flat tire PONTIAC VIBE 2006 Owners Manual

Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-67
Wheel Replacement......................................5-67
Tire Chains..................................................5-68
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-69
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-70
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools................5-71
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire..........................................5-73
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-78
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-81
Appearance Care............................................5-81
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.................5-81
Fabric/Carpet...............................................5-82
Leather.......................................................5-83
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces........................................5-84
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-84
Weatherstrips...............................................5-84
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-85
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................5-85
Finish Care..................................................5-85
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades.........5-86Aluminum Wheels.........................................5-86
Tires...........................................................5-87
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-87
Finish Damage.............................................5-87
Underbody Maintenance................................5-87
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-87
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................5-88
Vehicle Identication......................................5-89
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN).................5-89
Service Parts Identication Label.....................5-89
Electrical System............................................5-90
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................5-90
Headlamp Wiring..........................................5-90
Windshield Wiper Fuses................................5-90
Power Windows and Other Power Options.......5-91
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................5-91
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..........................5-92
Engine Compartment Fuse Block....................5-94
Capacities and Specications..........................5-96
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts..........5-98
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

(A) Temporary Use Only:The compact spare tire or
temporary use tire has a tread life of approximately
3,000 miles (5 000 km) and should not be driven
at speeds over 65 mph (105 km/h). The compact spare
tire is for emergency use when a regular road tire
has lost air and gone at. SeeCompact Spare Tire on
page 5-81andIf a Tire Goes Flat on page 5-69.(B) Tire Ply Material:The type of cord and number of
plies in the sidewall and under the tread.
(C) Tire Identication Number (TIN):The Tire
Identication Number (TIN). The TIN shows the
manufacturer and plant code, tire size, and date the tire
was manufactured. The TIN is molded onto both
sides of the tire, although only one side may have the
date of manufacture.
(D) Maximum Cold Ination Load Limit:Maximum
load that can be carried and the maximum pressure
needed to support that load. SeeCompact Spare Tire
on page 5-81andLoading Your Vehicle on page 4-31.
(E) Tire Ination:The temporary use tire or compact
spare tire should be inated to 60 psi (420 kPa).
For more information on tire pressure and ination see
Ination - Tire Pressure on page 5-58.
(F) Tire Size:A combination of letters and numbers
dene a tire’s width, height, aspect ratio, construction
type and service description. The letter T as the
rst character in the tire size means the tire is for
temporary use only. Compact Spare Tire Example
5-54

Tire Pressure Monitor System
If your vehicle has this feature, it is designed to alert
you when the system detects a large change in
the pressure of one tire. The system cannot alert you
before you drive that a tire is low or at. You must begin
driving before the system will work properly. The
system works with the brake control system and is
designed to detect differences in the tire rotation speeds
that are caused by changes in tire pressure. The tire
pressure monitoring system does not replace normal tire
maintenance, seeTires on page 5-52,Tire Inspection
and Rotation on page 5-62andWhen It Is Time for New
Tires on page 5-64.
This light, on the
instrument panel cluster,
comes on when the
tire pressure monitoring
system detects a low-tire
condition.
This light will also come on for a few seconds and then
go off when you turn the ignition to ON. This indicates
that the tire pressure monitoring system is functioning
properly. If the low-tire pressure warning light comes on
while driving your vehicle, the system may havedetected a low-tire condition. You need to stop as soon
as possible and check your tires for damage. If a tire
is at, seeIf a Tire Goes Flat on page 5-69and
Changing a Flat Tire on page 5-70. Also check the
tire pressure in all four tires, and set them to the
specied level shown on the tire and loading label.
SeeInation - Tire Pressure on page 5-58for
additional information.
Note:The tire pressure monitoring system on your
vehicle will warn you when one of your tires is
signicantly under-inated and when some combinations
of your tires are signicantly under-inated. However,
there are other combinations of signicantly
under-inated tires for which your tire pressure
monitoring system may not warn you. These other
combinations are relatively common, accounting
for approximately half the instances in which vehicles
have signicantly under-inated tires. For example, your
system may not warn you when both tires on the
same side or on the same axle of your vehicle are
signicantly under-inated. It is particularly important,
therefore, for you to check the tire pressure in all of your
tires regularly and maintain proper pressure.
In order for the tire pressure monitoring system to work
properly you will need to reset (initialize) the tire
pressure monitoring system. Any time you check and/or
adjust a tire’s pressure, repair or replace a tire or
wheel or rotate the tires the tire pressure monitor system
needs to be reset.
5-60

When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Tires should only be moved from front to rear and rear
to front on the same side of the vehicle.
Do not include the compact spare tire in your
tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear ination pressures to the amounts shown on
the Tire and Loading Information label. Make certain
that all wheel nuts are properly tightened. See “Wheel
Nut Torque” underCapacities and Specications on
page 5-96.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
places where the wheel attaches to the vehicle.
In an emergency, you can use a cloth or a
paper towel to do this; but be sure to use a
scraper or wire brush later, if needed, to get all
the rust or dirt off. SeeChanging a Flat Tire on
page 5-70.
Vehicles equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system will need to reset (initialize) the system after
each tire rotation. SeeTire Pressure Monitor System on
page 5-60.
5-63

If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel
bolts or wheel nuts, replace them only with new
GM original equipment parts. This way, you will be
sure to have the right wheel, wheel bolts and
wheel nuts for your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts, or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the braking and
handling of your vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control. You could have
a collision in which you or others could be
injured. Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts and wheel nuts for replacement.
Notice:The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance, and tire or tire chain
clearance to the body and chassis.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-70for more
information.
Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You cannot know how it has been
used or how far it has been driven. It could fail
suddenly and cause a crash. If you have to
replace a wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
Notice:Use tire chains only where legal and only
when you must. Use only SAE Class “S” type chains
that are the proper size for your tires. Install them on
the front tires for front-wheel-drive vehicles. If your
vehicle has all-wheel-drive, install the tire chains on
the front or all four tires but never on the rear tires
only. Tighten them as tightly as possible with the
ends securely fastened. Drive slowly and follow the
chain manufacturer’s instructions. If you can hear the
chains contacting your vehicle, stop and retighten
them. If the contact continues, slow down until it
stops. Driving too fast or spinning the wheels with
chains on will damage your vehicle.
5-68

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are driving,
especially if you maintain your vehicle’s tires properly.
If air goes out of a tire, it is much more likely to leak out
slowly. But if you should ever have a blowout, here
are a few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag that pulls
the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel rmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you would
use in a skid. In any rear blowout remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control
by steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may
be very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop, well off the road if possible.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous without
the appropriate safety equipment and training.
The jack provided with your vehicle is
designed only for changing a at tire. If it is
used for anything else, you or others could be
badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips off
the jack. Use the jack provided with your
vehicle only for changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to use the
jacking equipment to change a at tire safely.
5-69

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your
hazard warning ashers.
{CAUTION:
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over or fall on you
or other people. You and they could be badly
injured or even killed. Find a level place to
change your tire. To help prevent the vehicle
from moving:
1. Set the parking brake rmly.
2. Put an automatic transaxle shift lever in
PARK (P), or shift a manual transaxle to
FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R).
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in
the vehicle.
To be even more certain the vehicle will not
move, you should put blocks at the front and
rear of the tire farthest away from the one
being changed. That would be the tire on the
other side, at the opposite end of the vehicle.
5-70

The tools you will be using include the jack (A), jack
handle (B) and wheel wrench (C).
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. Attach the jack handle to the jack.
2. Turn the jack handle clockwise to raise the lift head
a little.
3. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts.
Do not remove them yet.
5-73

12. Tighten the wheel nuts
rmly in a crisscross
sequence as shown.Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{CAUTION:
Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the
passenger compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision,
loose equipment could strike someone. Store
all these in the proper place.
The compact spare tire storage area is designed only
for the compact spare tire, the standard tire cannot
be stored there.
To store the at tire, do the following:
1. Remove the center wheel cap before storing the at
tire, if your vehicle has aluminum wheels.
2. Place the at tire on the rear cargo area oor panel
with the outer side of the wheel facing up.
3. Use the tire tie-down straps located under the oor
panel to secure the at tire.
5-78

Roadside Assistance Program
As the owner of a new Pontiac vehicle, you are
automatically enrolled in the Pontiac Roadside
Assistance program. This value-added service is
intended to provide you with peace of mind as you drive
in the city or travel the open road. Contact Pontiac’s
Roadside Assistance toll-free at1-800-ROADSIDE
(762-3743). Roadside Assistance Representatives are
available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
We will provide the following services during the
Bumper-to-Bumper warranty period, at no expense
to you:
Fuel Delivery:Delivery of enough fuel
($5 maximum) for the customer to get to the
nearest service station.
Lock-out Service (identication required):
Replacement keys or locksmith service will
be covered at no charge if you are unable to gain
entry into your vehicle. Delivery of the replacement
key will be covered within 10 miles (16 km).
Emergency Tow:Tow to the nearest dealership
for warranty service or in the event of a
vehicle-disabling accident. Assistance provided
when the vehicle is mired in sand, mud, or snow.
Flat Tire Change:Installation of a spare tire will be
covered at no charge. The customer is responsible
for the repair or replacement of the tire if not
covered by a warrantable failure.
Jump Start:No-start occurrences which require a
battery jump start will be covered at no charge.
Dealer Locator Service
In many instances, mechanical failures are covered
under Pontiac’s Bumper-to-Bumper warranty. However,
when other services are utilized, our Roadside
Assistance Representatives will explain any payment
obligations you might incur.
For prompt and efficient assistance when calling, please
provide the following to the Roadside Assistance
Representative:
Your name, home address, and home
telephone number.
Telephone number of your location.
Location of the vehicle.
Model, year, color, and license plate number of
the vehicle.
Mileage, Vehicle Identication Number (VIN), and
delivery date of the vehicle.
Description of the problem.
7-6