Page 1 of 326

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-6
Child Restraints
.......................................1-26
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-46
Restraint System Check
............................1-52
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-6
Windows
.................................................2-10
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-12
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-15
Mirrors
....................................................2-29
Storage Areas
.........................................2-30
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-32
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-2
Climate Controls
......................................3-19
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-23
Trip Computer
.........................................3-36
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-42Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-29
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-47
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-50
Tires
......................................................5-51
Appearance Care
.....................................5-78
Vehicle Identification
.................................5-86
Electrical System
......................................5-87
Capacities and Specifications
.....................5-92
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-10
Index................................................................ 1
2004 Pontiac GTO Owner ManualM
Page 2 of 326

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, PONTIAC,
the PONTIAC Emblem and the name GTO are
registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes
after that time without further notice.
Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be
there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you
sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the
new owner can use it.
How to Use This Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If
you do this, it will help you learn about the features and
controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you will find
that pictures and words work together to explain things.
Index
A good place to look for what you need is the Index in
back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what
is in the manual, and the page number where you will
find it.
Part No. 04GTO A First Edition©
Copyright General Motors Corporation 10/15/03
All Rights Reserved
ii
Page 3 of 326
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you
about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore
the warning.
{CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is.
Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you
or others could be hurt.You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Don’t,”
“Don’t do this” or “Don’t let
this happen.”
iii
Page 4 of 326

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
Notice:These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice will tell you about something that can damage
your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be
covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the
notice will tell you 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.
You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
Your vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle,
are shown along with the text describing the operation
or information relating to a specific component, control,
message, gage or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific 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
Page 5 of 326
These are some examples of symbols you may find on your vehicle:
v
Page 6 of 326
Page 7 of 326

Front Seats......................................................1-2
Power Seats..................................................1-2
Manual Lumbar..............................................1-2
Reclining Seatbacks........................................1-3
Head Restraints.............................................1-4
Seatback Latches...........................................1-4
Safety Belts.....................................................1-6
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone.................1-6
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts......1-10
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly.................1-12
Driver Position..............................................1-12
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy..................1-19
Right Front Passenger Position.......................1-20
Rear Seat Passengers..................................1-20
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children
and Small Adults.......................................1-23
Safety Belt Pretensioners...............................1-25
Safety Belt Extender.....................................1-25
Child Restraints.............................................1-26
Older Children..............................................1-26
Infants and Young Children............................1-28
Child Restraint Systems.................................1-32
Where to Put the Restraint.............................1-35Top Strap....................................................1-36
Top Strap Anchor Location.............................1-37
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)...........................1-38
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System.........................................1-40
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position...................................................1-40
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position............................................1-43
Air Bag Systems............................................1-46
Where Are the Air Bags?...............................1-48
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?....................1-49
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?.....................1-50
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?.....................1-50
What Will You See After an Air
Bag Inflates?............................................1-50
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-52
Restraint System Check..................................1-52
Checking Your Restraint Systems...................1-52
Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash...................................................1-53
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-1
Page 8 of 326
Front Seats
Power Seats
The power front seat controls are located on the
outboard side of the driver’s and passenger’s seat.
The horizontal switch is used to electrically adjust the
height, the tilt, and the movement of the seat forward
and rearward. The vertical switch is used to electrically
adjust the angle of the back of the seat.
To adjust the seat, do the following:
•Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding the
horizontal switch toward the front or rear of the
vehicle.
•Raise or lower the seat cushion by sliding the
horizontal switch up or down.
•Tilt the horizontal switch up at the front to tilt the
front of the seat up, and tilt the horizontal switch
down at the rear to tilt the seat down at the rear.
•Tilt the vertical switch to adjust the angle of
the seatback. The seat back moves in the same
direction that the switch is tilted to.
Manual Lumbar
The manual lumbar control
lets you adjust the amount
of support in the lower
seatback.
1-2