2006 PONTIAC TORRENT steering wheel

{CAUTION:
Anyone who is up against, or very close to,
any airbag when it inates can be seriously
injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder
belts offer the best protection for adults, but
not for young children and infants. Neither
the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag
system is designed for them. Young children
and infants need the protection that a child
restraint system can provide. Always secure
children properly in your vehicle. To read how,
seeOlder Children on page 1-30orInfants
and Young Children on page 1-33.
There is an airbag
readiness light on
the instrument panel
cluster, which shows
the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 3-26
for more information.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s frontal airbag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.
1-55

If your vehicle has a side impact airbag for the right
front passenger and the person seated directly behind
that passenger, it is in the ceiling above the side
windows.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the bag might not inate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
inating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put
anything between an occupant and an airbag,
and do not attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other
airbag covering. And, if your vehicle has
roof-mounted side impact airbags, never
secure anything to the roof of your vehicle
by routing the rope or tiedown through any
door or window opening. If you do, the path
of an inating side impact airbag will be
blocked. The path of an inating airbag must
be kept clear.
1-57

Your vehicle may or may not have side impact airbags.
SeeAirbag System on page 1-53. Side impact airbags
are intended to inate in moderate to severe side
crashes. A side impact airbag will inate if the crash
severity is above the system’s designed “threshold level.”
The threshold level can vary with specic vehicle design.
Side impact airbags are not intended to inate in frontal
or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear impacts.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an airbag
should have inated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
For frontal airbags, ination is determined by what the
vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, and how quickly the
vehicle slows down. For side impact airbags, ination is
determined by the location and severity of the impact.
What Makes an Airbag Inate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The
sensing system triggers a release of gas from the
inator, which inates the airbag. The inator, airbag,
and related hardware are all part of the airbag modules
inside the steering wheel and in the instrument panel
in front of the right front passenger. For vehicles
with side impact airbags, there are also airbag modules
in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the side windows.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel
or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. The airbag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Airbags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the
frontal airbags would not help you in many types
of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many
side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion
is not toward the airbag. Side impact airbags would not
help you in many types of collisions, including many
frontal or near frontal collisions, and rear impacts,
primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward
those airbags. Airbags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and
then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal
collisions for the driver’s and right front passenger’s
frontal airbags, and only in moderate to severe
side collisions for side impact airbags.
1-59

What Will You See After an
Airbag Inates?
After a frontal airbag inates, it quickly deates,
so quickly that some people may not even realize the
airbag inated. Roof-mounted side impact airbags
deate more slowly and may still be at least partially
inated minutes after the vehicle comes to rest. Some
components of the airbag module may be hot for a
short time. These components include the steering
wheel hub for the driver’s frontal airbag and the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s frontal
airbag. For vehicles with roof-mounted side impact
airbags, the ceiling of your vehicle near the side
windows, and the vehicle metal near the rear windows
and tailgate may be warm. The parts of the airbag
that come into contact with you may be warm, but
not too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and
dust coming from the vents in the deated airbags.
Airbag ination does not prevent the driver from
seeing out of the windshield or being able to steer the
vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an airbag inates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is
safe to do so. If you have breathing problems
but cannot get out of the vehicle after an
airbag inates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag deployment,
you should seek medical attention.
In many crashes severe enough to inate an airbag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from
the right front passenger airbag.
1-60

Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to the front
or sides of the vehicle that could keep the
airbags from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, front end or side sheet
metal or height, they may keep the airbag system
from working properly. Also, the airbag system may
not work properly if you relocate any of the airbag
sensors. If you have any questions about this,
you should contact Customer Assistance before
you modify your vehicle. The phone numbers
and addresses for Customer Assistance are in
Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction Procedure
in this manual. SeeCustomer Satisfaction
Procedure on page 7-2.
Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder
light and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors
and anchorages are working properly. Look for any
other loose or damaged safety belt system parts.
If you see anything that might keep a safety belt
system from doing its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt
is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken airbag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The airbag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s airbag, or the side
impact airbag covering (if equipped) on the ceiling
near the side windows, the airbag may not work
properly. You may have to replace the airbag
module in the steering wheel, both the airbag
module and the instrument panel for the right front
passenger’s airbag, or side impact airbag module
and ceiling covering for roof-mounted side impact
airbags (if equipped.) Do not open or break the
airbag coverings.
1-62

OnStar®Steering Wheel Controls
0
:For vehicles equipped with a Talk/Mute button,
it can be used to interact with OnStar®. SeeRadio
with CD (Base Level) on page 3-40orRadio with CD
(MP3) on page 3-50orRadio with Six-Disc CD on
page 3-65for more information.
When calling into voice mail systems, or to dial directory
numbers, press this button once, wait for the response,
say the number(s) to be dialed, wait for the number(s)
to be repeated and then say “dial”. See the OnStar
®
User’s Guide for more information.
Storage Areas
Glove Box
To open the glove box, pull the handle to the left
and pull the glove box door down until it stops and
is fully open.
Cupholder(s)
There are two cupholders located at the lower front of
the center console armrest and a molded cupholder
on the oor of the center console.
To use the cupholders on the armrest, pull the tray
forward.
There are two cupholders located at the rear of the
center console. Pull downward on the lid to use
the cupholders.
2-34

Gate Ajar Light.............................................3-37
Fuel Gage...................................................3-37
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-38
Audio System(s).............................................3-38
Setting the Time...........................................3-40
Radio with CD (Base Level)...........................3-40
Radio with CD (MP3)....................................3-50
Radio with Six-Disc CD.................................3-65Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-79
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-79
Radio Reception...........................................3-80
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-80
Care of the CD Player...................................3-81
Fixed Mast Antenna......................................3-81
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System.............3-81
Chime Level Adjustment................................3-81
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-2

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Power Mirror Control. SeeOutside Power Mirrors
on page 2-31
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
C. Cruise Controls. SeeCruise Control on page 3-11.
D. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-24.
E. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped).
SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-79.
F. Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever. SeeWindshield
Wipers on page 3-8.
G. Traction Control System Button. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-9.
H. Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-22.
I. Hazard Warning Flashers. SeeHazard Warning
Flashers on page 3-6.J. Fog Lamps Button. SeeFog Lamps on page 3-15.
K. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-38.
L. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-34.
M. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-11.
N. Tilt Wheel. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-7.
O. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
P. Ignition Switch. SeeIgnition Positions on page 2-16.
Q. Climate Control System. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-19.
R. Heated Seats Buttons. SeeHeated Seats
on page 1-4.
S. Shift Lever. SeeShifting Into Park (P)
on page 2-23.
3-5