2009 PONTIAC G8 warning

Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir
is lled with DOT-4 brake uid.
There are only two reasons why the
brake uid level in the reservoir
might go down:
The brake uid level goes down
because of normal brake lining
wear. When new linings are
installed, the uid level goes
back up.
A uid leak in the brake hydraulic
system can also cause a low uid
level. Have the brake hydraulic
system xed, since a leak means
that sooner or later the brakes will
not work well.
Do not top off the brake uid.
Adding uid does not correct a leak.
If uid is added when the linings
are worn, there will be too much
uid when new brake linings
are installed. Add or remove brake
uid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.{CAUTION
If too much brake uid is added,
it can spill on the engine and
burn, if the engine is hot enough.
You or others could be burned,
and the vehicle could be
damaged. Add brake uid only
when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When the brake uid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 4-15.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-25

What to Add
Use only new DOT-4 brake uid
from a sealed container. It is
recommended that the brake
hydraulic system be ushed and
relled with new DOT-4 uid
at a regular maintenance service
every two years. SeeAdditional
Required Services on page 11-6
andRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11-12.
Always clean the brake uid reservoir
cap and the area around the cap
before removing it. This helps keep
dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION
With the wrong kind of uid in
the brake hydraulic system,
the brakes might not work well.
This could cause a crash.
Always use the proper brake uid.Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly
damage brake hydraulic system
parts. For example, just a few
drops of mineral-based oil,
such as engine oil, in the brake
hydraulic system can damage
brake hydraulic system parts so
badly that they will have to be
replaced. Do not let someone
put in the wrong kind of uid.
If brake uid is spilled on the
vehicle’s painted surfaces, the
paint nish can be damaged.
Be careful not to spill brake
uid on the vehicle. If you do,
wash it off immediately. See
Exterior Cleaning on page 9-98.
Brake Wear
This vehicle has disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake
pads are worn and new pads are
needed. The sound can come
and go or be heard all the time the
vehicle is moving, except when
applying the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
an accident. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
9-26 Vehicle Service and Care

Battery
This vehicle has a maintenance free
battery. When it is time for a new
battery, see your dealer/retailer
for one that has the replacement
number shown on the original
battery’s label. The battery is located
in the trunk behind a trim panel
on the driver’s side.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals,
and related accessories contain
lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and
reproductive harm. Wash hands
after handling.
Vehicle Storage
{CAUTION
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. SeeJump Starting on
page 9-84for tips on working
around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: If the vehicle is
driven infrequently, remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery. This helps keep the battery
from running down.
Extended Storage: For extended
storage of the vehicle, remove
the black, negative (−) cable from
the battery or use a battery
trickle charger. This helps maintain
the charge of the battery over
an extended period of time.
Headlamp Aiming
The optical headlamp aiming system
has been preset at the factory
and should need no further
adjustment
However, if the vehicle is damaged
adjustment may be necessary.
If oncoming vehicles ash their
high beams at you, this may also
mean the vertical aim needs to
be adjusted.
It is recommended that the vehicle
is taken to your dealer/retailer
for service if the headlamps need to
be re-aimed. It is possible however,
to re-aim the headlamps as
described.
9-28 Vehicle Service and Care

The TPMS operates on a radio
frequency and complies with
RSS-210 of Industry and Science
Canada. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause
interference.
2. This device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause
undesired operation of the device.
Changes or modications to this
system by other than an authorized
service facility could void
authorization to use this equipment.Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation
The Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) is designed to warn the
driver when a low tire pressure
condition exists. TPMS sensors are
mounted onto each tire and
wheel assembly, excluding the
spare tire and wheel assembly. The
TPMS sensors monitor the air
pressure in the vehicle’s tires and
transmit the tire pressure readings to
a receiver located in the vehicle.
When a low tire pressure condition
is detected, the TPMS turns on the
7
low tire pressure warning light.
At the same time a message to
check the pressure in a specic tire
appears on the Driver Information
Center (DIC) display. The low tire
pressure warning light and the DIC
warning message come on at each
ignition cycle until the tires are
inated to the correct ination
pressure. Using the DIC, tire
pressure levels can be viewed bythe driver. For additional information
and details about the DIC operation
and displays seeDIC Operation and
Displays on page 4-22andDIC
Warnings and Messages on
page 4-26.
The low tire pressure warning light
may come on in cool weather
when the vehicle is rst started, and
then turn off as you start to drive.
This could be an early indicator that
the air pressure in the tire(s) are
getting low and need to be inated
to the proper pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information label
shows the size of the vehicle’s
original equipment tires and the
correct ination pressure for the
vehicle’s tires when they are cold.
SeeLoading the Vehicle on
page 8-30, for an example of the Tire
and Loading Information label and its
location on the vehicle. Also see
Inflation - Tire Pressure on
page 9-49.
9-54 Vehicle Service and Care

The vehicle’s TPMS system can
warn about a low tire pressure
condition but it does not replace
normal tire maintenance. See
Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 9-57andTires on page 9-42.
Notice:Using non-approved
tire sealants could damage
the Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) sensors. TPMS sensor
damage caused by using an
incorrect tire sealant is not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always use the GM approved
tire sealant available through your
dealer/retailer.
TPMS Malfunction Light and
Message
The TPMS will not function properly
if one or more of the TPMS
sensors are missing or not
operating.
When the system detects a
malfunction, the
7low tire warning
light ashes for about one minute
and then stays on for the remainderof the ignition cycle. A DIC warning
message also displays. The low tire
warning light and DIC warning
message come on at each ignition
cycle until the problem is corrected.
Some of the conditions that can
cause the malfunction light and DIC
message to come on are:
One of the road tires has been
replaced with the spare tire. The
spare tire does not have a TPMS
sensor. The TPMS malfunction
light and DIC message should go
off once the road tire containing
the TPMS sensor is re-installed.
The TPMS sensor matching
process was started but not
completed or not completed
successfully after installing
replacement tires or rotating the
vehicle’s tires. The DIC message
and TPMS malfunction light
should go off once the TPMS
sensor matching process is
performed successfully.
One or more TPMS sensors are
missing or damaged. The DIC
message and the TPMS
malfunction light should go off
when the TPMS sensors are
installed and the sensor matching
process is performed
successfully. See the dealer/
retailer for service.
Replacement tires or wheels do
not match the vehicle’s original
equipment tires or wheels. Tires
and wheels other than those
recommended for the vehicle
could prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. SeeBuying
New Tires on page 9-59.
Operating electronic devices or
being near facilities using radio
wave frequencies similar to the
TPMS could cause the TPMS
sensors to malfunction.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-55

Vehicles that have a tire pressure
monitoring system could give
an inaccurate low-pressure warning
if non-TPC Spec rated tires are
installed on your vehicle. Non-TPC
Spec rated tires may give a
low-pressure warning that is higher
or lower than the proper warning
level you would get with TPC Spec
rated tires. SeeTire Pressure
Monitor System on page 9-52.
Your vehicle’s original equipment
tires are listed on the Tire and
Loading Information Label. See
Loading the Vehicle on page 8-30,
for more information about the
Tire and Loading Information Label
and its location on your vehicle.Different Size Tires and
Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are a
different size than your original
equipment wheels and tires,
this may affect the way your vehicle
performs, including its braking,
ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover.
Additionally, if your vehicle has
electronic systems such as, antilock
brakes, traction control, and
electronic stability control, the
performance of these systems can
be affected.
{CAUTION
If you add different sized
wheels, your vehicle may not
provide an acceptable level of
performance and safety if tires not
recommended for those wheels
are selected. You may increase
the chance that you will crash and
suffer serious injury. Only use GM
specic wheel and tire systems
developed for your vehicle, and
have them properly installed by a
GM certied technician.
SeeBuying New Tires on page 9-59
andAccessories and Modifications
on page 9-3for additional
information.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-61

Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest
to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement
as measured under controlled
conditions on specied
government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
performance.
{WARNING
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are
A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance
to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled
conditions on a specied indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure. The grade
C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and
A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
{WARNING
The temperature grade for this
tire is established for a tire
that is properly inated and
not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underination, or
excessive loading, either
separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-63

Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
If your vehicle has a factory installed
Tire Sealant and Compressor kit,
there is no spare tire, no tire
changing equipment and no place
to store a tire.
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place and stopping.
1. Turn on the hazard warning
ashers. SeeHazard Warning
Flashers on page 4-4.
2. Park your vehicle. Set the
parking brake rmly and put the
shift lever in P (Park). See
Shifting Into Park (Automatic
Transmission) on page 8-12.3. Turn off the engine.
4. Inspect the at tire.
If the tire has been separated from
the wheel, has damaged sidewalls,
or has a puncture larger than a
14inch (6 mm), the tire is too
severely damaged for the tire
sealant and compressor kit to be
effective. SeeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 12-6.
If the tire has a puncture less than
a
14inch (6 mm) in the tread area
of the tire, seeTire Sealant and
Compressor Kit (V8 Engine) on
page 9-67.
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
(V8 Engine)
This vehicle has a tire sealant and
compressor kit in place of a jack or
spare tire. It is located in a foam
container in the trunk. The tire
sealant and compressor kit can be
used to repair a at tire by sealing
small punctures in the tread of the
tire. It can also be used to inate an
underinated tire. The vehicle must
be driven for ve miles (8 kilometers)
after the tire is sealed and inated
to the recommended pressure to
ensure the sealant is distributed
evenly. For detailed instructions
see “Using the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit to Temporarily
Repair a Punctured Tire” later in
this section.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-67