I’ll show you what products I use to get the job done right and give your car a shine that you can be proud of. I personally find it so much more enjoyable driving a well-cleaned and detailed vehicle than a dirty one.

Automotive detailing, where do you begin? First, you are going to need to pick up the right products. I have tried a lot of different auto detailing products. Meguiars by far offers the best car detailing products on the market. They make a complete line of products specifically designed for every part of your vehicle. Wheels, body, interior, trim, headlights, and more.

I know what you are thinking, “Do I really need to buy different products for each part of my car”? The answer is YES, and no, you can’t just use one product and expect your car to look great. Brake dust on the wheels is not the same as dirt on your hood. And all waxes are different, trust me on this one. There are waxes specifically designed for lighter-colored cars and darker-colored cars. You wouldn’t want to use “black wax” on a white car and vice versa.

Products:

MICROFIBER TOWELS

Microfiber towels are a must. Technology has come far enough along where we don’t have to use old bath towels which scratch the paint to clean our cars. I’m not going to get into a debate on which company makes the best microfiber towel. I’ve tried many different ones, and I will say this….don’t cheap out on your towels! It makes no sense to spend good money on fantastic automotive cleaning products, only to use some cheap microfiber towel you picked up on sale at a discount store.

I personally would recommend you use either The Rag Company Eagle Edgeless Microfiber Towels or Chemical Guys Workhorse Professional Grade Microfiber Towels. Both companies make a fantastic high-quality microfiber towels, and both do an amazing job at pulling dirt out of the paint without damaging the paint and leaving a glossy look. The nice thing about the Chemical Guys Microfiber Towels is they come in different colors. You don’t want to use your body exterior towels on the glass and vice versa.

I also recommend you purchase the Chemical Guys Microfiber Towel Detergent. Use this to wash your microfiber towels. Wash the microfiber towels by themselves and only use the proper detergent. I would not use laundry detergent. Read the instructions on the bottle for washing and care instructions.

Added products and materials that will be needed are a tire cleaning brush and also a wax applicator such as a waxing buffing pad. Both the Black Wax and White Wax come with a wax applicator.

Now that we have our products list, let’s get started:

READ FIRST BEFORE PROCEEDING

To be perfectly honest, I rarely use a water hose and a bucket of soap on my car. I only use water on the wheels by spraying them with a hose to rinse them off. It’s not necessary to hose the whole car down and it just takes twice as long to wash the car. The products above do the job without using a hose. The key here is to make sure you have plenty of clean Microfiber Towels to use. Only use Microfiber Towels! Any other towel will scratch your vehicle and/or leave swirl marks, which is never a pretty sight to see on your ride. I use at least 5 towels on a full detail.

1. Wheels – Product Used: Meguiar’s Hot Rims Aluminum Wheel Cleaner
   Always do your wheels first! This way any spray you get on the body can be wiped off later. Spray the aluminum wheel cleaner on the wheels. Only use the “Aluminum” Wheel cleaner (Blue Liquid). DO NOT USE MEGUIAR’S HOT RIMS ALL WHEEL CLEANER (Pink Liquid). The Pink liquid will eat your aluminum rims and leave spots that don’t come out. Sorry, Mequiar’s, I had to tell them……..and you really need to stop making that Pink Liquid stuff. Take a small brush with soft plastic bristles, or use a wheel brush that you can buy at any auto parts store, and lightly scrub the wheels. DO NOT USE A WIRE BRUSH. Hose off the wheels until the cleaner is removed, then wipe down the wheels by hand using one of the microfiber towels.
2. Tires – Product Used: Meguiar’s Hot Shine Tire Spray
   After the wheels are dry apply Tire Spray to the sidewalls of the tires. DO NOT SPRAY DIRECTLY ON THE TIRE. You do not want to get the silicone-based spray all over your newly cleaned wheels or all over the body of the car, it will leave spots. Spray Tire Spray onto a towel, or I prefer using a car waxing buffing pad, then apply to the tire. Slowly move around the tire until the tire has glossy look you are happy with. Do all 4 tires and let’s move on.
3. Windows – Product Used: Meguiar’s Perfect Clarity Glass Cleaner
   Clean all the exterior glass. Use a microfiber towel to clean and dry the glass. Trust me on this one, you will be amazed at the results. The reason you are cleaning the glass first is that the window cleaner will spray on the body of the car, and since we haven’t washed the body yet, no big deal. Use the Meguiar’s Perfect Clarity Glass Cleaner and use a microfiber towel to clean and dry the surface. Easy peasy!
4. Body – Product Used: Meguiar’s Gold Class Quik Detailer
   Get those Microfiber Towels ready, your going to need them. Time to do the body. Spray the Meguiar’s Gold Class Quik Detailer on a panel and wipe it off with the microfiber towel. Only do one panel at a time. For example, passenger fender, passenger door, roof, passenger quarter panel, trunk, rear bumper, drivers quarter panel, drivers door, roof again, fender, hood, then the front bumper. Be sure to flip and fold that towel to use a clean portion of the towel. As soon as the whole towel is dirty, grab a new towel. There, now wasn’t that easier than grabbing a bucket of soapy water and having to dry the car off. The car should be pretty clean after this step, but we are not done yet.
5. Body – Product Used: Meguiar’s Black Wax or White Wax (OUT OF PRODUCTION)
   It’s time to bring the paint to life with a coat of wax. Use the Black Wax if you have a dark-colored car, use the White Wax if you have a light-colored car. Use the applicator that came with the wax and begin to wax the car. I personally will wax 3 panels at a time. You want the wax to dry a bit before you wipe it off. This will leave less chance of swirl marks and the wax will come off very easy. Use a clean Microfiber Towel to remove the wax. Once the towel is dirty, replace it with a new one. Wax the entire car and stand back and marvel at what you have done. Now you see why you did the glass and wheels first. The body is easy to do without the use of spraying water everywhere, and if you follow these steps you will not have to worry about spots on the paint from wheel cleaner or glass cleaner because you did that first.
6. Interior – Product Used: Meguiar’s Supreme Shine Protectant Wipes
   The outside is done, time to wipe down the interior. Vacuum out the car. Clean the interior glass with your glass cleaner. Now grab your interior wipes. I prefer the Supreme Shine wipes, but if you don’t like your interior to have the “shiny” look, you could also use the “Natural Shine” wipes or the plain “Quik Interior Wipes”. Wipe down the dash, center console, and interior doors. You basically want to wipe anything that is plastic with the wipes. If you have a cloth interior, congratulations, your car is clean and detailed nice, skip step 7. Leather interior people, we have one more step to go.
7. Interior – Product Used: Meguiar’s Gold Class Leather Wipes
   Grab your Leather Wipes and wipe down the seats. Meguiar’s Leather Wipes will help to keep your leather from fading and cracking, and also leaves the leather looking shiny and new.

So there you have it, you just washed and detailed your whole car, and you did it without the use of a bucket of soap and spraying water all over the place. If you followed all these steps and used all these products, then I can pretty much guarantee this is the best your car has ever looked! Don’t thank me, thank the good company of Meguir’s.

Maintenance
Now that your car is clean, how do you keep it that way? Simple, follow these steps with the rest of our products from the above list.

• Products Used: Meguiar’s Gold Class Premium Quik Wax or Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Wax
  As you notice your vehicle starting to get dirty, use either Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Wax or Meguiar’s Premium Gold Class Quik Wax to touch it up. I personally use the Gold Class Premium Quik Wax. I have a black car and I like the finish it leaves. I suggest experimenting with both to see which one you like.

Grab a clean Microfiber Towel and spray the dirty panel with the Quik Wax and wipe off. It’s that easy. The paint is clean and looking good again.

Hope you enjoyed the article and your car is looking its best.

Save big using the Advance Auto Parts link below!

Buy One, Get One 50% Off Meguiar’s Ceramic AND Ultimate Products at AdvanceAutoParts.com!

The post Detailing first appeared on Mark Quitter Racing.

If you want the best brake pads in the business, look no further than Hawk Performance. This company has been a leader in performance brake parts since 1993. Their brake pads are extremely popular in our 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO community. This company makes a wide range of brake parts that include racing and street applications. Choosing the right part is crucial to enjoying the benefits of these high-performance brake pads and brake parts.

For most of us driving on the street, the brake pads you will want are the “PERFORMANCE CERAMIC” brake pads.

• Extremely quiet
• Ultra-low dust
• Improved stopping power
• Gentle on rotors for extended pad life
• Stable friction output
• All Hawk Performance compounds are not compatible with carbon-ceramic rotors. Hawk pads are designed to work with Iron/Metal rotors.
• 100-650 F operating temperatures
• 100-450 F optimal temperature range

HAWK PERFORMANCE BRAKE PADS

The front brake pads for the 2005-2006 Pontiac GTO are also the same brake pads for the C5 Chevrolet Corvette which was produced from 1997-2004. This includes the Z06 model Corvette. This is for the FRONT brake pads only. The rear brake pads of the 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO must use the proper part number and application. Also, the front brake pads for the 2005-2006 Pontiac GTO will also fit the 2004 Pontiac GTO. To be sure of this, please contact Hawk Performance at (800) 542-0972 and ask a representative to confirm this.

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Replacing the radius rod bushings is a must for all 2004-2006 GTO owners. This can easily be done by yourself with fairly simple tools.

The first thing you will want to do is buy the replacement bushings which can be purchased from here:
 Kollar Racing Radius Rod Bushings – Adjustable

Installation Instructions:

1. Jack the front end of the car up and place it on the jack stands.
2. Remove the center nut first using a 24mm wrench or socket. Use a propane torch on the nut first to loosen the factory thread lock.
3. Remove the (4) mounting plate screws
4. Remove bushing, save washers, and place the old bushing assembly in the garbage where it belongs
5. Download the install instructions: Use the +3/4 castor setting when setting your new washers
   

   DOWNLOAD (.pdf format)

   2004-2006 Pontiac GTO Whiteline Radius Rod Adjustable Installation Instructions

6. Use the grease packet supplied with the new bushings. Be sure to grease the internal bore of the bushing per installation instructions. Install new radius rod bushing assembly using the +3/4 castor setting.
7. Install radius rod nut. Do not tighten yet!
8. Install (4) mounting plate nuts. Tighten to 17 ft/lbs
9. Tighten radius rod nut to 109 ft/lbs
10. Take the car off the jack stands, go for a drive, and enjoy!

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Today’s part installation was BMR Subframe Connectors:

Click here to view the product by visiting BMR Suspension

They are available in two colors, Black Hammertone, or Red. I went with the red ones to match the theme of my car. These are specifically designed for 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO. They are boxed style and do require welding. Here is the description from BMR:

Subframe connectors tie the frame together from the rear cross member/subframe bushing to the front frame just slightly behind the fenders. Its purpose is to strengthen the frame and make it more solid and rigid. This will prevent the frame from twisting or bending under heavy torque.

A few pics of how the installation was done:

Bolted in back, welded to the frame in the middle and front.

Typical shop workbench. Soda, tools, and a pack of smokes.

I also have the BMR Skid Plate installed, in red of course.

The Test Drive: You can really feel the effects of this part add-on. The car does not sway, the back end is definitely firmer, and the car just feels stiffer. It also gives peace of mind knowing the frame of the car is just that much stronger. The car doesn’t drive like a Cadillac, it feels like a race car. Just the way I want it! If I wanted a smooth ride I would have bought a luxury car.

Hope you enjoyed the installation. If you have a 2004-2006 GTO pushing some power, I highly recommend installing this product. Follow the above links in the article to get more information and for purchasing this product.

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Need to know where to put the key? Wondering what that strap on the side of the seat is with a buckle? Need to know when to take the summer air out of your tires and switch to winter air? These manuals will contain actual facts as well including dash light meanings, service schedules, and how to use everything in your car. The factory owner’s manual will explain it all! Well, maybe not everything, but it’s just nice to have a copy of the factory owner’s manual.

I have 2004, 2005, and 2006 owners manuals. Choose your year and download the .pdf file. And I was just joking about the air in the tires thing. Everybody knows spring air is the best!

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Reset 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO Service Engine Oil Reset

How to reset the Pontiac GTO oil service light:
The GM Oil Life System calculates when to change your engine oil and filter based on vehicle use. Anytime your oil is changed, reset the system so it can calculate when the next oil change is required. If a situation occurs where you change your oil prior to a Service Engine Oil message being turned on, reset the system.

1. After changing the engine oil, reset the system by performing the following steps:
   With the engine off, turn the ignition key to ON.
2. Fully press & release the accelerator pedal slowly two times within five seconds, if this does not work start again and then push the gas pedal 3 times within 5 seconds.
3. Turn the key to LOCK. Remove the key. Insert the key to the ON position and the Service Engine Oil message should be gone.
   If the Service Engine Oil message comes back on when you start your vehicle, the engine oil life system has not reset. Repeat the procedure.

Information provided by: resetservicelight.com

Shop oil change bundles as low as $25.99 at advanceautoparts.com! Offer valid 6/23-8/24.

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Need a new key for your 2004-2006 Goat? I’ll show you where to get the key and how to program it yourself.

You can get new GTO keys from here: GTOG8TA.COM

You will need to have your new key cut. I’m assuming you have at least one working key, so find an Auto Dealership parts counter that cuts the GTO style key. Hint: Hyundai and Kia also use these style keys. I also just recently had a new key cut at a Chevy Dealership. Just make sure where ever you go to have the key cut can laser cut the key. Once your new key is cut, you now need to program it so it works with your vehicle.

Programming KEY FOB

1. Turn the ignition to ON, then wait 10 minutes for the next step in the programming sequence. – After the 10 minutes has elapsed, the car horn will chirp once. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position within 5 minutes after the horn has sounded, then to the ON position within 5 seconds after switching it OFF. 
2. Leave the key to the ON position for 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes have elapsed, the car horn will chirp twice. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position within 5 minutes after the horn has sounded, then to the ON position within 5 seconds after switching it OFF. 
3. Leave the key to the ON position for 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes have elapsed, the car horn will chirp 3 times. – Verify that the security indicator in the instrument cluster has stopped flashing and attempt to start the vehicle. – Turn the ignition to OFF and remove the key from the ignition switch. 
4. Move approximately 3 meters (10 ft) away from the vehicle and test the transmitter functions to validate that the transmitter has been programmed successfully.

Watch the video below on how to properly program your new 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO key FOB:

The post 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO Key Programming first appeared on Mark Quitter Racing.

Speed product links! Gotta have them, gotta have gotta have them! These are the places to go to get your vehicle moving into high gear! A complete list of products and services that you can use for your 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO. The finish line isn’t going to come to you, you just need to get there faster!!!!!!!!

The post Links first appeared on Mark Quitter Racing.

Any donation to Mark Quitter Racing is greatly appreciated. Donations help to pay for website fees and maintenance. Donations in greater amounts can be used to further expand the website as well supporting a cause as listed below. This website has been here since 2015, and I want to keep bringing you more information and expand the website to its full potential for many years to come. 

“What Teenage Drivers Don’t Know, The Unwritten Rules of the Road” teaches driving strategies and tips to teenagers about driving in poor conditions, parking, vehicle maintenance, surviving the unexpected and even navigating the court system.

This book takes the art of skillful driving to a whole new level in teenage driver training. “What Teenage Drivers Don’t Know, the Unwritten Rules of the Road will increase a teenager’s ability to drive smarter and safer. Illinois High School Districts #203 and #204 have begun using this book in their drivers’ education classes.

The book contains over 250 driving facts and tips!

Why should I donate?

• Donations are made when someone feels strongly that it is a good cause.
• Donations help people to reach their aspirations and goals, placing them in a better position to succeed rather than fail.
• Giving to people less fortunate than yourself is always a good feeling, especially when you know it can help another be what that person was born to be, not just what they can afford to be.
• Knowing that your donation was given because the person or organization they gave to can make a difference; bringing joy to others is self-rewarding.
• Donating is a selfless personal act, no one told you to do it, and you feel great doing it. More importantly, you don’t have to explain to anybody why you did it.

If you are one of those people that believe every little bit counts, you couldn’t be more right.

Mark Quitter Racing is about drag racing and the joy it brings to the drag racing fans as well as myself. Without the fans, there would be no “Drag Racing” sport. Personally, I was born to race. I truly believe that. I’ve loved it since I was a young boy, and as a grown man, I still love it.

Along with age comes maturity and wisdom, and I have learned that there is more to drag racing than just going fast.

• Racing needs to be done safely and in a professional manner.
• Racing needs to be fun and enjoyable for everyone who surrounds racing.
• Racing to support and promote a good cause is rewarding.
  

Your donation will make a difference. It will help keep the car safe and competitive and keep us in the public eye of race fans. Fans come to see cars, and I want those fans to feel the same amount of joy I do when I am racing at the track. If you ever dreamed of joining or becoming part of a drag racing team, this is your chance! Become a supporter, and help contribute to success. Get involved and donate or sponsor Mark Quitter Racing today!

What Will My Donation Be Used For?

• Website upkeep costs
• Expand the Merchandising catalog
• Race Car Upkeep (parts, tires, oil, spark plugs, and more)
• Website content expansion
• Improved advertising and marketing 
• Unexpected costs accrued over time

Bottom line, donate because you believe in me and that your donation will change lives by bringing joy to all those involved, both directly and indirectly.

My Personal Pledge
Mark Quitter Racing pledges that your donations will only go towards improving and supporting our racing team: website fees, website expansion, advertising, marketing, entry fees, upgraded parts, car maintenance, and keeping this website and myself moving forward.

MQ Racing also pledges to conduct itself in a professional manner at all times. Website visitors will be greeted and talked to in a friendly manner. MQ Racing will also respect all those who surround them, including fans, other racers, track officials, partners, contributors, and sponsors.

Contact me for more information at: info@markquitterracing.com

Contact Form: Contact

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PRESENT
Thank you for visiting the “About” section of this website. Mark Quitter Racing was founded in 2015. My website goal and mission is to specialize in 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO information including service advice, production numbers including available options offered from the dealership, history of the GTO, and also one-of-a-kind merchandise that I have personally created. You can also find various news stories regarding anything involving the 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO.

This site is made and designed to be a resource for anyone interested in the 5th Generation Pontiac GTO. All information on the website has been collected from years of research as I myself have been a 5th Gen GTO owner since 2005. Much of the information found on this website is from various sources found on the internet. My mission is to consolidate all of this information and have it right here in one place. No need to search around the internet for 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO information. I have done all the work for you and have placed it right here on this website. This website is family-friendly and can captivate everyone and anyone with a passion for cars.

FUTURE
My future goals are to expand this website with even more information for the 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO. Information on these cars is getting hard to come by as the years roll on, which is why I have consolidated the information that has been collected over the years right here, on this website. I would like to expand the DIY and service area of this website with more information to help save the 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO enthusiasts both money and time. I would also like to expand the merchandise section with even more designs and add more women’s and children’s clothing for more fun ways to show off your GTO pride.

CONTACT
Mark Quitter Racing: info@markquitterracing.com

PARTNERS
The following companies are partners of Mark Quitter Racing:

BIO
Mark was born in Chicago, Illinois, but spent his childhood years growing up in Downers Grove, Illinois. All through high school he studied auto mechanics and continued those studies at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn Illinois. Always a love for machines: cars, motorcycles, small engines, it didn’t matter. If it ran on gas, Mark wanted to know how it worked.

All through high school and college Mark drove and worked on a variety of cars. The Chevy Camaro was his favorite and at the age of 20 purchased a 1970 Chevy Camaro SS. Built a nice small block Chevy engine for it bored .40 over, 12 bolt 4:11 posi rear end in the back, and a bulletproof 350 automatic tranny to run through the gears.

At the age of 25, Mark began racing motorcycles and converted a 1988 Suzuki Katana into a drag racing bike. He completed most of the work himself and before long was drag racing regularly at both Great Lakes Dragaway in Wisconsin and Byron Dragway in Illinois.

After taking a 10-year break Mark decided that now is the time to get back to the race track, but this time with a car. A 2004 Pontiac GTO is his current project.

Mark Quitter is more than just driving fast in a quarter-mile. Mark uses drag racing to promote safe driving to teenagers while providing fun and enjoyment to his fans. Mark is proud to be promoting his sponsor’s award-winning new book “What Teenage Drivers Don’t Know, The Unwritten Rules Of The Road”; which offers young teenage drivers a new direction in learning how to safely navigate the roadways when driving. This book is now being used as part of the driver’s education curriculum at District #203 and #204 high schools in Naperville and Aurora, Illinois.

Mark’s commitment to racing never ends and includes extensive marketing through social networking, race and off-track events, and through his website. Mark also believes that racing can be fun for everyone. Promoting the proper and safe ways of driving both on and off the track can encourage others to follow.

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