PONTIAC VIBE 2005 Owners Manual

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-7
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-8
Child Restraints
.......................................1-26
Airbag System
.........................................1-46
Restraint System Check
............................1-62
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
.................................................2-13
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-15
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-17
Mirrors
....................................................2-34
OnStar
®System
......................................2-35
Storage Areas
.........................................2-37
Sunroof
..................................................2-40
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-20
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-25
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-42Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
........ 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-37
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
All-Wheel Drive
........................................5-48
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-49
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-56
Tires
......................................................5-57
Appearance Care
.....................................5-87
Vehicle Identication
.................................5-95
Electrical System
......................................5-95
Capacities and Specications
...................5-100
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
......5-102
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-10
Index.................................................................1
2005 Pontiac Vibe Owner ManualM

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, PONTIAC,
the PONTIAC Emblem and the name VIBE are
registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes
after that time without further notice. For vehicles rst
sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of
Canada Limited” for Pontiac Division whenever it
appears in this manual.
Keep this manual in the vehicle, so it will be there if it is
needed when on the road. If the vehicle is sold, leave
this manual in it so the new owner can use it.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 05VIBE A First Edition©
Copyright General Motors Corporation 04/26/04
All Rights Reserved
Canadian Owners
A French language copy of this manual can be obtained
from your dealer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
How to Use This Manual
Many people read the owner manual from beginning to
end when they rst receive their new vehicle. If this
is done, it can help you learn about the features
and controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words work
together in the owner manual to explain things.
Index
A good place to quickly locate information about the
vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is
an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and
the page number where it can be found.
ii

Safety Warnings and Symbols
There are a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell about
things that could hurt you if you were to ignore
the warning.
{CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is.
Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce
the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you do not,
you or others could be hurt.You will also nd a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Do Not,”
“Do Not do this” or “Do Not
let this happen.”
iii

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this manual you will nd these notices:
Notice:These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice tells about something that can damage the
vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered
by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But
the notice will tell what to do to help avoid the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors
or in different words.
There are also warning labels on the vehicle.
They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or information
relating to a specic component, control, message,
gage, or indicator.
If you need help guring out a specic name of a
component, gage, or indicator, reference the
following topics:
Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
Features and Controls in Section 2
Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
Climate Controls in Section 3
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Section 3
Audio System(s) in Section 3
Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iv

These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle:
v

✍NOTES
vi

Front Seats......................................................1-2
Manual Seats................................................1-2
Driver Seat Height Adjuster..............................1-3
Reclining Seatbacks........................................1-3
Head Restraints.............................................1-5
Passenger Folding Seatback............................1-5
Rear Seats.......................................................1-7
Rear Seat Operation.......................................1-7
Safety Belts.....................................................1-8
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone.................1-8
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts......1-13
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly.................1-14
Driver Position..............................................1-14
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment.....................1-20
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy..................1-21
Right Front Passenger Position.......................1-21
Rear Seat Passengers..................................1-21
Safety Belt Pretensioners...............................1-24
Safety Belt Extender.....................................1-25
Child Restraints.............................................1-26
Older Children..............................................1-26
Infants and Young Children............................1-28
Child Restraint Systems.................................1-31
Where to Put the Restraint.............................1-34Top Strap....................................................1-35
Top Strap Anchor Location.............................1-37
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)...........................1-38
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System....................................1-39
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Seat Position....................................1-40
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position............................1-42
Airbag System...............................................1-46
Where Are the Airbags?................................1-49
When Should an Airbag Inate?.....................1-51
What Makes an Airbag Inate?.......................1-53
How Does an Airbag Restrain?.......................1-53
What Will You See After an
Airbag Inates?.........................................1-54
Passenger Sensing System............................1-56
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle...........1-60
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle.............................1-61
Restraint System Check..................................1-62
Checking Your Restraint Systems...................1-62
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash............................................1-63
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-1

Front Seats
Manual Seats
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle
is moving. The sudden movement could startle
and confuse you, or make you push a pedal
when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
Lift the bar located under the front seat to unlock it.
Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar.
Try to move the seat with your body, to make sure
the seat is locked into place.
Don’t put anything under the front seats. Items under
the seats could keep the seats from locking into
place properly.
1-2

Driver Seat Height Adjuster
The manual driver seat height adjuster is located on the
outboard side of the seat. To raise the seat, ratchet
the lever upward until the seat is at the desired height.
To lower the seat, ratchet the lever downward until
the seat is at the desired height.
It is easier to use the adjuster when the seat is
unoccupied. Make sure the vehicle is in PARK (P)
before adjusting the seat.
Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust the seatback, lift the lever located on the
outboard side of the seat. Release the lever to lock the
seatback where you want it. Push on the seat to
make sure it is locked into position. Pull up on the lever
without pushing on the seatback, and the seat will go
to its original upright position.
1-3

But do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.
{CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle
is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you
buckle up, your safety belts can not do their
job when you are reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can not do its job because it
will not be against your body. Instead, it will be
in front of you. In a crash you could go into it,
receiving neck or other injuries.
The lap belt can not do its job either. In a
crash the belt could go up over your abdomen.
The belt forces would be there, not at your
pelvic bones. This could cause serious
internal injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety
belt properly.
1-4