
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, PONTIAC,
and the PONTIAC Emblem, are registered trademarks;
and the name GTO is a trademark 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. For vehicles first
sold in Canada, substitute the name General Motors of
Canada Limited for Pontiac Division wherever it
appears in the manual.
Keep this manual in the vehicle, so it will be there if it is
needed while you are on the road. If the vehicle is
sold, leave this manual in the vehicle.
How to Use This Manual
Many people read the owner manual from beginning to
end when they first receive their new vehicle. If this
is done, it can help you learn about the features
and controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words work
together in the owner manual to explain things.
Index
A good place to quickly locate information about the
vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an
alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the
page number where it can be found.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 05GTO A First Edition
©2004 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
ii

Infants and Young Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes
infants and all other children. Neither the distance
traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes
the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact,
the law in every state in the United States and in
every Canadian province says children up to some age
must be restrained while in a vehicle.
Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles,
they should have the protection provided by appropriate
restraints. Young children should not use the vehicle’s
adult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice.
Instead, they need to use a child restraint.
{CAUTION:
People should never hold a baby in their arms
while riding in a vehicle. A baby does not
weigh much — until a crash. During a crash a
baby will become so heavy it is not possible to
hold it. For example, in a crash at only 25 mph
(40 km/h), a 12 lb (5.5 kg) baby will suddenly
become a 240 lb (110 kg) force on a person’s
arms. A baby should be secured in an
appropriate restraint.
1-28

Remote Keyless Entry System
Your keyless entry system operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.At times you may notice a decrease in range. This is
normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the
transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer
to your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:
•Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during
rainy or snowy weather.
•Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may
be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the
left or right, hold the transmitter higher, and
try again.
•If you have to get close to your vehicle before the
key works, the battery may be weak or discharged.
The battery in the remote key should last about
five years. When the battery is weak or discharged,
the remote key will need to be replaced. There is
no battery replacement for the remote key
transmitter. SeeRemote Keyless Entry System
Operation on page 2-5.
•If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a
qualified technician for service.
2-4

Remote Keyless Entry System
Operation
The buttons on your key
allow you to lock and
unlock your doors
or unlock your trunk.
When pressing the key buttons, ensure that other keys
on the key ring are not between the main key and
the vehicle. Other keys can obscure the signal being
transmitted to the vehicle.When a button on the key is pressed, it sends a signal
to the vehicle. The receiver of the signal is a small
rectangle centered on top of the dashboard.
The receiver is also used to measure sunlight. It is
important that the receiver is clean, not covered, and
that there are no metal objects close by, as this
may block the signals.
LOCK:Press this button on the key to lock all the
doors, disable the engine, and set the alarm. The
vehicle’s turn signals will briefly flash.
If you prefer to have the turn signals flash accompanied
by the horn sounding, the LOCK feature can be
changed. SeeVehicle Personalization on page 2-30.
The LOCK button on the key will not work if the ignition
is turned on, or if the driver’s and/or passenger’s
door is open.
Prior to locking your vehicle, make sure all the doors are
closed completely. If the LOCK button is pressed when a
door is open, the horn will sound three times to indicate
that a door has not locked. Close the open door and reset
the remote system by first pressing the UNLOCK button
and then the LOCK button on the key.
2-5

UNLOCK:Press this button on the key to unlock the
doors. The turn signal lamps will flash twice, and
the horn will chirp twice, if this unlocking option is
selected through vehicle personalization. The interior
light will also turn on for a short time. If UNLOCK
is pressed once, the driver’s door will unlock. If UNLOCK
is pressed a second time, or is held down for more
than half a second, all the doors will unlock. If you prefer
to have all the doors unlock with a single press, the
unlock feature can be changed to unlock all doors.
See “Two Stage Unlock” underVehicle Personalization
on page 2-30.
If the lock system is overloaded as a result of repeated
use in a short time interval, the power supply is cut
off for about 30 seconds. The door lock system
has been designed to make the vehicle horn chirp
rapidly five times if it detects a fault in the lock system
when the LOCK button is pressed. You should check to
see that the doors have locked.
V(Trunk):Press the button with the opened trunk
symbol to release the trunk lid.
The trunk button on the key will not work if you are
travelling over 12 mph (20 km/h).
Battery
The key has a non-removable battery. Under normal
use, the battery in your key should last about five years.
You can tell the battery is weak if the key will not
work at the normal range in any location. If you have to
get close to your vehicle before the key buttons work,
it is probably time for a replacement key. See your
dealership to purchase a replacement key.
If the buttons on the key are not working at the normal
range in any location, insert the key into the ignition
and turn it ON and then OFF. Remove the key from the
ignition and try pressing the LOCK and UNLOCK
buttons again. If it still does not work a replacement key
may be needed. You will have to go to the dealership
to purchase a replacement key.
2-6

Starting Your Engine
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal and the
parking brake firmly applied, turn your ignition
key to START. When the engine starts, let go of the
key. The idle speed will go down as your engine
gets warm.
Notice:Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid draining
your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it does not start, wait about 15 seconds and
try again to start the engine by turning the
ignition key to START. Wait about 15 seconds
between each try.
When your engine has run about 10 seconds to
warm up, your vehicle is ready to be driven. Do not
run your engine at high speeds when it is cold.
If the weather is below freezing (32°F or 0°C),
let the engine run for a few minutes to warm up.
Notice:Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way the
engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer. If you do not, your engine
might not perform properly.
Racing or Other Competitive Driving
See your warranty book before using your vehicle for
racing or other competitive driving.
Notice:If you use your vehicle for racing or other
competitive driving, the engine may use more
oil than it would with normal use. Low oil levels can
damage the engine. Be sure to check the oil level
often during racing or other competitive driving and
keep the level at or near the upper mark that
shows the proper operating range on the engine oil
dipstick. For information on how to add oil, see
Engine Oil on page 5-13.
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.
2-18

Navigating the Menu
To scroll through the different personalization features,
press the MODE button. To change the setting,
use the up or down arrows. To continue, press the
MODE button.
The following information shows how to reset or
customize features after entering the main menu:
RESTORE TO FACTORY SETTINGS
This option restores the instrument panel, audio system,
and other general vehicle systems to the factory
default settings. Use the up or down arrows to select
Yes or No. The default selection is No. If Yes is
selected, the next feature will be displayed after a
two second delay. This delay is to allow time for the
default parameters to be set. Press the MODE button
to continue.
UNDERSPEED CHIME
This option is used to enable or disable the underspeed
chime. Overspeed provides a chime when your
vehicle’s travelling speed exceeds the overspeed
chosen value, whereas underspeed provides an
additional chime to indicate when your vehicle’s
travelling speed drops below the overspeed.
Use the up or down arrows to select Yes or No.
The default selection is No. If Yes is selected, the
underspeed chime is activated. Press the MODE button
to continue. See “O/SPEED (Overspeed)” under
Trip Computer on page 3-33for more information.
DIST (Distance) TO ARRIVAL DISPLAY
This option is used to enable or disable the Time to
Arrival/Distance to Arrival/Remaining Fuel set of
displays. Use the up or down arrows to select Yes or
No. The default selection is No. If Yes is selected,
the Time to Arrival/Distance to Arrival/Remaining Fuel
set of displays is activated. Press the MODE button
to continue.
2-32

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn.............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Turn and Lane-Change Signals........................3-8
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer..................3-8
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-9
Windshield Wipers..........................................3-9
Windshield Washer.......................................3-10
Cruise Control..............................................3-10
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-13
Headlamps..................................................3-13
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).......................3-14
Automatic Headlamp System..........................3-14
Fog Lamps..................................................3-15
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-15
Courtesy Lamps...........................................3-15
Dome Lamp.................................................3-16
Entry Lighting...............................................3-16
Front Reading Lamps....................................3-16
Trunk Lamp.................................................3-16
Battery Run-Down Protection..........................3-16
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-17
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-18Climate Controls............................................3-19
Climate Control System.................................3-19
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-21
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-22
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-23
Speedometer...............................................3-24
Tachometer.................................................3-24
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-24
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-25
Charging System Light..................................3-26
One-to-Four Shift Light
(Manual Transmission)...............................3-26
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-27
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-27
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-28
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-28
Security Light...............................................3-31
Fog Lamp Light............................................3-31
Highbeam On Light.......................................3-31
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Indicator Light...........................................3-32
Fuel Gage...................................................3-32
Trip Computer................................................3-33
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1