instrument panel PONTIAC GTO 2004 Owner's Guide

Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:
1. Pull the handle located
under the instrument
panel on the driver’s
side of the vehicle.
2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and pull up on
the secondary hood release.
3. After you have partially lifted the hood, gas struts
will automatically take over to lift and hold the
hood in the fully open position.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are
on properly. Then pull the hood down and push
firmly back into place.
5-11

Cleaning the Top of the Instrument
Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel. Sprays containing silicones
or waxes may cause annoying reflections in the
windshield and even make it difficult to see through the
windshield under certain conditions.
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components
Use only a mild soap and water solution on a soft cloth
or sponge. Commercial cleaners may affect the
surface finish.
Cleaning Glass Surfaces
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner or a
liquid household glass cleaner will remove normal
tobacco smoke and dust films on interior glass. See
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials on page 5-85.
Notice:If you use abrasive cleaners when cleaning
glass surfaces on your vehicle, you could scratch
the glass and/or cause damage to the rear window
defogger and the integrated radio antenna. When
cleaning the glass on your vehicle, use only a soft
cloth and glass cleaner.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
{CAUTION:
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do, it
may severely weaken them. In a crash, they
might not be able to provide adequate
protection. Clean safety belts only with mild
soap and lukewarm water.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth at least every
six months. During very cold, damp weather more
frequent application may be required. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-13.
5-81

Vehicle Identication
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)
This is the legal identifier for your vehicle. It appears on
a plate in the front corner of the instrument panel, on
the driver’s side. You can see it if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts
labels and the certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identication
The 8th character in your VIN is the engine code. This
code will help you identify your engine, specifications
and replacement parts.
Service Parts Identication Label
You’ll find this label on your spare tire cover. It’s very
helpful if you ever need to order parts. On this label, you
will find the following:
•VIN
•Model designation
•Paint information
•A list of all production options and special
equipment.
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
5-86

Electrical System
Add-On Electrical Equipment
Notice:Don’t add anything electrical to your
vehicle unless you check with your dealer rst.
Some electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment can
keep other components from working as they
should.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting
to add anything electrical to your vehicle, see
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-52.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by fuses, circuit breakers and thermal links
in the wiring itself. This greatly reduces the chance of
fires caused by electrical problems.
Look at the metallic band inside the fuse. If the band is
broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the correct size.
If you ever have a problem on the road and don’t have a
spare fuse, you can borrow one. Just pick some
feature of your vehicle that you can get along
without — like the radio or cigarette lighter — and use
its fuse, if it is the size you need. Replace it as soon as
you can.
Before replacing a fuse, turn every vehicle electrical
switch off.
There are two fuse blocks in your vehicle: the
instrument panel fuse block and the engine compartment
fuse block.
5-87

Instrument Panel Fuse Block
This fuse block is located under the driver’s side of the
instrument panel. The fuses here protect each
separate circuit including headlamps. There are spare
fuses inside the fuse box. If you have electrical
failure, check here first.
Fuses Usage
FLASHER
UNITHazard Warning Flashers
POWER
WINDOWSPower Window Switches
POWER
SEATSPower Seat Controls
SPARE Spare
INSTRUMENT
ILLUM. PARK
LAMPSInstrument Cluster Brightness
Controls, Parking Lamps
STOP LAMPS Stop Lamps
INTERIOR
ILLUM.Interior light Controls
HAZARD
WARNINGHazard Warning Flashers
SPARE Spare
HORN Horn
IGNITION Ignition Switch
INSTRUMENT
ILLUM.Instrument Panel Lighting
TURN SIGNAL Turn Signal Lamp
5-88

Customer Assistance and
Information
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
Your satisfaction and goodwill are important to
your dealer and to Pontiac. Normally, any concerns with
the sales transaction or the operation of your vehicle
will be resolved by your dealer’s sales or service
departments. Sometimes, however, despite the best
intentions of all concerned, misunderstandings can
occur. If your concern has not been resolved to your
satisfaction, the following steps should be taken:
STEP ONE:Discuss your concern with a member of
dealership management. Normally, concerns can
be quickly resolved at that level. If the matter has
already been reviewed with the sales, service or parts
manager, contact the owner of the dealership or
the general manager.
STEP TWO:If after contacting a member of dealership
management, it appears your concern cannot be
resolved by the dealership without further help, contact
the Pontiac Customer Assistance Center by calling
1-800-762-2737. In Canada, contact GM of Canada
Customer Communication Centre in Oshawa by calling
1-800-263-3777 (English) or 1-800-263-7854 (French).We encourage you to call the toll-free number in order
to give your inquiry prompt attention. Please have
the following information available to give the Customer
Assistance Representative:
•Vehicle Identification Number (This is available from
the vehicle registration or title, or the plate at the
top left of the instrument panel and visible through
the windshield.)
•Dealership name and location
•Vehicle delivery date and present mileage
When contacting Pontiac, please remember that your
concern will likely be resolved at a dealer’s facility. That
is why we suggest you follow Step One first if you
have a concern.
STEP THREE:Both General Motors and your dealer
are committed to making sure you are completely
satisfied with your new vehicle. However, if you continue
to remain unsatisfied after following the procedure
outlined in Steps One and Two, you should file with the
BBB Auto Line Program to enforce any additional
rights you may have. Canadian owners refer to your
Warranty and Owner Assistance Information booklet for
information on the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration
Plan (CAMVAP).
7-2

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

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