wheel PONTIAC VIBE 2005 Owner's Manual

Windshield Washer
Pull the lever toward you to spray washer uid on the
windshield. The spray will continue until you release the
lever. The wipers will run a few times. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-38.
To squirt washer uid on the rear window, twist the knob
upward and downward as far as it will go. The knob
automatically returns from these positions after you
release it. You can twist the lever downward to create a
large ow of water on the rear window, then twist the
lever back up to wipe the window. This feature is helpful
to quickly clear the rear liftglass when very dirty.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
Cruise Control
If your vehicle has cruise control, the lever is located on
the right side of the steering wheel.
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of 25 mph
(40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on the
accelerator. This can really help on long trips. Cruise
control does not work at speeds below 25 mph (40 km/h).
3-10

{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use your cruise control on winding roads
or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause needless wheel spinning,
and you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.1. Press the ON-OFF button at the end of the cruise
control lever. The CRUISE light on the instrument
panel cluster will come on. SeeCruise Control Light
on page 3-39for more information.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Move the lever down to SET/COAST and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose the cruise control is set at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This will shut off cruise
control. But you won’t need to reset it.
Unless you’re going less than 25 mph (40 km/h) you
can push the lever up to RES/ACC
(Resume/Accelerate). You’ll go right back up to your
chosen speed and stay there.
The cruise control set speed is erased from memory
if the vehicle speed goes below 25 mph (40 km/h).
If your preset speed cancels out at speeds above
25 mph (40 km/h), there may be a problem with your
vehicle’s cruise control. See your dealer.
3-11

Automatic Headlamp System
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic light sensor
on the top left corner of the instrument panel, so be sure it
is not covered or the headlamps will be on continuously.
When it is dark enough outside, your automatic
headlamp system will turn on your low-beam headlamps
at the normal brightness along with other lamps such
as the taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps and
instrument panel lights. This is indicated by the
headlamp symbol on your instrument panel cluster.
SeeInstrument Panel Cluster on page 3-26.
If you are driving through a parking garage, overcast
weather, or a tunnel, the automatic headlamp system
may turn on your low-beam headlamps at a normal
brightness along with the taillamps, sidemarker, parking
lamps and the instrument panel lights. The radio
lights will be dimmer, and the instrument panel cluster
lights may dim. There will be a delay before the
lights will turn on when starting the car at night.
Fog Lamps
-(Fog Lamps):Turn the band on the turn
signal/multifunction lever to the fog lamp symbol to turn
the fog lamps on. They will come on only when the
headlamps are on low beam.
Instrument Panel Brightness
The instrument panel
brightness control is
located to the left of the
steering wheel on the
instrument panel.
Turn the wheel on the
left of the control up
or down to increase or
decrease brightness.
The brightness of the instrument panel lights will
decrease when the headlamps are on.
6(Maximum Setting):It is recommended that the
brightness level be kept at the maximum setting for
all daytime driving to ensure proper visibility.
3-15

Interior Lamps Control
Turn the wheel on the right of the control to one of the
following positions:
OFF:This position turns the light off.
ON:This position keeps the light on all the time.
6(Door):This position turns the light on when any
door, the liftgate or the liftglass is opened. The light
goes off when all the side doors, the liftgate and
the liftglass are closed.
Entry Lighting
While the instrument panel brightness control is in the
door position, the light will come on when any side door,
the liftgate or the liftglass is opened. After all the
doors, liftgate and liftglass are closed, and the key is
out of the ignition, in LOCK or ACC, the light will remain
on for about 15 seconds and then go out except
under the following conditions:
The ignition is turned to ACC or ON after all the
doors, the liftgate and the liftglass are closed.
All the doors and liftgate are locked when the
liftglass is closed and the light is still on.
When any door is unlocked with the key or remote
keyless entry system transmitter, the light comes on for
15 seconds, even if the door is not opened.
To prevent the battery from draining, the lamps will
automatically turn off when the key is in the ACC
or LOCK positions or if the key is removed for
20 minutes or more.
3-16

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-3
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-6
Braking.........................................................4-6
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).........................4-7
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-9
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-9
Stabilitrak
®System.......................................4-10
Panic Brake Assist........................................4-11
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.......................4-11
Steering......................................................4-11
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-14
Passing.......................................................4-14
Loss of Control.............................................4-16
Driving at Night............................................4-17Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-18
City Driving..................................................4-21
Freeway Driving...........................................4-22
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-23
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-24
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-24
Winter Driving..............................................4-26
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow..............................................4-30
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-30
Recovery Hook.............................................4-31
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-32
Towing..........................................................4-37
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-37
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-37
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-40
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes. ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, this warning light on
the instrument panel will come on briey when you
start your vehicle.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive
away, your anti-lock brake system will check itself.
You may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that
your brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with the anti-lock brake system,
the anti-lock brake system warning light will stay on.
SeeAnti-Lock Brake System Warning Light on
page 3-33.Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each front wheel
and at both rear wheels. United States
Canada
4-7

The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure
faster than any driver could. The computer is
programmed to make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls braking pressure
accordingly.If your vehicle has the vehicle stability control system,
it includes a brake assist system which provides
more powerful braking during a sudden, hard brake
application. See “Vehicle Stability Control System” under
Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-9.
Remember: Anti-lock does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always
decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to
the vehicle in front of you, you will not have time to apply
your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down rmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel
a slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise,
but this is normal.
4-8

Braking in Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver gets into a situation
that requires hard braking.
If you have anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the
same time. However, if you do not have anti-lock, your
rst reaction — to hit the brake pedal hard and hold
it down — may be the wrong thing to do. Your wheels
can stop rolling. Once they do, the vehicle cannot
respond to your steering. Momentum will carry it in
whatever direction it was headed when the wheels
stopped rolling. That could be off the road, into the very
thing you were trying to avoid, or into traffic.
If you do not have anti-lock, use a “squeeze” braking
technique. This will give you maximum braking while
maintaining steering control. You can do this by pushing
on the brake pedal with steadily increasing pressure.
In an emergency, you will probably want to squeeze the
brakes hard without locking the wheels. If you hear or feel
the wheels sliding, ease off the brake pedal. This will
help you retain steering control. If youdohave anti-lock,
it is different. SeeAnti-Lock Brake System (ABS) on
page 4-7.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more than
even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle may have a traction control system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that one or both of the front wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens,
the system works the front brakes and reduces engine
power to limit wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this is
normal. Leave the system on during ordinary driving so
that it can operate when needed. When the ignition
is turned to ON, the system automatically turns on.
This light should come on
briey when you start the
engine. If it stays on or
comes on while you
are driving, there is a
problem with your traction
control system.
4-9

The TRAC OFF button
is located to the left
of the steering wheel
below the instrument
panel cluster.
When getting the vehicle out of mud or newly fallen
snow, turn off the traction control system. The system
that controls engine performance interferes with the
process of freeing the front wheels. To turn off traction
control, press the TRAC OFF button. The traction
control system warning light will come on. The vehicle
stability control system (Stabilitrak
®) is always activated,
even when the traction control system is turned off.
To turn the traction control system back on, press the
TRAC OFF button again. The traction control system
warning light will go off. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) Warning Light on page 3-34for more information.
Stabilitrak®System
The Stabilitrak®system helps provide integrated control
of the systems such as anti-lock brake system, traction
control and engine control. This system automatically
controls the brakes and engine to help prevent the
vehicle from skidding when cornering on a slippery road
surface or turning the steering wheel abruptly.
This system will activate when your vehicle speed
reaches or exceeds 9 mph (15 km/h), and will
deactivate when the vehicle speed reduces to below
9 mph (15 km/h).
You may hear a sound in the engine compartment for a
few seconds when the engine is started or just after the
vehicle begins to move. This means that the system is in
the self-check mode, but does not indicate a malfunction.
If the vehicle is going to skid during driving, the traction
control system warning light will blink and an alarm
will sound intermittently. Adjust your driving accordingly.
This light warns that there
is a problem somewhere
in the traction control
system or Stabilitrak
®.
4-10

Panic Brake Assist
Your vehicle has a panic brake assist system that
monitors the intention of the driver while braking. If the
system senses that the driver has applied hard/fast
pressure to the brake pedal, the system will generate
additional pressure, making it easier for the driver
to maintain brake application. When this happens the
brake pedal will feel easier to push. Just hold the brake
pedal down rmly and let the system work for you.
You may feel the brakes vibrate, or you may notice
some noise but this is normal. The brakes will return to
normal operation after the brake pedal has been
released.
The brake assist system becomes operational after the
vehicle has accelerated to a speed in excess of
approximately 6 mph (10 km/h). It stops operating when
the vehicle decelerates to a speed below approximately
3 mph (5 km/h).
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System
If your vehicle has all-wheel drive (AWD), the AWD
system operates automatically without any action
required by the driver. If the front drive wheels begin to
slip, the rear wheels will automatically begin to drive
the vehicle as required. There may be a slight
engagement noise during hard use but this is normal.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
4-11