2004 PONTIAC GTO warning light

Charging System Light
The charging system light
will come on when you
turn on the ignition,
until the engine is started,
as a check to show
you it is working.
When the engine is running, the light should go out.
If the light illuminates and the Check Alternator message
on the trip computer stays on, or comes on while you
are driving you may have a problem with the electrical
charging system. It could indicate that you have a loose
generator drive belt or another electrical problem.
Have it checked right away. Driving while this light is on
could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
The Check Alternator message will remain until the
MODE button on the trip computer is pressed, but the
symbol will remain until the problem is fixed.
Brake System Warning Light
To check that the light is
working, the symbol is
displayed when the ignition
is first turned ON and
the park brake applied.
If the symbol illuminates and the Brake message
appears on the trip computer display while driving and
the park brake is released, a fault with the brakes is
indicated. You should immediately stop the car on the
side of the road as carefully as possible. Do not proceed
until satisfied that braking is possible or that the
cause of the problem has been fixed.
A warning will chime if you attempt to drive off without
releasing the park brake.
The Brake message will remain until the MODE button
on the trip computer is pressed, but the symbol will
remain until the problem is fixed.
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Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
To ensure that the warning
light is working, the symbol
is displayed for a short
time when the ignition is
turned to ON.
If the light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If there is a malfunction of the anti-lock brake system,
the symbol will illuminate and ABS Fault will appear
on the trip computer display. See your dealer for service.
The car’s brake system will still operate conventionally,
only the anti-lock operation is impaired.
The ABS Fault message will remain until the MODE
button on the trip computer is pressed, but the symbol
will remain until the problem is fixed.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
The temperature gage
shows the engine coolant
temperature when the
ignition is on.
If the gage pointer moves into the red area, the light
comes on and you hear a chime, your engine is too hot!
It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
3-28

Trip A/B
When the Time to Arrival/Distance to Arrival/Fuel
Remaining set of windows are turned on, using vehicle
personalization, and are showing on the display,
hold the MODE button down for two seconds. Now,
instead of the Time to Arrival set of displays, the
trip computer shows Trip B details.
Press the MODE button to view your displays. You now
have two different sets of trip displays counting, your
original set of trip displays (labeled A while B is turned
on) and a new set of trip displays, labelled B. This is
useful on a long trip, as Trip B can be reset at the
beginning of the journey and then locked away
(by pressing the MODE button for two seconds when
Trip B is shown). Time to Arrival/Distance to
Arrival/Remaining Fuel will again be shown on the
display, but Trip B is still counting away in the
background and the original trip display can be used for
short distances during the journey. Trip B can be
viewed at any time by pressing the MODE button for
two seconds when Distance to Arrival is shown.
Trip A/B can also be enabled/disabled in vehicle
personalization, SeeVehicle Personalization on
page 2-32. If the Trip A and B function is selected,
the Average Speed and Average Fuel displays
indicate Trip A.
Trip Computer Notes:
•If the wrong buttons are accidentally pressed,
causing the window to show a display other
than normal, turn the ignition off then on again
when the vehicle is standing still.
•Several warning lights are linked to the trip
computer displays. SeeWarning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators on page 3-23.
•When the overspeed warning symbol is first shown,
the overspeed trip computer display is automatically
shown for 10 seconds. This is to show what your
pre-selected speed is and allow you to adjust
it if required. After 10 seconds, the trip computer
returns to its previous display.
•Some displays change the units of measurement
over time. For example, the Time to Arrival shows
hours only above 99 hours and 59 minutes,
and hours and minutes below. Time to Arrival also
shows 10 minute units above 2 hours, 5 minute
units below 2 hours and 1 minute units below
10 minutes.
•If the X symbol or a Service Error message is
shown in the display, it indicates a fault in the
trip computer and you should see your vehicle
dealer.
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Trip Computer Warning Messages
Cruise Control
The CRUISE light along
with the Cruise Enabled
message on the trip
computer display will come
on whenever you set
your cruise control.
SeeTurn Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-5.
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning:If the Engine
Temp Hot message in the trip computer display
comes on while driving, it indicates that the engine
coolant temperature is dangerously hot. You should stop
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. The Engine
Temp Hot message is displayed until the MODE button
on the trip computer switch is pressed. The message
then reverts to the original trip computer display
with a small over temperature symbol on the left. The
symbol will remain until the problem is fixed. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 5-28.
Low Coolant Warning:If the Low Coolant message in
the trip computer comes on while driving, it indicates
that the engine coolant level is dangerously low.You should check the level as soon as possible, see
Engine Coolant on page 5-25. The Low Coolant
message is displayed until the MODE button on the trip
computer switch is pressed. The message then
reverts to the original trip computer display with a small
low coolant symbol on the left. The symbol will remain
until the problem is fixed.
Low Traction:If the Low Traction message appears in
the trip computer display while driving, it indicates
that the traction control system has sensed that your
vehicle requires help with road grip and that the system
is actively working to stop any wheel spin. The Low
Traction message is displayed for about one second.
The message then reverts to the original trip computer
display with a small low traction symbol on the left.
The symbol will remain as long as the low traction
situation exits. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 4-8.
Traction Off:If the Traction Ctrl Off message in the trip
computer display comes on while driving, without the
traction control being turned off by the driver, it indicates
the traction control system is not working and you
should see your vehicle dealer. The Traction Ctrl Off
message is displayed for two seconds. The message
then reverts to the original trip computer display
with a small TRAC OFF symbol on the right. The symbol
will remain until the problem is fixed. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-8.
3-41

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is
a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much
faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace
with the traffic and allow realistic following distances,
you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking.
That means better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you are driving, brake
normally but do not pump your brakes. If you do,
the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist.
But you will use it when you brake. Once the power
assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and
the brake pedal will be harder to push.Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. ABS is an advanced
electronic braking system that will help prevent a
braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that your
brake pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with
the anti-lock brake system,
this warning light will
stay on. SeeAnti-Lock
Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-28.
4-6

Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and
you are going fast enough. When your vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it can if your
tires do not have much tread or if the pressure in
one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is
standing on the road. If you can see reflections
from trees, telephone poles or other vehicles, and
raindrops “dimple” the water’s surface, there could be
hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just is not a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.
The best advice is to slow down when it is raining.
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
Notice:If you drive too quickly through deep
puddles or standing water, water can come in
through your engine’s air intake and badly damage
your engine. Never drive through water that is
slightly lower than the underbody of your vehicle.
If you can not avoid deep puddles or standing water,
drive through them very slowly.
Driving Through Flowing Water
{CAUTION:
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces.
If you try to drive through owing water, as you
might at a low water crossing, your vehicle can
be carried away. As little as six inches of
owing water can carry away a smaller vehicle.
If this happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not ignore police
warning signs, and otherwise be very cautious
about trying to drive through owing water.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
•Besides slowing down, allow some extra following
distance. And be especially careful when you
pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear
room ahead, and be prepared to have your
view restricted by road spray.
•Have good tires with proper tread depth. SeeTires
on page 5-51.
4-18

City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic on them. You will want to watch out for
what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to
traffic signals.Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
•Know the best way to get to where you are
going. Get a city map and plan your trip into
an unknown part of the city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
•Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross
most large cities. You will save time and energy.
SeeFreeway Driving on page 4-20.
•Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic
light is there because the corner is busy enough
to need it. When a light turns green, and just before
you start to move, check both ways for vehicles
that have not cleared the intersection or may
be running the red light.
4-19

Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
•Have your vehicle in good shape for winter.
•You may want to put winter emergency supplies in
your trunk.
Also seeTires on page 5-51.Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a
supply of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter
outer clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red
cloth and a couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if
you will be driving under severe conditions, include a
small bag of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of
burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you
properly secure these items in your vehicle.
4-24