instrument panel PONTIAC GTO 2004 Owner's Manual

When the DRL system is on, the taillamps, sidemarker
lamps, parking lamps, and instrument panel lights
will not be illuminated unless you have turned the
exterior lamps control to the parking lamp or headlamp
position.
The DRL system will remain off any time your vehicle is
in PARK (P) or the parking brake is engaged the first
time the ignition is turned on.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, your Automatic
Headlamp System will turn on your headlamps at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as
the taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps, and the
instrument panel lights. The radio lights will also be dim.
Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on the
top of the instrument panel under the defroster
grill. Make sure it is not covered, which will cause the
system to be on whenever the ignition is on.
The system may also be on when driving through a
parking garage, heavy overcast weather, or a tunnel.
This is normal.If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamps when you need them.
The headlamps can be set to come on at different
levels. The sensitivity can be adjusted to Early, Normal,
or Late. SeeVehicle Personalization on page 2-32.
Leaving the headlamps and parking lamps on when the
engine is not running will eventually drain the battery.
To prevent the battery from draining, the headlamp and
parking lamps will switch off when the ignition has
been switched off and the driver’s door is opened,
because the vehicle senses that the driver has forgotten
to switch off the lights. The lights stay off until the
ignition is again switched on, or the lights are turned
back on manually by the headlamp switch. The
headlamps can be set to automatically switch off after
you have locked the vehicle and walked away. To set or
adjust the time delay from when the driver’s door is
opened to when the lights automatically switch off, see
Vehicle Personalization on page 2-32. If you wish to
have the lights on when leaving the vehicle, wait
until they have been automatically switched off, then
turn the light switch first to off, then to parking lamps or
headlamps.
3-13

Fog Lamps
The dial to the left of the steering wheel on the
instrument panel also controls the fog lamps.
-(Fog Lamp):When using the fog lamps, the
ignition must be on as well as the parking lamps or the
low-beam headlamps. If the high-beam headlamps
are activated or flashed, the fog lamps will turn off.
Pull the exterior lamp adjuster dial out to turn the fog
lamps on, and push the dial in to turn the fog lamps off.
The indicator light in the knob will come on when the
fog lamps are working.
Headlamps and Dimming Instructions
When the headlamps are switched on, the instrument
panel is automatically illuminated. Once illuminated, you
can adjust their brightness. Some illuminated areas
of the vehicle have been linked to the brightness control,
such as the trip computer, headlamp switch, radio,
etc. This means that the interior lights can be adjusted
to your preference. When the headlamps are turned
off and back on again, the brightness level reverts to the
last adjusted setting. SeeInterior Lamps on page 3-15
for more information.
Headlamps On When Approaching the
Vehicle
Your vehicle is designed to provide additional security,
when returning to the vehicle at night. When the
UNLOCK or LOCK button on the key is used, the car’s
exterior lights will come on for a preset time or until
the car is relocked. This feature only works if the
headlamp control is in the AUTO or headlamp positions.
To set or adjust the time the headlamps stay on after
the UNLOCK button has been pressed, seeVehicle
Personalization on page 2-32.
3-14

Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness
When the parking lamps
are turned on, the interior
instruments are
automatically illuminated
and you can adjust
the brightness. Move the
tab clockwise to increase
brightness and
counterclockwise to
decrease brightness.
Courtesy Lamps
When a door is open, the courtesy lamps will
automatically come on.
Dome Lamp
The dome lamp has three positions.
ON:In this position, the dome lamp is always on.DOOR:In this position, the light automatically comes
on when a door is opened. It will turn off 30 seconds
after the last door is closed. If the ignition is turned on,
the light turns off immediately unless a door is open.
OFF:In this position, the dome lamp is always off, even
when a door is opened.
The dome lamp can be set to remain on for a preset
amount of time after the ignition has been turned
off. SeeVehicle Personalization on page 2-32.
Entry Lighting
The entry lighting feature illuminates the interior of the
vehicle before you enter. The interior lamps will come on
for 40 seconds when you unlock the doors using the
remote key buttons and the ignition is in LOCK.
After 40 seconds have elapsed, the interior lamps will
turn off. The lamps will turn off before 40 seconds have
elapsed if you do the following:
•Lock all doors using the remote key buttons.
•Lock the doors manually using the lock knob.
When any door is opened, entry lighting is canceled.
The interior lamps will stay on while any door is opened
and turn off when all doors are closed. The interior
lamps may stay on for up to 25 seconds after all doors
have been closed if they have not been locked.
3-15

Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
Notice:If you put papers or other ammable items
in the ashtray, hot cigarettes or other smoking
materials could ignite them and possibly damage
your vehicle. Never put ammable items in the
ashtray.
Ashtray
If your vehicle has this option, the front ashtray is
located in the center of the instrument panel under the
audio controls. The rear ashtray is located at the
rear of the center console. To use the ashtray, push the
cover inwards and the ashtray will slide open.
To empty the ashtray, open it and grip it at the
depressions located on each side. Then pull the
ashtray out.
Cigarette Lighter
Notice:Holding a cigarette lighter in while it is
heating will not allow the lighter to back away from
the heating element when it is hot. Damage from
overheating may occur to the lighter or heating
element, or a fuse could be blown. Do not hold a
cigarette lighter in while it is heating.
If your vehicle has this option, the cigarette lighter is
located inside the ashtray and can be operated
whenever the ignition is turned to ON.
Press the lighter all the way in and release it. It will pop
back out once the element is ready for use.
The cigarette lighter should not be used as an accessory
power outlet. Use the accessory power outlet provided
in the center console.
3-18

Climate Controls
Climate Control System
With this system you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation for your vehicle.
Operation
To change the current mode, turn the right dial to select
one of the following:
Y(Vent):This mode directs air to the instrument
panel outlets.
%(Bi-Level):This mode directs the air to the
instrument panel outlets and the floor outlets. This
position can be used for most winter driving.
[(Floor):This mode directs the air to the floor
outlets.
The right dial can also be used to select defog or
defrost modes. Information on defogging and defrosting
can be found later in this section.
9(Fan):Turn the left dial clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the fan speed.
The fan must be on to run the air-conditioning
compressor.
3-19

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section that
tells you what to do about it. Please follow this
manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be
costly – and even dangerous. So please get to know
your warning lights and gages. They’re a big help.
Your vehicle also has a trip computer that works along
with the warning lights and gages. The trip computer
display provides visual information. SeeTrip Computer
on page 3-36. The warning message are displayed
through the trip computer or as an illuminated symbol or
sometimes both ways.
If a Service Error Contact Dealer message appears on
the trip computer display while driving, a fault in the
instrument panel is indicated. Contact your dealer
as soon as possible. This message will remain until the
MODE button on the trip computer is pressed.
3-23

Instrument Panel Cluster
The instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how
fast you’re going, how much fuel you’re using, and many other things you’ll need to drive safely and economically.
3-24

Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag
readiness light on the
instrument panel which
shows the air bag symbol.
This light along with a Airbag Fault message in the trip
computer display will come on when you start your
vehicle, and it will flash for a few seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means the system is ready.
The system checks the air bag’s electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. The system check includes the air bag
sensors, the air bag modules, the wiring and the
diagnostic module. For more information on the air bag
system, see Supplemental Restraint System (SRS).If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air
bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away. The light comes on after an
accident where the air bags were activated.
{CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inate in a crash, or they
could even inate without a crash. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others, have your
vehicle serviced right away if the air bag
readiness light stays on after you start your
vehicle.
3-26

CD Messages
CD ERROR PLAY:The CD cannot be read. The CD is
dirty, scratched, wet, or upside down.
CD ERROR MECH (Mechanism):If this message
appears on the display, it could be for one of the
following reasons:
•The CD is stuck in the player and cannot be
played, loaded, or ejected.
•It is very hot. When the temperature returns to
normal, the CD should play.
•You are driving on a very rough road. When the
road becomes smoother, the CD should play.
•The air is very humid. If so, wait about an hour and
try again.
•There may have been a problem while burning
the CD.
•The label may be caught in the CD player.
If the CD is not playing correctly for any other reason,
try a known good CD.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be
corrected, contact your dealer. If your radio displays an
error message, write it down and provide it to your
dealer when reporting the problem.
Options Menu
The following features can be adjusted through the
vehicle’s options menu located in the instrument panel
cluster in the trip computer display window.
Conrmation Beeps
Beeps are used to confirm various actions of the radio
such as storing a preset. The beeps can be turned
on or off using the options menu. See “Options Menu
Adjustment” later in this section to adjust the
confirmation beeps.
All Beeps On:The radio will make a beep sound when
storing radio stations, when it is time to insert or
remove a CD from the CD changer, or to confirm that
the LOAD ALL or EJECT ALL functions have started.
CD Beeps Only:The radio will make a beep sound
when it is time to insert or remove a CD from the CD
changer or to confirm that the LOAD ALL or EJECT ALL
functions have started.
Beeps Off:The radio will not produce any beeps.
3-49

The fuel release button is
located on the instrument
panel to the left of the
steering wheel. Push the
button to release the
fuel door.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). The fuel cap has a spring in it; if
you let go of the cap too soon, it will spring back to
the right.
{CAUTION:
If you spill fuel and then something ignites it,
you could be badly burned. Fuel can spray out
on you if you open the fuel cap too quickly.
This spray can happen if your tank is nearly
full, and is more likely in hot weather. Open
the fuel cap slowly and wait for any “hiss”
noise to stop. Then unscrew the cap all
the way.
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Don’t top off or overfill
your tank, and wait a few seconds after you’ve finished
pumping before you remove the nozzle. Clean
gasoline from painted surfaces as soon as possible.
SeeCleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle on page 5-82.
5-8