warning light PONTIAC TORRENT 2007 Owner's Guide

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 312.
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.
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Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a
supply of windshield washer uid, a rag, some
winter outer clothing, a small shovel, a ashlight, a
red cloth, and a couple of reective 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.
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.
Whatever the condition — smooth ice, packed,
blowing, or loose snow — drive with caution.
317

How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
The Engine Oil Life System calculates when to
change your engine oil and lter 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 change engine oil light
or CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message
being turned on, reset the system.
1. Turn the ignition key to RUN with the
engine off.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal
three times within ve seconds.
The change engine oil light will ash while the
system is resetting.
3. When the light stops ashing, turn the key
to LOCK.
If the light or message comes back on and stays
on when you start your vehicle, the engine oil
life system has not reset. Repeat the procedure.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that
may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer. Do not let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your skin and nails
with soap and water, or a good hand cleaner.
Wash or properly dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer’s
warnings about the use and disposal of oil
products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil
from the lter before disposal. Never dispose of
oil by putting it in the trash, pouring it on the
ground, into sewers, or into streams or bodies of
water. Instead, recycle it by taking it to a place
that collects used oil. If you have a problem
properly disposing of your used oil, ask your
dealer, a service station, or a local recycling
center for help.
353

Automatic Transaxle Fluid
It is not necessary to check the transaxle uid
level. A transaxle uid leak is the only reason for
uid loss. If a leak occurs, take your vehicle to
the dealership service department and have
it repaired as soon as possible.
Change the uid at the intervals listed inAdditional
Required Services on page 443, and be sure to
use the transaxle uid listed inRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 449.
Notice:Use of the incorrect automatic
transaxle uid may damage your vehicle, and
the damages may not be covered by your
warranty. Always use the automatic transaxle
uid listed inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 449.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is
designed to remain in your vehicle for ve years or
150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever occurs
rst, if you add only DEX-COOL
®extended
life coolant.The following explains your cooling system and
how to add coolant when it is low. If you have
a problem with engine overheating, seeEngine
Overheating on page 360.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F
(−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at
the rst maintenance service after each
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
357

Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master
cylinder reservoir is
lled with DOT-3 brake
uid. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 348for the
location of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid
level in the reservoir might go down. The rst
is that the brake uid goes down to an acceptable
level during normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are put in, the uid level goes back
up. The other reason is that uid is leaking out of
the brake system. If it is, you should have your
brake system xed, since a leak means that
sooner or later your brakes will not work well, or
will not work at all.So, it is not a good idea to top off your brake uid.
Adding brake uid will not correct a leak. If you
add uid when your linings are worn, then you will
have too much uid when you get new brake
linings. You should add or remove brake uid, as
necessary, only when work is done on the
brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has too much brake uid, it
can spill on the engine. The uid will burn
if the engine is hot enough. You or others
could be burned, and your vehicle could
be damaged. Add brake uid only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When your brake uid falls to a low level, your
brake warning light will come on. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 180.
369

{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon the brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause
a brake squeal when the brakes are rst applied or
lightly applied. This does not mean something is
wrong with your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and evenly tighten
wheel nuts in the proper sequence to GM torque
specications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as
complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return
to normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without
the vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. Your vehicle was designed and tested with
top-quality GM brake parts. When you replace parts
of your braking system — for example, when your
brake linings wear down and you need new ones
put in — be sure you get new approved GM
replacement parts. If you do not, your brakes may
no longer work properly. For example, if someone
puts in brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle,
the balance between your front and rear brakes can
change — for the worse. The braking performance
you have come to expect can change in many other
ways if someone puts in the wrong replacement
brake parts.
371

Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, even
if under-ination has not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the
system is not operating properly. The TPMS
malfunction indicator is combined with the low tire
pressure telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will ash for approximately
one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the
malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the
system may not be able to detect or signal low
tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions may
occur for a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. Always check the TPMS
malfunction telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow
the TPMS to continue to function properly.When a low tire pressure condition is detected,
the TPMS will illuminate the low tire pressure
warning symbol on the instrument panel cluster,
and at the same time a message to check
the pressure in a specic tire will appear on the
Driver Information Center (DIC) display. The
low tire pressure warning symbol on the instrument
panel cluster and the check tire pressure
message will appear at each ignition cycle until
the tires are inated to the correct ination
pressure. Using the DIC, tire pressure levels can
be viewed by the driver. For additional information
and details about the DIC operation and displays
seeDIC Operation and Displays on page 195
andDIC Warnings and Messages on page 200.
The low tire pressure warning light may come on in
cool weather when the vehicle is rst started,
and then turn off as you start to drive. This may
be an early indicator that the air pressure in
the tire(s) are getting low and need to be inated
to the proper pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information Label, attached to
your vehicle, shows the size of your vehicle’s
original equipment tires and the correct ination
pressure for your vehicle’s tires when they are cold.
396

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.
Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest),
B, and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions on a
specied indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under
the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels
of performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
Warning:The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
under-ination, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
404

A
Accessories and Modications..................... 339
Accessory Power Outlet(s).......................... 164
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle....................................................... 89
Additives, Fuel............................................ 342
Add-On Electrical Equipment....................... 431
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine............................. 354
Air Conditioning........................................... 166
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator....................... 177
Readiness Light....................................... 176
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic
Module (SDM).......................................... 468
Airbag System............................................... 72
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle......................... 89
How Does an Airbag Restrain?.................. 80
Passenger Sensing System....................... 82
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..... 88
What Makes an Airbag Inate?.................. 80
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inates?................................................. 81
When Should an Airbag Inate?................. 78
Where Are the Airbags?............................. 75
All-Wheel Drive........................................... 378All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System.................... 299
All-Wheel-Drive Service Light....................... 191
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................... 295
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light....... 181
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels........ 426
Care of Safety Belts................................ 424
Chemical Paint Spotting........................... 428
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.............. 425
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 420
Fabric/Carpet........................................... 422
Finish Care.............................................. 425
Finish Damage......................................... 428
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.................................... 424
Leather.................................................... 423
Sheet Metal Damage............................... 427
Tires........................................................ 427
Underbody Maintenance........................... 428
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials.......... 429
Washing Your Vehicle .............................. 425
Weatherstrips........................................... 425
Windshield and Wiper Blades................... 426
Ashtray(s).................................................... 165
Audio System(s).......................................... 218
Audio Steering Wheel Controls................. 285
Care of Your CD and DVD Player............ 288
477

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Care of Your CDs and DVDs................... 288
Navigation/Radio System, see
Navigation Manual................................ 274
Radio with CD................................222, 228
Radio with CD and DVD.......................... 239
Setting the Time...................................... 220
Theft-Deterrent Feature............................ 285
Understanding Radio Reception............... 287
Automatic Headlamp System....................... 160
Automatic Transaxle
Fluid........................................................ 357
Operation................................................. 119
B
Battery........................................................ 372
Electric Power Management..................... 163
Run-Down Protection............................... 164
Battery Warning Light.................................. 179
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................... 313
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)................. 295
Emergencies............................................ 297
Parking.................................................... 122
System Warning Light.............................. 180
Brakes........................................................ 369Braking....................................................... 294
Braking in Emergencies............................... 297
Break-In, New Vehicle................................. 114
Bulb Replacement....................................... 380
Halogen Bulbs......................................... 380
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps........... 381
License Plate Lamps................................ 383
Replacement Bulbs.................................. 384
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps
and Back-up Lamps.............................. 382
Buying New Tires........................................ 401
C
Calibration..........................................129, 131
California Fuel............................................. 342
California Proposition 65 Warning................ 340
Canadian Owners........................................... 3
Capacities and Specications...................... 436
Carbon Monoxide..............107, 127, 316, 328
Care of
Safety Belts............................................. 424
Your CD and DVD Player........................ 288
Your CDs and DVDs................................ 288
Cargo Lamp................................................ 162
CD, MP3 ............................................257, 264
478