2009 PONTIAC G8 Owners Manual

{CAUTION
Performing maintenance work
on a vehicle can be dangerous.
In trying to do some jobs, you can
be seriously injured. Do your own
maintenance work only if you
have the required know-how and
the proper tools and equipment
for the job. If you have any doubt,
see your dealer/retailer to have a
qualied technician do the work.
SeeDoing Your Own Service
Work on page 9-4.Some maintenance services can
be complex. So, unless you are
technically qualied and have the
necessary equipment, have your
dealer/retailer do these jobs.
When you go to your dealer/retailer
for service, trained and supported
service technicians will perform
the work using genuine parts.
To purchase service information,
seeService Publications Ordering
Information on page 12-15.
Owner Checks and Services on
page 11-9tells what should be
checked, when to check it, and what
can easily be done to help keep
the vehicle in good condition.The proper replacement parts,
uids, and lubricants to use are
listed inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11-12and
Maintenance Replacement Parts on
page 11-13. When the vehicle is
serviced, make sure these are used.
All parts should be replaced and
all necessary repairs done before
you or anyone else drives the
vehicle. We recommend the
use of genuine parts from your
dealer/retailer.
Service and Maintenance 11-3

Scheduled Maintenance
When the Service Engine Oil
message comes on, it means that
service is required for your vehicle.
Have your vehicle serviced as soon
as possible within the next 600 miles
(1 000 km). It is possible that, if you
are driving under the best conditions,
the engine oil life system may not
indicate that vehicle service is
necessary for over a year. However,
your engine oil and lter must be
changed at least once a year and at
this time the system must be reset.
Your dealer/retailer has trained
service technicians who will perform
this work using genuine parts and
reset the system.If the engine oil life system is ever
reset accidentally, you must service
your vehicle within 3,000 miles
(5 000 km) since your last service.
Remember to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed. See
Engine Oil Life System on page 9-10
for information on the Engine Oil Life
System and resetting the system.
When the Service Engine Oil
message appears, certain services,
checks, and inspections are
required. Required services
are described in the following
for “MaintenanceI” and
“MaintenanceII.” Generally, it is
recommended that your rst service
be MaintenanceI, your second
service be MaintenanceII, and that
you alternate MaintenanceIand
MaintenanceIIthereafter. However,
in some cases, MaintenanceIImay
be required more often.MaintenanceI—Use
MaintenanceIif the Service
Engine Oil message comes on
within 10 months since the vehicle
was purchased or MaintenanceII
was performed.
MaintenanceII—Use
MaintenanceIIif the previous
service performed was
MaintenanceI. Always use
MaintenanceIIwhenever the
Service Engine Oil message comes
on 10 months or more since the
last service or if the message
has not come on at all for one year.
11-4 Service and Maintenance

Scheduled Maintenance
Service MaintenanceIMaintenance II
Change engine oil and lter. See Engine Oil on page 9-8. Reset oil life system.
See Engine Oil Life System on page 9-10 .An Emission Control Service. ••
Visually check for any leaks or damage. See footnote (j). ••
Inspect engine air cleaner lter. If necessary, replace lter. See Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 9-11 .See footnote (k). •
Rotate tires and check ination pressures and wear. See Tire Inspection and
Rotation on page 9-57 and “Tire Wear Inspection” in At Least Once a Month
on page 11-9 . ••
Inspect brake system. See footnote (a). ••
Check engine coolant and windshield washer uid levels and add uid as
needed. ••
Perform any needed additional services. See “Additional Required Services”
in this section. ••
Inspect suspension and steering components. See footnote (b). •
Inspect engine cooling system. See footnote (c). •
Inspect wiper blades. See footnote (d). •
Inspect restraint system components. See footnote (e). •
Lubricate body components. See footnote (f). •
Replace passenger compartment air lter. See footnote (l). •
Service and Maintenance 11-5

Additional Required Services
The following services should be performed at the rst maintenance service (Ior II) after the indicated miles
(kilometers) shown for each item.
Additional Required Services
Service and Miles (Kilometers) 25,000
(40 000) 50,000
(80 000) 75,000
(120 000) 100,000
(160 000) 125,000
(200 000) 150,000
(240 000)
Inspect fuel system for damage or
leaks. • •••••
Inspect exhaust system for loose or
damaged components. • •••••
Replace engine air cleaner lter.
See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 9-11 . •••
Change automatic transmission uid
and lter (severe service).
See footnote (h). •••
Change automatic transmission uid
and lter (normal service). •
Replace spark plugs. An Emission
Control Service. •
Engine cooling system service (or every
ve years, whichever occurs rst).
An Emission Control Service.
See footnote (i). •
11-6 Service and Maintenance

Additional Required Services (cont’d)
Service and Miles (Kilometers)25,000
(40 000) 50,000
(80 000) 75,000
(120 000) 100,000
(160 000) 125,000
(200 000) 150,000
(240 000)
Inspect engine accessory drive belt.
An Emission Control Service.
See footnote (g). •
Change brake hydraulic uid at a
regular maintenance service every
two years. See footnote (m).
Maintenance Footnotes
(a)Visually inspect brake lines and
hoses for proper hook-up, binding,
leaks, cracks, chafing, etc. Inspect
disc brake pads for wear and rotors
for surface condition. Inspect drum
brake linings/shoes for wear or
cracks. Inspect other brake parts,
including drums, wheel cylinders,
calipers, parking brake, etc.
(b) Visually inspect front and rear
suspension and steering system for
damaged, loose, or missing parts
or signs of wear. Inspect power steering lines and hoses for proper
hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks,
chafing, etc.
(c)
Visually inspect hoses and have
them replaced if they are cracked,
swollen, or deteriorated. Inspect all
pipes, fittings and clamps; replace
with genuine parts as needed.
To help ensure proper operation, a
pressure test of the cooling system
and pressure cap and cleaning
the outside of the radiator and
air conditioning condenser is
recommended at least once a year. (d)
Inspect wiper blades for wear,
cracking, or contamination.
Clean the windshield and wiper
blades, if contaminated. Replace
wiper blades that are worn or
damaged. See Windshield Wiper
Blade Replacement on page 9-24
and “Windshield and Wiper Blades”
under Exterior Cleaning on
page 9-98 for more information.
Service and Maintenance 11-7

(e)Make sure the safety belt
reminder light and safety belt
assemblies are working properly.
Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt
system from doing its job, have it
repaired. Have any torn or frayed
safety belts replaced. Also see
Airbag System Check on page 1-33.
(f)Lubricate all key lock cylinders,
door hinges and latches, hood
hinges and latches and trunk lid
hinges and latches. More frequent
lubrication may be required when
exposed to a corrosive environment.
Applying silicone grease on
weatherstrips with a clean cloth will
make them last longer, seal
better, and not stick or squeak.
(g)Visually inspect belt for fraying,
excessive cracks, or obvious
damage. Replace belt if necessary.(h)Change automatic transmission
fluid and filter if the vehicle is
mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the
outside temperature regularly
reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer
towing.
Uses such as found in taxi,
police, or delivery service.
(i)Drain, flush, and refill cooling
system. This service can be
complex; you should have your
dealer/retailer perform this service.
See Engine Coolant on page 9-15
for what to use. Inspect hoses.
Clean radiator, condenser, pressure
cap, and filler neck. Pressure test the
cooling system and pressure cap.(j)A fluid loss in any vehicle system
could indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired and
the fluid level checked. Add fluid
if needed.
(k)If you drive regularly under dusty
conditions, inspect the filter at
each engine oil change.
(l)If you drive regularly under dusty
conditions, the filter may require
replacement more often.
(m)Drain, flush, and refill brake
hydraulic system at a regular service
interval (IorII) every two years.
This service can be complex;
you should have your dealer/retailer
perform this service. See Brakes
on page 9-25.
11-8 Service and Maintenance

Owner Checks and
Services
These owner checks and services
should be performed at the intervals
specied to help ensure vehicle
safety, dependability, and emission
control performance. Your dealer/
retailer can assist with these checks
and services.
Be sure any necessary repairs are
completed at once. Whenever
any uids or lubricants are added to
the vehicle, make sure they are
the proper ones, as shown in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11-12.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important to perform these
underhood checks at each fuel fill.
Engine Oil Level Check
Notice:It is important to check
the engine oil regularly and keep it
at the proper level. Failure to keep
the engine oil at the proper level
can cause damage to the engine
not covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Check the engine oil level and
add the proper oil if necessary.
SeeEngine Oil on page 9-8.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level
and add DEX-COOL®coolant
mixture if necessary. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 9-15.
Windshield Washer Fluid
Level Check
Check the windshield washer uid
level in the windshield washer
uid reservoir and add the proper
uid if necessary.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Ination Check
Inspect the vehicle’s tires and make
sure they are inated to the correct
pressures. Do not forget to check
the spare tire, if the vehicle has one.
SeeInflation - Tire Pressure on
page 9-49. If the vehicle has a spare
tire, check to make sure it is stored
securely. SeeChanging a Flat Tire
on page 9-75.
Tire Wear Inspection
Tire rotation may be required for
high mileage highway drivers prior to
the Engine Oil Life System service
notication. Check the tires for
wear and, if necessary, rotate the
tires. SeeTire Inspection and
Rotation on page 9-57.
Service and Maintenance 11-9

At Least Once a Year
Starter Switch Check
{CAUTION
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could move
suddenly. If the vehicle moves,
you or others could be injured.
1. Before starting this check, be
sure there is enough room
around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking
brake and the regular brake.
SeeParking Brake on page 8-11.
Do not use the accelerator
pedal, and be ready to turn off
the engine immediately if it starts.
3. Try to start the engine in
each gear. The vehicle should
start only in P (Park) or
N (Neutral).
If the vehicle starts in any other
position, contact your
dealer/retailer for service.
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control System Check
{CAUTION
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could move
suddenly. If the vehicle moves,
you or others could be injured.
1. Before starting this check, be
sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. It should be
parked on a level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake.
SeeParking Brake on page 8-11.
Be ready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the
ignition to ON/RUN, but do not
start the engine. Without applying
the regular brake, try to move the
shift lever out of P (Park) with
normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of P (Park), contact
your dealer/retailer for service.
Ignition Transmission Lock
Check
While parked, and with the parking
brake set, try to turn the ignition
to LOCK/OFF in each shift
lever position.
The ignition should turn to
LOCK/OFF only when the
shift lever is in P (Park).
The ignition key should come out
only in LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer/retailer if
service is required.
11-10 Service and Maintenance