2009 PONTIAC G8 engine

The air conditioning system removes
moisture from the air, so a small
amount of water might drip under the
vehicle while idling or after turning off
the engine. This is normal.
The air conditioning should be
turned on for at least ve to
ten minutes once every two weeks
to lubricate the air conditioning
seals, even in the winter.
Recirculation
/(Recirculation):Press to
change the air intake between
recirculated air and outside air.
An indicator light comes on when
the recirculation is on.
The recirculation mode recycles
interior air and is not recommended
for extended use. If it is used for
a long period of time, the system
automatically lets some fresh air into
the vehicle for ventilation.The recirculation mode cannot be
turned on in defrost mode. If
/is
pressed, the indicator light ashes
three times and recirculation
stays off.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a
warming grid to remove fog from the
rear window. It only works when
the ignition is in ON/RUN.
+(Rear Window Defogger):
Press to turn on or off. An indicator
comes on when the rear window
defogger is on. The rear window
defogger turns off automatically if it
is left on.
Notice:Do not use anything
sharp on the inside of the rear
window. If you do, you could cut
or damage the warming grid, and
the repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Do not
attach a temporary vehicle
license, tape, a decal or anything
similar to the defogger grid.
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter
The vehicle has a passenger
compartment air lter that lters the
outside air entering the vehicle.
The lter removes contaminants,
such as pollen and dust. See
your dealer/retailer for more
information.
Climate Controls 7-3

2. Adjust the temperature to a
comfortable setting between
72°F (22°C) and 75°F (24°C).
Choosing the coldest or warmest
temperature setting will not cause
the system to heat or cool any
faster.
3. Let the system stabilize for a
few minutes.
4. Adjust the air outlets or
temperature.
In cold weather, the system starts in
the recirculation mode with the fan
off. As the engine warms up, warm
air is directed to the oor outlets,
before automatically changing to
bi-level mode with a reduced fan
speed.
Do not cover the solar sensor
located in the center of the
instrument panel, near the
windshield. For more information
on the solar sensor, see “Sensors”
later in this section.Manual Operation
+A−(Fan Control):Press + or−
to increase or decrease the fan
speed. The fan speed and indicator
appears in the display.
The climate control system sets the
fan speed automatically. When the
fan speed is adjusted the system
goes into semi-automatic operation.
Press the AUTO button to return to
automatic operation.
Temperature Control:The
temperature can be adjusted
separately for the driver and the
passenger. Turn the temperature
controls clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or
decrease the temperature.
The temperature can be set
between 63°F (17°C) and
176°F (30°C). A setting between
72°F (22°C) and 75°F (24°C)
is recommended.The temperature settings for each
side are shown in the display.
If the temperature control is past
86°F (30°C), the display shows
H (hottest). Turning it past
63°F (17°C), shows C (coolest).
The EXT TEMP (Exterior
Temperature) can be displayed in
Fahrenheit (°F) or Celsius (°C).
SeeDIC Vehicle Customization on
page 4-31.
ZONE:Press to set the climate
control to single-zone (SZ) mode or
dual-zone (DZ) mode. SZ or DZ
appears in the display when a mode
is set.
Single-Zone (SZ) Mode:All zones
are set to the same temperature.
The temperature is shown in
the display. Turn the ZONE control
to set the temperature.
Climate Controls 7-5

Air Conditioning
#(Air Conditioning):Press to
turn the air conditioning system on or
off. The
#appears in the display
when the air conditioning is on.
When the air conditioning is turned
off
#OFF appears in the display.
The air conditioning cannot be turned
off in defrost mode. If
#is pressed,
the indicator light ashes three times
and the air conditioning stays on.
For quick cool down on hot days,
open the windows to let the hot air to
escape. After a few minutes, close
the windows so the system will work
more effectively.
The air conditioning system removes
moisture from the air, so a small
amount of water might drip under the
vehicle while idling or after turning off
the engine. This is normal.The air conditioning might
automatically turn off during heavy
acceleration or towing with your
vehicle, but the
#will still display.
Recirculation
/(Recirculation):Press to
change the air intake between
recirculated air and outside air.
An indicator light comes when
the recirculation is activated.
The recirculation mode recycles
interior air and is not recommended
for extended use. If it is used for
a long period of time, the system
automatically lets some fresh air into
the vehicle for ventilation.
Do not use the recirculation mode
if occupants are smoking.The recirculation mode cannot
be turned on in defrost mode.
If
/is pressed, the indicator light
ashes three times and recirculation
stays off.
Pollution Mode:Press and hold
the
/button for four seconds to
turn the pollution mode on or off.
When it is activated, Pollution Mode
Activated appears in the display.
When it is turned off, Pollution Mode
Inactive appears in the display.
This mode can be set when
the vehicle speed is less than
9 mph (15 km/h). Recirculation
will automatically turn on to
help prevent exhaust fumes from
entering the vehicle in slow moving
traffic.
Climate Controls 7-7

Driving and
Operating
Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In.........8-2
Ignition Positions................8-2
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP).....................8-3
Starting the Engine.............8-4
Engine Coolant Heater.......8-5
Automatic Transmission
Operation..........................8-6
Manual Transmission
Operation........................8-10
Parking Brake...................8-11
Shifting Into Park
(Automatic
Transmission)
..................8-12
Shifting Out of Park..........8-13
Parking the Vehicle
(Manual Transmission). . . .8-14
Parking Over Things
That Burn........................8-14
Engine Exhaust.................8-14
Running the Vehicle
While Parked..................8-15
Driving Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving..............8-16
Drunk Driving....................8-16
Control of a Vehicle..........8-17
Braking.............................8-17
Antilock Brake
System (ABS).................8-18
Electronic Stability
Program..........................8-19
Steering............................8-22
Off-Road Recovery............8-23
Passing.............................8-23
Loss of Control.................8-23
Driving at Night.................8-24
Driving in Rain and
on Wet Roads.................8-25
Before Leaving on
a Long Trip.....................8-26
Highway Hypnosis.............8-26
Hill and Mountain Roads. . . .8-26
Winter Driving...................8-27
If Your Vehicle is Stuck
in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow
..........................8-29
Rocking Your Vehicle
to Get It Out...................8-30
Loading the Vehicle..........8-30
Fuel
Fuel..................................8-34
Gasoline Octane...............8-35
Gasoline Specications.....8-35
California Fuel..................8-35
Additives...........................8-36
Fuels in Foreign
Countries........................8-36
Filling the Tank.................8-37
Filling a Portable
Fuel Container................8-38
Driving and Operating 8-1

Starting and
Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not
need an elaborate break-in. But it
will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:
Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not make full-throttle
starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
During the rst 600 miles
(1 000 km), avoid using more
than moderate acceleration
in lower gears and avoid
vehicle speeds above 68 mph
(110 km/h).
Between the rst 600 miles
(1 000 km) and 3,000 miles
(5 000 km), heavy acceleration
in lower gears can be used.
Vehicle speeds above 68 mph
(110 km/h) should be limited to
ve minutes per use.
Avoid making hard stops for the
rst 200 miles (322 km) or so.
During this time the new brake
linings are not yet broken in.
Hard stops with new linings can
mean premature wear and
earlier replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. SeeTowing a Trailer
on page 9-89for the trailer
towing capabilities of your
vehicle and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has four different
positions.
Notice:Using a tool to force the
key to turn in the ignition could
cause damage to the switch or
break the key. Use the correct key,
make sure it is all the way in, and
turn it only with your hand. If the
key cannot be turned by hand,
see your dealer/retailer.
To shift out of P (Park), turn the
ignition to ON/RUN and apply
the brake pedal.
8-2 Driving and Operating

A (LOCK/OFF):This is the only
position from which you can remove
the key. This locks the steering
wheel, ignition and automatic
transmission.
On vehicles with an automatic
transmission, the shift lever must
be in P (Park) to turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK/OFF position.
The ignition switch can bind in
the LOCK/OFF position with the
wheels turned off center. If this
happens, move the steering wheel
from right to left while turning the key
to ACC/ACCESSORY. If this doesn’t
work, then the vehicle needs service.
B (ACC/ACCESSORY):This
position provides power to some
of the electrical accessories.
It unlocks the steering wheel and
ignition. The transmission is
also unlocked in this position
on automatic transmission
vehicles. To move the key from
ACC/ACCESSORY to LOCK/OFF,
push in the key and then turn it
to LOCK/OFF.C (ON/RUN):The ignition switch
stays in this position when the
engine is running. This position can
be used to operate the electrical
accessories, including the ventilation
fan and 12 volt power outlet, as
well as to display some warning and
indicator lights.
The battery could be drained
if you leave the key in the
ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN
position with the engine off.
You may not be able to start the
vehicle if the battery is allowed
to drain for an extended period
of time.
D (START):This position starts the
engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch
will return to ON/RUN for normal
driving.
A warning tone will sound when the
driver door is opened when the
ignition is still in ACC/ACCESSORY
and the key is in the ignition.Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories may be
used for up to 10 minutes after
the engine is turned off:
Audio System
Power Windows
The power windows will continue to
work for up to 10 minutes or until
any door is opened. The radio
will work when the key is in ON/RUN
or ACC/ACCESSORY. Once the
key is turned from ON/RUN to
LOCK/OFF, the radio will continue
to work for 10 minutes or until
the driver door is opened.
Driving and Operating 8-3

Starting the Engine
Place the transmission in the
proper gear.
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart
the vehicle when it is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Notice:Do not try to shift to
P (Park) if the vehicle is moving.
If you do, you could damage
the transmission. Shift to P (Park)
only when the vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The shift lever should be in Neutral
and the parking brake engaged.
Hold the clutch pedal down to
the oor and start the engine. The
vehicle will not start if the clutch
pedal is not all the way down.Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to
START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed
will go down as the engine
warms. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and
transmission gently to allow the
oil to warm up and lubricate all
moving parts.
The vehicle has a
Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in
starting the engine and protects
components. If the ignition key is
turned to the START position,
and then released when the
engine begins cranking, the
engine will continue cranking for a
few seconds or until the vehicle
starts. If the engine does not start
and the key is held in START for
many seconds, cranking will be
stopped after 15 secondsto prevent cranking motor
damage. To prevent gear
damage, this system also
prevents cranking if the engine is
already running. Engine cranking
can be stopped by turning the
ignition switch to ACC/
ACCESSORY or LOCK/OFF.
Notice:Cranking the engine for
long periods of time, by returning
the key to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after
5-10 seconds, especially in
very cold weather (below 0°F
or−18°C), it could be ooded with
too much gasoline. Push the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the oor and holding it there as
you hold the key in START for
a maximum of 15 seconds.
8-4 Driving and Operating

Wait at least 15 seconds between
each try, to allow the cranking
motor to cool. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and
accelerator. If the vehicle starts
briey but then stops again,
repeat the procedure. This clears
the extra gasoline from the
engine. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and
transmission gently until the oil
warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Notice:The engine is designed
to work with the electronics
in the vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could
change the way the engine
operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your
dealer/retailer. If you do not, the
engine might not perform
properly. Any resulting damage
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.Engine Coolant Heater
The engine coolant heater, if
available, can help in cold weather
conditions at or below 0°F (−18°C)
for easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up.
Plug in the coolant heater at least
four hours before starting your
vehicle. An internal thermostat in the
plug-end of the cord will prevent
engine coolant heater operation at
temperatures above 0°F (−18°C).
To Use The Engine Coolant
Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord.
The electrical cord is located on
the driver side of the engine
compartment, behind the
air cleaner for V8 models.
The electrical cord is located
on the passenger side of
the engine compartment, behind
the engine compartment fuse
block for V6 models.3. Plug it into a normal, grounded
110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION
Plugging the cord into an
ungrounded outlet could cause an
electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could
overheat and cause a re. You
could be seriously injured. Plug
the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet.
If the cord will not reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension
cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be
sure to unplug and store the
cord as it was before to keep
it away from moving engine
parts. If you do not it could be
damaged.
Driving and Operating 8-5