cooling PONTIAC GTO 2006 Owners Manual

If both doors are unlocked, press the button to lock the
doors. If both doors are locked, press the button to
unlock the doors.
If the driver's door is unlocked and the passenger's door
is locked, press the button once to unlock the
passenger's door. Press the button a second time to
lock both doors.
Pressing the LOCK button on the remote key disables
the power door lock switch. See
Remote Keyless
Entry System Operation on page 2-5for more
information on how the remote keyless entry system
works in combination with your power locks.
Programmable Automatic
Door Locks
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, it is
equipped with an automatic door locking feature which
can be programmed through the trip computer
buttons and instrument panel center display. It can be
programmed to be on or off. See
Vehicle Personalization
on page 2-31for more information.
Your vehicle was programmed from the factory to
automatically lock when the shift lever is moved out
of PARK (P).
Trunk
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You cannot see or
smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness and
even death. If you must drive with the trunk lid
open or if electrical wiring or other cable
connections must pass through the seal
between the body and the trunk lid:
·Make sure all other windows are shut.
·Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed and select the
control setting that will force outside air
into your vehicle. See Climate Control
System.
·If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
See
Engine Exhaust on page 2-27.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

Climate Controls
Climate Control System
With this system you can control the heating, cooling,
and ventilation for your vehicle.
Operation
To change the current mode, turn the right control to
select one of the following:
Y(Vent):This mode directs air to the instrument
panel outlets.
%(Bi-Level):This mode directs the air to the
instrument panel outlets and the ¯oor outlets. This
position can be used for most winter driving.
[(Floor):This mode directs the air to the ¯oor
outlets.
The right control can also be used to select defog or
defrost modes. Information on defogging and defrosting
can be found later in this section.
9(Fan):Turn the left control clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the fan speed.
The fan must be on to run the air-conditioning
compressor.
>(Recirculation):This mode keeps outside air from
coming into the vehicle. It can be used to prevent
outside air and odors from entering your vehicle or to
help heat or cool the air inside your vehicle more quickly.
Move the right control to this position to turn recirculation
on. Turn the air conditioning on when using recirculation.
Recirculation is not recommended for use over long
periods of time.
Temperature Control:Turn the center control
clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease
the temperature inside your vehicle.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in ¯at or rolling terrain.If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
·Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all ¯uid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system,
and transmission. These parts can work hard
on mountain roads.
·Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of
the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you
go down a steep or long hill.
{CAUTION:
If you do not shift down, your brakes could get
so hot that they would not work well. You
would then have poor braking or even none
going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down
to let your engine assist your brakes on a
steep downhill slope.
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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

How to Check and Add Fluid
To check the ¯uid level, look at the markings on the
reservoir. If the ¯uid level is between the MIN and the
MAX line, the ¯uid level is correct. If the ¯uid level
is between these marks do not remove the cap, as the
¯uid will quickly absorb moisture. See
Engine
Compartment Overview on page 5-12for more
information on reservoir location.
If ¯uid does need to be added, ®rst turn the vehicle off.
Remove the cap and add the proper ¯uid. Remember
to replace the cap and clean up any spilled ¯uid.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is ®lled with
DEX-COOLžengine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in the vehicle for ®ve years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs ®rst, if only
DEX-COOL
žextended 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, see
Engine Overheating on page 5-26.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
žcoolant will:
·Give freezing protection down to-34ÉF (-37ÉC).
·Give boiling protection up to 265ÉF (129ÉC).
·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-COOLžmay
cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at the ®rst maintenance
service after each 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
ž(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half DEX-COOLžcoolant which will not damage
aluminum parts. If this coolant mixture is used, nothing
else needs to be added.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle's coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch ®re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
žcoolant.
Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture,
your engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.If coolant needs to be added more than four times a
year, have your dealer check the cooling system.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or additives
in your vehicle's cooling system, you could
damage your vehicle. Use only the proper mixture
of the engine coolant listed in this manual for
the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12for more information.
Checking Coolant
The coolant over¯ow reservoir is located in the engine
compartment on the driver's side of the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for more
information on location.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

If the coolant over¯ow reservoir is completely empty,
add coolant to the radiator. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-26.
{CAUTION:
Turning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. With the coolant recovery tank, you will
almost never have to add coolant at the
radiator. Never turn the radiator pressure
cap Ð even a little Ð when the engine and
radiator are hot.
Occasionally check the coolant in the radiator. For
information on how to add coolant to the radiator, see
Cooling System on page 5-29.
Radiator Pressure Cap
Notice:If the pressure cap is not tightly installed,
coolant loss and possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly and tightly
secured.
See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
information on location.
Engine Overheating
Immediate action is required if your engine overheats.
This is indicated by the coolant temperature gage
and the Engine Temp Hot message on the trip computer
display. See
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on
page 3-28andTrip Computer on page 3-33for more
information.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn
you badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay
away from the engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it. Just turn it off and get
everyone away from the vehicle until it cools
down. Wait until there is no sign of steam or
coolant before you open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch ®re. You
or others could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if it overheats, and get out of the
vehicle until the engine is cool.
Notice:If your engine catches ®re because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can
be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
An overheat warning, along with an Engine Temp Hot
message can indicate a serious problem.
If you get an engine overheat warning, but see or hear
no steam, the problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you:
·Climb a long hill on a hot day.
·Stop after high-speed driving.
·Idle for long periods in traffic.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL (N)
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road,
apply the parking brake, shift to PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) and let the engine idle while you get
out and check that the cooling fan is working.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is what
you will see:
A. Radiator Pressure Cap (Out of View)
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
C. Engine Coolant Over¯ow Reservoir{CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood
can start up even when the engine is not
running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
If you can hear the coolant inside the coolant over¯ow
reservoir bubbling or boiling, do not do anything
else until it cools down. The vehicle should be parked
on a level surface.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

The coolant level should be at or above the bottom
arrow on the dipstick. If it is not, you may have a leak at
the pressure cap or in the radiator hoses, heater
hoses, radiator, water pump, or somewhere else in the
cooling system.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them. If
you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine ®re, and you could be
burned. Get any leak ®xed before you drive
the vehicle.If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check
to see if the electric engine cooling fan is running. If
the engine is overheating, the fan should be running. If
it is not, your vehicle needs service.
Notice:If you operate the engine without coolant
or fail to maintain the cooling system properly,
you could damage the engine. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule in this manual for
maintaining your cooling system. See
Cooling
System on page 5-29for more information.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOLžmay
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
ž(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual