towing PONTIAC VIBE 2010 Owners Manual

Keys, Doors and
Windows............................ 1-1
Keys and Locks .............. 1-2
Doors ............................ 1-6
Vehicle Security .............. 1-7
Exterior Mirrors .............1-10
Interior Mirrors ..............1-11
Windows ...................... 1-11
Roof ............................ 1-13
Seats and Restraints......... 2-1
Head Restraints .............. 2-2
Front Seats .................... 2-3
Rear Seats .................... 2-7
Safety Belts ................... 2-8
Airbag System ..............2-23
Child Restraints .............2-37
Storage.............................. 3-1
Storage Compartments .... 3-1
Additional Storage Features ..................... 3-2
Roof Rack System .......... 3-5
Instruments and
Controls............................. 4-1
Instrument Panel Overview .................... 4-2
Controls ......................... 4-4
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ............. 4-8
Vehicle Personalization . . . 4-21
OnStar System .............4-23
Lighting............................. 5-1
Exterior Lighting .............. 5-1
Interior Lighting ............... 5-4
Lighting Features ............ 5-5
Infotainment System......... 6-1
Introduction .................... 6-1
Radio ............................ 6-4
Audio Players ................. 6-9
Climate Controls............... 7-1
Climate Control Systems ... 7-1
Air Vents ....................... 7-4
Maintenance ................... 7-4
Driving and Operating....... 8-1
Driving Information .......... 8-2
Starting and Operating . . . 8-16
Engine Exhaust .............8-23
Automatic Transmission .............8-24
Manual Transmission .....8-29
Drive Systems ..............8-31
Brakes ......................... 8-32
Ride Control Systems ....8-33
Cruise Control ...............8-36
Fuel ............................ 8-38
Towing ........................ 8-43
Conversions and Add-Ons ................... 8-50
Vehicle Care...................... 9-1
General Information ......... 9-2
Vehicle Checks ............... 9-4
Headlamp Aiming ..........9-32
Bulb Replacement .........9-33
Electrical System ...........9-37
2010 Pontiac Vibe Owner ManualM

Wheels and Tires..........9-43
Jump Starting ...............9-69
Towing ........................ 9-73
Appearance Care ..........9-75
Service and
Maintenance..................... 10-1
General Information .......10-1
Scheduled Maintenance ..............10-3
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and
Parts ...................... 10-15
Maintenance Records . . . 10-18
Technical Data.................11-1
Vehicle Identification ......11-1
Vehicle Data .................11-2
Customer Information......12-1
Customer Information .....12-1
Reporting Safety Defects ................... 12-13
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy .............12-14
Index................................... i-1

The passenger sensing system may
suppress the airbag deployment
when liquid soaks into the seat.
If this happens, the off indicator
in the passenger airbag status
indicator and the airbag readiness
light will be lit. Have your
dealer/retailer check the system.
An object, person or child in the
rear seat contacting or pressing
the right front passenger seatback,
or objects stowed under the right
front passenger seat, may affect the
proper functioning of the passenger
sensing system.
When a safety belt extender is
used in the right front passenger
seat, make sure the passenger
airbag status indicator shows
ON. If the indicator shows OFF,
disconnect the extender’s latch fromthe buckle then reconnect the safety
belt. The passenger airbag status
indicator light should be ON and
then the safety belt extender can
be reconnected. If the safety belt
extender is used while the passenger
airbag status indicator light is OFF,
the right front passenger frontal and
seat-mounted side impact airbags (if
equipped) may not activate correctly.
{CAUTION
Stowing of articles under the
passenger seat or between the
passenger seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the
proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.
Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle
should be serviced. There are
parts of the airbag system in
several places around the vehicle.
Your dealer/retailer and the service
manual have information about
servicing the vehicle and the airbag
system. To purchase a service
manual, see
Service Publications
Ordering Information on page 12-12 .
{CAUTION
For up to 10 seconds after the
ignition is turned off and the
battery is disconnected, an airbag
can still inflate during improper
service. You can be injured if you
are close to an airbag when it
inflates. Avoid yellow connectors.
They are probably part of the
airbag system. Be sure to follow
proper service procedures, and
make sure the person performing
work for you is qualified to do so.
2-34 Seats and Restraints

Notice:Modications made
to the engine, transmission,
exhaust, intake, or fuel system
of the vehicle or the replacement
of the original tires with other
than those of the same Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) can
affect the vehicle’s emission
controls and can cause this light
to come on. Modications to these
systems could lead to costly
repairs not covered by the vehicle
warranty. This could also result
in a failure to pass a required
Emission Inspection/Maintenance
test. See Accessories and
Modifications on page 9-3 .
This light comes on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing: A misfire condition
has been detected. A misfire
increases vehicle emissions and
could damage the emission control
system on the vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required. The following can prevent more
serious damage to the vehicle:
•Reduce vehicle speed.
•Avoid hard accelerations.
•Avoid steep uphill grades.
•If towing a trailer, reduce the
amount of cargo being hauled
as soon as it is possible.
If the light continues to flash, when
it is safe to do so, stop the vehicle.
Find a safe place to park the vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least
10 seconds, and restart the engine.
If the light is still flashing, follow the
previous steps and see your dealer/
retailer for service as soon as
possible.
Light On Steady: An emission
control system malfunction has been
detected on the vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required. An emission system malfunction
might be corrected by doing
the following:
•Make sure the fuel cap is fully
installed. See
Filling the Tank on
page 8-41. The diagnostic system
can determine if the fuel cap
has been left off or improperly
installed. A loose or missing fuel
cap allows fuel to evaporate into
the atmosphere. A few driving
trips with the cap properly
installed should turn the light off.
•If the vehicle has been driven
through a deep puddle of water,
the vehicle’s electrical system
might be wet. The condition is
usually corrected when the
electrical system dries out.
A few driving trips should turn
the light off.
Instruments and Controls 4-15

Driving and
Operating
Driving InformationDriving for Better FuelEconomy ...........................
.8-2
Defensive Driving .................
.8-2
Drunk Driving ......................
.8-3
Control of a Vehicle ..............
.8-3
Braking ...............................
.8-4
Steering ..............................
.8-4
Off-Road Recovery ...............
.8-6
Loss of Control ....................
.8-6
Driving on Wet Roads ............8-7
Highway Hypnosis ................
.8-8
Hill and Mountain Roads ........8-8
Winter Driving ......................
.8-9
If the Vehicle is Stuck ..........8-11
Vehicle Load Limits .............
.8-12
Starting and OperatingNew Vehicle Break-In ...........8-16
Ignition Positions ................
.8-16
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ....................
.8-18Starting the Engine
.............
.8-18
Engine Heater ....................
.8-19
Shifting Into Park ................
.8-20
Shifting Out of Park .............8-22
Parking .............................
.8-22
Parking Over Things That Burn ........................
.8-23
Engine ExhaustEngine Exhaust..................
.8-23
Running the Vehicle While Parked ............................
.8-24
Automatic TransmissionAutomatic Transmission
(Four Speed Automatic) ......8-24
Automatic Transmission (Five Speed Automatic) .......8-27
Manual Mode .....................
.8-28
Manual TransmissionManual Transmission ...........8-29
Drive SystemsAll-Wheel Drive..................
.8-31
BrakesAntilock Brake
System (ABS) ..................
.8-32
Parking Brake ....................
.8-33
Ride Control SystemsTraction Control
System (TCS) ..................
.8-33
StabiliTrak System ..............
.8-35
Cruise ControlCruise Control ....................
.8-36
FuelFuel..................................
.8-38
Recommended Fuel .............8-39
Gasoline Specifications .........8-39
California Fuel Requirements ...................
.8-39
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . .8-40
Fuel Additives ....................
.8-40
Filling the Tank ..................
.8-41
Filling a Portable Fuel Container .........................
.8-43
TowingGeneral Towing Information . . .8-43
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips .....................
.8-44
Trailer Towing ....................
.8-48
Towing Equipment ..............
.8-49
Conversions and Add-OnsAdd-On Electrical
Equipment .......................
.8-50
Driving and Operating 8-1

To save fuel, run the engine for only
short periods as needed to warm the
vehicle and then shut the engine off
and close the window most of the
way to save heat. Repeat this until
help arrives but only when you feel
really uncomfortable from the cold.
Moving about to keep warm also
helps.
If it takes some time for help to
arrive, now and then when you run
the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs
faster than the idle speed. This
keeps the battery charged to restart
the vehicle and to signal for help with
the headlamps. Do this as little as
possible to save fuel.If the Vehicle is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
{CAUTION
If you let your vehicle’s tires spin at
high speed, they can explode, and
you or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going above
55 km/h (35 mph) as shown on the
speedometer.
For information about using tire
chains on the vehicle, see Tire
Chains on page 9-61 .
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth between
R (Reverse) and a forward gear,
or with a manual transmission,
between 1 (First) or 2 (Second) and
R (Reverse), spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator pedal
while shifting, and press lightly on
the accelerator pedal when the
transmission is in gear. Slowly
spinning the wheels in the forward
and reverse directions causes a
rocking motion that could free the
vehicle. If that does not get the
vehicle out after a few tries, it might
need to be towed out. If the vehicle
does need to be towed out, see
Towing the Vehicle on page 9-73 .
Driving and Operating 8-11

Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit
1.Locate the statement “The
combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs”
on your vehicle’s placard.
2.Determine the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight
of the driver and passengers
from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For
example, if the “XXX” amount
equals 1400 lbs and there will
be five 150 lb passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs
(1400 −750 (5 x 150) =
650 lbs).
5.Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, the load from your
trailer will be transferred
to your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how
this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle.
If your vehicle can tow a trailer,
see Trailer Towing on page 8-48
for important information on
towing a trailer, towing safety
rules and trailering tips.
A.Vehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 1 =453 kg
(1,000 lbs).
B.Subtract Occupant Weight
68 kg (150 lbs) ×2 =136 kg
(300 lbs).
C.Available Occupant and
Cargo Weight =317 kg
(700 lbs).
Example 1
Driving and Operating 8-13

Starting and
Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:The vehicle does not
need an elaborate break-in. But it
will perform better in the long run
if you follow these guidelines:
Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not make full-throttle starts.
Avoid downshifting to brake or
slow the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops for the
rst 200 miles (322 km) or so.
During this time the new brake
linings are not yet broken in.
Hard stops with new linings
can mean premature wear and
earlier replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. See Trailer Towing on
page 8-48 for the trailer towing
capabilities of the vehicle and
more information.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has four different
positions.
To shift out of P (Park), turn the
ignition to ON/RUN and apply
the brake pedal.
Notice: Using a tool to force the
key to turn in the ignition could
cause damage to the switch or
break the key. Use the correct key,
make sure it is all the way in, and
turn it only with your hand. If the
key cannot be turned by hand, see
your dealer/retailer.
8-16 Driving and Operating

To Use the Engine Coolant
Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap theelectrical cord. The electrical
cord is located on the driver side
of the engine compartment.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION
Plugging the cord into an
ungrounded outlet could cause
an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord
could overheat and cause a fire.
You could be seriously injured.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Plug the cord into a properly
grounded three-prong 110-volt AC
outlet. If the cord will not reach,
use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least
15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the
cord as it was before to keep
it away from moving engine
parts. If you do not, it could be
damaged.
The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer/retailer
in the area where you will be
parking the vehicle for the best
advice on this.
Shifting Into Park
{CAUTION
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow. If you are pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 8-44 .
8-20 Driving and Operating

Shifting Out of Park
This vehicle has an electronic shift
lock release system. The shift lock
release is designed to:
•Prevent ignition key removal
unless the shift lever is in
P (Park).
•Prevent movement of the shift
lever out of P (Park), unless the
ignition is in ON/RUN and the
brake pedal is applied.
The shift lock release is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage (less
than 9 volt) battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. See Shifting Out of Park on
page 8-22 for more information. To shift out of P (Park) use the
following:
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Move the shift lever to the
desired position.
If you still are unable to shift out of
P (Park):
1. Fully release the shift lever.
2. Hold the brake pedal down.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still cannot move the shift
lever from P (Park), consult
your dealer/retailer or a professional
towing service.
Parking
Before you get out of the vehicle,
move the shift lever into R (Reverse),
and firmly apply the parking brake.
Once the shift lever has been placed
into R (Reverse) with the clutch
pedal pressed in, you can turn the
ignition key to LOCK/OFF, remove
the key and release the clutch.
If you are parking on a hill, or if
the vehicle is pulling a trailer, see
Driving Characteristics and Towing
Tips on page 8-44.
8-22 Driving and Operating