2005 PONTIAC GTO light

Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the
day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset.
The DRL system will make your low-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when the following
conditions are met:
•The ignition is on.
•The exterior lamp control is turned to AUTO and
the light sensor detects daytime light.
•The exterior lamp control is turned to the off
position.
•The parking brake is released.
•For vehicles with automatic transmissions, the shift
lever is not in PARK (P).
When the DRL system is on, the taillamps, sidemarker
lamps, parking lamps, and instrument panel lights will not
be illuminated unless you have turned the exterior lamps
control to the parking lamp or headlamp position.
The DRL system will remain off any time your vehicle is
in PARK (P) or the parking brake is engaged the first
time the ignition is turned on.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, your Automatic
Headlamp System will turn on your headlamps at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as
the taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps, and the
instrument panel lights. The radio lights will also be dim.
Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on the
top of the instrument panel under the defroster
grill. Make sure it is not covered, which will cause the
system to be on whenever the ignition is on.
The system may also be on when driving through a
parking garage, heavy overcast weather, or a tunnel.
This is normal.
If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamps when you need them.
The headlamps can be set to come on at different
levels. The sensitivity can be adjusted to Early, Normal,
or Late. SeeVehicle Personalization on page 2-30.
Leaving the headlamps and parking lamps on when the
engine is not running will eventually drain the battery.
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To prevent the battery from draining, the headlamp and
parking lamps will turn off when the ignition has been
turned off and the driver’s door is opened, because the
vehicle senses that the driver has forgotten to turn
off the lights. The lights stay off until the ignition is again
turned on, or the lights are turned back on manually
by the headlamp switch. The headlamps can be set to
automatically turn off after you have locked the
vehicle and walked away. To set or adjust the time
delay from when the driver’s door is opened to when the
lights automatically turn off, seeVehicle Personalization
on page 2-30. If you wish to have the lights on when
leaving the vehicle, wait until they have been
automatically turned off, then turn the light control first
to off, then to parking lamps or headlamps.
Fog Lamps
The control to the left of the steering wheel on the
instrument panel also controls the fog lamps.
-(Fog Lamp):When using the fog lamps, the
ignition must be on and the parking lamps or the
low-beam headlamps. If the high-beam headlamps are
activated or flashed, the fog lamps will turn off.
Pull the exterior lamp adjuster control out to turn the fog
lamps on, and push the control in to turn the fog
lamps off. The indicator light in the knob will come on
when the fog lamps are working.
Instrument Panel Brightness
Slide the control to
increase or decrease
the instrument
panel brightness.
Courtesy Lamps
When a door is open, the courtesy lamps will
automatically come on.
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Dome Lamp
The dome lamp has three positions.
ON:In this position, the dome lamp is always on.
DOOR:In this position, the light automatically comes
on when a door is opened. It will turn off 30 seconds
after the last door is closed. If the ignition is turned on,
the light turns off immediately unless a door is open.
OFF:In this position, the dome lamp is always off, even
when a door is opened.
The dome lamp can be set to remain on for a preset
amount of time after the ignition has been turned
off. SeeVehicle Personalization on page 2-30.
Entry Lighting
The entry lighting feature illuminates the interior of the
vehicle before you enter. The interior lamps will come on
for 40 seconds when you unlock the doors using the
remote key buttons. After 40 seconds have elapsed, the
interior lamps will turn off. The lamps will turn off
before 40 seconds have elapsed if you do either of
the following:
•Lock all doors using the remote key buttons.
•Lock the doors manually using the lock knob.Entry lighting is canceled when any door is opened, but
the interior lights will stay on until all doors are closed.
The interior lamps may stay on for up to 25 seconds after
all doors have been closed if they have not been locked.
Front Reading Lamps
Your vehicle has reading lamps located in the dome
lamp. The lamps can be turned on and off manually by
pressing the side of each reading lamp.
Trunk Lamp
The trunk lamp comes on when you open your trunk.
Battery Run-Down Protection
Your vehicle has a battery run-down protection feature
designed to protect your vehicle’s battery.
It will activate when there has been no electrical change
for one hour, nothing has been turned on or off, after
the ignition has been turned to ON or LOCK.
Once activated, all the interior lamps will turn off
including dome, reading, glovebox, trunk.
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The system is turned on if a door is opened, the vehicle
is unlocked, or the trunk is opened. Once the system
is turned on, the one hour battery protection time resets
to zero and the interior lamps will continue to operate
for another hour, or until the vehicle is locked.
The interior lamp system will shut down 10 seconds
after your vehicle is locked using either the key or the
remote key locking system. However, if an interior lamp,
such as the dome lamp, has been turned on manually
and is on at the time the vehicle is locked, the system will
not shut down after the normal 10 seconds. The one hour
battery protection will be activated instead.
The vehicle’s hazard lights will continue to operate at
all times.
Accessory Control
If you want the accessories to operate once the key has
been removed from the ignition, you must turn the
system on by either manually starting an accessory,
such as turning the radio on again. This will activate a
one hour timer that will operate accessories such as
the radio, accessory power outlet, and windshield wipers
before turning off. These actions will reset the timer to
zero. Likewise, if an accessory such as the radio is
turned on at any time during the one hour period, the
timer is reset to zero and all accessories will continue to
operate for another hour. To enable accessory control
after the system has been reset, you must turn the
ignition on and then off again.
Accessory Power Outlets
The vehicle has an
accessory power outlet
which can be used to plug
in electrical equipment.
The accessory power outlet is located inside the center
console. The power outlet is operational when the
ignition is turned to ON, LOCK, or when Retained
Accessories Power is in operation. SeeRetained
Accessory Power (RAP) on page 2-17.
Remove the tethered cap to use the outlet. When
not using the outlet, be sure to cover it with the
protective cap.
Notice:Leaving electrical equipment on for
extended periods will drain the battery. Always turn
off electrical equipment when not in use and do
not plug in equipment that exceeds the maximum
amperage rating.
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Certain electrical accessories may not be compatible
with the accessory power outlet and could result
in blown vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a
problem, see your dealer for additional information
on accessory power outlets.
Notice:Adding any electrical equipment to your
vehicle may damage it or keep other components
from working as they should. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Check with your
dealer before adding electrical equipment.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow the
proper installation instructions included with the
electrical equipment you install.
Notice:Improper use of the power outlet can cause
damage not covered by your warranty. Do not
hang any type of accessory or accessory bracket
from the plug because the power outlets are
designed for accessory power plugs only.
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
Notice:If you put papers, pins, or other ammable
items in the ashtray, hot cigarettes or other
smoking materials could ignite them and possibly
damage your vehicle. Never put ammable items in
the ashtray.
Ashtray
If your vehicle has this accessory, the front ashtray is
located in the center of the instrument panel under
the audio controls. The rear ashtray is located at the rear
of the center console. To use the ashtray, push the
cover inwards and the ashtray will slide open.
To empty the ashtray, open it and grip it at the
depressions located on each side. Then pull the
ashtray out.
Cigarette Lighter
Notice:Holding a cigarette lighter in while it is
heating will not allow the lighter to back away from
the heating element when it is hot. Damage from
overheating may occur to the lighter or heating
element, or a fuse could be blown. Do not hold a
cigarette lighter in while it is heating.
If your vehicle has this accessory, the cigarette lighter is
located inside the ashtray and can be operated
whenever the ignition is turned on.
Press the lighter all the way in and release it. It will pop
back out once the element is ready for use.
The cigarette lighter should not be used as an accessory
power outlet. Use the accessory power outlet provided
in the center console.
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A/C (Air Conditioning):Press this button on the left
dial to turn the air-conditioning system on or off.
When A/C is pressed, an indicator light in the button will
come on to let you know that air conditioning is
activated.
On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside air
escape; then close them. This helps to reduce the time
it takes for your vehicle to cool down. It also helps
the system to operate more efficiently.
For quick cool down on hot days, do the following:
1. Select the vent mode.
2. Select the highest fan speed.
3. Select A/C.
4. Select the coolest temperature.
The air-conditioning system removes moisture from the
air, so you may sometimes notice a small amount of
water dripping underneath your vehicle while idling
or after turning off the engine. This is normal.Defogging and Defrosting
Fog on the inside of windows is a result of high humidity
(moisture) condensing on the cool window glass. This
can be minimized if the climate control system is
used properly. There are two modes to choose from to
clear fog or frost from your windshield. Use the
defog mode to clear the windows of fog or moisture and
warm the passengers. Use the defrost mode to
remove fog or frost from the windshield more quickly.
Turn the right control to select the defog or
defrost modes.
-(Defog):This mode directs the air to the windshield
and to the floor outlets. When you select this mode,
the system turns off recirculation automatically.
The recirculation mode cannot be selected while in the
defog mode. Do not drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.
To help clear the side windows quickly while using air
conditioning, do the following:
1. Select the bi-level mode.
2. Select the highest fan speed.
3. Select A/C.
4. Select the temperature.
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1(Defrost):This mode directs the air to the
windshield. When you select this mode, the system
turns off recirculation automatically. The recirculation
mode cannot be selected while in the defrost mode. Do
not drive the vehicle until the windscreen is clear
To help clear the windscreen quickly, do the following:
1. Select the defrost mode.
2. Select the highest temperature.
3. Select the highest fan speed.
4. Select A/C.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog or frost from the rear window.
<(Rear Defogger):Press this button on the right
dial to turn the rear window defogger on or off. An
indicator light in the button will come on to let your know
that the rear window defogger is activated. Be sure to
clear as much snow from the rear window as possible.
The rear window defogger will turn off about 15 minutes
after the button is pressed. The defogger can also
be turned off by pressing the button again or by turning
off the engine.Notice:Do not use anything sharp on the inside of
the rear window. If you do, you could cut or
damage the warming grid, and the repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Do not attach a
temporary vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything
similar to the defogger grid.
Outlet Adjustment
Move the thumbwheel on the vents to change the
direction of the airflow. The center thumbwheel adjusts
the volume of the airflow.
There are also similar vents for the rear of the vehicle.
They are located at the rear of the center console.
Operation Tips
•Clear away any ice, snow or leaves from the air
inlets at the base of the windshield that may
block the flow of air into your vehicle.
•Use of non-GM approved hood deflectors may
adversely affect performance of the system.
•When an objectionable odor outside the vehicle is
encountered, use the recirculation mode, with the
temperature knob at a comfortable setting to prevent
the odor from entering the vehicle through the
ventilation system. This can be helpful when driving
through a long tunnel with poor ventilation.
However, extended usage of this mode in cold or
cool weather can cause window fogging.
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Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages
that may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section that
tells you what to do about it. Please follow this
manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be
costly – and even dangerous. So please get to know
your warning lights and gages. They’re a big help.
Your vehicle also has a trip computer that works along
with the warning lights and gages. The trip computer
display provides visual information. SeeTrip Computer
on page 3-33. The warning message are displayed
through the trip computer or as an illuminated symbol or
sometimes both ways.
If a Service Error Contact Dealer message appears on
the trip computer display while driving, a fault in the
instrument panel is indicated. Contact your dealer
as soon as possible. This message will remain until the
MODE button on the trip computer is pressed.
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