2008 PONTIAC TORRENT Owners Manual

Current and Past Model Order Forms
Technical Service Bulletins and Manuals are available
for current and past model GM vehicles. To request
an order form, specify year and model name of
the vehicle.
ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on the
World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com
Or you can write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
checks payable in U.S. funds.
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy
Your GM vehicle has a number of sophisticated
computers that record information about the vehicle’s
performance and how it is driven. For example,
your vehicle uses computer modules to monitor and
control engine and transmission performance, to monitor
the conditions for airbag deployment and deploy
airbags in a crash and, if so equipped, to provide
antilock braking to help the driver control the vehicle.
These modules may store data to help your
dealer/retailer technician service your vehicle. Some
modules may also store data about how you operate the
vehicle, such as rate of fuel consumption or average
speed. These modules may also retain the owner’s
personal preferences, such as radio pre-sets, seat
positions, and temperature settings.
7-17

Event Data Recorders
This vehicle has an Event Data Recorder (EDR). The
main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or
near crash-like situations, such as an airbag deployment
or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist in
understanding how a vehicle’s systems performed. The
EDR is designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time,
typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle
is designed to record such data as:
How various systems in your vehicle were operating
Whether or not the driver and passenger safety
belts were buckled/fastened
How far, if at all, the driver was pressing the
accelerator and/or brake pedal
How fast the vehicle was traveling
This data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.Important:EDR data is recorded by your vehicle only
if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data is
recorded by the EDR under normal driving conditions
and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age,
and crash location) is recorded. However, other parties,
such as law enforcement, could combine the EDR
data with the type of personally identifying data routinely
acquired during a crash investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is
required, and access to the vehicle or the EDR is
needed. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer, other
parties, such as law enforcement, that have the special
equipment, can read the information if they have
access to the vehicle or the EDR.
GM will not access this data or share it with others
except: with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the
vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee; in
response to an official request of police or similar
government office; as part of GM’s defense of litigation
through the discovery process; or, as required by
law. Data that GM collects or receives may also be used
for GM research needs or may be made available to
others for research purposes, where a need is shown
and the data is not tied to a specic vehicle or
vehicle owner.
7-18

OnStar®
If your vehicle has OnStar and you subscribe to the
OnStar services, please refer to the OnStar Terms and
Conditions for information on data collection and
use. See alsoOnStar
®System on page 2-39in this
manual for more information.
Navigation System
If your vehicle has a navigation system, use of the
system may result in the storage of destinations,
addresses, telephone numbers, and other trip
information. Refer to the navigation system operating
manual for information on stored data and for deletion
instructions.
Radio Frequency
Identication (RFID)
RFID technology is used in some vehicles for functions
such as tire pressure monitoring and ignition system
security, as well as in connection with conveniences
such as key fobs for remote door locking/unlocking and
starting, and in-vehicle transmitters for garage door
openers. RFID technology in GM vehicles does not use
or record personal information or link with any other
GM system containing personal information.
7-19

✍NOTES
7-20

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-70
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-99
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-20
Air Conditioning..............................................3-20
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-30
Readiness Light..........................................3-29
Airbag System................................................1-56
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-63
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-61
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-59
Airbag Systems
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-70
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-62
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-64
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-69
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-62
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-44
All-Wheel Drive Disabled Light..........................3-42
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System........................... 4-8
All-Wheel-Drive Service Light............................3-42
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-5
Antilock Brake, System Warning Light................3-34Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels..............5-95
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-92
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-96
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-93
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-90
Finish Care.................................................5-94
Finish Damage............................................5-96
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-92
Interior Cleaning..........................................5-88
Leather......................................................5-91
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-96
Tires..........................................................5-96
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-96
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-97
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-93
Weatherstrips..............................................5-92
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-94
Appointments, Scheduling Service.....................7-10
Ashtray.........................................................3-20
Audio System.................................................3-67
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-110
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual.................................................3-101
Radio Reception........................................3-111
Setting the Time..........................................3-68
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-110
1

Audio System(s).............................................3-71
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-15
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-22
Operation...........................................2-25, 2-28
B
Battery..........................................................5-37
Electric Power Management..........................3-18
Run-Down Protection...................................3-19
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-6
Brakes..........................................................5-34
System Warning Light..................................3-33
Braking........................................................... 4-4
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-6
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-20
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-47
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-47
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-46
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-47
License Plate Lamps....................................5-50
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-50
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps........................................5-49
Buying New Tires...........................................5-70
C
Calibration.....................................................3-49
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements....... 5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-105
Carbon Monoxide...........................2-36, 4-18, 4-32
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-92
Cargo Lamp...................................................3-18
CD, MP3 ...............................................3-90, 3-95
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-43
Chains, Tire...................................................5-75
Charging System Light....................................3-32
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-36
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-96
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-37
Infants and Young Children...........................1-34
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-42
Older Children.............................................1-31
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position..................................................1-50
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position...........................................1-52
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-40
2

Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-20
Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels..............5-95
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-93
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-90
Finish Care.................................................5-94
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-92
Interior.......................................................5-88
Leather......................................................5-91
Tires..........................................................5-96
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-96
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-93
Weatherstrips..............................................5-92
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-94
Climate Control System...................................3-20
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-24
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-24
Clock............................................................3-68
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-12
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-88
Compass.......................................................3-49
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-18
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-4
Convenience Net............................................2-48
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-35
Engine Temperature Warning Light.................3-35
Heater, Engine............................................2-23Cooling System..............................................5-27
Cruise Control................................................3-11
Cruise Control Light........................................3-41
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-43
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation................................7-10
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY)
Users....................................................... 7-5
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-5
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-6
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors....7-16
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government............................................7-16
Reporting Safety Defects to the United
States Government...................................7-15
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-7
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-16
D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-15
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Delayed Locking.............................................2-12
DIC Compass.................................................3-49
Disc, MP3.............................................3-90, 3-95
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dome Lamp...................................................3-17
3

Door
Ajar Light...................................................3-43
Delayed Locking..........................................2-12
Locks........................................................2-11
Power Door Locks.......................................2-11
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-12
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-12
Driver
Seat Height Adjuster...................................... 1-3
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-45
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-45
DIC Vehicle Personalization..........................3-60
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-52
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-14
Before a Long Trip......................................4-16
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-3
Highway Hypnosis.......................................4-16
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-17
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-15
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-22
Winter........................................................4-18
DVD
Rear Seat Entertainment System..................3-101E
EDR .............................................................7-17
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-99
Engine Compartment Fuse Block.................5-102
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-99
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-100
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-99
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-20
Change Engine Oil Light...............................3-40
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-36
Coolant......................................................5-22
Coolant Heater............................................2-23
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-35
Coolant Temperature Warning Light................3-35
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-15
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-36
Oil .............................................................5-15
Oil Life System...........................................5-18
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...........5-26
Overheating................................................5-25
Reduced Power Light...................................3-41
Running While Parked..................................2-36
Starting......................................................2-22
Entry Lighting.................................................3-17
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-18
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-30
4