2007 PONTIAC TORRENT trailer

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have
extra wiring.
The arrows on your instrument panel will ash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change.
Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also
ash, telling other drivers you are about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your
instrument panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs
on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind you are seeing your signal when
they are not. It’s important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before
you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you
do not shift down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get hot and
no longer work well.If you are towing a trailer that weighs more than
1,000 lbs (450 kg), drive in INTERMEDIATE (I)
instead of DRIVE (D) or, as you need to, a lower
gear. This will minimize heat build-up and
extend the life of your transaxle.
Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached, on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured, and
both your vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, do
the following:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but do not shift into
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
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3. When the wheel chocks are in place,
release the regular brakes until the chocks
absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal
down while you do the following:
Start your engine.
Shift into a gear.
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of
the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and
store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when
you are pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance
Schedule for more on this. Things that are
especially important in trailer operation are
automatic transaxle uid, engine oil, belts, cooling
system and brake system. Each of these is
covered in this manual, and the Index will help
you nd them quickly. If you are trailering, it is a
good idea to review these sections before you
start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and
bolts are tight.
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Notice:If your engine catches re because
you keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle
can be badly damaged. The costly repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. See
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
on page 362for information on driving to a
safe place in an emergency.
If No Steam Is Coming From
Your Engine
An overheat warning can indicate a serious
problem.
If you get an engine overheat warning, but see or
hear no steam, the problem may not be too
serious. Sometimes the engine can get a little too
hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.If you get the overheat warning with no sign of
steam, try this for a minute or so:
1. If the air conditioner is on, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the windows as necessary.
3. Try to minimize engine load. If you are in a
traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N); otherwise,
shift to the highest gear while driving.
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for
about ten minutes. If the warning does not come
back on, you can drive normally.
If the warning continues and you have not
stopped, pull over, stop, and park your vehicle
right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can idle the
engine for three minutes while you are parked.
If you still have the warning, turn off the engine
and get everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down. Also, see “Overheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode” later in this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get
service help right away.
361

Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode lets your vehicle
be driven to a safe place in an emergency situation.
If an overheated engine condition exists, an
overheat protection mode which alternates ring
groups of cylinders helps prevent engine damage.
In this mode, there is a signicant loss in power and
engine performance. The temperature gage
indicates an overheat condition exists. Driving
extended miles (km) and/or towing a trailer in the
overheat protection mode should be avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine
damage, allow the engine to cool before
attempting any repair. The engine oil will be
severely degraded. Repair the cause of coolant
loss, change the oil and reset the oil life system.
SeeEngine Oil on page 349.
Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is
what you will see:
A. Electric Engine Cooling Fans
B. Coolant Surge Tank
362

Fuses Usage
26 Spare
27 Stoplamp
28 Passenger’s Side Low-Beam
29 Driver’s Side High-Beam
30 Battery Main 3
32 Spare
33 Engine Control Module, Battery
34Transmission Control Module,
Battery
35 Trailer Park Lamp
36 Front Wiper
37Driver’s Side Trailer Stoplamp,
Turn Signal
38 Spare
39 Fuel Pump
40 Not Used
41 All-Wheel Drive
42 Regulated Voltage Control
43Passenger’s Side Trailer
Stoplamp, Turn Signal
44 Spare
45 Front, Rear Washer
48 Rear DefoggerFuses Usage
49 Anti-lock Brake System Motor
50 Battery Main 2
52 Daytime Running Lamps
53 Fog Lamps
54 Climate Control System Blower
57 Battery Main 1
63 Megafuse
Relays Usage
31 Ignition Main
46 Air Conditioning Compressor Clutch
47 Powertrain
51 Spare
55 Crank
56 Fan 1
58Passenger’s Side Trailer
Stoplamp, Turn Signal
59Driver’s Side Trailer Stoplamp,
Turn Signal
60 Fan 3
61 Fan 2
62 Fuel Pump
435

(h)Change automatic transaxle uid if the vehicle
is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or
higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police, or delivery
service.
(i)Drain, ush, and rell cooling system. This
service can be complex; you should have
your dealer perform this service. See Engine
Coolant on page 357 for what to use. Inspect
hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap,
and ller neck. Pressure test the cooling
system and pressure cap.
(j)Check system for interference or binding and
for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts
as needed. Replace any components that have
high effort or excessive wear.(k)A uid loss in any vehicle system could
indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired and the uid level checked. Add uid
if needed.
(l)If you drive regularly under dusty conditions,
inspect the lter at each engine oil change.
(m)Visually inspect belt for fraying, excessive
cracks, or obvious damage. Replace belt if
necessary.
Owner Checks and Services
These owner checks and services should be
performed at the intervals specied to help ensure
the safety, dependability, and emission control
performance of your vehicle. Your GM
Goodwrench
®dealer can assist you with these
checks and services.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at
once. Whenever any uids or lubricants are added
to your vehicle, make sure they are the proper
ones, as shown inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 449.
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Theft-Deterrent Systems (cont.)
PASS-Key®III+........................................ 112
PASS-Key®III+ Operation........................ 113
Tilt Wheel.................................................... 151
Tire
Pressure Light.......................................... 183
Tires........................................................... 386
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels,
Cleaning............................................... 426
Buying New Tires..................................... 401
Chains..................................................... 406
Changing a Flat Tire................................ 408
Cleaning.................................................. 427
Compact Spare Tire................................. 420
Different Size........................................... 403
If a Tire Goes Flat................................... 407
Ination - Tire Pressure............................ 393
Inspection and Rotation............................ 399
Installing the Spare Tire........................... 411
Pressure Monitor System......................... 395
Removing the Flat Tire............................. 411
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools......... 409
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools..... 418
Tire Sidewall Labeling.............................. 387
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 390Tires (cont.)
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.................... 403
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance........... 405
Wheel Replacement................................. 405
When It Is Time for New Tires................. 401
Towing
Recreational Vehicle................................. 326
Towing a Trailer....................................... 328
Your Vehicle............................................. 326
Traction
Control System (TCS) .............................. 297
Control System Warning Light.................. 182
StabiliTrak
®System................................. 298
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic....................................... 357
Transaxle Operation, Automatic................... 119
Trip Odometer............................................. 174
Turn and Lane-Change Signals................... 152
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.................... 151
U
Understanding Radio Reception................... 287
Uniform Tire Quality Grading....................... 403
489