questions about a 2008 torrent that I just got

[reble]

I just baught this 2008 Pontiac Torrent SUV after it was released from the police impound lot and put up for sale. The computer is flashing that things need to be serviced:
Stabilitrack
airbag
traction control

The engine check light is on and the ABS light is on. What does all that me?

I also need instructions as to how to change out the windshield washer tank. It must have a crack in the tank. Every time I put fluid in the tank it just leaks right out onto the ground without doing anything with the controls.


Steve

 

[melsg5]

you need the various systems that show flashing lights scanned. Autozone can check some of the codes for free.
this video shows how to add fluid and the tank is right up top easy to see and the bolts that retain it to the inner fender seem to be pretty obvious.
https://www.carcarekiosk.com/video/2006_Pontiac_Torrent_3.4L_V6/windshield_washer_fluid/add_fluid

 

[reble]

I know how to fill the windshield washer tank. I already tried filling the tank. By the time I closed the tank lid and the engine hood. There was a big puddle of windshield washer fluid on the ground. The tank must have a large crack or a hole in it. I need to know how to take the tank out. The last vehicle that I had (a 2000 Windstar) you had to take the right side front outer fender shell off to get at the windshield washer pump and tank.

you need the various systems that show flashing lights scanned. Autozone can check some of the codes for free.
this video shows how to add fluid and the tank is right up top easy to see and the bolts that retain it to the inner fender seem to be pretty obvious.
https://www.carcarekiosk.com/video/2006_Pontiac_Torrent_3.4L_V6/windshield_washer_fluid/add_fluid

 

[melsg5]

I fully realize you know how to add fluid. I posted the video because it appears the bottle is quit visible under the hood and so are the retaining bolts. Is the video wrong? The bottle is not sitting in plain view? Even the parts diagram shows it sitting up top with possibly two bolts holding it on

https://www.tonkinonlineparts.com/s...modelYear=2008&searchString=windshield washer

______________________________

 

[reble]

Yes the top of the bottle is easy to get at for filling. All that video did was talk about filling the tank. Nothing about taken the tank out

I fully realize you know how to add fluid. I posted the video because it appears the bottle is quit visible under the hood and so are the retaining bolts. Is the video wrong? The bottle is not sitting in plain view? Even the parts diagram shows it sitting up top with possibly two bolts holding it on

https://www.tonkinonlineparts.com/s...modelYear=2008&searchString=windshield washer

 

[melsg5]

and you dont see the bolts holding it in?

 

[reble]

I am not at the torrent right now. I am upstairs in my apt were it cool. I can only work on the torrent early in the morning when it is cool or in the late afternoon when the apt building casts a long shadow. I can't be in the direct sun light long. I over heat very fast, a side effect of my med's.

and you dont see the bolts holding it in?

 

[reble]

I went over to Auto Zone today. The computer didn't flash any code error messages.

you need the various systems that show flashing lights scanned. Autozone can check some of the codes for free.
this video shows how to add fluid and the tank is right up top easy to see and the bolts that retain it to the inner fender seem to be pretty obvious.
https://www.carcarekiosk.com/video/2006_Pontiac_Torrent_3.4L_V6/windshield_washer_fluid/add_fluid

______________________________

 

[reble]

I found the bolts holding tank in. I had to move the radiator overflow tank out of the way to get the windshield washer tank out. I found out why the washer fluid was leaking out. There is a hole in the tank were the windshield washer pump should be. I also can't find the wire that attaches to the pump, let alone the old pump it self. On the new/used tank/pump that I got from the junk yard looks the same as the old tank but it has a single hose coming out from both ends of the pump and meets at the top of the tank.

and you dont see the bolts holding it in?

 

[melsg5]

I went over to Auto Zone today. The computer didn't flash any code error messages.

Is your check engine light still on? If it is then the people at autozone did not correctly attach their code reader.
There reader will not read any codes for the ABS/traction control. The problem is usually a wheel sensor or the wire connected to the sensor and requires the correct code reader or the usage of an ohm meter.

 

[melsg5]

Pump

I found the bolts holding tank in. I had to move the radiator overflow tank out of the way to get the windshield washer tank out. I found out why the washer fluid was leaking out. There is a hole in the tank were the windshield washer pump should be. I also can't find the wire that attaches to the pump, let alone the old pump it self. On the new/used tank/pump that I got from the junk yard looks the same as the old tank but it has a single hose coming out from both ends of the pump and meets at the top of the tank.

The intake side of the pump connects to the top of the tank and the other side of the pump goes to the washer nozzles. Try tracing back from the washer nozzles to find that end of the hose connection.

 

[reble]

The rubber hose that is supposed to connect the pump to the washer tube. There is no pump connected to the hose. The pump is ripped out of the tank. That's why the old tank was leaking. And I still can't fund the wire that plugs into the pump. I didn't get a chance to look more for the wire to the pump today. It has been heavy rain, thunder and lighting most of the day.

The intake side of the pump connects to the top of the tank and the other side of the pump goes to the washer nozzles. Try tracing back from the washer nozzles to find that end of the hose connection.

______________________________

 

[reble]

I just went down and poked around with my mag flash light. I found the old washer pump and the wire connected to it. The rubber tube that connects to the small metal tube up to the washer outlets runs along the drivers side fender to the outlets. I found an larger rubber tube under the washer tank and it looks like it runs to the back side of the motor. That tube has a plastic plug in it and it is about the right size rubber hose for a vacuum line. What gives?

A ps. The 2 rubber hoses (in and out on the pump) on the new/used tank. The ends of the 2 hoses meet at the top of the tank with a plastic hollow tube connecting them together. I haven't look real good for an opening at the top of the tank for the 1 hose that you say is supposed to connect to.

The rubber hose that is supposed to connect the pump to the washer tube. There is no pump connected to the hose. The pump is ripped out of the tank. That's why the old tank was leaking. And I still can't fund the wire that plugs into the pump. I didn't get a chance to look more for the wire to the pump today. It has been heavy rain, thunder and lighting most of the day.

Originally Posted by melsg5 View Post
The intake side of the pump connects to the top of the tank and the other side of the pump goes to the washer nozzles. Try tracing back from the washer nozzles to find that end of the hose connection.

 

[reble]

Melsg Your wrong. I went to the local GMC, Pontiac dealer and the service tech told me that the pump input is inside the tank and the 2 hoses are output hose's. 1 hose goes to the front washer nozzles and the other hose is for the back washer nozzle. But nether of us can find the tube to the going to the washer nozzle.

Steve

The intake side of the pump connects to the top of the tank and the other side of the pump goes to the washer nozzles. Try tracing back from the washer nozzles to find that end of the hose connection.

 

[melsg5]

glad to hear you found the pump and the correct routing for the hoses.

 

[reble]

We couldn't find the tube for the back washer nozzle.
Also the computer is saying the following items need service, stabilitrak, air bag, traction control. Why do these things need to be fixed? I also can't fig out how to turn on the all wheel drive.

glad to hear you found the pump and the correct routing for the hoses.

______________________________

 

[melsg5]

if you feel you have no need for those systems to function, which are all safety related, then it's you choice not to fix them.
All wheel drive was an option, you are sure you have it?
It is also automatic all wheel drive, read the sections in the owners manual that explain it.
http://www.vadengmpp.com/owners-manual/pontiac/2008-Pontiac-Torrent.pdf

 

[reble]

What is "stabilitrak" and why would the air bag and traction control need service? My field of work was fixing 2 way radios, tv's, vcr's and installing 2 way radios and car stereo stuff. What I know fixing vehicles comes from reading books.
Also I got the front washer nozzles working. I had to plug up the other tube to the back washer nozzle so it won't squirt fluid out. I also found out that the washer pump is not getting power. I found this out by directly applying power to the pump from the battery. The pump on the new tank works fine. I used my VOM to test the + side of the plug to the washer pump, No power when ether back or front washers switch's were pushed. The ground wire to the washer pump is good, I checked that with the VOM also. Ether the fuse is popped (and there is nothing on the fuse block cover for the washer pump) or there is a busted wire somewhere.

 

[melsg5]

Stabilitrak prevents the vehicle from spinning out of control by moderating the throttle and applying the appropriate brakes. It's explained in the owners manual. The fuse for the washer is also listed in the owners manual.

 

[reble]

The stopping of spinning out of control I learned well before they had all this fancy do-dads in cars. My 1st car was a 1955 VW Bug, manual shift, no power breaks or steering. And the radio was an old tube radio AM band only. I have some what of an idea what traction control is. Like in snow, wet roads and so on. The computer rotates control between tires for overall better control. Why is the computer saying this stuff needs to be serviced. As you guessed. This is my 1st vehicle with all this fancy do-dads on it. actually this is the 2nd one with all this fancy do-dads. I had a 2000 Ford Windstar. Power sliding doors and so on. I pulled into my parking spot, turned the motor off and went up stairs. The next day the Windstar wouldn't start. Not even the starter motor wouldn't turn over. Everything else, lights, radio, whippers all worked. It turned out to be a fault in the passive anti-theft system. The dumb thing though I was stealing my own rig after I wired in the power for my Amateur Radio, radios. hehehe.

Anyways I got The washer tank is installed and the front washer nozzles are now working. I still can't find the tube to plug the rubber hose into for the back nozzle so I stuck a screw in the hose so it won't leak. I found the washer Tank fuse. It was blowen and the fuse socket was blackened from arcing. I though I was going to have to make a bypass and put a push button in the dash. I started to take the outer wire harness from the washer plug to the main harness behind the drivers side headlight apart and I found the plus wire to the washer motor was rubbed through and broke. I added a small chunk of stranded wire and spliced the wire back with 2 wire crimps. It was a real chore trying to crimp the crimp onto the stub of the wire without stripping the outer cover off the main wire harness to get more wire to work with. I didn't want to expose the wires to road grime, weather and so on.

Stabilitrak prevents the vehicle from spinning out of control by moderating the throttle and applying the appropriate brakes. It's explained in the owners manual. The fuse for the washer is also listed in the owners manual.