light PONTIAC VIBE 2008 Owner's Guide

Automatic Headlamp System
Your vehicle has an automatic light sensor on the top
left corner of the instrument panel, so be sure it is
not covered or the headlamps will be on continuously.
When it is dark enough outside, the automatic headlamp
system will turn on the low-beam headlamps at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as the
taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps and instrument
panel lights. This is indicated by the headlamp symbol
on your instrument panel cluster. SeeInstrument
Panel Cluster on page 3-26.
If you are driving through a parking garage, overcast
weather, or a tunnel, the automatic headlamp system
may turn on the low-beam headlamps at a normal
brightness along with the taillamps, sidemarker, parking
lamps and the instrument panel lights. The radio lights
will be dimmer, and the instrument panel cluster lights
may dim. There will be a delay before the lights will turn
on when starting the car at night.
Fog Lamps
-(Fog Lamps):Turn the band on the turn
signal/multifunction lever to the fog lamp symbol
to turn the fog lamps on. They will come on only
when the headlamps are on low beam.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps to
be on along with the fog lamps.
Instrument Panel Brightness
The instrument panel
brightness control is
located to the left of
the steering wheel on
the instrument panel.
Turn the wheel on the
left of the control up or
down to increase or
decrease brightness.
Turn the wheel all the way up for the maximum setting.
It is recommended that the brightness level be kept
at the maximum setting for all daytime driving to
ensure proper visibility.
The brightness of the instrument panel lights will
decrease when the headlamps are on.
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Interior Lamps Control
The interior lights control is located on the overhead
light. To change the interior lights setting, slide the
switch to one of the following positions:
OFF:This position turns the light off.
ON:This position keeps the light on all the time.
Door:This position turns the light on when any door, the
liftgate or the liftglass is opened. The light goes off when
all the side doors, the liftgate and the liftglass are closed.
Entry Lighting
While the interior lights control is in the door position, the
light will come on when any side door, the liftgate or the
liftglass is opened. After all the doors, liftgate and liftglass
are closed, and the key is out of the ignition, in LOCK or
ACC, the light will remain on for about 15 seconds and
then go out except under the following conditions:
The ignition is turned to ACC or ON after all the
doors, the liftgate and the liftglass are closed.
All the doors and liftgate are locked when the liftglass
is closed and the light is still on.When any door is unlocked with the key or remote
keyless entry system transmitter, the light comes on
for 15 seconds, even if the door is not opened.
Reading Lamps
If your vehicle has a sunroof, there will be a reading
lamp near the sunroof switch. Press the button to turn
the lamp on and press it again to turn it off.
If your vehicle does not have a sunroof, the vehicle’s
inside rearview mirror may have reading lamps. If your
vehicle has reading lamps, there are two buttons located
on the bottom of the mirror. Press the buttons to turn the
lamps on and press them again to turn the lamps off.
3-17

The power outlet is located near the center of the
instrument panel. Before using the outlet, turn on
the ignition and press the button next to the outlet.
An indicator light in the button will come on. After
using the outlet, press the button again to turn it off.
The power outlet is not designed for the following
electrical equipment and they may not work properly:
Equipment with high initial peak wattage:
cathode-ray tube type televisions, compressor-driven
refrigerators, electric power tools.
Other equipment requiring an extremely stable power
supply: microcomputer-controlled electric blankets,
touch sensor lamps, etc.
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter
Notice:If you put papers, pins, or other ammable
items in the ashtray, hot cigarettes or other smoking
materials could ignite them and possibly damage
your vehicle. Never put ammable items in the
ashtray.
To use the lighter, if your vehicle has one, push the
lighter in all the way and let go. When it is ready, it will
pop back out by itself. If the engine is not running,
the key must be in ACC to use the lighter.
It is not recommended to use the cigarette lighter to
plug in auxiliary electrical equipment. Use the accessory
power outlet for phones and other electrical equipment.
SeeAccessory Power Outlet(s) on page 3-18or
Power Outlet 115 Volt Alternating Current on page 3-18.
Notice:Holding a cigarette lighter in while it is
heating does not let the lighter back away from
the heating element when it is hot. Damage from
overheating can occur to the lighter or heating
element, or a fuse could be blown. Do not hold
a cigarette lighter in while it is heating.
Your vehicle may have a removable ashtray that sits in
your front cupholder in the center console storage area.
3-19

Climate Controls
Climate Control System
With this system you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation for your vehicle.
Operation
9
(Fan):Turn the center knob away from OFF to turn
the system on. Turn the knob toward HI to increase
fan speed.
If the airow seems low when the fan is at the highest
setting, the passenger compartment air lter may need
to be replaced. For more information, seePassenger
Compartment Air Filter on page 3-23andScheduled
Maintenance on page 6-4.To change the current mode, select one of the following:
H(Vent):Air is directed to the upper instrument
panel outlets.
)(Bi-Level):Air is directed to the upper instrument
panel outlets, and to the oor outlets.
6(Floor):Air is directed to the oor outlets and to the
outboard outlets (for the side windows).
?(Recirculation):Press this button, located in the
center of the instrument panel to the left of the audio
system, to turn the recirculation mode on or off. This
mode recirculates the air inside the vehicle. It can be
used to prevent outside air and odors from entering your
vehicle or to help heat or cool the air inside your vehicle
more quickly. When the button is pressed, an indicator
light in the button comes on. Press the button again to
turn off recirculate and to circulate outside air through
the system. The indicator light will go off. Recirculate is
automatically turned off when the climate control system
mode knob is turned to defog or defrost or is between
modes.
3-20

Temperature Control:Turn the right knob clockwise
or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature inside the vehicle.
A/C (Air Conditioning):Press this button, located in
the center of the instrument panel to the left of the audio
system, to turn the air-conditioning system on or off.
When A/C is pressed, an indicator light in the button
comes on to let you know that the air conditioning
is activated.
MAX A/C (Maximum Air Conditioning):Press the A/C
and recirculation buttons at the same time to select
MAX A/C.
On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside air
escape; then close them. This helps to reduce the time
it takes for the vehicle to cool down. It also helps the
system to operate more efficiently.
The air-conditioning system removes moisture from
the air, so you might notice a small amount of water
dripping underneath your vehicle while idling or
after turning off the engine. This is normal.Defogging and Defrosting
Fog on the inside of windows is a result of high humidity
(moisture) condensing on the cool window glass. This
can be minimized if the climate control system is used
properly. There are two modes to clear fog or frost from
the windshield. Use the defog mode to clear the inside
of the windshield of fog or moisture and warm the
passengers. Use the defrost mode to remove fog or
frost from the outside of the windshield more quickly.
-(Defog):Air is directed between the windshield,
side windows, instrument panel outlets and the
oor outlets. The air-conditioning compressor will
run automatically in this setting without pressing
A/C, unless the outside temperature is at or
below 32°F (0°C).
1(Defrost):Air is directed to the windshield,
instrument panel outlets and the side windows.
The air-conditioning compressor will run automatically
in this setting without pressing A/C, unless the
outside temperature is at or below 32°F (0°C).
Do not drive the vehicle until all the windows are clear.
3-21

Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to clear
fog from the rear window.
The rear window defogger
button is located on the
center of the instrument
panel, above the audio
system. The defogger
does not operate with
the rear liftglass opened.
The rear window defogger will only work when the
ignition is in the ON position.
=(Rear Defogger):Press the defogger button to turn
the rear window defogger on or off. An indicator light in
the button comes on to let you know that the rear window
defogger is activated. Be sure to clear as much snow
from the rear window as possible.
The rear window defogger will turn off automatically
approximately 15 minutes after the button is pressed.
The defogger can also be turned off by pressing
the button again or by turning off the engine.Notice:Do not use a razor blade or sharp object
to clear the inside rear window. Do not adhere
anything to the defogger grid lines in the rear glass.
These actions may damage the rear defogger.
Repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Outlet Adjustment
Use the air outlets located in the center and outboard
sides of the instrument panel, to change the direction of
the air owing through the vents.
Operation Tips
Clear away any ice, snow or leaves from the air
inlets at the base of the windshield that may
block the ow of air into your vehicle.
Use of non-GM approved hood deectors may
adversely affect the performance of the system.
Keep the path under the front seats clear of objects
to help circulate the air inside of your vehicle more
effectively.
If the airow seems low when the fan is at the
highest setting, the passenger compartment air lter
may need to be replaced. For more information,
see “Passenger Compartment Air Filter” following
andScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4.
3-22

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This section describes the warning lights and gages on
your vehicle.
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
the 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 the
details show on the next few pages, some warning lights
come on briey when you start the engine just to let
you know they are 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 is a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays
on as 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 get to know your vehicle’s warning lights
and gages. They can be a big help.
3-25

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 Reminders
When the engine is started, 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.
Your vehicle also has a safety belt reminder light for the
right front passenger position.
This light is located on the
center of the instrument
panel, above the audio
system.
3-28

When the key is turned to ON or START, this light will
come on as a reminder for the right front passenger to
fasten their safety belt. This light will ash until the right
front passenger’s safety belt is buckled. The passenger’s
safety belt reminder light will not come on if the right front
passenger’s belt is already buckled or if a sensor does
not detect the weight of a passenger in that seat.
If something is placed on the right front passenger
seat, the sensors in the seat may detect that object and
cause the right front passenger safety belt reminder
light to come on. If this happens, remove the object.
Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel
cluster, which shows the airbag symbol. The system
checks the airbag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. The
system monitors the airbag sensor assembly, front airbag
sensors, seat-mounted side impact and roof-mounted
airbag sensors, driver’s seat position sensor, driver’s seat
belt buckle switch, right front occupant sensing system
and indicator light, front passenger’s seat belt buckle
switch, seat belt pretensioner assemblies, inators,
interconnecting wiring and power sources. For more
information on the airbag system, seeAirbag System
on page 1-50.This light will come on
briey when you start
your vehicle, then it
should go out and the
system is ready.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you start
the vehicle or comes on when you are driving,
your airbag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on or keeps
ashing after you start your vehicle, it means
the airbag system and safety belt pretension
system may not be working properly. The
airbags in your vehicle may not inate in a
crash, or they could even inate without a
crash. To help avoid injury to yourself or others,
have your vehicle serviced right away if the
airbag readiness light stays on after you start
your vehicle.
3-29

Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your vehicle has the passenger sensing system.
Your instrument panel has a passenger airbag status
indicator.
The indicator next to the
passenger airbag status
indicator lights is the
passenger safety belt
reminder light.
SeeSafety Belt Reminders on page 3-28for more
information on that indicator.
When you start the vehicle, the passenger airbag status
indicator will light ON and OFF for several seconds
as a system check.
Then, after several more seconds, the status indicator
will light either ON or OFF if there is weight on the
seat or if the safety belt is buckled, to let you know
the status of the right front passenger’s frontal
and seat-mounted side impact airbags (if equipped).If the word ON is lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the right front passenger’s frontal
and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped)
are enabled (may inate).
{CAUTION:
If the on indicator comes on when you have
a rear-facing child restraint installed in the
right front passenger’s seat, it means that
the passenger sensing system has not turned
off the passenger’s frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped).
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag inates. This is because the
back of the rear-facing child restraint would be
very close to the inating airbag. Do not use a
rear-facing child restraint in the right front
passenger’s seat if the airbag is turned on.
3-30