PONTIAC TORRENT 2007 Owners Manual

Cold Tire Pressure:The amount of air pressure
in a tire, measured in pounds per square inch
(psi) or kilopascals (kPa) before a tire has built up
heat from driving. SeeInation - Tire Pressure
on page 393.
Curb Weight:This means the weight of a motor
vehicle with standard and optional equipment
including the maximum capacity of fuel, oil, and
coolant, but without passengers and cargo.
DOT Markings:A code molded into the sidewall
of a tire signifying that the tire is in compliance
with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
motor vehicle safety standards. The DOT code
includes the Tire Identication Number (TIN),
an alphanumeric designator which can also identify
the tire manufacturer, production plant, brand,
and date of production.
GVWR:Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. See
Loading Your Vehicle on page 321.
GAWR FRT:Gross Axle Weight Rating for the
front axle. SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 321.
GAWR RR:Gross Axle Weight Rating for the
rear axle. SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 321.Intended Outboard Sidewall:The side of an
asymmetrical tire, that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa):The metric unit for air pressure.
Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire:A tire used on
light duty trucks and some multipurpose passenger
vehicles.
Load Index:An assigned number ranging
from 1 to 279 that corresponds to the load
carrying capacity of a tire.
Maximum Ination Pressure:The maximum air
pressure to which a cold tire may be inated.
The maximum air pressure is molded onto
the sidewall.
Maximum Load Rating:The load rating for a tire
at the maximum permissible ination pressure
for that tire.
Maximum Loaded Vehicle Weight:The sum of
curb weight, accessory weight, vehicle capacity
weight, and production options weight.
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Normal Occupant Weight:The number of
occupants a vehicle is designed to seat multiplied
by 150 lbs (68 kg). SeeLoading Your Vehicle
on page 321.
Occupant Distribution:Designated seating
positions.
Outward Facing Sidewall:The side of an
asymmetrical tire that has a particular side that
faces outward when mounted on a vehicle.
The side of the tire that contains a whitewall, bears
white lettering, or bears manufacturer, brand,
and/or model name molding that is higher
or deeper than the same moldings on the other
sidewall of the tire.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:A tire used on
passenger cars and some light duty trucks and
multipurpose vehicles.
Recommended Ination Pressure:Vehicle
manufacturer’s recommended tire ination
pressure as shown on the tire placard. See
Ination - Tire Pressure on page 393andLoading
Your Vehicle on page 321.Radial Ply Tire:A pneumatic tire in which
the ply cords that extend to the beads are laid
at 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread.
Rim:A metal support for a tire and upon which
the tire beads are seated.
Sidewall:The portion of a tire between the tread
and the bead.
Speed Rating:An alphanumeric code assigned
to a tire indicating the maximum speed at
which a tire can operate.
Traction:The friction between the tire and the
road surface. The amount of grip provided.
Tread:The portion of a tire that comes into
contact with the road.
Treadwear Indicators:Narrow bands, sometimes
called wear bars, that show across the tread of
a tire when only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread
remains. SeeWhen It Is Time for New Tires on
page 401.
392

UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards):A tire information system that
provides consumers with ratings for a tire’s
traction, temperature, and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures. The ratings are
molded into the sidewall of the tire. SeeUniform
Tire Quality Grading on page 403.
Vehicle Capacity Weight:The number of
designated seating positions multiplied by 150 lbs
(68 kg) plus the rated cargo load. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 321.
Vehicle Maximum Load on the Tire:Load on an
individual tire due to curb weight, accessory
weight, occupant weight, and cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard:A label permanently attached to
a vehicle showing the vehicle’s capacity weight
and the original equipment tire size and
recommended ination pressure. See “Tire and
Loading Information Label” underLoading
Your Vehicle on page 321.Ination - Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of air pressure to
operate effectively.
Notice:Do not let anyone tell you that
under-ination or over-ination is all right. It is
not. If your tires do not have enough air
(under-ination), you can get the following:
Too much exing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Premature or irregular wear
Poor handling
Reduced fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (over-ination),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Poor handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazards
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A Tire and Loading Information label is attached to
the vehicle’s center pillar (B-pillar). This label shows
your vehicle’s original equipment tires and the
correct ination pressures for your tires when they
are cold. The recommended cold tire ination
pressure, shown on the label, is the minimum
amount of air pressure needed to support your
vehicle’s maximum load carrying capacity.
For additional information regarding how much
weight your vehicle can carry, and an example of
the Tire and Loading Information label, see
Loading Your Vehicle on page 321. How you load
your vehicle affects vehicle handling and ride
comfort. Never load your vehicle with more weight
than it was designed to carry.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more. Do not
forget to check the compact spare tire, it should be
at 60 psi (420 kPa). For additional information
regarding the compact spare tire, seeCompact
Spare Tire on page 420.
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You cannot tell if your tires are
properly inated simply by looking at them. Radial
tires may look properly inated even when they
are under-inated. Check the tire’s ination
pressure when the tires are cold. Cold means your
vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours
or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem.
Press the tire gage rmly onto the valve to
get a pressure measurement. If the cold tire
ination pressure matches the recommended
pressure on the Tire and Loading Information
label, no further adjustment is necessary. If the
ination pressure is low, add air until you reach the
recommended amount.
If you overll the tire, release air by pushing on
the metal stem in the center of the tire valve.
Re-check the tire pressure with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve
stems. They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt
and moisture.
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Tire Pressure Monitor System
Your vehicle has a Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS). This system uses radio and sensor
technology to check tire pressure levels. TPMS
sensors are mounted onto each tire and wheel
assembly, except for the spare tire. The TPMS
sensors monitor the air pressure in your vehicle’s
tires and transmit tire pressure readings to a
receiver located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should
be checked monthly when cold and inated to
the ination pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire
ination pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of
a different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire ination pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire ination
pressure for those tires.)As an added safety
feature, your vehicle
has been equipped with
a tire pressure
monitoring system
(TPMS) that illuminates
a low tire pressure
telltale when one
or more of your tires is
signicantly
under-inated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires
as soon as possible, and inate them to the
proper pressure. Driving on a signicantly
under-inated tire causes the tire to overheat and
can lead to tire failure. Under-ination also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may
affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
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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

SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 321, for an
example of the Tire and Loading Information
Label and its location on your vehicle. Also see
Ination - Tire Pressure on page 393.
Your vehicle’s TPMS system can warn you about a
low tire pressure condition but it does not replace
normal tire maintenance. SeeTire Inspection and
Rotation on page 399andTires on page 386.
Notice:Do not use a tire sealant if your vehicle
has Tire Pressure Monitors. The liquid sealant
can damage the tire pressure monitor sensors.
The TPMS will not function properly if one or more
of the TPMS sensors are missing or inoperable. If
the system detects a missing or inoperable sensor,
an error message SERVICE TIRE MONITOR
SYSTEM will be shown on the DIC display. If you
have replaced a tire/wheel assembly without
transferring the TPMS sensors, the error message
will be displayed. Once you re-install the TPMS
sensors, the error message should go off. See your
dealer for service if all TPMS sensors are installed
and the error message comes on and stays on.TPMS Sensor Matching Process
Each TPMS sensor has a unique identication
code. Any time you replace one or more of
the TPMS sensors or rotate the vehicle’s tires, the
identication codes will need to be matched to
the new tire/wheel position. The sensors are
matched, to the tire/wheel positions, in the
following order: driver side front tire, passenger
side front tire, passenger side rear tire, and driver
side rear tire using a TPMS diagnostic tool.
See your dealer for service.
The TPMS sensors may also be matched to each
tire/wheel position by increasing or decreasing
the tire’s air pressure. When increasing the tire’s
pressure, do not exceed the maximum ination
pressure indicated on the tire’s sidewall.
You will have two minutes to match each tire and
wheel position. If it takes longer than two
minutes to match any tire and wheel position, the
matching process stops and you will need to
start over.
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The TPMS matching process is outlined below:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition switch to RUN with the
engine off.
3. Using the DIC, press the vehicle information
button until the TIRE LOCATIONS PRESS
V
TO LEARN message displays.
4. Press the set/reset button to allow the system
to learn the tire positions. The horn will sound
twice to indicate the receiver is ready, and
the TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE message
displays. The TPMS system is ready for the
sensor matching process to begin.
5. Start with the driver side front tire.
6. Remove the valve cap from the tire’s valve
stem. Activate the TPMS sensor by increasing
or decreasing the tire’s air pressure for
ve seconds, or until a horn chirp sounds.The horn chirp, which may take up to
30 seconds to sound, conrms that the sensor
identication code has been matched to the
tire/wheel position. To decrease the tire’s
air-pressure use the pointed end of the valve
cap, a pencil-style air pressure gage, or a key.
7. Proceed to the passenger side front tire, and
repeat the procedure in Step 6.
8. Proceed to the passenger side rear tire, and
repeat the procedure in Step 6.
9. Proceed to the driver side rear tire, and
repeat the procedure in Step 6.
10. After hearing the conrming horn chirp for the
driver side rear tire, the tire learning process
ends. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK.
11. Set all four tires to the recommended air
pressure level as indicated on the tire and
loading information label.
12. Put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
398

Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) and Industry and Science Canada
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
operates on a radio frequency and complies with
Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful
interference.
2. This device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
operates on a radio frequency and complies with
RSS-210 of Industry and Science Canada.
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 modications to this system by other
than an authorized service facility could void
authorization to use this equipment.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your
tires as soon as possible and check wheel
alignment. Also check for damaged tires or wheels.
SeeWhen It Is Time for New Tires on page 401
andWheel Replacement on page 405for
more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The
rst rotation is the most important. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 440for scheduled rotation
intervals.
When rotating your tires, always use the correct
rotation pattern shown here.
399

Do not include the compact spare tire in your tire
rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the
front and rear ination pressures as shown on
the Tire and Loading Information label. See
Ination - Tire Pressure on page 393andLoading
Your Vehicle on page 321.
Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor System. See
“TPMS Sensor Matching Process” under
Tire Pressure Monitor System on page 395.
Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly
tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specications on page 436.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When
you change a wheel, remove any rust or
dirt from places where the wheel attaches
to the vehicle. In an emergency, you can
use a cloth or a paper towel to do this;
but be sure to use a scraper or wire brush
later, if needed, to get all the rust or dirt
off. SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 408.
400