traction control PONTIAC TORRENT 2009 Owner's Manual

Service
For service and parts needs, visit your dealer/retailer.
You will receive genuine GM parts and GM-trained and
supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
Accessories and Modications
When non-dealer/non-retailer accessories are added
to the vehicle, they can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as airbags, braking, stability,
ride and handling, emissions systems, aerodynamics,
durability, and electronic systems like antilock brakes,
traction control, and stability control. Some of these
accessories could even cause malfunction or damage
not covered by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components resulting from the
installation or use of non-GM certied parts, including
control module modications, are not covered under the
terms of the vehicle warranty and may affect remaining
warranty coverage for affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to complement and
function with other systems on the vehicle. Your GM
dealer/retailer can accessorize the vehicle using genuine
GM Accessories. When you go to your GM dealer/
retailer and ask for GM Accessories, you will know
that GM-trained and supported service technicians
will perform the work using genuine GM Accessories.
Also, seeAdding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 1-68.
5-3

You need new tires if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut, or snagged
deep enough to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge, or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that
cannot be repaired well because of the size or
location of the damage.
The rubber in tires degrades over time, even if they
are not being used. This is also true for the spare tire,
if your vehicle has one. Multiple conditions affect how
fast this aging takes place, including temperatures,
loading conditions, and ination pressure maintenance.
With proper care and maintenance tires will typically wear
out before they degrade due to age. If you are unsure
about the need to replace your tires as they get older,
consult the tire manufacturer for more information.
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 near the tire size. If the tires have an
all-season tread design, the TPC Spec number
will be followed by an MS for mud and snow.
SeeTire Sidewall Labeling on page 5-49for
additional information.
5-64

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

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.
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.
It should be noted that the temperature grade for
this tire is established for a tire that is properly
inated and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underination, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
5-67

Notice:The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance, and tire or tire chain
clearance to the body and chassis.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-70for more
information.
Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on the vehicle is dangerous.
You cannot know how it has been used or how
far it has been driven. It could fail suddenly and
cause a crash. If you have to replace a wheel,
use a new GM original equipment wheel.
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 the 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 the
vehicle and tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s instructions.
To help avoid damage to the vehicle, drive slowly,
readjust or remove the device if it is contacting
the vehicle, and do not spin the vehicle’s wheels.
If you do nd traction devices that will t, install
them on the front tires.
5-69

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

Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-6
Time, Setting..................................................3-65
Tire
Pressure Light.............................................3-33
Tires.............................................................5-48
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels,
Cleaning.................................................5-88
Buying New Tires........................................5-64
Chains.......................................................5-69
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-70
Cleaning....................................................5-88
Compact Spare...........................................5-81
Different Size..............................................5-66
High-Speed Operation..................................5-56
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-70
Ination - Tire Pressure................................5-55
Inspection and Rotation................................5-62
Installing the Spare Tire................................5-73
Pressure Monitor Operation...........................5-59
Pressure Monitor System..............................5-57
Removing the Flat Tire.................................5-73
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...............5-72
Sidewall Labeling.........................................5-49
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-79
Terminology and Denitions...........................5-52Tires (cont.)
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-66
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-68
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-68
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-63
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-26
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-33
Your Vehicle...............................................4-26
Traction
Control System (TCS).................................... 4-7
Control System Warning Light.......................3-32
StabiliTrak
®System....................................... 4-6
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-22
Transmission Operation, Automatic............2-24, 2-27
Transportation Program, Courtesy......................7-10
Trip Odometer................................................3-26
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-7
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-66
13