trailer PONTIAC VIBE 2003 Owner's Manual

6-25
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fluid level if you have been driving:

When outside temperatures are above 90F (32C).

At high speed for quite a while.

In heavy traffic
-- especially in hot weather.

While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is 158F to 176F
(70C to 80C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50F
(10C). If it's colder than 50F (10C), you may
have to drive longer.Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare your vehicle as follows:

Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine
running.

With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK (P).

With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in PARK (P).

Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes.

Scheduled Maintenance
7-5
Short Trip/City Definition
Follow the Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance if
any one of these conditions is true for your vehicle:

Most trips are less than 5 miles (8 km). This is
particularly important when outside temperatures are
below freezing.

Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop
-and-go traffic).

You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top of
your vehicle.

If the vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
or other commercial application.
One of the reasons you should follow this schedule
if you operate your vehicle under any of these conditions
is that these conditions cause engine oil to break
down sooner.
Short Trip/City Intervals
Every 3,000 Miles (5 000 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Change (or 3 months, whichever occurs first).
Every 6,000 Miles (10 000 km): Chassis Lubrication
(or 6 months, whichever occurs first). Tire Rotation.
Engine Air Cleaner Filter Inspection, if driving in
dusty conditions.
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Passenger
Compartment Air Filter Replacement. Transfer Case
Fluid Change (when trailer towing). Rear Differential
Fluid Change (when trailer towing).
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Engine Air Cleaner
Filter Replacement. Fuel Tank, Cap, Cap Gasket and
Lines Inspection (or every 24 months, whichever
occurs first). Automatic Transaxle Check. Manual
Transaxle Fluid Change (severe conditions only)
(or every 24 months, whichever occurs first).
Cooling System Service (or every 24 months,
whichever occurs first).

Scheduled Maintenance
7-6
Short Trip/City Intervals
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Automatic
Transaxle Fluid Change (severe conditions only).
Valve Clearance Inspection, adjust if necessary
(or every 48 months, whichever occurs first).
At 60,000 Miles (100 000 km) (Or 48 Months,
Whichever Occurs First)
-- Then Every
15,000 Miles (25 000 km) (Or 12 Months
Whichever Occurs First): Engine Accessory
Drive Belt Inspection.
Every 120,000 Miles (200 000 km): Spark Plug
Replacement.
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete scheduled maintenance
on the following pages.
Long Trip/Highway Definition
Follow this scheduled maintenance only if none of the
conditions from the Short Trip/City Scheduled
Maintenance are true. Do not use this schedule if the
vehicle is used for trailer towing, driven in a dusty area
or used off paved roads. Use the Short Trip/City
schedule for these conditions.
Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed engine under
highway conditions will cause engine oil to break
down slower.

Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance
7-10
12,000 Miles (20 000 km)
Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
Lubricate chassis components (or every 6 months, whichever occurs first).
(See footnote #.)
Rotate tires. See ªTire Inspection and Rotationº in the Index for proper
rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote +.)
Inspect engine air cleaner filter if you are driving in dusty conditions.
Replace filter if necessary.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote
.)
15,000 Miles (25 000 km)
Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
Replace passenger compartment air filter.
Change transfer case fluid when doing frequent trailer towing.
Change rear differential fluid when doing frequent trailer towing.
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ACTUAL
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Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance
7-13
30,000 Miles (50 000 km)
Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
Lubricate chassis components (or every 6 months, whichever occurs first).
(See footnote #.)
Replace passenger compartment air filter.
Replace engine air cleaner filter (or every 24 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
Inspect fuel tank, cap, cap gasket and lines for damage or leaks
(or every 24 months, whichever occurs first). Replace parts as needed.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote
.)
Rotate tires. See ªTire Inspection and Rotationº in the Index for proper
rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote +.)
Drain, flush and refill cooling system (or every 24 months, whichever occurs
first). See ªEngine Coolantº in the Index for what to use. Inspect hoses.
Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and neck. Pressure test cooling
system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote
.)
Change manual transaxle fluid every 30,000 miles (50 000 km) only if your
vehicle is used to tow a trailer.
Check automatic transaxle fluid.
Change transfer case fluid when doing frequent trailer towing.
Change rear differential fluid when doing frequent trailer towing.ACTUAL
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DATE

Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance
7-15
42,000 Miles (70 000 km)
Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
Lubricate chassis components (or every 6 months, whichever occurs first).
(See footnote #.)
Rotate tires. See ªTire Inspection and Rotationº in the Index for proper
rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote +.)
Inspect engine air cleaner filter if you are driving in dusty conditions.
Replace filter if necessary.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote
.)
45,000 Miles (75 000 km)
Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
Replace passenger compartment air filter.
Check automatic transaxle fluid.
Change transfer case fluid when doing frequent trailer towing.
Change rear differential fluid when doing frequent trailer towing.
ACTUAL
SERVICED BY:MILEAGE
DATE
ACTUAL
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Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance
7-19
Drain, flush and refill cooling system (or every 24 months, whichever occurs
first). See ªEngine Coolantº in the Index for what to use. Inspect hoses.
Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and neck. Pressure test cooling
system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote
.)
Change manual transaxle fluid every 30,000 miles (50 000 km) only if your
vehicle is used to tow a trailer.
Change automatic transaxle fluid every 60,000 miles (100 000 km) if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these conditions:
± In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly
reaches 90F (32C) or higher.
± In hilly or mountainous terrain.
± When doing frequent trailer towing.
± Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these conditions, check the fluid.
See ªRecommended Fluids and Lubricantsº in the Index for the proper
fluid to use.
Change transfer case fluid when doing frequent trailer towing.
Change rear differential fluid when doing frequent trailer towing.

Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance
7-21
72,000 Miles (120 000 km)
Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
Lubricate chassis components (or every 6 months, whichever occurs first).
(See footnote #.)
Rotate tires. See ªTire Inspection and Rotationº in the Index for proper
rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote +.)
Inspect engine air cleaner filter if you are driving in dusty conditions.
Replace filter if necessary.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote
.)
75,000 Miles (125 000 km)
Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
Replace passenger compartment air filter.
Inspect engine accessory drive belts (or 12 months since last inspection).
An Emission Control Service.
Change transfer case fluid when doing frequent trailer towing.
Change rear differential fluid when doing frequent trailer towing.
ACTUAL
SERVICED BY:MILEAGE
DATE
ACTUAL
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DATE

Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance
7-25
Change manual transaxle fluid every 30,000 miles (50 000 km) only if your
vehicle is used to tow a trailer.
Check automatic transaxle fluid.
Change transfer case fluid when doing frequent trailer towing.
Change rear differential fluid when doing frequent trailer towing.
93,000 Miles (155 000 km)
Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
96,000 Miles (160 000 km)
Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
Lubricate chassis components (or every 6 months, whichever occurs first).
(See footnote #.)
Rotate tires. See ªTire Inspection and Rotationº in the Index for proper
rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote +.)
Inspect engine air cleaner filter if you are driving in dusty conditions.
Replace filter if necessary. An Emission Control Service. (See footnote
.)
ACTUAL
SERVICED BY:MILEAGE
DATE
ACTUAL
SERVICED BY:MILEAGE
DATE

Long Trip/Highway Scheduled Maintenance
7-29
30,000 Miles (50 000 km)

Change engine oil and filter (or every 12 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.

Lubricate chassis components (or every 12 months, whichever occurs first).
(See footnote #.)

Replace passenger compartment air filter.

Rotate tires. See ªTire Inspection and Rotationº in the Index for proper
rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote +.)

Replace engine air cleaner filter.
An Emission Control Service.

Inspect fuel tank, cap, cap gasket and lines for damage or leaks
(or every 24 months, whichever occurs first). Replace parts as needed.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote
.)
Drain, flush and refill cooling system (or every 24 months, whichever occurs
first). See ªEngine Coolantº in the Index for what to use. Inspect hoses.
Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and neck. Pressure test cooling
system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote
.)
Change manual transaxle fluid every 30,000 miles (50 000 km) only if your
vehicle is used to tow a trailer.
Check automatic transaxle fluid.ACTUAL
SERVICED BY:MILEAGE
DATE