2009 PONTIAC G8 sensor

In addition, the vehicle has
dual-stage frontal airbags.
Dual-stage airbags adjust the
restraint according to crash severity.
The vehicle has electronic frontal
sensors, which help the sensing
system distinguish between a
moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. For moderate
frontal impacts, dual-stage airbags
inate at a level less than full
deployment. For more severe frontal
impacts, full deployment occurs.
The vehicle has seat-mounted side
impact and roof-rail airbags. See
Airbag System on page 1-20.Seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags are intended
to inate in moderate to severe side
crashes. Seat-mounted side
impact and roof-rail airbags will
inate if the crash severity is above
the system’s designed threshold
level. The threshold level can vary
with specic vehicle design.
Seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags are not intended to
inate in frontal impacts, near-frontal
impacts, rollovers, or rear impacts.
A seat-mounted side impact
airbag is intended to deploy on the
side of the vehicle that is struck.A roof-rail airbag is intended to
deploy on the side of the vehicle
that is struck.
In any particular crash, no one can
say whether an airbag should
have inated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because
of what the repair costs were.
For frontal airbags, ination is
determined by what the vehicle hits,
the angle of the impact, and how
quickly the vehicle slows down.
For seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags, deployment is
determined by the location
and severity of the side impact.
1-24 Seats and Restraints

Passenger Sensing
System
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system for the right front
passenger position. The passenger
airbag status indicator will be
visible in the rearview mirror when
the vehicle is started.The words ON and OFF, or the
symbol for on and off, will be visible
during the system check. If you
are using remote start to start the
vehicle from a distance, if equipped,
you may not see the system
check. When the system check is
complete, either the word ON
or OFF, or the symbol for on or off,
will be visible. SeePassenger
Airbag Status Indicator on
page 4-14.
The passenger sensing system will
turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag under certain
conditions. The driver airbags are
not affected by the passenger
sensing system.The passenger sensing system
works with sensors that are part of
the right front passenger seat. The
sensors are designed to detect the
presence of a properly-seated
occupant and determine if the right
front passenger frontal airbag should
be enabled (may inate) or not.
Accident statistics show that children
are safer if they are restrained in
the rear rather than the front seat.
We recommend that children
be secured in a rear seat, including:
an infant or a child riding in a
rear-facing child restraint; a child
riding in a forward-facing child seat;
an older child riding in a booster
seat; and children, who are
large enough, using safety belts. United States
Canada
Seats and Restraints 1-27

Adding Equipment to
Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to
or change about the vehicle
that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that
change the vehicle’s frame,
bumper system, height, front end
or side sheet metal, they may
keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or
moving any parts of the front
seats, safety belts, the airbag
sensing and diagnostic module,
steering wheel, instrument panel,
roof-rail airbag modules, the
inside rearview mirror, ceiling
headliner or pillar garnish trim,
front sensors, or airbag wiring
can affect the operation of the
airbag system.In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
right front passenger position,
which includes sensors that are
part of the passenger’s seat.
The passenger sensing system
may not operate properly if the
original seat trim is replaced
with non-GM covers, upholstery
or trim, or with GM covers,
upholstery or trim designed for
a different vehicle. Any object,
such as an aftermarket seat
heater or a comfort enhancing
pad or device, installed under or
on top of the seat fabric, could
also interfere with the operation of
the passenger sensing system.
This could either prevent proper
deployment of the passenger
airbag(s) or prevent the
passenger sensing system from
properly turning off the passenger
airbag(s). SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 1-27.If you have any questions about
this, you should contact Customer
Assistance before you modify
your vehicle. The phone numbers
and addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of the
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
in this manual. SeeCustomer
Satisfaction Procedure on
page 12-1.
Q:Because I have a disability,
I have to get my vehicle
modied. How can I nd out
whether this will affect my
airbag system?
A:If you have questions, call
Customer Assistance.
The phone numbers and
addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two
of the Customer Satisfaction
Procedure in this manual.
SeeCustomer Satisfaction
Procedure on page 12-1.
1-32 Seats and Restraints

In addition, your dealer/retailer
and the service manual have
information about the location of
the airbag sensors, sensing
and diagnostic module and
airbag wiring.
Airbag System Check
The airbag system does not need
regularly scheduled maintenance
or replacement. Make sure the
airbag readiness light is working.
SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 4-13for more information.
Notice:If an airbag covering
is damaged, opened, or broken,
the airbag may not work properly.
Do not open or break the airbag
coverings. If there are any opened
or broken airbag covers, have
the airbag covering and/or
airbag module replaced. For the
location of the airbag modules,
seeWhat Makes an Airbag
Inflate? on page 1-25. See your
dealer/retailer for service.
Replacing Airbag System
Parts After a Crash
{CAUTION
A crash can damage the
airbag systems in your vehicle.
A damaged airbag system may not
work properly and may not protect
you and your passenger(s) in a
crash, resulting in serious injury or
even death. To help make sure
your airbag systems are working
properly after a crash, have them
inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as
possible.If an airbag inates, you will need
to replace airbag system parts.
See your dealer/retailer for service.
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started
or comes on when you are driving,
the airbag system may not work
properly. Have the vehicle serviced
right away. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 4-13for more
information.
Seats and Restraints 1-33

Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness
light which shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag’s
electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an
electrical problem. The system
check includes the airbag sensor,
the pretensioners, the airbag
modules, the wiring and the crash
sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the airbag
system, seeAirbag System on
page 1-20.
This light will come on when you
start your vehicle, and it will ash for
a few seconds. The light should
go out and the system is ready.If the airbag readiness light and the
Airbag Fault message on the
Driver Information Center (DIC)
stays on after you start the vehicle
or comes on when you are
driving, your airbag system may not
work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
{CAUTION
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started or
comes on while driving, it means
the airbag system might not be
working properly. The airbags in
the vehicle might not inate in a
crash, or they could even inate
without a crash. To help avoid
injury, have the vehicle serviced
right away.If there is a problem with the airbag
system, a message may also
come on. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 4-26for
more information.
The message will remain until
3
or8are pressed, but the light
will remain until the problem is xed.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4-26for more information.
Instruments and Controls 4-13

;(Parking Lamps):Turns on
the parking lamps together with the
following:
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Sidemarker Lamps
2(Headlamps):Turns on the
headlamps together with the
following:
Parking Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Sidemarker Lamps
A warning chime sounds if the
driver side door is opened while
the ignition switch is off and
the headlamps are on.
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can
make it easier for others to see
the front of your vehicle during
the day. Fully functional daytime
running lamps are required on
all vehicles rst sold in Canada.
The DRL system makes the
headlamps come on at a reduced
brightness when the following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps control is
in AUTO.
The light sensor determines
it is daytime.
When the DRL are on, the taillamps,
sidemarker, instrument panel and
other lamps will not be on.
The headlamps automatically switch
from DRL to the regular headlamps
depending on the darkness of the
surroundings. See “Automatic
headlamp system” following.To turn off the DRL lamps, turn the
exterior lamps control to
9and
then release. For vehicles rst sold
in Canada, the DRL lamps cannot
be turned off.
Automatic Headlamp
System
When it is dark enough outside
and the exterior lamps control
is in the automatic position, the
headlamps and parking lamps
will turn on and off automatically.
SeeExterior Lamps Controls
on page 5-1.
If the headlamps or parking
lamps are left on and the ignition
is turned to LOCK/OFF, the
lamps automatically turn off after
10 minutes. The lamps remain
off until the ignition is switched
on or the lamps are turned on again
using the exterior lamps control.
5-2 Lighting

The vehicle has a light sensor
located on top of the instrument
panel. Do not cover the sensor or
the headlamps will come on
when they are not needed.
The system may also turn on the
headlamps when driving through a
parking garage or tunnel.
Fog Lamps
For vehicles with this feature, it
provides better visibility in foggy or
misty conditions.
The fog lamp switch is located on
the exterior lamps control on
the instrument panel to the left of
the steering column.
-(Fog Lamps):To turn on
the fog lamps, turn the exterior
lamps control to parking lamps
or headlamps and pull the fog
lamps control. Push the control
to turn the fog lamps off.The fog lamp indicator in the
instrument panel comes on when
the fog lamps are in use.
The fog lamps control can be
pulled out while the exterior lamps
control is in the AUTO position.
If left in this position, the fog lamps
come on automatically whenever
the parking lamps or low-beam
headlamps turn on.
When the high-beam headlamps are
turned on, the fog lamps turn off
automatically. When the high-beam
headlamps are turned off, the
fog lamps come on again.
Some localities have laws that
require the headlamps to be
on along with the fog lamps.
Instrument Panel
Brightness
The instrument panel lighting
buttons are located above the
exterior lamps control.
6:Press to brighten the
instrument panel lights.
f:Press to dim the instrument
panel lights.
Press both instrument panel
brightness buttons at the same time
to turn the night panel mode on
or off.
Night panel mode lights up the
speed, information displays
and warning reminders while the
rest of the instrument panel
lights are off.
Lighting 5-3

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