2009 PONTIAC G8 wiring

Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
To avoid damage, the disabled
vehicle should be towed with all four
wheels off the ground. Consult your
dealer/retailer or a professional
towing service if the disabled vehicle
must be towed. SeeRoadside
Assistance Program on page 12-6.
Shift Lock Manual
Release
The transmission has an electric
park lock called a shift lock manual
release. The key must be in the
ON/RUN position, and the brake
pedal pressed so the transmission
gear selector can be moved from the
P (Park) position. If the battery
has lost power, the selector cannot
be moved to neutral for towing
unless the shift lock manual release
is disengaged manually.To access the shift lock manual
release:
1. Apply the park brake.
2. Remove the console trim
panel (A) from the console.
2.1. Gently lift the back corners
of the trim panel directly in
front of the cupholders (C)
until the two clips are
released from the console.
2.2. Gently lift the console trim
panel from the rear until the
four clips around the shift
lever are released.
3. Raise the panel (A) no more
than 2–3 inches (50–75 mm)
to avoid disconnecting the wiring
from the switches (B).
4. With the console trim panel
raised, remove the retainer (E)
and the shift lock manual release
cover plate (D).
5. Push and hold the manual
release lever (F) toward the
passenger side of the vehicle.
9-88 Vehicle Service and Care

Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s
Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are
inated to the upper limit for cold
tires. You will nd these numbers on
the Tire-Loading Information label.
SeeLoading the Vehicle on
page 8-30. Then be sure you do not
go over the GVW limit for your
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
you will need the right hitch. Here
are some rules to follow:
The rear bumper on your 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 you have to make any holes
in the body of your vehicle when
you install a trailer hitch? If you
do, then be sure to seal the holes
later when you remove the hitch.
If you do not seal them, deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) from your
exhaust can get into your vehicle.
SeeEngine Exhaust on
page 8-14. Dirt and water can
also enter the vehicle.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains
between your vehicle and your
trailer. Cross the safety chains under
the tongue of the trailer so that the
tongue will not drop to 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. Alwaysleave just enough slack so you can
turn with your rig. And, never allow
safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
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.
Because you have anti-lock brakes,
do not tap into your vehicle’s brake
system. If you do, both brake
systems will not work well, or at all.
Trailer Wiring Harness
All of the electrical circuits required
for your trailer lighting system can be
accessed at the driver’s side rear
lamp connector. This connector is
located under the carpet on the rear
corner of the trunk compartment.
9-92 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

Customer Assistance
Information
Courtesy
Transportation.......12-4, 12-9
Customer Assistance
Offices.........................12-4
Customer Satisfaction
Procedure....................12-1
GM Mobility
Reimbursement
Program.......................12-5
Reporting Safety Defects
to General Motors........12-14
Reporting Safety Defects
to the Canadian
Government................12-14
Reporting Safety Defects
to the United States
Government................12-14
Roadside Assistance
Program.......................12-6
Service Publications
Ordering Information.....12-15D
Daytime Running Lamp.......... 5-2
Daytime Running Lamps
Indicator Light..................4-21
Defensive Driving.................8-16
DIC Vehicle Customization....4-31
Disc, MP3...........................6-20
Doing Your Own Service
Work ................................ 9-4
Dome Lamps ........................ 5-4
Door
Ajar Light........................4-21
Locks............................... 2-8
Power Door Locks.............. 2-9
Rear Door Security
Locks............................ 2-9
Driver Information
Center (DIC)............4-22, 4-31
DIC Operation and
Displays.......................4-22
DIC Warnings and
Messages....................4-26Driving
At Night..........................8-24
Before a Long Trip............8-26
Defensive........................8-16
Drunken..........................8-16
Highway Hypnosis............8-26
Hill and Mountain Roads....8-26
In Rain and on
Wet Roads...................8-25
Rocking Your Vehicle to
Get it Out ....................8-30
Winter.............................8-27
E
EDR .................................12-16
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment............9-36
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block...................9-38
Headlamp Wiring..............9-36
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block...........................9-36
INDEX i-3

H
Hazard Warning Flashers........ 4-4
Head Restraints..................... 1-4
Headlamp
Aiming ............................9-28
Headlamp Wiring.................9-36
Headlamps
Bulb Replacement.............9-31
Daytime Running Lamp....... 5-2
Exterior Lamps................... 5-1
Front Turn Signal Lamps . . . 9-33
Halogen Bulbs..................9-31
Headlamps and Parking
Lamps .........................9-31
High/Low Beam
Changer........................ 4-7
Heater...........................7-1, 7-4
Engine Coolant.................. 8-5
Highbeam On Light..............4-20
High-Speed
Operation, Tires................9-51
Highway Hypnosis................8-26
Hill and Mountain Roads.......8-26Hood
Release............................ 9-5
Horn .................................... 4-4
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly............................ 1-8
I
Ignition Positions................... 8-2
Immobilizer..........................2-11
Immobilizer Operation...........2-12
Infants and Young Children,
Restraints........................1-36
Ination - Tire Pressure.........9-49
Inator Kit, Tire....................9-67
Instrument Panel
Brightness......................... 5-3
Cluster............................4-11
Overview........................... 4-2
J
Jump Starting......................9-84
K
Keyless Entry System............ 2-3
Keys.................................... 2-2
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall..........9-42
Lamp
Malfunction Indicator.........4-18
Lamps
Dome ............................... 5-4
Reading............................ 5-4
Lap-Shoulder Belt................1-14
LATCH System
Replacing Parts After a
Crash..........................1-47
LATCH System for Child
Restraints........................1-42
License Plate Lamps............9-35
Light
Airbag Readiness.............4-13
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning..............4-16
INDEX i-5