PONTIAC GTO 2004 Owners Manual

Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle, suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $120.00
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer
Case Unit Repair Manual
This manual provides information on unit repair service
procedures, adjustments, and specifications for GM
transmissions, transaxles, and transfer cases.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $50.00
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins give technical service information
needed to knowledgeably service General Motors cars
and trucks. Each bulletin contains instructions to
assist in the diagnosis and service of your vehicle.
In Canada, information pertaining to Product Service
Bulletins can be obtained by contacting your General
Motors dealer or by calling 1-800-GM-DRIVE
(1-800-463-7483).
Owner’s Information
Owner publications are written specifically for owners
and intended to provide basic operational information
about the vehicle. The owner’s manual will include
the Maintenance Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual, and
Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00
Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00
7-11

Current and Past Model Order Forms
Service Publications are available for current and
past model GM vehicles. To request an order form,
please specify year and model name of the vehicle.
ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on the
World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com
Or you can write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P. O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
checks payable in U.S. funds.
7-12

A
Accessory Control...........................................3-16
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-17
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-37
Additional Program Information........................... 7-8
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-87
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)..............3-45
Air Bag
Readiness Light..........................................3-26
Air Bag Systems.............................................1-46
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-50
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-52
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?....................1-50
What Will You See After an Air Bag
Inflates?..................................................1-50
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?...................1-49
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-48
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-18
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9
Altering Overspeed Presets..............................3-39
AM ...............................................................3-54
Antenna, Backglass.........................................3-55
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)............................ 4-6
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-28Appearance Care............................................5-78
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-81
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-84
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-79
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-82
Finish Damage............................................5-84
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-84
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-84
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-85
Weatherstrips..............................................5-81
Arming the System.........................................2-14
ARRIVAL DEFAULT.........................................2-34
Ashtray.........................................................3-18
Ashtrays........................................................3-18
AUDIO DISTORTION LIMITER.........................2-35
Audio System(s).............................................3-42
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-53
Backglass Antenna......................................3-55
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-54
Care of Your CDs........................................3-54
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-43
Setting the Time..........................................3-42
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-52
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-54
AUTO HEADLIGHTS SENSITIVITY...................2-36
1

AUTO LOCK IN DRIVE
(Automatic Transmission Only).......................2-37
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-13
Automatic Transmission...................................2-17
Fluid..........................................................5-19
Operation...................................................2-18
AVG FUEL.....................................................3-36
AVG SPEED..................................................3-36
B
Backglass Antenna..........................................3-55
Battery....................................................2-6, 5-41
Battery Run-Down Protection............................3-16
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-21
Brake
Parking......................................................2-23
System Warning Light..................................3-27
Brake Fluid....................................................5-38
Brake Wear...................................................5-40
Brakes..........................................................5-38
Braking........................................................... 4-5
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-15Bulb Replacement...........................................5-47
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps.............5-49
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-47
Headlamps.................................................5-47
Rear Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Back-Up
Lamps....................................................5-49
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-50
Buying New Tires...........................................5-65
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
Canada – Customer Assistance.......................... 7-4
Capacities and Specifications............................5-92
Carbon Monoxide.....................4-24, 4-35, 2-8, 2-27
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-81
Your CD Player...........................................3-54
Your CDs ...................................................3-54
CD Messages................................................3-49
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-31
Chains, Tires..................................................5-69
Charging System Light....................................3-27
2

Check
Engine Light...............................................3-29
Check Engine Light.........................................3-29
Checking Coolant............................................5-27
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-13
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-84
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-32
Infants and Young Children...........................1-28
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-38
Older Children.............................................1-26
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System........................................1-40
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position..................................................1-40
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position...........................................1-43
Top Strap...................................................1-36
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-37
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-35
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-18
Cleaning
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-79
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-82
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-84
Weatherstrips..............................................5-81Cleaning Aluminum Wheels..............................5-83
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-82
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-79
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-81
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components.................5-81
Cleaning Leather............................................5-80
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel...........5-81
Cleaning Tires................................................5-84
Cleaning Vinyl................................................5-80
Cleaning Windshield and Wiper Blades..............5-83
Climate Control System...................................3-19
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-22
Clutch, Hydraulic.............................................5-24
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-77
CONFIRMATION BEEPS.................................2-35
Content Theft-Deferrent....................................2-14
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-28
Cooling System..............................................5-31
COURTESY LAMP TIMEOUT...........................2-36
Courtesy Lamps.............................................3-15
Cruise Control.................................................. 3-9
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-31
Current and Past Model Order Forms................7-12
3

Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-7
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY)
Users....................................................... 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Program for Persons
with Disabilities.......................................... 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to General
Motors....................................................7-10
Reporting Safety Defects to the United
States Government...................................7-10
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-5
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-11
D
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).........................3-12
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light.............3-34
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting.................................3-20
DIGITAL SPEEDO..................................2-34, 3-39
Disarming the System.....................................2-14Dist to Arrival.................................................3-37
DIST TO ARRIVAL DISPLAY............................2-34
Dist to Empty.................................................3-38
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dome Lamp...................................................3-15
Door
Locks.......................................................... 2-6
DOOR LOCK INDICATION...............................2-37
Driver
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-12
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-15
City...........................................................4-19
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-20
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-22
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-16
Winter........................................................4-24
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-25
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-18
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-18
4

E
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-87
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-87
Emergency Trunk Release Handle.....................2-10
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-31
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-18
Battery.......................................................5-41
Change Engine Oil Light...............................3-33
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-29
Coolant......................................................5-25
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-28
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-16
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-27
Oil .............................................................5-13
Overheating................................................5-28
Starting......................................................2-17
Engine Compartment Fuse Block......................5-90
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-16
Entering Programming Mode............................2-33
Entry Lighting.................................................3-15
Event Data Recorders (EDR)............................. 7-9
EXIT OPTIONS MENU....................................2-37Exiting Programming Mode...............................2-37
Express-Down Window....................................2-12
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-25
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-12
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-18
Finding a Station............................................3-43
Finish Care....................................................5-82
Finish Damage...............................................5-84
Flash-to-Pass Feature....................................... 3-7
Flat Tire........................................................5-70
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-71
Fluid
Automatic Transmission................................5-19
Manual Transmission....................................5-23
Power Steering...........................................5-36
Windshield Washer......................................5-37
FM ...............................................................3-54
Fog Lamp Light..............................................3-33
Fog Lamps....................................................3-14
Front Reading Lamps......................................3-16
Front Storage Area.........................................2-31
5

Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-7
Gage.........................................................3-35
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specifications.................................. 5-5
FUEL REMAINING..........................................3-37
FUEL USED..................................................3-37
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-87
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-28
Fuel..........................................................3-35
Speedometer..............................................3-25
Tachometer.................................................3-25
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specifications............................................... 5-5
Glove Box.....................................................2-30
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities.................................................... 7-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-4
Head Restraints............................................... 1-4
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.................... 3-6
Headlamps....................................................5-47
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-47
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps.............5-49
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-47
Headlamps and Dimming Instructions.................3-14
Headlamps On When Approaching the
Vehicle.......................................................3-14
HEADLIGHTS APPROACH TIME......................2-36
HEADLIGHTS OFF DELAY TIME......................2-36
High Speed Operation.....................................5-61
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-33
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-22
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-22
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-11
Horn............................................................... 3-4
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank.................................................5-33
How to Add Fluid....................................5-22, 5-23
How to Check................................5-20, 5-23, 5-60
How to Check and Add Fluid............................5-24
6

How to Check Power Steering Fluid..................5-36
How to Detect a Tamper Condition....................2-15
How to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.......5-18
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-12
Hydraulic Clutch.............................................5-24
Hydroplaning..................................................4-18
I
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine..........5-29
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine...............5-28
If the Light is Flashing.....................................3-30
If the Light Is On Steady.................................3-30
If You Are Caught in a Blizzard.........................4-26
If You Are Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow.......4-28
IGNITION OFF COURTESY LAMP....................2-36
Ignition Positions.............................................2-16
Immobilizer....................................................2-12
Immobilizer Operation......................................2-13
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-28
Inflation - Tire Pressure...................................5-58
INST FUEL....................................................3-38
Instrument Panel
Cluster.......................................................3-24
Overview..................................................... 3-2Instrument Panel Brightness.............................3-15
Instrument Panel Fuse Block............................5-88
Interior Lamps................................................3-15
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-42
K
Key Removal.................................................2-26
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-2
L
Lamps
Exterior......................................................3-12
Interior.......................................................3-15
Lap-Shoulder Belt...................................1-12, 1-21
LATCH System
Child Restraints...........................................1-38
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System........................................1-40
Latches, Seatback............................................ 1-4
7

Leaving Your Vehicle......................................... 2-7
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running.....................................................2-25
Light
Air Bag Readiness.......................................3-26
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning...................3-28
Brake System Warning.................................3-27
Change Engine Oil......................................3-33
Charging System.........................................3-27
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator..................3-34
Fog Lamp..................................................3-33
Highbeam On.............................................3-33
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-29
Oil Pressure...............................................3-32
Safety Belt Reminder...................................3-25
Security.....................................................3-33
Service Vehicle Soon...................................3-34
Lighted Visor Vanity Mirrors..............................2-12
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................4-30
Locks
Door........................................................... 2-6
Leaving Your Vehicle..................................... 2-7
Loss of Control...............................................4-13
Lumbar
Manual Controls............................................ 1-2M
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services........................... 6-6
At Each Fuel Fill........................................... 6-9
At Least Once a Month................................6-10
At Least Once a Year..................................6-10
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Footnotes.................................. 6-8
Maintenance Record....................................6-17
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........6-15
Owner Checks and Services........................... 6-9
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.............6-13
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-4
Using Your................................................... 6-3
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-29
Manual Lumbar Controls.................................... 1-2
Manual Transmission.......................................2-17
Fluid..........................................................5-23
Operation...................................................2-21
Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Islands/
Countries (Except Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin
Islands) – Customer Assistance....................... 7-4
8