steering PONTIAC GTO 2005 Owners Manual

Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s airbag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.The right front passenger’s airbag is in the instrument
panel on the passenger’s side.
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{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the bag might not inate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
inating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put
anything between an occupant and an airbag,
and do not attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other
airbag covering.
When Should an Airbag Inate?
The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal airbags
are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflate
only if the impact exceeds a predetermined deployment
threshold. Deployment thresholds take into account
a variety of desired deployment and non-deployment
events and are used to predict how severe a crash
is likely to be in time for the airbags to inflate and help
restrain the occupants. Whether your frontal airbags
will or should deploy is not based on how fast yourvehicle is traveling. It depends largely on what you hit,
the direction of the impact and how quickly your
vehicle slows down.
If your vehicle goes straight into a wall that does not
move or deform, the threshold level is about 11 to
17 mph (18 to 28 km/h). (The threshold level can vary,
however, with specific vehicle design, so that it can
be somewhat above or below this range.)
Airbags may inflate at different crash speeds. For
example:
•If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the airbag
could inflate at a different crash speed than if
the object were moving.
•If the object deforms, the airbag could inflate
at a different crash speed than if the object does
not deform.
•If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole) the
airbag could inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits a wide object (like a wall).
•If the vehicle goes into an object at an angle the
airbag could inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle goes straight into the object.
The frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger) are
not intended to inflate during vehicle rollovers, rear
impacts, or in many side impacts.
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In any particular crash, no one can say whether an airbag
should have inflated simply because of the damage to a
vehicle or because of what the repair costs were. Inflation
is determined by the angle of the impact and how quickly
the vehicle slows down in frontal and near-frontal
impacts.
What Makes an Airbag Inate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The
sensing system triggers a release of gas from the
inflator, which inflates the airbag. The inflator, airbag,
and related hardware are all part of the airbag modules
inside the steering wheel and in the instrument panel
in front of the right front passenger.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. Airbags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts. Airbags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually.But airbags would not help you in many types of
collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts and many side
impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not
toward those airbags. Airbags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and
then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal
collisions.
What Will You See After an
Airbag Inates?
After the airbag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the airbag
inflated. Some components of the airbag module will be
hot for a short time. These components include the
steering wheel hub for the driver’s frontal airbag and the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s frontal
airbag. The parts of the bag that come into contact with
you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will
be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in
the deflated airbags. Airbag inflation does not prevent
the driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle,
nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
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{CAUTION:
When an airbag inates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe
to do so. If you have breathing problems but
cannot get out of the vehicle after an airbag
inates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock
the doors, turn off the engine, turn off the fuel pump,
and turn the interior lamps on when the airbags inflate
(if battery power is available). You can operate these
features by switching the ignition off and then on.In many crashes severe enough to inflate an airbag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger airbag.•Airbags are designed to inflate only once. After an
airbag inflates, you will need some new parts for
your airbag system. If you do not get them,
the airbag system will not be there to help protect
you in another crash. A new system will include
airbag modules and possibly other parts. The
service manual for your vehicle covers the need to
replace other parts.
•Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information after
a crash. SeeVehicle Data Collection and Event
Data Recorders on page 7-9.
•Let only qualified technicians work on your airbag
system. Improper service can mean that an
airbag system will not work properly. See your
dealer for service.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s airbag, the airbag
may not work properly. You may have to replace the
airbag module in the steering wheel or both the
airbag module and the instrument panel for the right
front passenger’s airbag. Do not open or break
the airbag coverings.
1-49

Ignition Positions
The key can be turned to
one of three positions
while in the ignition switch.
A (LOCK):This is the only position from which you can
insert or remove the key. When the key is inserted
and is in this position, the radio, wipers, and accessory
power outlet will continue to work until the key is
removed. Once the key is removed these accessories
will turn off. By selecting the ON switch on the radio
these accessories will continue to work for one hour or
until either door is opened. If the key is left inserted
in this position, a chime will sound when the driver’s
door is opened to remind you the key has been left in
the ignition. If the key is left in the ignition, it can
drain the battery. Make sure to remove the key when
leaving the vehicle.The key can only be turned to this position if the
vehicle’s automatic transmission is in PARK (P).
To help guard against theft, your vehicle’s engine is
automatically disabled shortly after turning the key to this
position. A flashing padlock symbol on the bottom left
corner of the instrument panel indicates this.
The steering column is automatically locked when the
key is removed. To release the steering wheel, insert the
key again and turn it towards the front of the vehicle.
Notice:Using a tool to force the key from the
ignition switch could cause damage or break the
key. Use the correct key and turn the key only with
your hand. Make sure the key is all the way in.
If it is, turn the steering wheel left and right while
you turn the key hard. If none of this works,
then your vehicle needs service.
B (ON):This position is where the key returns to after
you start your engine and release the key. The ignition
switch stays in ON when the engine is running. But even
when the engine is not running, you can use ON to
operate your electrical accessories and to display some
instrument panel warning lights.
C (START):This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch
will return to ON for normal driving.
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Audio System(s).............................................3-45
Setting the Time...........................................3-45
Radio with Six-Disc CD.................................3-46
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-55
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-56Radio Reception...........................................3-57
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-57
Care of the CD Player...................................3-57
Backglass Antenna.......................................3-58
Section 3 Instrument Panel
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The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Side Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-21.
B. Exterior Lamp Controls. SeeInstrument Panel
Brightness on page 3-15andExterior Lamps on
page 3-13.
C. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-23.
D. Windshield Wiper Lever. SeeWindshield Wipers on
page 3-9.
E. Trip Computer Control. SeeTrip Computer on
page 3-33.
F. Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-21.
G. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
H. Climate Controls. SeeClimate Control System on
page 3-19.
I. Audio System Controls. SeeAudio System(s) on
page 3-45.J. Cruise Control Lever. SeeCruise Control on
page 3-10.
K. Audio Steering Wheel Controls. SeeAudio Steering
Wheel Controls on page 3-56.
L. Tilt Wheel. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-6.
M. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
N. Ignition Switch. SeeIgnition Positions on page 2-16.
O. Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation
on page 2-18orManual Transmission Operation
on page 2-21.
P. Cupholders. SeeCupholder(s) on page 2-29.
Q. Power Window Switches. SeePower Windows on
page 2-12.
R. Parking Brake. SeeParking Brake on page 2-23.
S. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-29.
3-5

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off.
The hazard warning
flasher button is located
near the center of the
instrument panel.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key is not in.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps flash on and off. Press the button again to
turn the flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
signals will not work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set them up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on your steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
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.
3-6

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
which allows the steering wheel to move closer or further
away from the driver.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
•Turn and Lane-Change Signals. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
•Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer. SeeHeadlamp
High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-8.
•Flash-to-Pass. SeeFlash-to-Pass on page 3-9.
•Cruise Control. SeeCruise Control on page 3-10.
3-7

Flash-to-Pass
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, LOCK, or when the Retained Accessory Power is in
operation. SeeRetained Accessory Power (RAP) on
page 2-17.
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.
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.
3-9