wheel PONTIAC VIBE 2007 Service Manual

Trailering is different than just driving your vehicle
by itself. Trailering means changes in handling,
acceleration, braking, durability and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes correct
equipment, and it has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for this part. In it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety
rules. Many of these are important for your safety
and that of your passengers. So please read
this section carefully before you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the engine,
transaxle, wheel assemblies and tires are forced
to work harder against the drag of the added
weight. The engine is required to operate
at relatively higher speeds and under greater
loads, generating extra heat. What’s more,
the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance,
increasing the pulling requirements.If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
There are many different laws, including speed
limit restrictions, having to do with trailering.
Make sure your rig will be legal, not only where
you live but also where you’ll be driving. A
good source for this information can be state
or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control. You can ask a
hitch dealer about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the rst
1,000 miles (1 600 km) your new vehicle is
driven. Your engine, axle or other parts could
be damaged.
Then, during the rst 500 miles (800 km) that
you tow a trailer, don’t drive over 50 mph
(80 km/h) and don’t make starts at full throttle.
This helps your engine and other parts of
your vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.
Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a
trailer. Don’t drive faster than the maximum
posted speed for trailers, or no more than
55 mph (90 km/h), to save wear on your
vehicle’s parts.
262

Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead
as you would when driving your vehicle without
a trailer. This can help you avoid situations
that require heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a
good deal longer, you’ll need to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before you can
return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with
one hand. Then, to move the trailer to the left, just
move that hand to the left. To move the trailer
to the right, move your hand to the right. Always
back up slowly and, if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to come in
contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider
turns than normal. Do this so your trailer
won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs,
trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal asher and/or extra wiring.
Check with your dealer. The arrows on your
instrument panel will ash whenever you signal a
turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer
lamps will also ash, telling other drivers you’re
about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your
instrument panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs
on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind you are seeing your signal when
they are not. It’s important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
266

Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbefore
you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you
don’t shift down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce
your speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce
the possibility of the engine and the transaxle
overheating.
Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached, on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured, and
both your vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged.But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill,
here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) for an automatic transaxle or into
gear for a manual transaxle, yet. When
parking uphill, turn your wheels away from the
curb. When parking downhill, turn your
wheels into the curb.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
3. When the chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake and shift into PARK (P) for an
automatic transaxle or REVERSE (R) for
a manual transaxle.
5. Release the regular brakes.
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Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 321
Tires............................................................ 322
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 323
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 326
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 329
Tire Pressure Monitor System................... 330
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 333
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 335
Buying New Tires...................................... 336
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 337
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 338
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 339
Wheel Replacement.................................. 340
Tire Chains............................................... 341
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 342
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 343
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 344
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire............................................. 346
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...... 351
Compact Spare Tire.................................. 354Appearance Care........................................ 354
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 354
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 356
Leather...................................................... 356
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 357
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 357
Weatherstrips............................................ 358
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 358
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 358
Finish Care............................................... 358
Windshield, Backglass, and
Wiper Blades......................................... 359
Aluminum Wheels...................................... 359
Tires......................................................... 360
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 360
Finish Damage.......................................... 361
Underbody Maintenance............................ 361
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 361
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 362
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
270

Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine
parts and start a re. These include
liquids like fuel, oil, coolant, brake uid,
windshield washer and other uids, and
plastic or rubber. You or others could be
burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.
Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:
1. Pull the release
handle with this
symbol on it.
It is located below
the instrument panel
to the left of the
steering wheel.
280

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and rear drum
brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning sound when the
brake pads are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be heard all
the time your vehicle is moving, except when you
are pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon the brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly brake repair.Some driving conditions or climates can cause a
brake squeal when the brakes are rst applied
or lightly applied. This does not mean something
is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and evenly tighten
wheel nuts in the proper sequence to GM torque
specications.
Rear drum brakes do not have wear indicators,
but if you ever hear a rear brake rubbing
noise, have the rear brake linings inspected
immediately. Also, the rear brake drums should be
removed and inspected each time the tires are
removed for rotation or changing. When you have
the front brake pads replaced, have the rear
brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as
complete axle sets.
SeeBrake System Inspection on page 393.
308

(D) Construction Code:A letter code is used to
indicate the type of ply construction in the tire. The
letter R means radial ply construction; the letter D
means diagonal or bias ply construction; and the
letter B means belted-bias ply construction.
(E) Rim Diameter:Diameter of the wheel in
inches.
(F) Service Description:These characters
represent the load range and the speed rating
of a tire. The load range represents the load carry
capacity a tire is certied to carry. The speed
rating is the maximum speed a tire is certied to
carry a load. Speed ratings range from A to Z.
Tire Terminology and Denitions
Air Pressure:The amount of air inside the tire
pressing outward on each square inch of the
tire. Air pressure is expressed in pounds
per square inch (psi) or kilopascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight:This means the combined
weight of optional accessories. Some examples
of optional accessories are, automatic
transmission/transaxle, power steering, power
brakes, power windows, power seats, and
air conditioning.Aspect Ratio:The relationship of a tire’s height
to its width.
Belt:A rubber coated layer of cords that is
located between the plies and the tread. Cords
may be made from steel or other reinforcing
materials.
Bead:The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped
by steel cords that hold the tire onto the rim.
Bias Ply Tire:A pneumatic tire in which the plies
are laid at alternate angles less than 90 degrees
to the centerline of the tread.
Cold Tire Pressure:The amount of air pressure
in a tire, measured in pounds per square inch
(psi) or kilopascals (kPa) before a tire has built up
heat from driving. SeeInation - Tire Pressure
on page 329.
Curb Weight:This means the weight of a motor
vehicle with standard and optional equipment
including the maximum capacity of fuel, oil, and
coolant, but without passengers and cargo.
326

This light, on the
instrument panel cluster,
comes on when the
tire pressure monitoring
system detects a
low-tire condition.
This light also comes on for a few seconds and
then go off when you turn the ignition to ON. This
indicates that the TPMS is functioning properly.
If the low-tire pressure warning light comes
on while driving your vehicle, the system may
have detected a low-tire condition. You need to
stop as soon as possible and check your tires
for damage. If a tire is at, seeIf a Tire Goes Flat
on page 342andChanging a Flat Tire on
page 343. Also check the tire pressure in all four
tires, and set them to the specied level shown
on the Tire and Loading Information label.SeeInation - Tire Pressure on page 329and
Loading Your Vehicle on page 253for additional
information.
Note:The tire pressure monitoring system on your
vehicle warns you when one of the tires is
signicantly under-inated and when some
combinations of the tires are signicantly
under-inated. However, there are other
combinations of signicantly under-inated tires for
which the tire pressure monitoring system might not
give a warning. These other combinations are
relatively common, accounting for approximately
half the instances in which vehicles have
signicantly under-inated tires. For example, the
system might not warn you when both tires on the
same side or on the same axle of your vehicle are
signicantly under-inated. It is particularly
important, therefore, to check the tire pressure in all
of the tires regularly and maintain proper pressure.
In order for the tire pressure monitoring system to
work properly you need to reset (initialize) the
tire pressure monitoring system. Any time
you check and/or adjust a tire’s pressure, repair or
replace a tire or wheel, or rotate the tires the
tire pressure monitor system needs to be reset.
331

Do not reset (initialize) the system without rst
correcting the cause of the low-tire condition. If the
system is reset when the tire pressures are
incorrect, the system will not function properly and
might not alert you when a tire is low.
To reset (initialize) the system:
1. Park the vehicle at a safe place and apply the
parking brake. Turn the engine off.
2. Turn the ignition to ON with the engine off.
3. If the low-tire
pressure warning
light is on, push
the SET (reset)
button for a
few seconds.
The reset button is on the instrument panel to
the left of the steering wheel. The low-tire
warning light should go off.4. Press and hold the SET (reset) button until
the low-tire warning light comes on and
ashes on/off three times. The tire pressure
warning reset button starts the reset
(initialization) process.
If the low-tire pressure warning light does not
ash while you hold the reset button, the
system might be malfunctioning and needs
service. See your GM dealer for service.
The system completes the reset (initialization)
process after driving at vehicle speeds of at least
19 mph (30 km/h) to 62 mph (100 km/h) for
more than one hour. Do not push the SET (reset)
button while driving. If you do the initialization
process is cancelled. The initialization process can
take up to approximately one hour of driving
under the following conditions:
The vehicle speed is between 31 mph
(50 km/h) and 62 mph (100 km/h).
The roads are dry, smooth, and straight.
The number of passengers is one or
two (including the driver).
332

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