2006 PONTIAC TORRENT tow

Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and
two downward (for left) positions. These positions
allow you to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down. When the turn is nished, the lever will return
automatically.
An arrow on the
instrument panel
cluster will ash in
the direction of the
turn or lane change.
To signal a lane change, raise or lower the lever until
the arrow starts to ash. Hold it there until you complete
the lane change. The lever will return by itself when
you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows
ash rapidly, a signal bulb may be burned out and
other drivers won’t see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows do not go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the fuse, seeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-83and for burned-out bulbs.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high or
high beam to low, pull the turn signal lever all the way
towards you. Then release it.
When the high beams
are on, this light on
the instrument panel
cluster will also be on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you until the high-beam headlamps come on, then
release the lever to turn them off.
Windshield Wipers
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If the wiper blades are frozen to the
windshield, gently loosen or thaw them. If the blades do
become damaged, install new blades or blade inserts.
SeeWindshield Wiper Blade Replacement on page 5-45.
3-8

Windshield Washer
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
Pull the windshield wiper lever toward you to operate
the windshield wipers. Washer uid will squirt onto
the windshield and the wipers will run for a few cycles
to clear the windshield. For more wash cycles, pull
the lever toward you and hold it there.
Rear Window Wiper/Washer
The band on the wiper lever with the smaller arrow
operates the rear wiper/washer.
9(Off):Turn the band to this position to turn off
the rear wiper.
Z(Rear Wiper):Turn the band with the smaller
arrow to this position to turn on the rear wiper. To set
for a shorter or longer delay between wipes, turn
the other band with the larger arrow pointing to the
numbers (1, 2, or 3). Select 3 for the most frequent
movement; select 1 for the least frequent. The band
with the arrow pointing to the numbers (1, 2, or 3) will
affect both the front and rear wipers if they are on at
the same time.
Y(Wash):Turn and hold the band in this position
to spray washer uid on the rear window. The rear wiper
will also come on. Release the band when enough
uid has been sprayed on the window. The rear wiper
will run a few additional times after you release it.
3-10

If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal
is harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to
the oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still
on, have the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-36.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning
light on can lead to an accident. If the light
is still on after you have pulled off the road
and stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light will come
on when your engine is
started and may stay on
for several seconds.
That is normal.
If the ABS warning light comes on and stays on, there
may be a problem with the anti-lock portion of the
brake system. If the red BRAKE light is not on, you
still have brakes, but you do not have anti-lock brakes.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-28.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. If the
light comes on when you are driving, stop as soon
as possible and turn the ignition off. Then start
the engine again to reset the system. If the light still
stays on, or comes on again while you are driving, your
vehicle needs service. If the regular brake system
warning light is not on, you still have brakes, but you
do not have anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system
warning light is also on, you do not have anti-lock
brakes and there is a problem with your regular brakes.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-28.
3-29

This light should come on, as a check to show you
it is working, when the ignition is on and the engine
is not running. If the light does not come on, have
it repaired. This light will also come on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing— A misre condition has been
detected. A misre increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Diagnosis and service may be required.
Light On Steady— An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Diagnosis and service may be required.
If the Light is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed
Avoiding hard accelerations
Avoiding steep uphill grades
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount
of cargo being hauled as soon as it is possibleIf the light stops ashing and remains on steady,
see “If the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to ash, when it is safe to do
so, stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your
vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and
restart the engine. If the light remains on steady, see
“If the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is
still ashing, follow the previous steps, and see your
dealer for service as soon as possible.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully
install the cap. SeeFilling the Tank on page 5-8.
The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap
has been left off or improperly installed. A loose
or missing fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into
the atmosphere. A few driving trips with the cap
properly installed should turn the light off.
3-33

Adjusting the Speakers
(Balance/Fade)
S
(Balance/Fade):To adjust the balance
between the right and the left speakers, push
and release the balance and fade button until BAL
appears on the display. Turn the ADJ knob to move
the sound toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, push and release the balance and fade
button until FADE appears on the display. Turn the
ADJ knob to move the sound toward the front or the
rear speakers.
To adjust the balance and the fade to the middle
position, select BAL or FADE. Then press and hold this
button for more than two seconds. You will hear a
beep and the speaker control will be adjusted to the
middle position.
To adjust both speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the tone button for more than
four seconds when no speaker control is displayed.
ALL CENTERED will appear on the display and you will
hear a beep. The balance and fade will be adjusted
to the middle position.
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station
(RDS and XM™)
To select and nd a desired PTY perform the following:
1. Press the P-TYPE button to activate program
type select mode. P-TYPE and a program type
will appear on the display.
2. Turn the ADJ knob to select a PTY.
3. Once the desired PTY is displayed, press the
SEEK right arrow to select the PTY and to take
you to the PTYs rst station.
4. To go to another station within that PTY press the
SEEK right arrow again. If the radio cannot nd the
desired PTY, NOT FOUND will appear on the
display and the radio will return to the last station
you were listening to.
5. Press the P-TYPE button or wait 15 seconds,
to exit program type select mode.
If PTY times out and is no longer on the display,
go back to Step 1.
If PTY is on, the radio will search for stations with
the selected PTY.
3-44

Adjusting the Speakers
(Balance/Fade)
S
(Balance/Fade):To adjust the balance
between the right and the left speakers, push and
release the balance and fade button until BAL appears
on the display. Turn the ADJ knob to move the
sound toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, push and release the balance and fade
button until FADE appears on the display. Turn the
ADJ knob to move the sound toward the front or the
rear speakers.
To adjust the balance or the fade to the middle position,
select BAL or FADE. Then press and hold this button
for more than two seconds. You will hear one beep
and the speaker control will be adjusted to the
middle position.
To adjust both speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the tone button for more than
four seconds when no speaker control is displayed.
ALL CENTERED will appear on the display and you
will hear one beep. The balance and the fade will
be adjusted to the middle position.
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station
(RDS and XM™)
To select and nd a desired PTY perform the following:
1. Press the P-TYPE button to activate program
type select mode. P-TYPE and a program type
will appear on the display.
2. Turn the ADJ knob to select a PTY.
3. Once the desired PTY is displayed, press the
SEEK right arrow to take you to the PTYs
rst station.
4. To go to another station within that PTY press
the SEEK right arrow again. If the radio cannot
nd the desired PTY, NOT FOUND will appear
on the display and the radio will return to the last
station that was playing.
5. Press the P-TYPE button or wait 15 seconds,
to exit program type select mode.
If PTY times out and is not longer on the display,
go back to Step 1.
If PTY is on, the radio will search for stations with
the selected PTY.
3-54

Adjusting the Speakers
(Balance/Fade)
S
(Balance/Fade):To adjust the balance
between the right and the left speakers, press and
release the balance and fade button until BAL appears
on the display. Turn the ADJ knob to move the
sound toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, press and release the balance and fade
button until FADE appears on the display. Turn the
ADJ knob to move the sound toward the front or the
rear speakers.
To adjust the balance or the fade to the middle position,
select BAL or FADE. Then press and hold this button
for more than two seconds. You will hear one beep
and the speaker control will be adjusted to the
middle position.
To adjust both speaker controls to the middle position,
push and hold the tone button when no speaker
control is displayed. ALL CENTERED will appear on
the display, you will hear one beep and the speaker
controls will be adjusted to the middle position.
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station
(RDS and XM™)
To select and nd a desired PTY perform the following:
1. Press the P-TYPE button to activate program
type select mode. P-TYPE and a program type
will appear on the display.
2. Turn the ADJ knob to select a PTY.
3. Once the desired PTY is displayed, press the
SEEK right arrow to select and to take you to
the PTYs rst station.
4. To go to another station within that PTY press the
SEEK right arrow again. If the radio cannot nd the
desired PTY, NOT FOUND will appear on the
display and the radio will return to the last station
that was playing.
5. Press the P-TYPE button or wait 15 seconds,
to exit program type select mode.
If PTY times out and is no longer on the display,
go back to Step 1.
If PTY is on, the radio will search for stations with the
selected PTY.
3-69

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-3
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-5
Braking.........................................................4-6
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).........................4-7
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-8
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-9
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.......................4-10
Steering......................................................4-11
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-13
Passing.......................................................4-14
Loss of Control.............................................4-15
Driving at Night............................................4-16
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-17City Driving..................................................4-20
Freeway Driving...........................................4-21
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-22
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-24
Winter Driving..............................................4-26
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow..............................................4-30
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-31
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-31
Towing..........................................................4-36
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-36
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-36
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-38
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1