2007 PONTIAC TORRENT wheel

Before you start, check all trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer
moving and then apply the trailer brake controller
by hand to be sure the brakes are working.
This lets you check your electrical connection at
the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure
that the load is secure, and that the lamps and any
trailer brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead
as you would when driving your vehicle without
a trailer. This can help you avoid situations
that require heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You will need more passing distance up ahead
when you are towing a trailer. And, because
you are a good deal longer, you will need to go
much farther beyond the passed vehicle
before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one
hand. Then, to move the trailer to the left,
just move that hand to the left. To move the trailer
to the right, move your hand to the right. Always
back up slowly and, if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to come in
contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When you are turning with a trailer, make wider
turns than normal. Do this so your trailer will
not strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees
or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
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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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Service........................................................ 339
Accessories and Modications................... 339
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 340
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 340
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle................................................... 341
Fuel............................................................. 341
Gasoline Octane........................................ 341
Gasoline Specications.............................. 341
California Fuel........................................... 342
Additives................................................... 342
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 343
Filling the Tank......................................... 343
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 345
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 346
Hood Release........................................... 347
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 348
Engine Oil................................................. 349
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 352
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 354
Automatic Transaxle Fluid......................... 357
Engine Coolant.......................................... 357
Engine Overheating................................... 360Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 362
Cooling System......................................... 362
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 368
Brakes...................................................... 369
Battery...................................................... 372
Jump Starting............................................ 373
All-Wheel Drive........................................... 378
Bulb Replacement....................................... 380
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 380
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps............. 381
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps...................................... 382
License Plate Lamp................................... 383
Replacement Bulbs................................... 384
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 384
Tires............................................................ 386
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 387
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 390
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 393
Tire Pressure Monitor System................... 395
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 399
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
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When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 401
Buying New Tires...................................... 401
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 403
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 403
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 405
Wheel Replacement.................................. 405
Tire Chains............................................... 406
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 407
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 408
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 409
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire............................................. 411
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...... 418
Compact Spare Tire.................................. 420
Appearance Care........................................ 420
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 420
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 422
Leather...................................................... 423
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces................................................ 424
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 424
Weatherstrips............................................ 425Washing Your Vehicle............................... 425
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 425
Finish Care............................................... 425
Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 426
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels......... 426
Tires......................................................... 427
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 427
Finish Damage.......................................... 428
Underbody Maintenance............................ 428
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 428
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 429
Vehicle Identication.................................. 430
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)........... 430
Service Parts Identication Label............... 430
Electrical System........................................ 431
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 431
Windshield Wiper Fuses............................ 431
Fuses and Circuit Breakers....................... 431
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..................... 432
Engine Compartment Fuse Block............... 434
Capacities and Specications.................... 436
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
338

What to Add
When you do need brake uid, use only DOT-3
brake uid. Use new brake uid from a sealed
container only. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 449.
Always clean the brake uid reservoir cap and the
area around the cap before removing it. This
will help keep dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in the brake
system, the brakes may not work well, or
they may not even work at all. This could
cause a crash. Always use the proper
brake uid.Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just a
few drops of mineral-based oil, such
as engine oil, in the brake system can
damage brake system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced. Do not
let someone put in the wrong kind of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint nish can
be damaged. Be careful not to spill brake
uid on your vehicle. If you do, wash it
off immediately. SeeWashing Your Vehicle
on page 425.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel 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 may come and go or be heard all
the time your vehicle is moving, except when you
are pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
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{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon the brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause
a brake squeal when the brakes are rst applied or
lightly applied. This does not mean something is
wrong with your 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 GM torque
specications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as
complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer 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 of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without
the vehicle moving, your 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. Your vehicle was designed and tested with
top-quality GM brake parts. When you replace parts
of your braking system — for example, when your
brake linings wear down and you need new ones
put in — be sure you get new approved GM
replacement parts. If you do not, your brakes may
no longer work properly. For example, if someone
puts in brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle,
the balance between your front and rear brakes can
change — for the worse. The braking performance
you have come to expect can change in many other
ways if someone puts in the wrong replacement
brake parts.
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To disconnect the jumper cables from both
vehicles, do the following:
1. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from
the vehicle that had the dead battery.
2. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from
the vehicle with the good battery.
3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
other vehicle.
5. Return the fuse block cover to its original
position.All-Wheel Drive
If you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure to
perform the lubricant checks described in this
section. However, there are two additional systems
that need lubrication.
Transfer Case (Power Transfer Unit)
When to Check Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
how often to check the lubricant. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 440.
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