brake light PONTIAC TORRENT 2009 Owner's Manual

Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder
reservoir is lled with DOT
3 brake uid. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for the location
of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid level in
the reservoir might go down:
The brake uid level goes down because of normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are installed,
the uid level goes back up.
A uid leak in the brake hydraulic system can also
cause a low uid level. Have the brake hydraulic
system xed, since a leak means that sooner
or later the brakes will not work well.Do not top off the brake uid. Adding uid does not
correct a leak. If uid is added when the linings are worn,
there will be too much uid when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove brake uid, as necessary, only
when work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If too much brake uid is added, it can spill on
the engine and burn, if the engine is hot enough.
You or others could be burned, and the vehicle
could be damaged. Add brake uid only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
When the brake uid falls to a low level, the brake
warning light comes on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-30.
5-32

Brake Wear
This vehicle has disc brakes. Disc brake pads have
built-in wear indicators that make a high-pitched warning
sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads
are needed. The sound can come and go or be heard
all the time the vehicle is moving, except when applying
the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
the brakes will not work well. That could lead to an
accident. When the brake wear warning sound is
heard, have the vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates can cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are rst applied or lightly applied.
This does not mean something is wrong with the 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 torque specications
inCapacities and Specifications on page 5-97.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer/retailer 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 that brake service
might be required.
Brake Adjustment
Every time the brakes are applied, with or without the
vehicle moving, the 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. The vehicle
was designed and tested with top-quality brake parts.
When parts of the braking system are replaced — for
example, when the brake linings wear down and new
ones are installed — be sure to get new approved
replacement parts. If this is not done, the brakes might
not work properly. For example, if someone puts in
brake linings that are wrong for the vehicle, the balance
between the front and rear brakes can change — for the
worse. The braking performance expected can change
in many other ways if the wrong replacement brake parts
are installed.
5-34

Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your
vehicle. Be sure to use the following steps to do it safely.
{CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly, some or
all of these things can hurt you.
Notice:Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to the vehicle that would not be covered
by the warranty.
Trying to start the vehicle by pushing or pulling it
will not work, and it could damage the vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.Notice:If the other vehicle’s system is not a 12-volt
system with a negative ground, both vehicles can
be damaged. Only use vehicles with 12-volt systems
with negative grounds to jump start your vehicle.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles are not touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you do not want. You would not be able
to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling,
set the parking brake rmly on both vehicles
involved in the jump start procedure. Put an
automatic transmission in P (PARK) or a manual
transmission in N (Neutral) before setting the
parking brake.
Notice:If you leave the radio or other accessories
on during the jump starting procedure, they could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered by
the warranty. Always turn off the radio and other
accessories when jump starting the vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or the accessory power outlet. Turn off the
radio and all lamps that are not needed. This will
avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it
could save your radio!
5-36

Different Size Tires and Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are a different size than
your original equipment wheels and tires, this could 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, rollover airbags,
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 5-64andAccessories
and Modifications on page 5-3for additional information.
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.
5-66

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power............................................2-21
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-18
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle...............................1-68
Additional Required Services,
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-7
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-91
Adjustments
Headlamp Range.......................................... 1-7
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-20
Air Conditioning..............................................3-19
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment....................3-23
Airbag
Readiness Light..........................................3-28
Airbag System................................................1-55
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle............................1-68
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-61
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-63
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-68
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-61
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?.....1-62
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-60
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-58Airbags
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-29
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-41
All-Wheel Drive Disabled Light..........................3-39
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System........................... 4-8
All-Wheel-Drive Service Light............................3-39
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-5
Warning Light.............................................3-31
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels..............5-88
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-85
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-89
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-86
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-83
Finish Care
.................................................5-87
Finish Damage............................................5-89
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.......................................5-85
Interior Cleaning..........................................5-82
Leather......................................................5-84
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-89
Tires..........................................................5-88
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-89
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-86
Weatherstrips..............................................5-85
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-87
Ashtray.........................................................3-18
Assistance Program, Roadside........................... 7-7
1

Audio System.................................................3-64
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-118
Navigation/Radio System,
see Navigation Manual..............................3-98
Setting the Clock.........................................3-65
Audio System(s).............................................3-67
Audio Systems
Radio Reception........................................3-119
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-118
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-14
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-22
Operation...........................................2-24, 2-27
B
Battery..........................................................5-35
Electric Power Management..........................3-16
Run-Down Protection...................................3-17
Belt Routing, Engine.......................................6-16
Bluetooth
®.....................................................3-98
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-5
Brake Fluid....................................................5-32
Brakes..........................................................5-32
Antilock....................................................... 4-5
Parking......................................................2-31
System Warning Light..................................3-30Braking........................................................... 4-4
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-5
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-19
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-46
Fog Lamp ..................................................3-14
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-43
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-43
Headlamps.................................................5-43
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-44
License Plate Lamps....................................5-46
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps........................................5-45
Buying New Tires...........................................5-64
C
Calibration.....................................................3-47
California
Perchlorate Materials Requirements................. 5-4
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications............................5-97
Carbon Monoxide
Engine Exhaust...........................................2-35
Liftgate......................................................2-12
Winter Driving.............................................4-17
2

Lights............................................................3-13
Airbag Readiness........................................3-28
All-Wheel Drive Disabled..............................3-39
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning............3-31
Brake System Warning.................................3-30
Change Engine Oil......................................3-37
Charging System.........................................3-30
Cruise Control.............................................3-38
Door Ajar...................................................3-40
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning.............3-32
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-8
Fog Lamp ..................................................3-37
Gate Ajar...................................................3-40
Highbeam On.............................................3-38
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
Low Fuel Warning.......................................3-41
Oil Pressure...............................................3-36
On Reminder..............................................3-13
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-29
Reduced Engine Power................................3-38
Safety Belt Reminders..................................3-27
Security.....................................................3-37
Service All-Wheel-Drive................................3-39
Service Vehicle Soon...................................3-40
Tire Pressure..............................................3-33
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning..........3-32
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................4-20Locks
Delayed Locking..........................................2-10
Door ..........................................................2-10
Lockout Protection.......................................2-12
Power Door................................................2-10
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-11
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-11
Loss of Control...............................................4-12
Low Fuel Warning Light...................................
3-41
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children.............1-42
Luggage Carrier..............................................2-42
Lumbar
Manual Controls............................................ 1-4
M
Maintenance
Footnotes..................................................... 6-8
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services........................... 6-7
At Each Fuel Fill.........................................6-10
At Least Once a Month................................6-11
At Least Once a Year..................................6-11
Maintenance Record....................................6-17
Maintenance Replacement Parts....................6-15
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Owner Checks and Services.........................6-10
8

P
Paint, Damage...............................................5-89
Park
Shifting Into................................................2-32
Shifting Out of............................................2-33
Parking
Over Things That Burn.................................2-34
Parking Brake................................................2-31
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator.....................3-29
Passenger Compartment Air Filter.....................3-23
Passenger Sensing System..............................1-63
Passing.........................................................4-12
PASS-Key
®III+ Electronic Immobilizer...............2-17
PASS-Key®III+ Electronic Immobilizer
Operation...................................................2-18
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California...... 5-4
Phone
Bluetooth
®..................................................3-98
Power
Door Locks.................................................2-10
Reduced Engine Light..................................3-38
Retained Accessory (RAP)............................2-21
Seat ............................................................ 1-3
Steering Fluid.............................................5-30
Windows....................................................2-15
Pregnancy, Using Safety Belts..........................1-30Privacy..........................................................7-17
Navigation System.......................................7-19
OnStar.......................................................7-19
Radio Frequency Identication (RFID).............7-19
Program
Courtesy Transportation................................7-10
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.................2-11
Proposition 65 Warning, California....................... 5-4
R
Radio Frequency Identication (RFID), Privacy....7-19
Radio(s)........................................................3-67
Radios
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual...................................................3-98
Reception.................................................3-119
Setting the Clock.........................................3-65
Theft-Deterrent..........................................3-118
Range Adjustment, Headlamps........................... 1-7
Rear Compartment Storage Panel/Cover............2-44
Rear Door Security Locks................................2-11
Rear Seat Armrest..........................................2-45
Rear Seat Entertainment System.....................3-109
Rear Window Washer/Wiper.............................3-10
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming..................2-37
10