tow PONTIAC VIBE 2007 User Guide

Reactivating the System
Once the system is set, it will automatically reset
the alarm after the alarm stops. The alarm will
activate again under the same conditions as
described earlier.
Disarming the System
The alarm can be disarmed by doing one of the
following:
Turn the ignition key from LOCK to ON.
Unlock any of the doors with the key or with
the remote keyless entry transmitter.
If the liftgate or liftglass is opened with the
key, the system will still be activated.
Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not need an
elaborate break-in. But it will perform better in
the long run if you follow these guidelines:
Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast
or slow, for the rst 500 miles (805 km). Do
not make full-throttle starts. Avoid
downshifting to brake, or slow, the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops for the rst
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings are not yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every time
you get new brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. See
Towing a Trailer on page 261for the trailer
towing capabilities of your vehicle and more
information.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can
be gradually increased.
102

Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition switch, you can turn it
to four different positions.
Notice:If your key seems stuck in LOCK and
you cannot turn it, be sure you are using the
correct key; if so, is it all the way in? If it is, then
turn the steering wheel left and right while you
turn the key hard. Turn the key only with your
hand. Using a tool to force it could break the
key or the ignition switch. If none of these work,
then your vehicle needs service.(A) LOCK:This is the only position from which you
can remove the key. This locks your steering wheel,
ignition and automatic transaxle. Push in the
ignition switch as you turn the key toward you.
If you have an automatic transaxle, the ignition
switch cannot be turned to LOCK unless the shift
lever is in PARK (P).
{CAUTION:
On manual transaxle vehicles, turning the
key to LOCK and removing it will lock the
steering column and result in a loss of
ability to steer the vehicle. This could
cause a collision. If you need to turn the
engine off while the vehicle is moving,
turn the key only to ACC. Do not push the
key in while the vehicle is moving.
(B) ACC (ACCESSORY):This position operates
some of your electrical accessories, such as
the radio, but not the ventilation fan. It unlocks the
steering wheel and ignition. To move the key
from ACC to LOCK, push in the key and then turn
it to LOCK.
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Automatic Transaxle Operation
There are several
different positions for
your shift lever.
PARK (P):This position locks your front wheels. It
is the best position to use when you start your
engine because your vehicle cannot move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake rmly set. Your
vehicle can roll.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle will not
move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, always set your parking brake
and move the shift lever to PARK (P). See
Shifting Into Park (P) (Automatic
Transaxle) on page 115. If you are pulling
a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 261.
Make sure that the shift lever is fully in PARK (P)
before starting the engine.
108

Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal
down and pull up on the parking brake lever. If the
ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on.
To release the parking brake, hold the brake
pedal down.Pull the parking brake lever up until you can press
the release button. Hold the release button in
as you move the lever all the way down.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to brake system
parts. Verify that the parking brake is fully
released and the brake warning light is
off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 261.
114

Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transaxle)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow. If you are
pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 261.To shift into PARK (P), do the following:
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot
and set the parking brake by pulling up on the
parking brake lever.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by holding
in the button on the shift lever and pushing
the lever all the way toward the front of
the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you
can leave your vehicle with the key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
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Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transaxle)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle
with the engine running. Your vehicle
could move suddenly if the shift lever is
not fully in PARK (P) with the parking
brake rmly set. And, if you leave the
vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch re. You or
others could be injured. Do not leave your
vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your automatic transaxle
vehicle with the engine running, be sure your
vehicle is in PARK (P) and your parking brake is
rmly set before you leave it. After you have moved
the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the regular brake
pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift
lever away from PARK (P) without rst pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever
was not fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock (Automatic Transaxle)
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift into
PARK (P) properly, the weight of the vehicle
may put too much force on the parking pawl in the
transaxle. You may nd it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque
lock.” To prevent torque lock, set the parking
brake and then shift into PARK (P) properly before
you leave the driver’s seat. To nd out how, see
Shifting Into Park (P) (Automatic Transaxle)
on page 115.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever
out of PARK (P) before you release the parking
brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have
another vehicle push yours a little uphill to
take some of the pressure from the parking pawl
in the transaxle, so you can pull the shift lever
out of PARK (P).
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Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transaxle)
Before you get out of your vehicle, move the shift
lever into REVERSE (R), and rmly apply the
parking brake. Once the shift lever has been
placed into REVERSE (R) with the clutch pedal
pressed in, you can turn the ignition key to LOCK,
remove the key and release the clutch.
If you are parking on a hill, or if your vehicle is
pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 261.
Evaporation Pump
Your vehicle is equipped with a vacuum pump for
the vehicle’s fuel evaporation system. This
pump performs a fuel evaporation leakage test
approximately ve hours after the engine is turned
off. You may hear a sound coming from
underneath the rear cargo compartment for
several minutes.
The noise is normal and does not signify a
malfunction. See your dealer with any questions.
Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot
exhaust parts under your vehicle and
ignite. Do not park over papers, leaves,
dry grass, or other things that can burn.
118

Running the Engine While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if
you ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust
into your vehicle. See the earlier caution
underEngine Exhaust on page 119.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let
deadly carbon monoxide (CO) into your
vehicle even if the climate control fan is at
the highest setting. One place this can
happen is a garage. Exhaust — with
CO — can come in easily. NEVER park in
a garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
SeeWinter Driving on page 248.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave
your vehicle when the engine is running
unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
always set your parking brake and move
the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle
will not move. SeeShifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transaxle) on page 115.
If you are parking on a hill and if you are pulling a
trailer, also seeTowing a Trailer on page 261.
120

Storage Areas
Glove Box
Open the glove box by pulling up on the bottom of
the handle.
Cupholder(s)
There are two xed cupholders located in the
console area between the two front seats. There
are also two cupholders that fold out of the rear of
the console storage unit.
Coinholder(s)
Your instrument panel may have a coinholder
located to the left of the steering wheel and on the
center console near the parking brake.
Instrument Panel Storage Area
There are storage compartments located on the
instrument panel in two places. They are below the
interior/instrument panel brightness dial and
below the shift lever. Pull the top of the door
toward you to open it or for the compartment below
the shift lever, push the button to open it.
Center Console Storage Area
A storage area is located in the console between
the seats.
To access the storage area, pull up the lock
release lever while raising the lid.
Floor Mats
The driver’s side oor mat is held in place by
two locator hooks.
Be sure the driver’s side oor mat is properly
placed on the oor so that it does not block the
movement of the accelerator pedal.
127

Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has an upward (for right) and a
downward (for left) position. These positions allow
you to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down. When the turn is nished, the lever will
return automatically.
To signal a lane change, raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to ash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return
by itself when you release it.
An arrow on the
instrument panel cluster
will ash in the
direction of the turn or
lane change.
If you signal a turn or a lane change and notice
the arrow ashing rapidly, a signal bulb may
be burned out and other drivers will not see your
turn signal.If a bulb is burned out, have it replaced to help
avoid an accident. If the arrows do not go on at all
when you signal a turn, check for burned-out
bulbs and then check the fuse. SeeFuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 365.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
The headlamps must be on for this feature to
work. For high beams, push the turn signal lever
away from you.
When the high beams
are on, this light on the
instrument panel
cluster also will be on.
It will go off when you switch to the low beams. To
switch back to low beams, pull the lever toward you.
140