.....................8-36
Gage ..............................4-21
Gasoline Octane...............8-35
Gasoline Specications......8-35Fuses
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block...................9-38
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block...........................9-36
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block...........................9-41
Windshield Wiper..............9-36
G
Gage
Engine Coolant
Temperature.................4-17
Fuel................................4-21
Oil Pressure.....................4-21
Speedometer...................4-12
Tachometer......................4-12
Voltmeter Gage................4-15
Gasoline
Octane............................8-35
Specications...................8-35
Glove Box............................ 3-1
GM Mobility Reimbursement
Program..........................12-5
i-4 INDEX