PONTIAC VIBE 2010 Owners Manual

How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/filter
remove the filter from the vehicle
and lightly shake the filter to release
loose dust and dirt. If the filter
remains caked with dirt, a new filter
is required.To inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter:
1. Release the two clips that hold
the cover. 2. Lift the cover.
3. Inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter.
4. Reinstall the cover.
1.8L Engine
Vehicle Care 9-17

1. Release the three clips that holdthe cover. 2. Lift the cover.
3. Inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter.
4. Reinstall the cover.
{CAUTION
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you
or others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air; it
helps to stop flames if the engine
backfires. If it is not there and the
engine backfires, you could be
burned. Do not drive with it off,
and be careful working on the
engine with the air cleaner/filter off.
Notice: If the air cleaner/lter
is off, a backre can cause a
damaging engine re. And, dirt
can easily get into the engine,
which will damage it. Always have
the air cleaner/lter in place when
you are driving.
2.4L Engine
9-18 Vehicle Care

Cooling System
When it is safe lift the hood:
A. Electric Engine Cooling Fans
B. Pressure Cap
C. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank{CAUTION
An electric engine cooling fan
under the hood can start up even
when the engine is not running
and can cause injury. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you do,
you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is
a leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
fixed before you drive the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The coolant in the vehicle should
last for five years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs
first. When coolant is added
or changed, use DEX-COOL
®
coolant.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to add coolant
when it is low. If there is a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating on page 9-23.
Vehicle Care 9-19

What to Use
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL®
coolant, which will not damage
aluminum parts. If this coolant
mixture is used, nothing else
needs to be added.
{CAUTION
Adding only plain water to the
cooling system can be dangerous.
Plain water, or some other liquid
such as alcohol, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, the engine could
get too hot but would not get the
overheat warning. The engine
could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.Notice:
If an improper coolant
mixture is used, the engine could
overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Too much water in the mixture
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other
parts.
•Gives freezing protection down to
−34°F (− 38°C).
•Gives boiling protection up to
265°F (129°C).
•Protects against rust and
corrosion.
•Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
•Lets the warning lights and gages
work as they should.
Notice: Using coolant other than
DEX-COOL can cause premature
engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any
repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL (silicate-free)
coolant in your vehicle.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface. When the engine is cold,
the coolant level should be at LOW,
or a little higher. When the engine
is warm, the level should be up to
FULL, or a little higher. If it is not,
there could be a leak at the pressure
cap or in the radiator hoses, heater
hoses, radiator, water pump, or
somewhere else in the cooling
system.
See
Engine Compartment Overview
on page 9-6 for the location of
the coolant recovery tank.
9-20 Vehicle Care

How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Recovery Tank
If you need more coolant, add the
proper DEX-COOL®coolant mixture
at the coolant recovery tank, but
be careful not to spill it.
Occasionally check the coolant level
in the radiator. For information on
how to add coolant to the radiator,
see Cooling System on page 9-19 .
{CAUTION
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
{CAUTION
Adding only plain water to your
cooling system can be dangerous.
Plain water, or some other liquid
such as alcohol, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water
or the wrong mixture, your engine
could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch fire and
you or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and a proper
coolant.
Notice: In cold weather, water
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core and other
parts. Use the recommended
coolant and the proper coolant
mixture.
Vehicle Care 9-21

How to Add Coolant to the
Radiator
When the coolant in the coolant
recovery tank is at the FULL mark,
start the vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues,
there is one more thing that can
be done. Add the proper coolant
mixture directly to the radiator but
be sure the cooling system is
cool before you do it.
{CAUTION
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system can blow out
and burn you badly. They are
under pressure, and if you turn the
surge tank pressure cap — even a
little — they can come out at high
speed. Never turn the cap when
the cooling system, including the
surge tank pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
surge tank pressure cap to cool
if you ever have to turn the
pressure cap.
{CAUTION
Turning the radiator pressure cap
when the engine and radiator are
hot can allow steam and scalding
liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. With the coolant recovery
tank, you will almost never have
to add coolant at the radiator.
Never turn the radiator pressure
cap — even a little — when the
engine and radiator are hot.
1. Remove the pressure cap when the cooling system, including the
pressure cap and upper radiator
hose, is no longer hot. Turn
the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise until it first
stops. Do not press down while
turning the pressure cap. If you hear a hiss, wait for that to
stop. A hiss means there is
still some pressure left.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap, but now push down while turning.
Remove the pressure cap.
3. Fill the radiator with the proper coolant mixture, up to the base
of the filler neck. For more
information about the proper
coolant mixture look earlier in
this section.
4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the FULL mark.
9-22 Vehicle Care

5. Put the cap back on the coolantrecovery tank, but leave the
pressure cap off.
6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch
out for the engine cooling fan.
7. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator filler neck may
be lower. If the level is lower,
add more of the proper coolant
mixture through the filler neck
until the level reaches the base
of the filler neck.
8. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during this procedure
if coolant begins to flow out of the
filler neck, reinstall the pressure
cap. Be sure the ears on the
pressure cap are in line with
the vent tube.Engine Overheating
A coolant temperature gage is
located on the vehicle’s instrument
panel. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 4-11 .
Check to see if the electric engine
cooling fan is running. If the engine
is overheating, the fan should be
running. If it is not, the vehicle needs
service.
If no problem is apparent, but the
coolant level is not at or above the
FULL mark, add a 50/50 mixture
of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant at the coolant
recovery tank. See Engine Coolant
on page 9-19 for more information
about the proper coolant mixture.
If the coolant inside the coolant
recovery tank is boiling, do not do
anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on
a level surface.
If Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
{CAUTION
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away from
the vehicle until it cools down. Wait
until there is no sign of steam or
coolant before you open the hood.
If you keep driving when your
engine is overheated, the liquids
in it can catch fire. You or others
could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if it overheats, and get
out of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.
Notice: If the engine catches
re because of being driven with
no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Vehicle Care 9-23

If No Steam Is Coming From
Your Engine
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but steam is not heard or
seen escaping, the problem may
not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too
hot when the vehicle:
•Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
•Stops after high-speed driving.
•Idles for long periods in traffic.
•Tows a trailer.
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam, try this for
a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in N (Neutral) while stopped. If it
is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral)
and let the engine idle.
2. Turn on the heater to full hot at the highest fan speed and open
the windows as necessary. If the overheat warning is no longer
displayed, the vehicle can be driven.
Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 minutes. If the warning does not
come back on, continue to drive.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, idle
the engine for three minutes while
the vehicle is parked. If the warning
is still displayed, turn off the engine
and get everyone out of the vehicle
until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood
but to get service help right away.
Power Steering Fluid
The vehicle has electronic power
steering and does not use power
steering fluid. If you suspect a
problem, see your dealer/retailer.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield
washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions
before use. If you will be operating
your vehicle in an area where the
temperature may fall below freezing,
use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
9-24 Vehicle Care

How to Check Windshield
Washer Fluid
To check windshield washer fluid.
1. Pull dipstick out of windshieldwasher reservoir.
2. Washer fluid should fill the holes between the LOW (B) and
NORMAL (A) mark.
3. If the fluid reads LOW (B) add fluid.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid
until the holes of the dipstick
are filled between the LOW (B)
and NORMAL (A). See Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 9-6 for reservoir location.
Notice:
When using concentrated
washer uid, follow the
manufacturer’s instructions
for adding water.
Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer uid.
Water can cause the solution
to freeze and damage your
washer uid tank and other
parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean
as well as washer uid.
Fill the washer uid tank only
three-quarters full when it is
very cold. This allows for uid
expansion if freezing occurs,
which could damage the tank
if it is completely full.
Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in your windshield
washer. It can damage the
vehicle’s windshield washer
system and paint.
Vehicle Care 9-25

Brakes
This vehicle has disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be
heard all the time the vehicle is
moving, except when applying the
brake pedal firmly.
{CAUTION
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
an accident. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
Notice: Continuing to drive
with worn-out brake pads could
result in costly brake repair. Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when
the brakes are first applied or
lightly applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to torque
specifications in
Capacities and
Specications on page 11-2 .
Brake linings should always be
replaced as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer/retailer if the brake
pedal does not return to normal
height, or if there is a rapid increase
in pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service might be required.
Brake Adjustment
Every time the brakes are applied,
with or without the vehicle moving,
the brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is
complex. Its many parts have to be
of top quality and work well together
if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. The vehicle was designed
and tested with top-quality brake
parts. When parts of the braking
system are replaced, be sure to get
new, approved replacement parts.
If this is not done, the brakes might
not work properly. For example,
installing disc brake pads that are
wrong for the vehicle, can change
the balance between the front and
rear brakes — for the worse. The
braking performance expected can
change in many other ways if the
wrong replacement brake parts are
installed.
9-26 Vehicle Care