warning light PONTIAC GTO 2005 User Guide

Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
•Know the best way to get to where you are
going. Get a city map and plan your trip into
an unknown part of the city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
•Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross
most large cities. You will save time and energy.
SeeFreeway Driving on page 4-19.
•Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic
light is there because the corner is busy enough
to need it. When a light turns green, and just before
you start to move, check both ways for vehicles
that have not cleared the intersection or may
be running the red light.
Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways — also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes, or superhighways — are the
safest of all roads. But they have their own special rules.
4-19

Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
•Have your vehicle in good shape for winter.
•You may want to put winter emergency supplies in
your trunk.
Also seeTires on page 5-52.Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a
supply of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter
outer clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red
cloth, and a couple of reflective warning triangles. And,
if you will be driving under severe conditions, include
a small bag of sand, a piece of old carpet, or a couple of
burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you
properly secure these items in your vehicle.
4-24

If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change the oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your last
oil change. Remember to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed.
After changing the engine oil, reset the system by
performing the following steps:
How to Reset the Engine Oil Life
System
The Engine Oil Life System calculates when to change
the engine oil and filter based on vehicle use. Anytime
engine oil is changed, reset the system so it can
calculate when the next oil change is required. If a
situation occurs where you change your oil prior to
the Service Engine Oil light being turned on, reset
the system.
1. With the engine off, turn the ignition key to ON.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal slowly
two times within five seconds.
3. Turn the key to LOCK.
If the Service Engine Oil light comes back on when
you start your vehicle, the engine oil life system
has not reset. Repeat the procedure.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.
Do not let used oil stay on your skin for very long. Clean
your skin and nails with soap and water, or a good
hand cleaner. Wash or properly dispose of clothing or
rags containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer’s
warnings about the use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the
filter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting it
in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers, or into
streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by
taking it to a place that collects used oil. If you have a
problem properly disposing of used oil, ask your
dealer, a service station, or a local recycling center
for help.
5-17

How to Check and Add Fluid
To check the fluid level, look at the markings on the
reservoir. If the fluid level is between the MIN and the
MAX line, the fluid level is correct. If the fluid level
is between these marks do not remove the cap, as the
fluid will quickly absorb moisture. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 5-12for more
information on reservoir location.
If fluid does need to be added, first turn the vehicle off.
Remove the cap and add the proper fluid. Remember
to replace the cap and clean up any spilled fluid.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in the vehicle for five years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if only
DEX-COOL
®extended life coolant is added.The following explains the cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If there is a problem
with engine overheating or if coolant needs to be added
to the radiator, seeEngine Overheating on page 5-26.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
•Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
•Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
•Protect against rust and corrosion.
•Help keep the proper engine temperature.
•Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
5-23

Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder
reservoir is filled with
DOT-4 brake fluid. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in
the reservoir might go down. The first is that the
brake fluid goes down to an acceptable level during
normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in,
the fluid level goes back up. The other reason is
that fluid is leaking out of the brake system. If it is, you
should have your brake system fixed, since a leak
means that sooner or later your brakes will not work
well, or will not work at all.So, it is not a good idea to top off your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid will not correct a leak. If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you will have too
much fluid when you get new brake linings. You should
add or remove brake fluid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If you have too much brake uid, it can spill on
the engine. The uid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
uid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system. See “Checking Brake Fluid”
in this section.
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-27.
5-36

The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlledconditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation
of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
5-65

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.
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
5-86

Fuses Usage
POWER
SEATSPower Seat Controls
FRONT WIPER
WASHERFront Windshield Wiper Washer
PARK LAMPS 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,
BACK UP
LAMPSTurn Signal Lamp, Back-Up Lamps
HVAC CONT.
HEAT, REAR
WINDOW,
INSTRUMENTSHeater Controls, Rear Window, Trip
Computer
CIGAR
LIGHTERCigarette LighterFuses Usage
CRUISE CONT.
POWER
MIRRORSCruise Control, Power Mirror
RADIO, CELL
PHONERadio System, Cell Phone
ACC. SOCKET Accessory Power Outlet
SPARE Spare
ENG. CONT.
SIGNALEngine Control Signal
POWER DOOR
LOCKS,
WINDOWS &
THEFT HORNPower Door Locks, Power Windows,
Theft System, Horn
INSTRUMENTS Instruments
SPARE Spare
RADIO & CELL
PHONERadio System, Cell Phone
SUB WOOFER
& AMPLIFIERSub Woofer and Amplifier
SPARE Spare
AIRBAG Airbag
ABS &
TRACTION
CONT.Anti-Lock Brake System, Traction
Control System
5-87

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-17
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-85
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-18
Air Conditioning..............................................3-19
Airbag
Readiness Light..........................................3-25
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-44
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-48
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-50
What Makes an Airbag Inflate?......................1-48
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates?....1-48
When Should an Airbag Inflate?....................1-47
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-46
Antenna, Backglass.........................................3-58
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-6
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-27
Appearance Care............................................5-76
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-81
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-79
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-83
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-80
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-77
Finish Care.................................................5-80
Finish Damage............................................5-82Appearance Care (cont.)
Glass Surfaces............................................5-79
Instrument Panel.........................................5-79
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-79
Leather......................................................5-79
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-82
Tires..........................................................5-82
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-83
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-84
Vinyl..........................................................5-78
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-80
Weatherstrips..............................................5-80
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-81
Ashtrays........................................................3-18
Audio System(s).............................................3-45
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-56
Backglass Antenna......................................3-58
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-57
Care of Your CDs........................................3-57
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-46
Setting the Time..........................................3-45
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-55
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-57
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-14
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-19
Operation...................................................2-18
1

B
Backglass Antenna..........................................3-58
Battery..........................................................5-39
Run-Down Protection...................................3-16
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-20
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-6
Emergencies................................................ 4-8
Parking......................................................2-23
System Warning Light..................................3-27
Brakes..........................................................5-36
Braking........................................................... 4-5
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-15
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-47
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps.............5-49
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-47
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-45
Headlamps.................................................5-47
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-51
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps........................................5-50
Buying New Tires...........................................5-64
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
Capacities and Specifications............................5-90
Carbon Monoxide.....................2-8, 2-26, 4-24, 4-34
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-79
Your CD Player...........................................3-57
Your CDs ...................................................3-57
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-29
Chains, Tire...................................................5-67
Charging System Light....................................3-26
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-28
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-83
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-31
Infants and Young Children...........................1-28
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-37
Older Children.............................................1-25
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System........................................1-39
2