wheel alignment PONTIAC VIBE 2009 Owners Manual

Buying New Tires.............9-54
Different Size Tires and
Wheels............................9-56
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading...........................9-56
Wheel Alignment and
Tire Balance....................9-58
Wheel Replacement..........9-59
Tire Chains.......................9-60
Tire Changing
If a Tire Goes Flat............9-61
Changing a Flat Tire.........9-62
Removing the Spare
Tire and Tools.................9-63
Removing the Flat Tire
and Installing the
Spare Tire
.......................9-64
Storing a Flat or Spare
Tire and Tools.................9-68
Compact Spare Tire..........9-70
Jump Starting
Jump Starting...................9-71
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle.........9-75
Recreational Vehicle
Towing............................9-75
Towing a Trailer................9-77
Appearance Care
Interior Cleaning................9-83
Exterior Cleaning..............9-86
Sheet Metal Damage........9-89
Finish Damage..................9-89
Underbody Maintenance. . . .9-90
Chemical Paint Spotting. . . .9-90
Service
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer/retailer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one
of these marks:
9-2 Vehicle Service and Care
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Tire Inspection and
Rotation
We recommend that you
regularly inspect the vehicle’s
tires, including the spare tire, for
signs of wear or damage. See
When It Is Time for New Tires on
page 9-54for more information.
Tires should be rotated every
5,000 to 8,000 miles (8 000 to
13 000 km). SeePart A:
Scheduled Maintenance
Services on page 11-3.
The purpose of a regular tire
rotation is to achieve a uniform
wear for all tires on the vehicle.
This will ensure that the vehicle
continues to perform most like it
did when the tires were new.
Any time you notice unusual
wear, rotate the tires as soon
as possible and check wheel
alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels.
SeeWhen It Is Time for NewTires on page 9-54andWheel
Replacement on page 9-59for
more information.
When rotating the vehicle’s 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 the 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.SeeInflation - Tire Pressure on
page 9-47andLoading the
Vehicle on page 8-32.
{CAUTION
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on
the parts to which it is fastened,
can make wheel nuts become
loose after 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 9-62.
Make certain that all wheel
nuts are properly tightened.
See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications
on page 10-2.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-53
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Temperature — A, B, C
The temperature grades
are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance
to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled
conditions on a specied indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can
lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to
a level of performance which
all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal MotorVehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher
levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
{WARNING
The temperature grade for this
tire is established for a tire
that is properly inated and
not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underination, or
excessive loading, either
separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and
Tire Balance
The tires and wheels on your vehicle
were aligned and balanced carefully
at the factory to give you the longest
tire life and best overall performance.
Adjustments to wheel alignment and
tire balancing will not be necessary
on a regular basis. However, if you
notice unusual tire wear or your
vehicle pulling to one side or the
other, the alignment might need to be
checked. If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth
road, the tires and wheels might
need to be rebalanced. See your
dealer/retailer for proper diagnosis.
9-58 Vehicle Service and Care
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Spare Tire
Compact.........................9-70
Installing..........................9-64
Removing........................9-63
Storing............................9-68
Specications, Capacities......10-2
Speed Sensitive Power
Steering (SSPS)
Warning Light...................4-18
Speedometer.......................4-13
StabiliTrak
®Indicator Light.....4-19
Stabilitrak®System...............8-22
Starting the Engine................ 8-4
Steering..............................8-23
Steering, Suspension and
Front Drive Axle Boot and
Seal Inspection...............11-16
Steering Wheel Controls,
Audio..............................6-13
Steering Wheel, Tilt Wheel...... 4-4
Storage Areas
Cargo Management
System.......................... 3-6
Center Console
Storage Area.................. 3-2
Cupholders........................ 3-1
Driver Storage
Compartment.................. 3-3
Glove Box......................... 3-1Storage Areas (cont.)
Luggage Carrier................. 3-2
Overhead Console.............. 3-2
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or
Snow..............................8-31
Sun Visors..........................2-13
Sunroof..............................2-14
T
Tachometer.........................4-13
Taillamp Indicator Light.........4-23
Taillamps............................9-33
TCS Warning Light...............4-19
Theft-Deterrent Systems......... 2-9
Content Theft-Deterrent.....2-10
Immobilizer........................ 2-9
Immobilizer Operation......... 2-9
Throttle System Inspection . . . 11-17
Tilt Wheel............................. 4-4
Time, Setting......................... 6-2
Tires..................................9-41
Buying New Tires.............9-54
Chains............................9-60
Changing a Flat Tire.........9-62
Compact Spare Tire..........9-70
Different Size...................9-56Tires (cont.)
If a Tire Goes Flat............9-61
Ination - Tire Pressure.....9-47
Inspection and Rotation.....9-53
Installing the Spare Tire.....9-64
Pressure Monitor
Operation.....................9-50
Pressure Monitor System . . . 9-48
Removing the Flat Tire......9-64
Removing the Spare Tire
and Tools.....................9-63
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools.....................9-68
Tire Sidewall Labeling.......9-42
Tire Terminology and
Denitions....................9-44
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading.......................9-56
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance.......................9-58
Wheel Replacement..........9-59
When It Is Time for
New Tires....................9-54
Towing
Recreational Vehicle..........9-75
Towing a Trailer................9-77
Your Vehicle
.....................9-75
INDEX i-9
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Traction
Control System (TCS).......8-21
Control System Warning
Light............................4-19
Stabilitrak
®System...........8-22
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic................9-14
Fluid, Manual...................9-16
Transmission Operation,
Automatic...................8-6, 8-8
Transmission Operation,
Manual............................8-11
Trip Odometers....................4-13
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals............................. 4-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction
Lever................................ 4-4
U
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading...........................9-56
V
Vehicle
Control............................8-18
Loading...........................8-32
Parking Your....................8-15
Running While Parked.......8-17
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy..........................12-17
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN)...................10-1
Service Parts Identication
Label...........................10-1
Ventilation Adjustment............. 7-3
Visors.................................2-13
W
Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators........................4-11
Warnings
Hazard Warning Flashers.... 4-3
Washer Fluid, Low Warning
Light...............................4-23
Wheels
Alignment and
Tire Balance.................9-58
Different Size...................9-56
Replacement....................9-59Where to Put the Restraint....1-43
Windows.............................2-12
Power.............................2-12
Windshield
Washer............................. 4-8
Washer Fluid....................9-24
Wiper Blade
Replacement................9-25
Wiper Fuses....................9-36
Wipers.............................. 4-7
Windshield, Rear Washer/
Wiper............................... 4-8
Winter Driving......................8-29
X
XM Radio Messages............6-12
XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna System...............6-14
Y
Your Vehicle and the
Environment.....................11-2
i-10 INDEX
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual