tow PONTIAC GTO 2004 User Guide

Racing or Other Competitive Driving
See your warranty book before using your vehicle
for racing or other competitive driving.
Notice:If you use your vehicle for racing or other
competitive driving, the engine may use more
oil than it would with normal use. Low oil levels can
damage the engine. Be sure to check the oil level
often during racing or other competitive driving and
keep the level at or near 1 quart (1 L) above the
upper mark that shows the proper operating range
on the engine oil dipstick. For information on
how to add oil, seeEngine Oil on page 5-13. After
the competitive driving, remove excess oil so
that the level on the dipstick is not above the upper
mark that shows the proper operating range.
Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your shift
lever. Push in the button on top of the shift lever when
shifting into position.PARK (P):The engine can be started in this position.
This position prevents the rear wheels from turning
and so should be selected, together with the parking
brake, when leaving the vehicle. Never select PARK (P)
while your vehicle is still moving.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To
be sure your vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). SeeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 2-24. If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-35.
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Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transmission
shift lock control system. You must have your foot
on the regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in ON. The vehicle
will not shift from PARK (P) if the button is pressed
before the brake is applied. If you cannot shift out
of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever, push the
shift lever all the way into PARK (P), and release the
shift lever button as you maintain brake application.
Then press the shift lever button and move the
shift lever into the desired gear. SeeShifting Out of
Park (P) on page 2-26.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up. Never select
REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is still moving.
Reverse lights will operate when this position is selected
and the ignition is on. After reversing, make sure the
vehicle has fully stopped before selecting another gear
position. After selecting this position, pause for a
moment before accelerating to allow the transmission to
engage reverse gear.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission,
see If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-28.
NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed. This is
the out-of-gear position. You may then start a stalled
engine while the vehicle is still moving or stopped.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is rmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine running at high speed may damage
the transmission. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting your vehicle.
2-19

DRIVE (D):This is the most effective position for
normal or freeway driving. This position gives maximum
fuel efficiency, as the transmission can choose the
appropriate gear (1 through 4) for the existing load and
driving conditions.
After selecting DRIVE (D) from PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N), pause for a moment before accelerating,
to allow the transmission to engage the forward gear.
Use this position when towing.
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal driving.
However, it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D). Here are some times you might choose
THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D):
•When driving on hilly, winding roads.
•When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between gears.
•When going down a steep hill.SECOND (2):This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). You can use
SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as
you go down steep mountain roads, but then you
would also want to use your brakes off and on.
FIRST (1):This position gives you even more power
but lower fuel economy than SECOND (2). You can use
it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in FIRST (1), the transmission
won’t shift into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly
enough.
Remember to move the shift lever back to DRIVE(D) so
that the transmission again upshifts into higher gears.
Even though the shift lever may be in FIRST (1),
the transmission does not select first gear until vehicle
speed is less that 35 mph (56 km/h).
2-20

Shifting Into Park (P)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will
not move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, use the steps that follow. If you are
pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-35.1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P).
•Press in and hold the shift lever button, located
on the top of the shift lever.
•Push the lever all the way toward the front of the
vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to Lock.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
2-24

Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
The mirror can be adjusted two ways. First, to adjust
the height of the mirror, adjust the arm that connects the
mirror to the windshield. Second, adjust the angle of
the mirror by moving the mirror to a position that allows
you to see out of the back window.
To reduce glare from headlamps behind you, move the
lever toward you to the night position. To return the
mirror to the daytime position, move the lever away
from you.
Outside Power Mirrors
The controls for the power
mirrors are located on the
driver’s door armrest.
You can adjust the angle of the mirrors when the
ignition is turned on.
Move the selector switch located above the four-way
control pad to choose the right or left mirror. To adjust a
mirror, use the four-way control pad to move the
mirror in the direction that you want it to go.
2-29

Tilt Wheel
A tilt wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel
before you drive. You can raise the steering wheel to
the highest level to give your legs more room when you
enter and exit the vehicle.
The lever that allows you to tilt the steering wheel is
located under the steering column.
To tilt the wheel, pull the lever down. Then move the
wheel to a comfortable position and release the lever to
lock the wheel in place.
Telescopic Steering Column
The steering column also has a telescopic function. This
function allows the wheel to move toward the front of
the vehicle and toward the rear of the vehicle.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
•Turn and Lane-Change Signals
•Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
•Flash-to-Pass
•Cruise Control
For information on the exterior lamps, seeExterior
Lamps on page 3-12.
3-5

Flash-to-Pass Feature
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass,
even if the headlamps and ignition are turned off.
To use it, pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you until the high-beam headlamps come on, then
release the lever to turn them off.
If flash-to-pass is activated, then the headlamp
high/low-beam changer indicator will display on the
instrument panel cluster. The fog lamps are turned off
while this feature is active.
Windshield Wipers
The lever on the right side of the steering column
operates the windshield wipers and washer.
These functions operate when the ignition is turned
to ON.
INT (Intermittent):Push the lever up to turn on the
wipers. Put the lever in the first position for intermittent
wiping cycles. The delay will change as your vehicle’s
speed changes. The delay will decrease as you go
faster and increase as you go slower.
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1 (Low Speed):Put the lever in the second position for
slow, steady wiping cycles.
2 (High Speed):Put the lever in the third position for
rapid wiping cycles.
L(Mist):Move the lever to this position for a single
wiping cycle. Hold it there until the windshield wipers
start; then let go. The windshield wipers will stop after
one wipe. If you want more wipes, hold the lever
down longer.
0 (Off):Turn the lever to this position to turn off
the wipers.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they’re frozen to the windshield,
gently loosen or thaw them. If the blades do become
damaged, install new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor. A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools down.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Windshield Washer
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
The windshield washer button is located at the end of
the windshield wiper lever.
L(Washer Fluid):Pull the lever towards you to spray
water onto the windshield. Washer fluid will squirt
onto the windshield and the wipers will run for a few
cycles to clear the windshield.
3-8

Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
The cruise control lever is on the left side of the
steering column. The ON-OFF/CANCEL switch is at the
end of the lever and is activated by pushing in towards
the direction of the steering column.
To set cruise control, do the following:
1. Turn on the ignition.
2. Press the ON-OFF/CANCEL switch. The cruise
control symbol along with the Cruise Enabled
message appears on the trip computer display.3. Get up to the speed you want.
4. Rotate the lever down to the SET-DECEL position.
The cruise control symbol along with the CRUISE
ACTIVE message appears on the display.
5. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and release
the cruise control lever.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
You may do one of the following:
•Turn the lever down to the SET-DECEL position
until the car slows down to the desired speed,
then release it.
•Turn the lever up to the RES-ACCEL position until
the car accelerates up to the desired speed, then
release it.
Minor changes in speed can be achieved by
momentarily turning the lever up or down. When
reducing speed, remember that the cruise control is not
designed to operate under 25 mph (40 km/h).
3-10

If the Light is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
•Reducing vehicle speed.
•Avoiding hard accelerations.
•Avoiding steep uphill grades.
•If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle.Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart
the engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is still
flashing, follow the previous steps, and see your dealer
for service as soon as possible.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. SeeFilling Your Tank on page 5-7. The
diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has
been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing
fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly installed
should turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.
3-30