instrument panel PONTIAC GTO 2006 Owners Manual

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-6
Child Restraints
.......................................1-25
Airbag System
.........................................1-46
Restraint System Check
............................1-53
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
.................................................2-12
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-14
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-16
Mirrors
....................................................2-29
Storage Areas
.........................................2-30
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-31
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-19
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-22
Trip Computer
.........................................3-33
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-44Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-34
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-43
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-45
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-50
Tires
......................................................5-51
Appearance Care
.....................................5-76
Vehicle Identi®cation
.................................5-85
Electrical System
......................................5-85
Capacities and Speci®cations
.....................5-90
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-13
Index................................................................ 1
2006 Pontiac GTO Owner ManualM
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this manual you will ®nd these notices:
Notice:These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice tells about something that can damage the
vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered
by your vehicle's warranty, and it could be costly. But
the notice will tell what to do to help avoid the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in
different words.
There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or information
relating to a speci®c component, control, message,
gage, or indicator.
If you need help ®guring out a speci®c name of a
component, gage, or indicator, reference the following
topics:
·Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
·Features and Controls in Section 2
·Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
·Climate Controls in Section 3
·Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Section 3
·Audio System(s) in Section 3
·Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iv
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

or the instrument panel... or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why
safety belts make such good sense.
1-10
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

{CAUTION:
Airbags in¯ate with great force, faster than the
blink of an eye. If you are too close to an
in¯ating airbag, as you would be if you were
leaning forward, it could seriously injure you.
Safety belts help keep you in position before
and during a crash. Always wear your safety
belt, even with airbags. The driver should sit
as far back as possible while still maintaining
control of the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Anyone who is up against, or very close to,
any airbag when it in¯ates can be seriously
injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder
belts offer the best protection for adults, but
not for young children and infants. Neither the
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
vehicle's safety belt system nor its airbag
system is designed for them. Young children
and infants need the protection that a child
restraint system can provide. Always secure
children properly in your vehicle. To read how,
see
Older Children on page 1-25andInfants
and Young Children on page 1-28
.
There is an airbag
readiness light on the
instrument panel cluster,
which shows the airbag
symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See
Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-25for more information.
1-47
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner 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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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

In any particular crash, no one can say whether an
airbag should have in¯ated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs
were. In¯ation is determined by what the vehicle hits,
the angle of the impact, and how quickly the vehicle
slows down in frontal and near-frontal impacts.
What Makes an Airbag In¯ate?
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
in¯ator, which in¯ates the airbag. The in¯ator, 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
In¯ates?
After the airbag in¯ates, it quickly de¯ates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the airbag
in¯ated. 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 de¯ated airbags. Airbag in¯ation does not prevent
the driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle,
nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
1-50
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors
and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from doing
its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt
is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken airbag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The airbag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
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.
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
{CAUTION:
A crash can damage the restraint systems in
your vehicle. A damaged restraint system may
not properly protect the person using it,
resulting in serious injury or even death in a
crash. To help make sure your restraint
systems are working properly after a crash,
have them inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as possible.
If you have had a crash, do you need new belts or
LATCH system parts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn
during a more severe crash, then you need new parts.
1-53
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner 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.
2-9
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

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 ¯ashing 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.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Your vehicle is equipped with a Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) feature that enables the radio, power
windows, windshield wipers, and accessory power outlet
to continue to work after the ignition key has been
turned to LOCK and removed from the ignition.
The radio, wipers and accessory power outlet will turn
off when the ignition key is turned to LOCK and
removed. By turning the radio back on, you will be able
to operate it, the windshield wipers, and the accessory
power outlet for up to one hour or until:
·The radio is turned off
·Either door is opened
The windows will also operate for 15 minutes or until
either door is opened.
2-17
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

One to Four Shift Light
(Manual Transmission)
When this light comes on, you can only shift from
FIRST (1) to FOURTH (4) instead of FIRST (1) to
SECOND (2). The light will be displayed on the
instrument panel cluster and a message will be
displayed on the trip computer.
You must complete the shift into FOURTH (4) to turn off
this feature. This helps you get the best possible fuel
economy.After shifting to FOURTH (4), you may downshift to a
lower gear if you prefer.
Notice:Forcing the shift lever into any gear except
FOURTH (4) when the 1 TO 4 SHIFT light comes
on may damage the transmission. Shift only from
FIRST (1) to FOURTH (4) when the light comes on.
This light will come on when:
·The engine coolant temperature is higher than
169ÉF (76ÉC),
·you are going 15 to 19 mph (24 to 31 km/h) and
·you are 21 percent throttle or less.
See
One-to-Four Shift Light (Manual Transmission) on
page 3-26andTrip Computer on page 3-33for more
information. Instrument Panel
Cluster
Trip Computer
2-23
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual