ABS PONTIAC VIBE 2005 Owners Manual

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-3
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-6
Braking.........................................................4-6
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).........................4-7
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-9
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-9
Stabilitrak
®System.......................................4-10
Panic Brake Assist........................................4-11
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.......................4-11
Steering......................................................4-11
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-14
Passing.......................................................4-14
Loss of Control.............................................4-16
Driving at Night............................................4-17Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-18
City Driving..................................................4-21
Freeway Driving...........................................4-22
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-23
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-24
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-24
Winter Driving..............................................4-26
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow..............................................4-30
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-30
Recovery Hook.............................................4-31
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-32
Towing..........................................................4-37
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-37
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-37
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-40
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes. ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, this warning light on
the instrument panel will come on briey when you
start your vehicle.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive
away, your anti-lock brake system will check itself.
You may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that
your brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with the anti-lock brake system,
the anti-lock brake system warning light will stay on.
SeeAnti-Lock Brake System Warning Light on
page 3-33.Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each front wheel
and at both rear wheels. United States
Canada
4-7

Braking in Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver gets into a situation
that requires hard braking.
If you have anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the
same time. However, if you do not have anti-lock, your
rst reaction — to hit the brake pedal hard and hold
it down — may be the wrong thing to do. Your wheels
can stop rolling. Once they do, the vehicle cannot
respond to your steering. Momentum will carry it in
whatever direction it was headed when the wheels
stopped rolling. That could be off the road, into the very
thing you were trying to avoid, or into traffic.
If you do not have anti-lock, use a “squeeze” braking
technique. This will give you maximum braking while
maintaining steering control. You can do this by pushing
on the brake pedal with steadily increasing pressure.
In an emergency, you will probably want to squeeze the
brakes hard without locking the wheels. If you hear or feel
the wheels sliding, ease off the brake pedal. This will
help you retain steering control. If youdohave anti-lock,
it is different. SeeAnti-Lock Brake System (ABS) on
page 4-7.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more than
even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle may have a traction control system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that one or both of the front wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens,
the system works the front brakes and reduces engine
power to limit wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this is
normal. Leave the system on during ordinary driving so
that it can operate when needed. When the ignition
is turned to ON, the system automatically turns on.
This light should come on
briey when you start the
engine. If it stays on or
comes on while you
are driving, there is a
problem with your traction
control system.
4-9

What is the worst time for this? Wet ice. Very cold snow
or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wet ice
can be even more trouble because it may offer the least
traction of all. You can get wet ice when it is about
freezing (32°F; 0°C) and freezing rain begins to fall.
Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand crews
can get there.
Whatever the condition — smooth ice, packed, blowing
or loose snow — drive with caution.
Accelerate gently. Try not to break the fragile traction.
If you accelerate too fast, the drive wheels will spin and
polish the surface under the tires even more.Unless you have the anti-lock braking system, you will
want to brake very gently, too. If you do have anti-lock,
seeAnti-Lock Brake System (ABS) on page 4-7.
This system improves your vehicle’s stability when you
make a hard stop on a slippery road. Whether you
have the anti-lock braking system or not, you will want
to begin stopping sooner than you would on dry
pavement. Without anti-lock brakes, if you feel your
vehicle begin to slide, let up on the brakes a little.
Push the brake pedal down steadily to get the most
traction you can.
Remember, unless you have anti-lock, if you brake so
hard that your wheels stop rolling, you will just slide.
Brake so your wheels always keep rolling and you can
still steer.
Whatever your braking system, allow greater
distance on any slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be ne
until you hit a spot that is covered with ice.
On an otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear
in shaded areas where the sun cannot reach:
around clumps of trees, behind buildings, or under
bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve or
an overpass may remain icy when the surrounding
roads are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead
of you, brake before you are on it. Try not to brake
while you are actually on the ice, and avoid
sudden steering maneuvers.
4-27

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal asher and/or extra wiring.
Check with your dealer. 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’re 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 gearbeforeyou start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility of the engine and the transaxle overheating.
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, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) for an automatic transaxle or into gear for
a manual transaxle, yet. When parking uphill, turn
your wheels away from the curb. When parking
downhill, turn your wheels into the curb.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the 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 shift into PARK (P) for an automatic
transaxle or REVERSE (R) for a manual transaxle.
5. Release the regular brakes.
4-45

Fuses Usage
CIGCigarette Lighter, Power Rearview
Mirrors, Power Outlets, Audio System,
Automatic Transaxle Control System
GAUGEGauges and Meters, Back-Up Lamps,
Charging System, Power Door Locks,
Power Windows, Sunroof, Air
Conditioning, Cruise Control
WASHER Windshield Washers
M-HTR/
DEF 1–UPEngine Control System
HTR Air Conditioning System
DEFRear Window Defogger,
M-HTR/DEF 1–UP Fuse
POWER Power Windows, Electric Moon RoofEngine Compartment Fuse Block
This engine compartment fuse block is located in the
engine compartment on the driver’s side of the vehicle
near the air cleaner. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for more information on location.
Fuses Usage
SPARE Spare Fuse
SPARE Spare Fuse
SPARE Spare Fuse
ETCS Electronic Throttle Control System
ABS NO. 2Anti-lock Brake System
(Without Stability Control System)
5-98

Fuses Usage
RDI FAN Electric Cooling Fan
ABS NO. 1Anti-lock Brake System
(With Stability Control System)
FOG Front Fog Lamps
EFI2Multiport Fuel Injection System/
Sequential Multiport Fuel Injection
System, Emission Control System
EFI3Multiport Fuel Injection System/
Sequential Multiport Fuel Injection
System, Emission Control System
HEAD MAINRight Headlamp, Left Headlamp
Fuses
ALT-S Charging System
EFI Electronic Fuel Injection System
HAZARDTurn Signal Lamps, Emergency
Flasher
HORN Horn
DOMEInterior Lights, Gauges and Meters,
Audio System, Remote Keyless Entry
System, Navigation System
(If Equipped)Fuses Usage
MAIN Starter System, AM2 Fuse
AMP Audio System
MAYDAY OnStar
®System
ALTABS NO.1, ABS NO.2, RDI FAN,
FOG, Heater, AM1, POWER, DOOR,
ECU-B, TAIL, STOP, P/POINT, INV,
OBD Fuses, Charging System
HEAD RHRight-hand Headlamp, Headlamp
High Beam Indicator Lamp
HEAD LH Left-hand Headlamp
Relays Usage
M/G M/G
HEAD Headlamps
DIMMER Headlamp Dimmer
FAN NO. 2 Cooling Fan System
FAN NO. 1 Cooling Fan System
EFI Electronic Fuel Injection System
FOG Fog Lamps
5-99

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-18
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle...............................1-61
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-95
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-21
Air Conditioning..............................................3-20
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-30
Readiness Light..........................................3-29
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)........ 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-46
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-61
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-53
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-56
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-60
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-53
What Will You See After an
Airbag Inates?........................................1-54
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-51
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-49
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-48
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System.........................4-11Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-65
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna System..........................................3-65
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-33
Appearance Care............................................5-87
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-92
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-90
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-93
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-90
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-87
Finish Care.................................................5-91
Finish Damage............................................5-93
Glass Surfaces............................................5-89
Instrument Panel.........................................5-89
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-89
Leather......................................................5-89
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-93
Tires..........................................................5-92
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-93
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-94
Vinyl..........................................................5-89
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-90
Weatherstrips..............................................5-90
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades.......5-91
Ashtrays........................................................3-19
1

Audio System(s).............................................3-42
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-65
Care of Your CDs........................................3-64
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-65
Navigation/Radio System..............................3-64
Radio with CD............................................3-43
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-53
Setting the Time..........................................3-42
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-64
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-65
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-15
Automatic Transaxle
Fluid..........................................................5-23
Operation...................................................2-22
B
Battery..........................................................5-42
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-23
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-7
Emergencies................................................ 4-9
Panic Assist................................................4-11
Parking......................................................2-28
System Inspection.......................................6-18
System Warning Light..................................3-32Brakes..........................................................5-39
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-9
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-17
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-49
Back-Up Lamps...........................................5-54
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........5-51
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-49
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and
Parking Lamps.........................................5-49
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-55
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-53
Buying New Tires...........................................5-70
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-100
Carbon Monoxide...................2-11, 2-32, 4-26, 4-40
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-90
Your CD Player...........................................3-65
Your CDs ...................................................3-64
Cargo Cover..................................................2-39
2