traction control PONTIAC VIBE 2007 User Guide

StabiliTrak®System
Your vehicle may have this feature. 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®.
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).
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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.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable
speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents
mentioned on the news happen on curves.
Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is
subject to the same laws of physics when driving on
curves. The traction of the tires against the road
surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change
its path when you turn the front wheels. If there is
no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the
same direction. If you have ever tried to steer a
vehicle on wet ice, you will understand this.The traction you can get in a curve depends on
the condition of your tires and the road surface, the
angle at which the curve is banked, and your
speed. While you are in a curve, speed is the
one factor you can control.
Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly apply the brakes. Both
control systems — steering and braking — have
to do their work where the tires meet the road.
Unless you have four-wheel anti-lock brakes,
adding the hard braking can demand too much of
those places. You can lose control.
The same thing can happen if you are steering
through a sharp curve and you suddenly
accelerate. Those two control systems — steering
and acceleration — can overwhelm those
places where the tires meet the road and make
you lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up
on the brake or accelerator pedal, steer the
vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down.
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Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems — brakes,
steering, and acceleration — do not have enough
friction where the tires meet the road to do what the
driver has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to
steer and constantly seek an escape route or
area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and
by not overdriving those conditions. But skids
are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your
vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking skid,
your wheels are not rolling. In the steering or
cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force.
And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle
causes the driving wheels to spin.A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best
handled by easing your foot off the accelerator
pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off
the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the
way you want the vehicle to go. If you start
steering quickly enough, your vehicle may
straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid
if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other material is on the road.
For safety, you will want to slow down and adjust
your driving to these conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control
more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or
braking, including reducing vehicle speed by
shifting to a lower gear. Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the
surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding.
Learn to recognize warning clues — such as
enough water, ice, or packed snow on the road to
make a mirrored surface — and slow down when
you have any doubt.
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Service
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants
you to be happy with it. We hope you will go
to your dealer for all your service needs. You will
get genuine GM parts and GM-trained and
supported service people.
We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle all
GM. Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
Accessories and Modications
When you add non-GM accessories to your vehicle
they can affect your vehicle’s performance and
safety, including such things as, airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and electronic systems
like anti-lock brakes, traction control and
stability control. Some of these accessories may
even cause malfunction or damage not covered by
warranty.
GM Accessories are designed to complement and
function with other systems on your vehicle.
Your GM dealer can accessorize your vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories. When you go to
your GM dealer and ask for GM Accessories,
you will know that GM-trained and supported
service technicians will perform the work using
genuine GM Accessories.
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Your vehicle’s original equipment tires are listed
on the Tire and Loading Information Label.
This label is attached to the vehicle’s center pillar
(B-pillar). SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 253,
for more information about the Tire and Loading
Information Label.
Different Size Tires and Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are a different size
than your original equipment wheels and tires,
this may affect the way your vehicle performs,
including its braking, ride and handling
characteristics, stability, and resistance to rollover.
Additionally, if your vehicle has electronic
systems such as, anti-lock brakes, traction control,
and electronic stability control, the performance
of these systems can be affected.
{CAUTION:
If you add different sized wheels, your
vehicle may not provide an acceptable
level of performance and safety if tires not
recommended for those wheels are
selected. You may increase the chance
that you will crash and suffer serious
injury. Only use GM specic wheel and
tire systems developed for your vehicle,
and have them properly installed by a GM
certied technician.
SeeBuying New Tires on page 336and
Accessories and Modications on page 272for
additional information.
337

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum selection width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the Unites States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which
grades tires by treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States. The grades are
molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car
tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver, or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they must also conform
to federal safety requirements.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based
on the wear rate of the tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specied government
test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and a half (1
12) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The
relative performance of tires depends upon the
actual conditions of their use, however, and may
depart signicantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices, and differences
in road characteristics and climate.
Traction — AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specied
government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning:The traction grade assigned to this tire
is based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
338

Light (cont.)
Low Tire Pressure Warning Light............. 167
Low Washer Fluid Warning...................... 175
Malfunction Indicator................................ 170
Oil Pressure............................................. 173
Overdrive Off........................................... 174
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator............ 163
Safety Belt Reminder............................... 161
StabiliTrak
®Indicator................................ 168
Taillamp Indicator..................................... 174
TCS Warning Light.................................. 168
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning ... 168
Lighting
Entry........................................................ 149
Loading Your Vehicle................................... 253
Locks
Door.......................................................... 92
Power Door............................................... 94
Rear Door Security Locks.......................... 95
Loss of Control........................................... 237
Low Fuel Warning Light............................... 177
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light................. 175
M
Maintenance, Normal Replacement Parts.... 370
Maintenance Schedule
At Each Fuel Fill...................................... 386
At Least Once a Month............................ 386
At Least Once a Year.............................. 388
At Least Twice a Year.............................. 387
Brake System Inspection.......................... 393
Engine Cooling System Inspection........... 393
Exhaust System Inspection...................... 392
Fuel System Inspection............................ 392
How This Section is Organized................ 374
Introduction.............................................. 374
Maintenance Requirements...................... 374
Part A - Scheduled Maintenance
Services............................................... 376
Part B - Owner Checks and Services...... 386
Part C - Periodic Maintenance
Inspections........................................... 392
Part D - Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants............................................. 394
Part E - Maintenance Record................... 396
Scheduled Maintenance........................... 377
426

TCS Warning Light...................................... 168
Theft-Deterrent Systems.............................. 100
Content Theft-Deterrent............................ 100
Throttle System Inspection.......................... 393
Tilt Wheel.................................................... 139
Time, Setting............................................... 178
Tires........................................................... 322
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning..................... 359
Buying New Tires..................................... 336
Chains..................................................... 341
Changing a Flat Tire................................ 343
Cleaning.................................................. 360
Compact Spare Tire................................. 354
Different Size........................................... 337
If a Tire Goes Flat................................... 342
Ination - Tire Pressure............................ 329
Inspection and Rotation............................ 333
Installing the Spare Tire........................... 346
Pressure Monitor System......................... 330
Removing the Flat Tire............................. 346
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools......... 344
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools..... 351
Tire Sidewall Labeling.............................. 323
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 326
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.................... 338
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance........... 339
Wheel Replacement................................. 340Tires (cont.)
When It Is Time for New Tires................. 335
Towing
Recreational Vehicle................................. 259
Towing a Trailer....................................... 261
Your Vehicle............................................. 259
Traction
Control System (TCS).............................. 230
Control System Warning Light.................. 168
StabiliTrak
®System................................. 231
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic....................................... 290
Fluid, Manual........................................... 292
Transaxle Operation, Automatic................... 108
Transaxle Operation, Manual....................... 111
Trip Odometers........................................... 160
Turn and Lane-Change Signals................... 140
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.................... 139
U
Understanding Radio Reception................... 218
Uniform Tire Quality Grading....................... 338
431