PONTIAC VIBE 2008 Owners Manual

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-22.
B. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-26.
C. Climate Control System. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-20.
D. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
E. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-42.
F. Rear Window Defogger Button. See “Rear Window
Defogger” underClimate Control System on
page 3-20.
G. Passenger Airbag Status Indicator. SeePassenger
Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-30. Front
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light.
SeeSafety Belt Reminders on page 3-28.
H. Power Remote Control Mirror Button. SeeOutside
Remote Control Mirrors on page 2-34.
I. Instrument Panel Brightness Control. SeeInstrument
Panel Brightness on page 3-16.
J. Rear Liftglass Release Button. SeeLiftgate/Liftglass
on page 2-10.
K. Tire Pressure Monitor Reset Button. SeeTire
Pressure Monitor System on page 5-57.
L. Coinholder. SeeCoinholder(s) on page 2-39.M. TRAC OFF Button. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-6.
N. Content Theft-Deterrent Security Light. SeeContent
Theft-Deterrent on page 2-16.
O. Storage Compartment. SeeInstrument Panel
Storage on page 2-39.
P. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever and Exterior Lamp
Stalk. SeeTurn Signal/Multifunction Lever on
page 3-7andExterior Lamps on page 3-14.
Q. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-10.
R. Tilt Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-7.
S. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
T. Cruise Control Lever (Option). SeeCruise Control
on page 3-11.
U. Ignition Switch. SeeIgnition Positions on page 2-19.
V. Windshield Wiper Lever. SeeWindshield Wipers
on page 3-9.
W. Cigarette Lighter or Accessory Power Outlet.
SeeAshtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter on page 3-19
orAccessory Power Outlet(s) on page 3-18.
X. Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation
on page 2-23orManual Transmission Operation
on page 2-26
.
3-5

Y. Power Outlet. SeePower Outlet 115 Volt Alternating
Current on page 3-18.
Z. Parking Brake. SeeParking Brake on page 2-27.
AA. Center Console Storage Area. SeeCenter Console
Storage on page 2-39.
AB. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-39.
Hazard Warning Flashers
The hazard warning ashers let you warn the police and
others that you have a problem. The front and rear
turn signal lamps will ash on and off.
The hazard warning
asher button is located
towards the center of
the instrument panel.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps ash on and off. Press the button again to
turn the ashers off.While the hazard warning ashers are on, the turn
signals do not work.
The hazard warning ashers work no matter what
position the key is in, and even if the key is not in
the ignition switch.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reective triangles, you can set them up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on the steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
3-6

Tilt Wheel
A tilt steering column allows you to adjust the steering
column before you drive. You can also raise it to the
highest level to give your legs more room when you
exit and enter the vehicle.
The tilt lever is located
underneath, on the left
side of the steering wheel
column.
To tilt the column, move the lever downward. Adjust the
steering wheel to a comfortable position, then move
the lever upward to lock the column in place.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The turn signal/multifunction lever is located on the left
side of the steering column.
This lever operates the following:
Exterior Lamps. SeeExterior Lamps on page 3-14.
Turn and Lane-Change Signals. SeeTurn and
Lane-Change Signals on page 3-8.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer. SeeHeadlamp
High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-8.
Flash-to-Pass. SeeFlash-to-Pass on page 3-8.
Fog Lamps. SeeFog Lamps on page 3-16.
3-7

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 5-91.
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.
Flash-to-Pass
With the lever in the low-beam position, pull the lever
toward you to momentarily switch to high beams
(to signal that you are going to pass). If you have the
headlamps on when you release the lever, they will
return to the low beams.
3-8

Windshield Wipers
The lever on the right side of the steering column
controls the windshield wipers and washer.
Move the lever to one of the following positions:
MIST:Move the lever to MIST, for a single wiping
cycle. Hold it there until the wipers start, then let go.
The wipers will stop after one wipe.
OFF:Move the lever to this position to turn the
wipers off.INT (Intermittent):Move the lever to INT to choose a
delayed wiping cycle. The time between wipes can be
changed by turning the INT band. Turn the band forward
or rearward for a longer or shorter delay interval. This
position is useful in light rain or snow, rather than
continuous wiping.
LO (Low):Move the lever to LO for steady wiping at
low speed.
HI (High):Move the lever to HI for steady wiping at
high speed.
REAR:Turn the end of the lever upward to LO or HI,
to turn on the rear window wiper. The wiper does
not work with the rear liftglass open.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they are frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If the blades become
damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wipers. A circuit
breaker stops them until the motor cools. Clear
away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
3-9

Windshield Washer
Pull the lever toward you to spray washer uid on the
windshield. The spray will continue until you release the
lever. The wipers will run a few times. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-34.
The knob automatically returns from the position after
you release it.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
Rear Window Wiper/Washer
Turn the knob up or down as far as it will go, to squirt
washer uid on the rear window. The knob automatically
returns from these positions after it is released.
The rear window washer uses the same uid bottle
as the windshield washer. However, the rear window
washer will run out of uid before the windshield washer.
If you can wash the windshield but not the rear
window, check the uid level.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
3-10

Cruise Control
If your vehicle has cruise
control, the lever is located
on the right side of the
steering wheel.
Cruise control, lets you maintain a speed of
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your
foot on the accelerator. This can really help on long
trips. Cruise control does not work at speeds below
25 mph (40 km/h).{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use your cruise control on winding roads
or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
3-11

Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
1. Press the ON-OFF button at the end of the cruise
control lever. The CRUISE light on the instrument
panel cluster comes on. SeeCruise Control Light
on page 3-39for more information.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Move the lever down to−SET and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose the cruise control is set at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This shuts off cruise
control. But you do not need to reset it.
If the vehicle speed is 25 mph (40 km/h) or greater,
push the lever up to +RES (Resume/Accelerate).
The vehicle returns to the previously set speed and
stays there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are three ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher
speed. Move the lever down to−SET. Release
the lever and the accelerator pedal. You will now
cruise at the higher speed.
Move the cruise lever up to +RES. Hold it there
until you get up to the speed desired, and then
release the lever.
To increase the vehicle speed in very small
amounts, move the lever to +RES briey and then
release it. Each time this is done, the vehicle
goes about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
3-12

Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
Push and hold the lever to−SET until you reach the
lower speed desired, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, push the lever
down briey. Each time this is done, the vehicle will
go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the vehicle speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, the vehicle
slows down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works on hills depends upon
the vehicle speed, load, and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you might have to step on
the accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle speed.When going downhill, you might have to brake or shift to
a lower gear to keep the vehicle speed down. Of course,
applying the brake or downshifting to SECOND (2) or
LOW (L) turns off the cruise control. Many drivers nd this
to be too much trouble and do not use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are several ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal or push the
clutch pedal, if you have a manual transaxle.
Press the ON-OFF button again.
Pull the cruise control lever toward you.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, the
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
3-13

Exterior Lamps
The lever on the left side of the steering column
operates the exterior lamps.
O(Exterior Lamps):Turn the outside part of the
lever with the symbol on it, to operate the lamps.
For vehicles sold in the U. S., this symbol will appear
on the instrument panel cluster when your exterior lamps
are on.The exterior lamp switch has three positions:
OFF:Turning the switch to this position turns off all
lamps, except the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).
O(Parking Lamps):Turning the switch to this position
turns on the parking lamps together with the following:
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamp
Instrument Panel Lights
A symbol will appear on the instrument panel cluster
when your parking lamps are on. SeeLights On
Reminder on page 3-39andTaillamp Indicator Light
on page 3-39for additional information.
3(Headlamps):Turning the switch to this position
turns on the headlamps, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
3-14