check oil PONTIAC VIBE 2007 Owners Manual

2. If the engine does not start after 5-10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather (below 0°F
or−18°C), it could be ooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the accelerator
pedal all the way to the oor and holding it
there as you hold the key in START for up to
a maximum of 15 seconds. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try, to allow the
cranking motor to cool down. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and accelerator. If
the vehicle starts briey but then stops again,
do the same thing. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine. Do not race the
engine immediately after starting it. Operate
the engine and transaxle gently until the
oil warms up and lubricates all moving parts.Notice:Your engine is designed to work with
the electronics in your vehicle. If you add
electrical parts or accessories, you could
change the way the engine operates. Before
adding electrical equipment, check with
your dealer. If you do not, your engine might
not perform properly. Any resulting damage
would not be covered by your vehicle’s
warranty.
Engine Coolant Heater
Your vehicle may have an engine coolant heater.
In very cold weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder,
the engine coolant heater can help. You will get
easier starting and better fuel economy during
engine warm-up. Usually, the coolant heater
should be plugged in a minimum of four hours
prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures
above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant heater is
not required.
106

Oil Pressure Light
If there is a problem
with the oil, this light
may stay on after
you start the engine or
come on while you
are driving.
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is
low. If you do, your engine can become so
hot that it catches re. You or others
could be burned. Check your oil as soon
as possible and have your vehicle
serviced.Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
may damage the engine. The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Always follow
the maintenance schedule in this manual for
changing engine oil.
This indicates that there is not enough oil pressure
to keep the engine properly lubricated and cool.
The engine could be low on oil, or have some
other oil related problem. Have it xed right away.
The oil light could also come on in three other
situations.
When the ignition is on but the engine is not
running, the light comes on as a test to
show you it is working, but the light goes out
when you turn the ignition to START. If it
does not come on with the ignition on,
you could have a problem with the fuse or
bulb. Have it xed right away.
Sometimes when the engine is idling at a
stop, the light could blink on and off. Have
it checked at your dealer.
If you make a hard stop, the light could come
on for a moment. Have it checked at your
dealer.
173

If playing a CD-R, the sound quality can be
reduced due to CD-R quality, the method of
recording, the quality of the music that has been
recorded, and the way the CD-R has been
handled. There can be an increase in skipping,
difficulty in nding tracks, and/or difficulty in loading
and ejecting. If these problems occur, check the
bottom surface of the CD. If the surface of the CD
is damaged, such as cracked, broken, or
scratched, the CD will not play properly. If the
surface of the CD is soiled, seeCare of Your CDs
on page 219for more information.
If there is no apparent damage, try a known
good CD.
Do not add any label to a CD, it could get caught
in the CD player. If a CD is recorded on a
personal computer and a description label is
needed, try labeling the top of the recorded CD
with a marking pen.Notice:If a label is added to a CD, or more
than one CD is inserted into the slot at a time,
or an attempt is made to play scratched or
damaged CDs, the CD player could be
damaged. While using the CD player, use only
CDs in good condition without any label,
load one CD at a time, and keep the CD player
and the loading slot free of foreign materials,
liquids, and debris.
If an error displays, see “CD Messages” later in
this section.
\1 (Forward):Press and hold this pushbutton
to advance quickly within a track. Sound is
heard at a reduced volume. Release the
pushbutton to play the passage. The elapsed time
of the track displays.
RDM 3 (Random):Press this pushbutton to hear
the tracks in random, rather than sequential,
order. RDM and the track number displays. Press
RDM again to turn off random play.
186

If playing a CD-R, the sound quality can be
reduced due to CD-R quality, the method of
recording, the quality of the music that has been
recorded, and the way the CD-R has been
handled. There can be an increase in skipping,
difficulty in nding tracks, and/or difficulty in loading
and ejecting. If these problems occur, check the
bottom surface of the CD. If the surface of the CD
is damaged, such as cracked, broken, or
scratched, the CD will not play properly. If the
surface of the CD is soiled, seeCare of Your CDs
on page 219for more information.
If there is no apparent damage, try a known
good CD.
Do not add any label to a CD, it could get caught
in the CD player. If a CD is recorded on a
personal computer and a description label is
needed, try labeling the top of the recorded CD
with a marking pen.Notice:If a label is added to a CD, or more than
one CD is inserted into the slot at a time, or an
attempt is made to play scratched or damaged
CDs, the CD player could be damaged. While
using the CD player, use only CDs in good
condition without any label, load one CD at a
time, and keep the CD player and the loading
slot free of foreign materials, liquids, and
debris.
If an error displays, see “CD Messages” later in
this section.
\1 (Forward):Press and hold this pushbutton
to advance quickly within a track. Sound is
heard at a reduced volume. Release this
pushbutton to play the passage. The elapsed time
of the track displays.
RDM 2 (Random):Press this pushbutton to hear
the tracks in random, rather than sequential,
order. RDM and the track number displays. Press
RDM again to turn off random play.
#3 (Next Folder):This button does not have a
function for non-MP3 CDs.
195

Playing a CD
If the ignition or radio is turned off, with a CD in the
player, it stays in the player. When the ignition or
radio is turned on, the CD starts playing where it
stopped, if it was the last selected audio source.
When a CD is inserted, the CD symbol displays on
the CD. As each new track starts to play, the
track number displays.
The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm)
single CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs
and the smaller CDs are loaded in the same
manner.
If playing a CD-R, the sound quality can be reduced
due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the
quality of the music that has been recorded, and the
way the CD-R has been handled. There can be an
increase in skipping, difficulty in nding tracks,
and/or difficulty in loading and ejecting. If these
problems occur, check the bottom surface of the
CD. If the surface of the CD is damaged, such as
cracked, broken, or scratched, the CD will not play
properly. If the surface of the CD is soiled, seeCare
of Your CDs on page 219for more information.
If there is no apparent damage, try a known
good CD.Do not add any label to a CD, it could get caught
in the CD player. If a CD is recorded on a
personal computer and a description label is
needed, try labeling the top of the recorded CD
with a marking pen.
Notice:If a label is added to a CD, or more
than one CD is inserted into the slot at a time,
or an attempt is made to play scratched or
damaged CDs, the CD player could be
damaged. While using the CD player, use only
CDs in good condition without any label,
load one CD at a time, and keep the CD player
and the loading slot free of foreign materials,
liquids, and debris.
If an error displays, see “CD Messages” later in
this section.
LOAD CD
Z:Press the LOAD side of this
button to load CDs into the CD player. This CD
player holds up to six CDs.
To insert one CD, do the following:
1. Turn the ignition on.
2. Press and release the LOAD button.
3. Wait for the indicator light, located to the right
of the slot, to turn green.
204

File System and Naming
The song name that displays is the song name
that is contained in the ID3 tag. If the song name is
not present in the ID3 tag, then the radio displays
the le name without the extension (such
as .mp3) as the track name.
Track names longer than 39 characters or 3 pages
are shortened. The display does not show parts
of words on the last page of text and the extension
of the lename does not display.
Preprogrammed Playlists
Preprogrammed playlists which were created by
WinAmp™, MusicMatch™, or Real Jukebox™
software can be accessed, however, they cannot
be edited using the radio. These playlists are
treated as special folders containing compressed
audio song les.
Playing an MP3
Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up.
The player pulls it in, and READING DISC
displays. The CD should begin playing and the
CD symbol displays. If you want to insert a
CD with the ignition off, rst press the eject button
or the RCL button.If the ignition or radio is turned off with a CD in
the player it stays in the player. When the ignition
or radio is turned on, the CD starts to play
where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio
source.
As each new track starts to play, the track number
displays.
The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm)
single CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs
and the smaller CDs are loaded in the same
manner.
If playing a CD-R, the sound quality can be
reduced due to CD-R quality, the method of
recording, the quality of the music that has been
recorded, and the way the CD-R has been
handled. There can be an increase in skipping,
difficulty in nding tracks, and/or difficulty in loading
and ejecting. If these problems occur, check the
bottom surface of the CD. If the surface of the CD
is damaged, such as cracked, broken, or
scratched, the CD will not play properly. If the
surface of the CD is soiled, seeCare of Your CDs
on page 219for more information.
If there is no apparent damage, try a known
good CD.
212

Care of Your CDs
Handle CDs carefully. Store them in their original
cases or other protective cases and away from
direct sunlight and dust. The CD player scans the
bottom surface of the disc. If the surface of a
CD is damaged, such as cracked, broken,
or scratched, the CD will not play properly or not
at all. If the surface of a CD is soiled, take a
soft, lint free cloth or dampen a clean, soft cloth in
a mild, neutral detergent solution mixed with
water, and clean it. Make sure the wiping process
starts from the center to the edge.
Do not touch the bottom side of a CD while
handling it; this could damage the surface. Pick up
CDs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of
the hole and the outer edge.
Care of the CD Player
Do not use CD lens cleaners for CD players
because the lens of the CD optics can become
contaminated by lubricants.
Fixed Mast Antenna
The xed mast antenna can withstand most car
washes without being damaged. If the mast should
ever become slightly bent, straighten it out by
hand. If the mast is badly bent, replace it.
Check occasionally to make sure the mast is still
tightened to the antenna base located on the
roof of the vehicle. If tightening is required, tighten
by hand.
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System
The XM™ Satellite Radio antenna is located on
the roof of your vehicle. Keep this antenna clear of
snow and ice build up for clear radio reception.
A vehicle with a sunroof might not get the
best performance from the XM™ system if the
sunroof is open.
Loading items onto the roof of your vehicle can
interfere with the performance of the XM™ system.
Make sure the XM™ Satellite Radio antenna is
not obstructed.
219

When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your
exit, do not, under any circumstances, stop and
back up. Drive on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite
sharply. The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce
your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any
distance at higher speeds, you may tend to think
you are going slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you are ready. Try to be well rested. If
you must start when you are not fresh — such
as after a day’s work — do not plan to make too
many miles that rst part of the journey. Wear
comfortable clothing and shoes you can easily
drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it is ready to go. If it
needs service, have it done before starting out.Of course, you will nd experienced and able
service experts in GM dealerships all across North
America. They will be ready and willing to help
if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir
full? Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you
checked all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses
clean?
Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough
for long-distance driving? Are the tires
all inated to the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is the weather
outlook along your route? Should you
delay your trip a short time to avoid a major
storm system?
Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
244

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal
down while you:
start your engine
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the
chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when
you’re pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance
Schedule for more on this. Things that are
especially important in trailer operation are
automatic transaxle uid (don’t overll), engine oil,
drive belt, cooling system and brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the
Index will help you nd them quickly. If you’re
trailering, it’s a good idea to review this information
before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and
bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat
during severe operating conditions. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 297.
268

Service........................................................ 272
Accessories and Modications................... 272
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 273
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 273
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 274
Fuel............................................................. 274
Gasoline Octane........................................ 274
Gasoline Specications.............................. 274
California Fuel........................................... 275
Additives................................................... 275
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 276
Filling the Tank......................................... 277
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 279
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 280
Hood Release........................................... 280
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 282
Engine Oil................................................. 284
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 288
Automatic Transaxle Fluid......................... 290Manual Transaxle Fluid............................. 292
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 293
Engine Coolant.......................................... 294
Radiator Pressure Cap.............................. 297
Engine Overheating................................... 297
Cooling System......................................... 299
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 304
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 305
Brakes...................................................... 306
Battery...................................................... 309
Jump Starting............................................ 310
Bulb Replacement....................................... 315
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 315
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and
Parking Lamps....................................... 316
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL)................................ 317
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps...... 318
Back-Up Lamps......................................... 320
Replacement Bulbs................................... 320
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
269