wheel PONTIAC GTO 2006 Owner's Guide

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modi®cations..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Speci®cations....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling the Tank..............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-18
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-19
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-21
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-22
Engine Coolant.............................................5-23
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-26
Engine Overheating.......................................5-26Cooling System............................................5-29
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-33
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-34
Brakes........................................................5-35
Battery........................................................5-38
Jump Starting...............................................5-39
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-44
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-46
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-46
Headlamps..................................................5-46
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps..............5-48
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-49
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-50
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-51
Tires..............................................................5-52
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-54
Tire Terminology and De®nitions.....................5-56
In¯ation - Tire Pressure.................................5-59
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-62
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-63
Buying New Tires.........................................5-64
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-65
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-66
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-67
Wheel Replacement......................................5-67
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

Tire Chains..................................................5-69
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-69
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-70
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools................5-71
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire................................................5-72
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-77
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-78
Appearance Care............................................5-78
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.................5-78
Fabric/Carpet...............................................5-80
Leather.......................................................5-80
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces..................................................5-81
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-81
Weatherstrips...............................................5-82
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-82
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................5-82
Finish Care..................................................5-82Windshield and Wiper Blades.........................5-83
Aluminum Wheels.........................................5-83
Tires...........................................................5-84
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-84
Finish Damage.............................................5-84
Underbody Maintenance................................5-85
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-85
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................5-86
Vehicle Identi®cation......................................5-87
Vehicle Identi®cation Number (VIN).................5-87
Service Parts Identi®cation Label.....................5-87
Electrical System............................................5-87
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................5-87
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................5-88
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..........................5-88
Engine Compartment Fuse Block....................5-90
Capacities and Speci®cations..........................5-91
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

Filling the Tank
{CAUTION:
Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel ®re can
cause bad injuries. To help avoid injuries to
you and others, read and follow all the
instructions on the pump island. Turn off your
engine when you are refueling. Do not smoke
if you are near fuel or refueling your vehicle.
Keep sparks, ¯ames, and smoking materials
away from fuel. Do not leave the fuel pump
unattended when refueling your vehicle Ð this
is against the law in some places. Keep
children away from the fuel pump; never let
children pump fuel.The tethered fuel cap is located behind a hinged fuel
door on the passenger's side of the vehicle.
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.
5-8
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

What to Add
When you do need brake ¯uid, use only DOT-4 brake
¯uid. Use new brake ¯uid from a sealed container
only. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 6-12.
Always clean the brake ¯uid reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it. This will help
keep dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of ¯uid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work at all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake ¯uid.
Notice:
·Using the wrong ¯uid can badly damage brake
system parts. For example, just a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in your
brake system can damage brake system parts so
badly that they will have to be replaced. Do not
let someone put in the wrong kind of ¯uid.
·If you spill brake ¯uid on your vehicle's painted
surfaces, the paint ®nish can be damaged. Be
careful not to spill brake ¯uid on your vehicle. If
you do, wash it off immediately. See
Washing
Your Vehicle on page 5-80.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are ®rst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque speci®cations.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where to obtain service,
see your GM Warranty booklet for details. For additional
information refer to the tire manufacturer's booklet
included with your vehicle's Owner Manual.
{CAUTION:
·Poorly maintained and improperly used
tires are dangerous.
·Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and a
serious accident. See
Loading Your
Vehicle on page 4-29.
·Underin¯ated tires pose the same danger
as overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
·
Overin¯ated tires are more likely to be cut,
punctured, or broken by a sudden
impact Ð such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
·Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If
your tread is badly worn, or if your tires
have been damaged, replace them.
See
In¯ation - Tire Pressure on page 5-58for
in¯ation pressure adjustment for high speed
driving.
Notice:If your vehicle has low-pro®le tires, they
are more susceptible to damage from road hazards
or curb impact than standard pro®le tires. Tire
and/or wheel assembly damage can occur when
coming into contact with road hazards like,
potholes, or sharp edged objects, or when sliding
into a curb. Your GM warranty does not cover
this type of damage. Keep tires set to the correct
in¯ation pressure and, when possible avoid contact
with curbs, potholes, and other road hazards.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

Winter Tires
If you expect to drive on snow or ice covered roads often,
you may want to get winter tires for your vehicle. High
performance tires, like the original equipment tires
installed on your vehicle, are designed for very
responsive driving on wet or dry pavement and may not
offer the traction you would like or the same level of
performance as winter tires on snow or ice covered
roads.
Winter tires, in general, are designed for increased
traction on snow and ice covered roads. With winter
tires, there may be decreased dry road traction,
increased road noise, and shorter tire tread life. After
switching to winter tires, be alert for changes in vehicle
handling and braking.
See your dealer for details regarding winter tire
availability and proper tire selection. Also, see
Buying
New Tires on page 5-63
If you choose to use winter tires:
·Use tires of the same brand and tread type on all
four wheel positions.
·Use only radial ply tires of the same size as your
original equipment tires.
Winter tires with the same speed rating as your original
equipment tires may not be available for H, V, W, Y,
and ZR speed rated tires. If you choose winter tires with
a lower speed rating, never exceed the tire's speed
capability.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

Tire Size
The following illustration shows an example of a typical
passenger vehicle tire size.
(A) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:The United States
version of a metric tire sizing system. The letter P as the
®rst character in the tire size means a passenger
vehicle tire engineered to standards set by the U.S. Tire
and Rim Association.
(B) Tire Width:The three-digit number indicates the
tire section width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall.
(C) Aspect Ratio:A two-digit number that indicates
the tire height-to-width measurements. For example, if
the tire size aspect ratio is 60, as shown in item C of the
illustration, it would mean that the tire's sidewall is
60 percent as high as it is wide.
(D) Construction Code:A letter code is used to
indicate the type of ply construction in the tire. The
letter R means radial ply construction; the letter D means
diagonal or bias ply construction; and the letter B means
belted-bias ply construction.(E) Rim Diameter:Diameter of the wheel in inches.
(F) Service Description:These characters represent
the load range and speed rating of the tire. The load
index represents the load carry capacity a tire is certi®ed
to carry. The load index can range from 1 to 279. The
speed rating is the maximum speed a tire is certi®ed
to carry a load. Speed ratings range from A to Z.
Tire Terminology and De®nitions
Air Pressure:The amount of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire. Air pressure
is expressed in pounds per square inch (psi) or
kilopascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight:This means the combined weight
of optional accessories. Some examples of optional
accessories are, automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power seats, and air
conditioning.
Aspect Ratio:The relationship of a tire's height to its
width.
Belt:A rubber coated layer of cords that is located
between the plies and the tread. Cords may be made
from steel or other reinforcing materials.
Bead:The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped by
steel cords that hold the tire onto the rim.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your tires as
soon as possible and check wheel alignment. Also
check for damaged tires or wheels. See
When It Is Time
for New Tires on page 5-62andWheel Replacement
on page 5-66for more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The ®rst rotation
is the most important. See
Scheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4.
When rotating non-directional tires, always use the
correct rotation pattern shown here.If your vehicle has 235/40ZR18 tires, they must roll in a
certain direction for the best overall performance.
The direction is shown by an arrow on the tire sidewall.
Because these tires are uni-directional, they should
be rotated as shown here. These tires should only be
moved from front to rear and rear to front on the
same side of the vehicle.
Don't include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear in¯ation pressures as shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. Make certain that all wheel
nuts are properly tightened. See ªWheel Nut Torqueº
under
Capacities and Speci®cations on page 5-90.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
places where the wheel attaches to the vehicle.
In an emergency, you can use a cloth or a
paper towel to do this; but be sure to use a
scraper or wire brush later, if needed, to get all
the rust or dirt off. See
Changing a Flat Tire on
page 5-69
.
When It Is Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it is
time for new tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires
have only 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) or less of tread
remaining.
You need a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
·You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
·You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire's rubber.
·The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut, or snagged
deep enough to show cord or fabric.
·The tire has a bump, bulge, or split.
·The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
cannot be repaired well because of the size or
location of the damage.
5-62
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched speci®c tires for your
vehicle. The original equipment tires installed on
your vehicle, when it was new, were designed to meet
General Motors tire performance criteria. GM's tire
performance criteria considers over a dozen critical
speci®cations that impact the overall performance
of your vehicle, including brake system performance,
ride and handling, and traction control. If you need
replacement tires, GM strongly recommends that you
replace your vehicle's tires with the same size, load
range, speed rating, and construction type (radial and
bias-belted tires) as your vehicle's original tires.
This way, your vehicle will continue to have tires that
are designed to give the same performance and vehicle
safety, during normal use, as the original tires.
{CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control
while driving. If you mix tires of different sizes,
brands, or types (radial and bias-belted tires),
the vehicle may not handle properly, and you
could have a crash.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Using tires of different sizes, brands, or types
may also cause damage to your vehicle. Be
sure to use the correct size, brand, and type of
tires on all wheels. It is all right to drive with
your compact spare temporarily, as it was
developed for use on your vehicle. See
Compact Spare Tire on page 5-76.
{CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle, the
wheel rim ¯anges could develop cracks after
many miles of driving. A tire and/or wheel
could fail suddenly, causing a crash. Use only
radial-ply tires with the wheels on your vehicle.
Your vehicle's original equipment tires are listed on the
Tire and Loading Information Label. This label is
attached to the vehicle's center pillar (B-pillar). See
Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-29, for more information
about the Tire and Loading Information Label and its
location on your vehicle.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual