tow 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

To return the seat to the original position, do the
following:
1. Make sure there are no objects in front of or behind
the seat.
2. Return the seatback to the original, upright position.
3. Press and hold the button, located below the
lever, to return the seat to its original position.
The seat will pause for two seconds when it reaches
its original position.
The seatback must ®rst be returned upright before
pressing the button, otherwise the seat will not move.
When rear seat passengers are entering or exiting
the vehicle, it may be helpful to move the seat
belt anchor arm toward the rear of the vehicle.Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety
belts properly. It also tells you some things you should
not do with safety belts.
{CAUTION:
Do not let anyone ride where he or she cannot
wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you are not wearing a safety belt,
your injuries can be much worse. You can hit
things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it.
You can be seriously injured or killed. In the
same crash, you might not be, if you are
buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,
and check that your passengers' belts are
fastened properly too.
1-6
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

{CAUTION:
Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the same belt.
The belt can not properly spread the impact
forces. In a crash, the two children can be
crushed together and seriously injured. A belt
must be used by only one person at a time.
Q:What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child is so small that the shoulder belt
is very close to the child's face or neck?
A:Move the child toward the center of the vehicle. Be
sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child's
shoulder, so that in a crash the child's upper body
would have the restraint that belts provide. If
the child is sitting in a rear seat position, see
Rear
Safety Belt Comfort Guides on page 1-22
.
1-26
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

{CAUTION:
The body structure of a young child is quite
unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom
the safety belts are designed. A young child's
hip bones are still so small that the vehicle's
regular safety belt may not remain low on the
hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle
up around the child's abdomen. In a crash, the
belt would apply force on a body area that is
unprotected by any bony structure. This alone
could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young
children always should be secured in
appropriate child restraints.
Child Restraint Systems
An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a
motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed
to restrain or position a child on a continuous ¯at
surface. Make sure that the infant's head rests toward
the center of the vehicle.
1-31
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

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

Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different
positions for your shift
lever. Push in the button
on top of the shift lever
when shifting into position.
PARK (P):The engine can be started in this position.
This position prevents the rear wheels from turning
and so should be selected, together with the parking
brake, when leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake ®rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To
be sure your vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). See
Shifting Into Park (P) (Automatic
Transmission) on page 2-24
. If you are pulling
a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-34.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transmission
shift lock control system. You must have your foot
on the regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in ON. The vehicle
will not shift from PARK (P) if the button is pressed
before the brake is applied. If you cannot shift out of
PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever, push
the shift lever all the way into PARK (P), and release
the shift lever button as you maintain brake application.
Then press the shift lever button and move the shift
lever into the desired gear. See
Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission) on page 2-26.
2-19
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission,
see
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
on page 4-28.
NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart when you are
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is ®rmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine running at high speed may damage
the transmission. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting your vehicle.
DRIVE (D):This is the most effective position for normal
or freeway driving. This position gives maximum fuel
efficiency, as the transmission can choose the
appropriate gear (1 through 4) for the existing load and
driving conditions.
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal driving.
However, it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D). Here are some times you might choose
THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D):
·When driving on hilly, winding roads.
·When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between gears.
·When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2):This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). You can use
SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as
you go down steep mountain roads, but then you
would also want to use your brakes off and on.
2-20
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, pull up on the parking brake
handle without pressing the release button. If the ignition
is on, the brake system warning light will come on.
See
Brake System Warning Light on page 3-27.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the parking brake handle up until you
can press the release button. Hold the release button
in as you move the brake handle all the way down.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that
the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake ®rmly set. Your vehicle can roll. If
you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. If you are pulling a trailer,
see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-34.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P).
·Press in and hold the shift lever button, located
on the top of the shift lever.
·Push the lever all the way toward the front of the
vehicle.
3. Turn the main key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the main key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
2-24
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual

Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
The mirror can be adjusted two ways. First, to adjust
the height of the mirror, adjust the arm that connects the
mirror to the windshield. Second, adjust the angle of
the mirror by moving the mirror to a position that allows
you to see out of the back window.
To reduce glare from headlamps behind you, move the
lever toward you to the night position. To return the mirror
to the daytime position, move the lever away from you.
Outside Power Mirrors
The controls for the power
mirrors are located on the
driver's door armrest.You can adjust the angle of the mirrors when the
ignition is on.
Move the selector switch located above the four-way
control pad to choose the right or left mirror. To adjust a
mirror, use the four-way control pad to move the
mirror in the direction that you want it to go.
Outside Convex Mirror
Your passenger's side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror's surface is curved so you can see more from the
driver's seat.
{CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder
before changing lanes.
2-29
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual