traction control PONTIAC SOLSTICE 2007 Owner's Manual

Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where the tires
meet the road probably have good traction.
However, if there is snow or ice between the tires
and the road, you can have a very slippery
situation. You will have a lot less traction, or grip,
and will need to be very careful.What is the worst time for this? Wet ice. Very cold
snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on.
But wet ice can be even more trouble because it
may offer the least traction of all. You can get
wet ice when it is about freezing, 32°F (0°C), and
freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving
on wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there.
The Traction Control System (TCS) improves
your ability to accelerate when driving on a slippery
road. But you can turn the TCS off if you ever
need to. You should turn the system off if
your vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud, ice,
or snow. SeeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 224. Even though your
vehicle has the Traction Control System (TCS),
you will want to slow down and adjust your driving
to the road conditions. Under certain conditions,
you may want to turn the TCS off, such as
when driving through deep snow and loose gravel,
to help maintain vehicle motion at lower speeds.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 198
andElectronic Stability Control on page 200.
221

{CAUTION:
If you let your vehicle’s tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or others
could be injured. And, the transmission or
other parts of the vehicle can overheat.
That could cause an engine compartment
re or other damage. When you are stuck,
spin the wheels as little as possible. Do not
spin the wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h)
as shown on the speedometer.
Notice:Spinning the wheels can destroy
parts of your vehicle as well as the tires. If you
spin the wheels too fast while shifting the
transmission back and forth, you can destroy
the transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your
vehicle, seeTire Chains on page 302.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn the steering wheel left and right.
That will clear the area around the front wheels.
If your vehicle has traction control, you should
turn the traction control system off. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 198andElectronic
Stability Control on page 200. Then shift back
and forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward
gear, or with a manual transmission between
FIRST (1) or SECOND (2) and REVERSE (R),
spinning the wheels as little as possible. To
prevent transmission wear, allow the wheels to
stop spinning before shifting gears. Release
the accelerator pedal while you shift, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal when the
transmission is in gear.
225

Service
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants
you to be happy with it. We hope you will go
to your dealer for all your service needs. You will
get genuine GM parts and GM-trained and
supported service people.
We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle all
GM. Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
Accessories and Modications
When you add non-GM accessories to your vehicle
they can affect your vehicle’s performance and
safety, including such things as, airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and electronic systems
like anti-lock brakes, traction control and
stability control. Some of these accessories may
even cause malfunction or damage not covered
by warranty.
GM Accessories are designed to complement
and function with other systems on your vehicle.
Your GM dealer can accessorize your vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories. When you go to
your GM dealer and ask for GM Accessories,
you will know that GM-trained and supported
service technicians will perform the work using
genuine GM Accessories.
235

Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched specic tires for
your vehicle. The original equipment tires installed
on your vehicle, when it was new, were designed to
meet General Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specication (TPC spec) system rating. If you need
replacement tires, GM strongly recommends that
you get tires with the same TPC Spec rating. This
way, your vehicle will continue to have tires that are
designed to give the same performance and vehicle
safety, during normal use, as the original tires.
GM’s exclusive TPC Spec system considers over a
dozen critical specications that impact the overall
performance of your vehicle, including brake
system performance, ride and handling, traction
control, and tire pressure monitoring performance.
GM’s TPC Spec number is molded onto the tire’s
sidewall by the tire manufacturer. If the tires have
an all-season tread design, the TPC spec number
will be followed by a MS, for mud and snow. See
Tire Sidewall Labeling on page 286for additional
information.{CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose
control while driving. If you mix tires of
different sizes, brands, or types (radial
and bias-belted tires) the vehicle may
not handle properly, and you could have
a crash. Using tires of different sizes,
brands, or types may also cause damage
to your vehicle. Be sure to use the correct
size, brand, and type of tires on your
vehicle’s wheels.
{CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle,
the wheel rim anges could develop
cracks after many miles of driving. A tire
and/or wheel could fail suddenly, causing
a crash. Use only radial-ply tires with the
wheels on your vehicle.
296

If you must replace your vehicle’s tires with those
that do not have a TPC Spec number, make
sure they are the same size, load range, speed
rating, and construction type (radial and
bias-belted tires) as your vehicle’s original tires.
Your vehicle’s original equipment tires are listed
on the Tire and Loading Information label.
This label is attached to the vehicle’s center pillar
(B-pillar). SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 226,
for more information about the Tire and Loading
Information label.
Different Size Tires and Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are a different size
than your original equipment wheels and tires, this
may affect the way your vehicle performs, including
its braking, ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover. Additionally,
if your vehicle has electronic systems such as,
anti-lock brakes, traction control, and electronic
stability control, the performance of these systems
can be affected.
{CAUTION:
If you add different sized wheels, your
vehicle may not provide an acceptable
level of performance and safety if tires
not recommended for those wheels are
selected. You may increase the chance
that you will crash and suffer serious
injury. Only use GM specic wheel and
tire systems developed for your vehicle,
and have them properly installed by a
GM certied technician.
SeeBuying New Tires on page 296and
Accessories and Modications on page 235
for additional information.
297

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which
grades tires by treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States. The grades are
molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car
tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver, or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they must also conform
to federal safety requirements and additional
General Motors Tire Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specied
government test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and a half (1.5) times
as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signicantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices, and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specied
government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning:The traction grade assigned to this tire
is based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
298

Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
Do not use tire chains. There is not
enough clearance. Tire chains used on a
vehicle without the proper amount of
clearance can cause damage to the brakes,
suspension, or other vehicle parts. The
area damaged by the tire chains could
cause you to lose control of your vehicle
and you or others may be injured in a
crash. Use another type of traction device
only if its manufacturer recommends
it for use on your vehicle and tire size
combination and road conditions. Follow
that manufacturer’s instructions. To help
avoid damage to your vehicle, drive slowly,
re-adjust or remove the device if it is
contacting your vehicle, and do not spin
your wheels. If you do nd traction devices
that will t, install them on the rear tires.
If a Tire Goes Flat
Your vehicle has a tire inator kit. There is no
spare tire, no tire changing equipment, and
no place to store a tire.
It is unusual for a tire to blow out while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your tires
properly. SeeTires on page 284. If air goes out
of a tire, it is much more likely to leak out slowly.
But, if you should ever have a blow out, here are
a few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the steering
wheel rmly. Steer to maintain lane position,
and then gently brake to a stop well out of the
traffic lane.
A rear blow out, particularly on a curve, acts much
like a skid and may require the same correction
you would use in a skid. In any rear blow out,
remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get
the vehicle under control by steering the way
you want the vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy
and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road if possible.
302

Instrument Panel
Overview.................................................. 108
Instrument Panel (I/P)
Brightness................................................ 120
Cluster..................................................... 128
J
Jump Starting.............................................. 274
K
Keyless Entry System................................... 61
Keys............................................................. 60
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall................................. 286
Lamps
Battery Run-Down Protection................... 121
Fog .......................................................... 120
Mirror Reading......................................... 120
LATCH System
Child Restraints......................................... 37
Latches, Seatback......................................... 11License Plate Lamps................................... 282
Lift Seat, Power............................................ 12
Light
Airbag Readiness..................................... 131
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning............. 135
Brake System Warning............................. 134
Charging System..................................... 134
Electronic Stability Control........................ 136
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning....... 137
Highbeam On.......................................... 143
Low Coolant Warning............................... 138
Low Fuel Warning.................................... 145
Malfunction Indicator................................ 138
Oil Pressure............................................. 142
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator............ 132
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder.............. 130
Reduced Engine Power............................ 143
Safety Belt Reminder............................... 130
Security................................................... 143
Service Vehicle Soon............................... 144
Traction Control System........................... 136
Trunk Ajar................................................ 144
Lighting
Entry/Exit................................................. 120
Limited-Slip Rear Axle................................. 200
389

Tires (cont.)
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 289
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.................... 298
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance........... 299
Wheel Replacement................................. 299
When It Is Time for New Tires................. 295
Winter Tires............................................. 285
Towing
Recreational Vehicle................................. 231
Towing a Trailer....................................... 231
Your Vehicle............................................. 231
Traction
Control System (TCS).............................. 198
Limited-Slip Rear Axle.............................. 200
Traction Control System Warning Light........ 136
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic....................................... 256
Fluid, Manual........................................... 256
Transmission Operation, Automatic................ 82
Transmission Operation, Manual.................... 85
Trunk............................................................ 68
Trunk Ajar Light........................................... 144
Turn and Lane-Change Signals................... 112
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.................... 111U
Understanding Radio Reception................... 186
Uniform Tire Quality Grading....................... 298
V
Vehicle
Control..................................................... 194
Damage Warnings....................................... 5
Loading.................................................... 226
Parking Your.............................................. 89
Service Soon Light................................... 144
Symbols...................................................... 5
Vehicle Data Collection and Event
Data Recorders........................................ 373
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN).......................................... 325
Service Parts Identication Label.............. 325
Vehicle Personalization
DIC .......................................................... 152
Ventilation Adjustment.................................. 126
Visors........................................................... 71
395