maintenance PONTIAC VIBE 2007 Owner's Manual

Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return
to normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a moderate brake stop,
the disc brakes adjust for wear. If you rarely
make a moderate or heavier stop, the brakes
might not adjust correctly. If you drive in that way,
then — very carefully — make a few moderate
brake stops about every 1,000 miles (1 600 km),
so the brakes will adjust properly.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. Your vehicle was designed and tested
with top-quality GM brake parts. When you replace
parts of the braking system — for example,
when the brake linings wear down and you need
new ones put in — be sure you get newapproved GM replacement parts. If you do not, the
brakes might not work properly. For example, if
someone puts in brake linings that are wrong
for your vehicle, the balance between the front and
rear brakes can change — for the worse. The
braking performance you have come to expect can
change in many other ways if someone puts in
the wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery.
When it is time for a new battery, get one that has
the replacement number shown on the original
battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco
®
replacement battery. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 282for battery location.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Wash
hands after handling.
309

How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You cannot tell if your tires are
properly inated simply by looking at them. Radial
tires may look properly inated even when they
are under-inated. Check the tire’s ination
pressure when the tires are cold. Cold means your
vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours
or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem.
Press the tire gage rmly onto the valve to
get a pressure measurement. If the cold tire
ination pressure matches the recommended
pressure on the Tire and Loading Information
label, no further adjustment is necessary. If the
ination pressure is low, add air until you reach the
recommended amount.
If you overll the tire, release air by pushing on
the metal stem in the center of the tire valve.
Re-check the tire pressure with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve
stems. They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt
and moisture.
Tire Pressure Monitor System
Your vehicle has a Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS). This feature is designed to alert you
when the system detects a large change in the
pressure of one tire. The system cannot alert you
before you drive that a tire is low or at. You
must begin driving before the system works
properly. The TPMS works with the brake control
system and is designed to detect differences
in the tire rotation speeds that are caused
by changes in tire pressure. The TPMS does not
replace normal tire maintenance, seeTires on
page 322,Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 333andWhen It Is Time for New Tires on
page 335.
330

The low-tire pressure warning light may not come
on even if the tire ination pressure is low, or it
could come on when the tire ination pressure is
set correctly under the following circumstances:
A compact spare tire, snow tires, or tire chains
are installed on your vehicle.
The tires are over-inated, or the tire ination
pressure suddenly drops due to a tire bursting
or other causes.
The vehicle is driven on a slippery road
surface such as rough or frozen roads.
The vehicle speed is less than
19 mph (30 km/h), and the driving duration is
less than ve minutes.
The tires are made by a different manufacturer
or differ in tread pattern than the original
equipment tires.
Rapid acceleration/deceleration or multiple
consecutive sharp turns.
Towing a trailer.
The vehicle is loaded over the limit or not
balanced properly.
The initialization (reset) procedure was not
performed correctly after replacing or
rotating tires or wheels.
The outside temperature is below 32°F (0°C)
or above 104°F (40°C).
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your
tires as soon as possible and check wheel
alignment. Also check for damaged tires or wheels.
SeeWhen It Is Time for New Tires on page 335
andWheel Replacement on page 340for
more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve
more uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle.
The rst rotation is the most important. See
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services on
page 376for scheduled rotation intervals.
333

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your vehicle’s
tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is
much more likely to leak out slowly. But if you
should ever have a blowout, here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag
that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel rmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, and then gently brake to a stop well out
of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much
like a skid and may require the same correction
you would use in a skid. In any rear blowout
remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get
the vehicle under control by steering the way
you want the vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy
and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road if possible.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. The jack provided with your
vehicle is designed only for changing a
at tire. If it is used for anything else, you
or others could be badly injured or killed
if the vehicle slips off the jack. Use the
jack provided with your vehicle only for
changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to use
the jacking equipment to change a at tire safely.
342

Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in
the nish should be repaired right away. Bare
metal will corrode quickly and may develop into
major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with
touch-up materials available from your dealer.
Larger areas of nish damage can be corrected in
your dealer’s body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and
dust control can collect on the underbody. If these
are not removed, corrosion and rust can develop
on the underbody parts such as fuel lines,
frame, oor pan, and exhaust system even though
they have corrosion protection.At least every spring, ush these materials from
the underbody with plain water. Clean any
areas where mud and debris can collect. Dirt
packed in close areas of the frame should
be loosened before being ushed. Your dealer or
an underbody car washing system can do this
for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can
create a chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can
fall upon and attack painted surfaces on the
vehicle. This damage can take two forms: blotchy,
ring-shaped discolorations, and small, irregular
dark spots etched into the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this, GM
will repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces
of new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition
within 12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of
purchase, whichever occurs rst.
361

Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Replacement parts identied below by name, part number, or specication can be obtained from your GM
dealer.
Part GM Part Numbers Other Part Numbers
Battery 19001602 35–6YR
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 88969107 A2036C
Engine Oil Filter 88971573 PF1233
Passenger Compartment Air Filter 88970273 CF134
PCV Valve 88974190 —
Spark Plugs* 94859446 SK16R11†, IFR5A11††
*Your engine is tted with iridium-tipped spark plugs. Use only iridium-tipped spark plugs for better engine
performance.
† DENSO
†† NGK
370

Maintenance Schedule................................ 374
Introduction............................................... 374
Maintenance Requirements........................ 374
Your Vehicle and the Environment............ 374
How This Section is Organized................. 374
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services................................................. 376
Using the Maintenance Schedule............... 376
Scheduled Maintenance............................. 377
Part B: Owner Checks and Services......... 386
At Each Fuel Fill....................................... 386
At Least Once a Month............................. 386
At Least Twice a Year.............................. 387At Least Once a Year............................... 388
Part C: Periodic Maintenance
Inspections............................................. 392
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive
Axle Boot and Seal Inspection............... 392
Exhaust System Inspection........................ 392
Fuel System Inspection............................. 392
Engine Cooling System Inspection............. 393
Throttle System Inspection........................ 393
Brake System Inspection........................... 393
Part D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants.............................................. 394
Part E: Maintenance Record...................... 396
Section 6 Maintenance Schedule
373

Maintenance Schedule
Introduction
Important: Keep engine oil at the proper level
and change as recommended.
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The
Plan supplements your new vehicle warranties.
See your Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet
or your dealer for details.
Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance intervals, checks, inspections and
recommended uids and lubricants as prescribed
in this manual are necessary to keep your
vehicle in good working condition. Any damage
caused by failure to follow scheduled maintenance
may not be covered by warranty.
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep
your vehicle in good working condition, but also
helps the environment. Improper vehicle
maintenance can even affect the quality of the air
we breathe. Improper uid levels or the wrong
tire ination can increase the level of emissions
from your vehicle. To help protect our environment,
and to keep your vehicle in good condition, be
sure to maintain your vehicle properly.
How This Section is Organized
This maintenance schedule is divided into
ve parts:
“Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services”
explains what to have done and how often. Some
of these services can be complex, so unless
you are technically qualied and have the
necessary equipment, you should let your
GM dealer’s service department do these jobs.
Your GM dealer has GM-trained and supported
service people that will perform the work using
genuine GM parts.
374

{CAUTION:
Performing maintenance work on a
vehicle can be dangerous. In trying to do
some jobs, you can be seriously injured.
Do your own maintenance work only if
you have the required know-how and the
proper tools and equipment for the job. If
you have any doubt, have a qualied
technician do the work. SeeDoing Your
Own Service Work on page 273.
If you want to purchase service information, see
Service Publications Ordering Information on
page 417.“Part B: Owner Checks and Services”tells you
what should be checked and when. It also
explains what you can easily do to help keep your
vehicle in good condition.
“Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections”
explains important inspections that your dealer’s
service department can perform for you.
“Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants”
lists some recommended products necessary to
help keep your vehicle properly maintained. These
products, or their equivalents, should be used
whether you do the work yourself or have it done.
“Part E: Maintenance Record”is a place for
you to record and keep track of the maintenance
performed on your vehicle. Keep your
maintenance receipts. They may be needed to
qualify your vehicle for warranty repairs.
375

Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services
In this part are scheduled maintenance services
which are to be performed at the mileage intervals
specied.
Using the Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to keep your vehicle
in good working condition. But we do not know
exactly how you will drive it. You may drive short
distances only a few times a week. Or you
may drive long distances all the time in very hot,
dusty weather. You may use your vehicle in
making deliveries. Or you may drive it to work, to
do errands, or in many other ways.
Because of the different ways people use their
vehicles, maintenance needs may vary. You may
need more frequent checks and replacements.
So please read the following and note how
you drive. If you have questions on how to keep
your vehicle in good condition, see your dealer.This part tells you the maintenance services you
should have done and when to schedule them.
When you go to your dealer for your service
needs, you will know that GM-trained and
supported service people will perform the work
using genuine GM parts.
The proper uids and lubricants to use are listed
in Part D. Make sure whoever services your
vehicle uses these. All parts should be replaced
and all necessary repairs done before you or
anyone else drives the vehicle.
This schedule is for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within
recommended limits. You will nd these on
the Tire and Loading Information label.
SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 253.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within
legal driving limits.
use the recommended fuel. SeeGasoline
Octane on page 274.
376