transmission 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

The main components of the
instrument panel are the following:
A.Power Mirrors on page 1-10 .
B. Air Vents on page 7-4.
C. Turn and Lane-Change Signals
on page 5-3.
D. Instrument Cluster on page 4-9 .
E. Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 4-5.
F. Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 4-13 .
Passenger Sensing System
on page 2-29. Security Light
on page 4-20.
G. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 5-3.
H. AM-FM Radio on page 6-4 .
I. Traction Control System (TCS) on
page 8-33.
J. Anti-Theft Alarm System on
page 1-7. K.
Front Storage on page 3-2 .
L. Hood on page 9-5.
M. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 4-4.
N. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 4-4.
O. Horn on page 4-5.
P. Cruise Control on page 8-36
(If Equipped).
Q. Ignition Positions on page 8-16 .
R. Tire Pressure Reset Button (Out of View). See Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation on page 9-52 .
S. Power Outlet 115 Volt Alternating On/Off Button.
See Power Outlets (Accessory
Power Outlets) on page 4-6 or
Power Outlets (115 Volt
Alternating Current) on page 4-7 .T. Cigarette Lighter (If Equipped)
or Accessory Power Outlet.
Cigarette Lighter on page 4-8 or
Power Outlets (Accessory Power
Outlets) on page 4-6 orPower
Outlets (115 Volt Alternating
Current) on page 4-7.
U. Shift Lever. Automatic
Transmission (Four Speed
Automatic) on page 8-24 or
Automatic Transmission (Five
Speed Automatic) on page 8-27
or Manual Transmission on
page 8-29.
V. Power Outlets (Accessory Power
Outlets) on page 4-6 orPower
Outlets (115 Volt Alternating
Current) on page 4-7 .
W. Climate
Control Systems on
page 7-1.
X. Load Rails and Hooks on
page 3-4.
Y. Glove Box on page 3-1 .
Instruments and Controls 4-3

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

Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under your vehicle’s
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When your vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is
to slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
•Allow extra following distance.
•Pass with caution.
•Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
•Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
•Have good tires with proper tread
depth. SeeTires on page 9-43 .
•Turn off cruise control.
Highway Hypnosis
Always be alert and pay attention
to your surroundings while driving.
If you become tired or sleepy, find
a safe place to park your vehicle
and rest.
Other driving tips include:
•Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
•Keep interior temperature cool.
•Keep your eyes moving — scan
the road ahead and to the sides.
•Check the rearview mirror and
vehicle instruments often.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips for
driving in these conditions include:
•Keep the vehicle serviced
and in good shape.
•Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
•Going down steep or long hills,
shift to a lower gear.
{CAUTION
If you do not shift down, the
brakes could get so hot that they
would not work well. You would
then have poor braking or even
none going down a hill. You could
crash. Shift down to let the engine
assist the brakes on a steep
downhill slope.
8-8 Driving and Operating

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

LOCK/OFF:This is the only position
from which you can remove the key.
This locks the steering wheel,
ignition and automatic transmission.
Push in the ignition switch as you
turn the key toward you.
On vehicles with an automatic
transmission, the shift lever must be
in P (Park) to turn the ignition switch
to the LOCK/OFF position.
A warning tone will sound if the driver
door is opened with the key in the
ignition.
The ignition switch can bind in the
LOCK/OFF position with your wheels
turned off center. If this happens,
move the steering wheel from right
to left while turning the key to
ACC/ACCESSORY. If this doesn’t
work, then the vehicle needs service.{CAUTION
On manual transmission vehicles,
turning the key to LOCK/OFF and
removing it will lock the steering
column and result in a loss of
ability to steer the vehicle.
This could cause a collision.
If you need to turn the engine
off while the vehicle is moving,
turn the key only to ACC/
ACCESSORY. Do not push the
key in while the vehicle is moving.
ACC/ACCESSORY: This position
provides power to some of the
electrical accessories. It unlocks the
steering wheel and ignition. To move
the key from ACC/ACCESSORY to
LOCK/OFF, push in the key and then
turn it to LOCK/OFF.
A warning tone will sound when the
driver door is opened when the
ignition is still in ACC/ACCESSORY
or LOCK/OFF and the key is in the
ignition. ON/RUN:
The ignition switch stays
in this position when the engine is
running. This position can be used
to operate the electrical accessories,
including the ventilation fan and
115 volt power outlet, as well as to
display some warning and indicator
lights. The transmission is also
unlocked in this position on
automatic transmission vehicles.
The battery could be drained
if you leave the key in the ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN position
with the engine off. You may not be
able to start the vehicle if the battery
is allowed to drain for an extended
period of time.
START: This position starts the
engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch
will return to ON/RUN for normal
driving.
Driving and Operating 8-17

Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories may be
used for less than a minute after
the engine is turned off.
•Power Windows, if equipped
•Sunroof, if equipped
The power windows and sunroof will
continue to work for less than a
minute or until either front door is
opened. The radio will work when
the key is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY.
Starting the Engine
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not
start in any other position. To restart
when you are already moving, use
N (Neutral) only. Notice:
Shifting into P (Park)
with the vehicle moving could
damage the transmission. Shift
into P (Park) only when the vehicle
is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The shift lever should be in
NEUTRAL and the parking brake
engaged. Hold the clutch pedal
to the floor and start the engine.
The vehicle will not start if the clutch
pedal is not all the way down.
Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition to START.
When the engine starts, let go of
the key. The idle speed will go
down as the engine gets warm.
Vehicles equipped with
the 1.8L engine have a
Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in
starting the engine and protects components. If the ignition key is
turned to the START position,
and then released when the
engine begins cranking, the
engine will continue cranking for
a about 30 seconds or until the
vehicle starts. If the engine does
not start and the key is held in
START for many seconds,
cranking will be stopped after
25 seconds to prevent cranking
motor damage. To prevent gear
damage, this system also
prevents cranking if the engine is
already running. Engine cranking
can be stopped by turning the
ignition switch to ACC/
ACCESSORY or LOCK/OFF.
Vehicles equipped with
the 2.4L engine should not
be cranked for more than
30 seconds at a time. This
may overheat the starter and
wiring systems.
8-18 Driving and Operating

To shift into P (Park), do the
following:
1. Hold the brake pedal downand set the parking brake.
See Parking Brake on page 8-33
for more information.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by pushing the lever all the way
toward the front of the vehicle
and to the left.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave the vehicle
with the key in your hand, the
vehicle is in P (Park).Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running (Automatic
Transmission)
{CAUTION
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
The vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. And, if you leave the
vehicle with the engine running, it
could overheat and even catch
fire. You or others could be
injured. Do not leave the vehicle
with the engine running.
If you have to leave an automatic
transmission vehicle with the engine
running, be sure the vehicle is in
P (Park) and the parking brake
is firmly set before you leave it.
Torque Lock (Automatic
Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you
do not shift into P (Park) properly, the
weight of the vehicle may put too
much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may find it
difficult to pull the shift lever out of
P (Park). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the
parking brake and then shift into
P (Park) properly before you leave
the driver seat. To find out how, see
Shifting Into Park on page 8-20 .
Move the shift lever out of P (Park)
before you release the parking
brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may
need to have another vehicle push
yours a little uphill to take some of
the pressure from the parking pawl in
the transmission, so you can pull the
shift lever out of P (Park).
Driving and Operating 8-21

Running the Vehicle
While Parked
It is better not to park with the
engine running. But if you ever have
to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed
area with poor ventilation is
dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust
contains Carbon Monoxide (CO)
which cannot be seen or smelled.
It can cause unconsciousness
and even death. Never run the
engine in an enclosed area that
has no fresh air ventilation. For
more information, seeEngine
Exhaust on page 8-23 .
{CAUTION
It can be dangerous to get out
of the vehicle if the automatic
transmission shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you have
to. 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, always set the
parking brake and move the shift
lever to P (Park).
Follow the proper steps to be
sure the vehicle will not move.
See Shifting Into Park on page 8-20 .
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 8-44 .
Automatic
Transmission
Automatic Transmission
(Four Speed Automatic)
The shift lever is located on the
console between the seats.
P (Park):This position locks the
front wheels. It is the best position
to use when you start the engine
because the vehicle cannot move
easily.
8-24 Driving and Operating