warning PONTIAC VIBE 2007 User Guide

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages
that may be on your vehicle. The pictures will
help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that
something is wrong before it becomes serious
enough to cause an expensive repair or
replacement. Paying attention to your warning
lights and gages could also save you or others
from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As
you will see in the details on the next few
pages, some warning lights come on briey when
you start the engine just to let you know they’re
working. If you are familiar with this section,
you should not be alarmed when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
Often gages and warning lights work together to
let you know when there’s a problem with
your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and
stays on when you are driving, or when one of
the gages shows there may be a problem, check
the section that tells you what to do about it.
Please follow this manual’s advice. Waiting to do
repairs can be costly and even dangerous. So
please get to know your warning lights and gages.
They are a big help.
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Tachometer
The tachometer shows
engine speed in
thousands of revolutions
per minute (rpm).
Notice:If you operate the engine with the
tachometer in the shaded warning area, your
vehicle could be damaged, and the damages
would not be covered by your warranty. Do not
operate the engine with the tachometer in
the shaded warning area.
Temperature Display
The outside air temperature is displayed on the
center of the instrument panel, within the
speedometer. The display will show the outside air
temperature in Fahrenheit with a range from
−22°F to 122°F (−30°C to 50°C).
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON or START, a chime
will come on for several seconds to remind
people to fasten their safety belts, unless the
driver’s safety belt is already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also ash until the
driver’s belt is buckled.
If the driver’s belt is
already buckled, neither
the chime nor the
light will come on.
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Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If one part is not working, the other
part can still work and stop you. For good
braking, though, you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected
right away.
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, this light
should come on when you turn the key to START.
If it does not come on then, have it xed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.When the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will also come on when you set your
parking brake. The light will stay on if your parking
brake does not release fully. If it stays on after
your parking brake is fully released, it means you
have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. You may notice
that the pedal is harder to push or the pedal may
go closer to the oor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed
for service. SeeAnti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light on page 167andTowing Your
Vehicle on page 259.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light
is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after you have pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
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Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), this light
comes on when the engine is started and can
stay on for several seconds. This is normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to LOCK. If
the light comes on while you are driving, stop
as soon as possible and turn the ignition off. Then
start the engine again to reset the system. If
the light still stays on, or comes on again while
you are driving, your vehicle needs service. If the
regular brake system warning light is not on,
you still have brakes, but you do not have anti-lock
brakes. If the regular brake system warning light
is also on, you do not have anti-lock brakes
and there is a problem with the regular brakes.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 166.The ABS warning light comes on briey when you
turn the ignition key to ON. This is normal. If
the light does not come on then, have it xed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Low Tire Pressure Warning Light
This light should come
on briey as you start
the engine.
It will then come on only when a low tire pressure
condition exists.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor System on page 330
for more information.
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Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
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 (TCS).
The TCS warning light comes on briey when the
ignition is turned to ON. It will come on again
when you press the TRAC OFF button to turn off
the TCS. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 230for more information.
In the following cases, contact your dealer:
The indicator light does not come on when the
ignition is turned to ON.
The indicator light remains on after the ignition
is turned ON.
The indicator light comes on with the normal
driving mode while driving.
StabiliTrak®Indicator Light
This light warns that
there is a problem with
the Traction Control
System (TCS) or
the Vehicle Stability
Control (VSC) system.
The light will come on when the ignition is turned
to ON and will go off after a few seconds.
If the light comes on while driving, the system
does not work. However, as conventional braking
operates when applied, there is no problem to
continue driving.
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In the following cases, contact your dealer:
The warning light does not come on after the
ignition is turned to ON.
The warning light remains on after the ignition
is turned to ON.
The warning light comes on while driving.
The TCS light will come on when the VSC system
warning light comes on, even if the TRAC OFF
button is not pressed.
SeeStabiliTrak
®System on page 231for more
information on Vehicle Stability Control System.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 230
for more information.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves into the red area,
the engine is too hot. It means that the engine has
overheated. Pull off the road, stop your vehicle,
and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 297.
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169

Highbeam On Light
This light comes on
when the high-beam
headlamps are in use.
SeeHeadlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on
page 140.
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
This light will come on
when your windshield
washer uid is low.
SeeWindshield Washer Fluid on page 305for
more information.
Door Ajar Light
This light will come on if
any door, the rear
liftgate or the rear
liftglass are not
completely closed.
Canada Only
175

Fuel Gage
The fuel gage shows about how much fuel is in
your fuel tank. An arrow on the fuel gage indicates
that the fuel ller door is on the driver side of
your vehicle. The fuel gage works only when the
ignition switch is ON. When the gage rst indicates
E or empty, you still have a little fuel left, about
1 or 2 gallons (3.8 L or 7.6 L), but you need to get
more right away. When your vehicle is low on
fuel the low fuel warning light, located below the
empty mark, will also come on to remind you
to add fuel.Here are ve things some owners ask about.
None of these show a problem with the fuel gage:
At the gas station, the fuel pump shuts off
before the gage reads F or full.
It takes a little more or less fuel to ll up than
the gage indicated. For example, the gage
may have indicated the tank was half full, but
it actually took more or less than half the
tank’s capacity to ll it.
It takes the gage several minutes to read F or
full after lling the vehicle with fuel.
The gage moves a little when you turn, stop
or speed up.
The gage does not go back to E or empty
when you turn off the ignition.
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176

Low Fuel Warning Light
This light is located on
the fuel gage and
comes on when the fuel
tank is low on fuel.
To turn it off, add fuel to the fuel tank. SeeFuel
on page 274for more information.
Audio System(s)
Determine which radio your vehicle has and then
read the pages following to familiarize yourself
with its features.
Driving without distraction is a necessity for a
safer driving experience. SeeDefensive Driving on
page 222. By taking a few moments to read this
manual and get familiar with your vehicle’saudio system, you can use it with less effort, as
well as take advantage of its features. While your
vehicle is parked, set up your audio system by
presetting your favorite radio stations, setting the
tone and adjusting the speakers. Then, when
driving conditions permit, you can tune to
your favorite stations using the presets and
steering wheel controls if the vehicle has them.
{CAUTION:
This system provides you with a far greater
access to audio stations and song listings.
Giving extended attention to entertainment
tasks while driving can cause a crash and
you or others can be injured or killed.
Always keep your eyes on the road and
your mind on the drive — avoid engaging
in extended searching while driving.
177

Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go
where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the
steering, and the accelerator. All three systems
have to do their work at the places where the tires
meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or
ice, it is easy to ask more of those control systems
than the tires and road can provide. That means
you can lose control of your vehicle.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 272.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 166.
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to
bring up your foot and do it. That is reaction time.Average reaction time is about three-fourths of
a second. But that is only an average. It might be
less with one driver and as long as two or
three seconds or more with another. Age, physical
condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight
all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs, and
frustration. But even in three-fourths of a second,
a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between
your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary
greatly with the surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of the road,
whether it is wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the
condition of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
and the amount of brake force applied.
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