2009 PONTIAC G8 automatic transmission

The main components of the
instrument panel are the following:
A.Turn Signal/Multifunction
Lever on page 4-4.
B.Audio Steering Wheel Controls
on page 6-36andDIC Operation
and Displays on page 4-22.
C.Instrument Panel Cluster on
page 4-11.
D.Audio Steering Wheel Controls
on page 6-36.
E.Windshield Wipers on page 4-8.
F.Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 4-4.
G. Voltmeter, Oil Gage.Voltmeter
Gage on page 4-15.
H.Outlet Adjustment on page 7-9.I.Exterior Lamps Controls on
page 5-1.Instrument Panel
Brightness on page 5-3.Fog
Lamps on page 5-3(If Equipped).
J.Hood Release on page 9-5.
K.Tilt Wheel on page 4-4.
L.Horn on page 4-4.
M.Ignition Positions on page 8-2.
N.Climate Control System on
page 7-1.Automatic Climate
Control System on page 7-4
(If Equipped).
O. Shift Lever.Automatic
Transmission Operation on
page 8-6.
P.Power Door Locks on page 2-9.Q.Outside Power Mirror(s) on
page 2-17.
R.Power Windows on page 2-15.
S. Traction Control System (TCS)
Disable Button.Electronic
Stability Program on page 8-19.
T.Heated Seats on page 1-5
(If Equipped).
U.Accessory Power Outlet(s) on
page 4-9.
V.Audio System(s) on page 6-1.
W.Glove Box on page 3-1.
Instruments and Controls 4-3

Adjusting the Setting During an
OverSpeed Warning
While the OverSpeed warning is
displayed move the thumbwheel up
Qor downRto adjust the
value when in Manual mode or to
select a different preset when
in Preset mode. Press and hold
8
for more than 3 seconds to set
the value to the nearest 5 MPH or
km/h above the current vehicle’s
speed. If Preset mode was selected,
this will change it to Manual mode.
Underspeed Chime
If an OverSpeed warning appeared
and the vehicle’s speed drops
below the set value, you will hear a
chime. The underspeed chime
can be turned on or off through the
vehicle customization. SeeDIC
Vehicle Customization on page 4-31
for more information.
DIC Warnings and
Messages
Messages are displayed on the DIC
to notify the driver that the status
of the vehicle has changed and that
some action may be needed by
the driver to correct the condition.
Multiple messages may appear
one after another.
Some messages may not require
immediate action, but you can press
3or8to acknowledge that
you received the messages and
to clear them from the display.
Some messages cannot be cleared
from the DIC display because
they are more urgent. These
messages require action before they
can be cleared. You should take
any messages that appear on
the display seriously and remember
that clearing the messages will
only make the messages disappear,
not correct the problem.The following are the possible
messages that can be displayed
and some information about them.
!ABS Fault
This message is displayed if there is
a problem with the ABS system.
The ABS light may also turn on
in the instrument panel cluster.
SeeAntilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light on page 4-16.
When this message is on, the brake
system will still operate with the
antilock operation disabled.
See your dealer/retailer.
uActive Select On
This message is displayed when
the automatic transmission
active select mode is enabled.
See “Active Select Mode” under
Automatic Transmission Operation
on page 8-6.
4-26 Instruments and Controls

Service Charging System
This message is displayed when
there is a fault in the battery charging
system, see your dealer/retailer.
You can press
3or8to
acknowledge that you received the
message, but
"Low Batt will
continue to appear in the bottom of
the DIC display until the vehicle
has been serviced.
:Service Engine Oil
This message is displayed when the
engine oil needs to be changed.
When you change the engine oil,
be sure to reset the Oil Life System.
SeeEngine Oil Life System on
page 9-10for information on how to
reset the message. SeeEngine
Oil on page 9-8andScheduled
Maintenance on page 11-4for
more information.
vService Vehicle Soon
This message is displayed when
there is a problem with the vehicle,
see your dealer/retailer.
You can press
3or8to
acknowledge that you received the
message, but
*Service will
continue to appear in the bottom of
the DIC display until the vehicle
has been serviced.
DSport Shift
This message is displayed when the
automatic transmission is operating
in sport shift mode.
SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation on page 8-6.
LStability Ctrl (Control)
Assistance
This message is displayed when the
Electronic Stability Program (ESP®)
is actively helping the vehicle
with road grip and stability.
ESP CTRL appears at the bottom of
the display and remains illuminated
as long as the ESP is actively
helping with road grip and stability.
SeeElectronic Stability Program
on page 8-19.
FStability Ctrl (Control) Off
This message is displayed when the
ESP has been turned off.
SeeElectronic Stability Program
on page 8-19. If this message is
displayed and you have not turned
off the ESP, it means there is a
problem with the ESP, see your
dealer/retailer.
4-30 Instruments and Controls

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

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

The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer/retailer
in the area where you will be
parking the vehicle for the best
advice on this.
Automatic Transmission
Operation
The shift lever is located on the
center console between the
front seats.
There are several different positions
for the shift lever. When the
position of the shift lever is changed,a message is shown in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The
selected gear is magnied in the
DIC, and changes according to the
shift lever’s movement. There
are also messages for Sport Shift
Mode, Normal Shift Mode and Driver
Shift Control.
P (Park):This position locks the
rear wheels. It is the best position
to use when the engine is started
because the vehicle cannot
move easily.
{CAUTION
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
rmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you have
to. If you have left the engine
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, always set the
parking brake and move the shift
lever to P (Park). SeeShifting Into
Park (Automatic Transmission) on
page 8-12. If you are pulling a
trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 9-89.
Make sure the shift lever is fully
in P (Park) before starting the
engine. The vehicle has an
automatic transmission shift lock
control system. Fully apply the brake
pedal rst and then press the shift
lever button before shifting from
P (Park) when the ignition key is in
ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY.
If you cannot shift out of P (Park),
8-6 Driving and Operating

Sport Shift Mode
The automatic transmission has a
Sport Shift Mode. When you
are in the Sport Shift Mode the
vehicle will still shift automatically.
The transmission may remain
in a gear longer than it would in the
normal driving mode based on
braking, throttle input, and vehicle
lateral acceleration. To use this
feature, move the shift lever
over from D (Drive) to the right
quadrant. The Sport Shift message
in the DIC displays. If the shift
lever is not moved forward or
rearward, the vehicle remains in
sport mode.Performance Mode Lift Foot Mode
Within Sport Shift Mode there is a
further performance feature called
Performance Mode Lift Foot (PMLF)
Mode. The feature is activated
automatically when sports oriented
driving is detected, based on
cornering and on/off throttle
application. PMLF allows the
transmission to hold the current gear
instead of upshifting when the
throttle is lifted.
Driver Shift Control (DSC)
Notice:If you drive your vehicle
at high RPMs without upshifting
while using Active Select Mode,
you could damage the vehicle.
Always upshift when necessary
while using Active Select Mode.The automatic transmission has a
DSC mode that allows gear changes
similar to a manual transmission.
To use this feature:
1. Move the shift lever over from
D (Drive) to the right quadrant.
The Sport Shift message in
the DIC displays.
2. To enter the DSC mode, press
the shift lever forward to upshift
or rearward to downshift.
The Active Select On message
in the DIC will come on.
The DIC will indicate the requested
gear range when moving the
shift lever forward or rearward.
8-8 Driving and Operating