ECU PONTIAC VIBE 2008 Owner's Manual

If your vehicle has roof-rail airbags for the driver, right
front passenger, and second row outboard passengers,
they are in the ceiling above the side windows.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the airbag might not inate properly
or it might force the object into that person
causing severe injury or even death. The path
of an inating airbag must be kept clear.
Do not put anything between an occupant and
an airbag, and do not attach or put anything
on the steering wheel hub or on or near any
other airbag covering.
Do not use seat accessories that block the
ination path of a seat-mounted side impact
airbag.
If your vehicle has roof-rail airbags, never
secure anything to the roof of your vehicle by
routing the rope or tie down through any door
or window opening. If you do, the path of an
inating roof-rail airbag will be blocked. Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar
1-54

The passenger sensing system will also turn off the
right front passenger’s safety belt pretensioner if
it detects that there is no occupant in that position.
The passenger sensing system works with sensors that
are part of the right front passenger’s seat and safety belt.
The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a
properly-seated occupant and determine if the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact
airbag (if equipped) should be enabled (may inate) or not.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
We recommend that children be secured in a rear seat,
including: an infant or a child riding in a rear-facing
child restraint; a child riding in a forward-facing child
seat; an older child riding in a booster seat; and children,
who are large enough, using safety belts.
A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing
child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to
the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag inates. This is because
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inating airbag.
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the right front passenger’s
frontal and seat-mounted side impact airbag
(if equipped) if the system detects a rear-facing
child restraint, no system is fail-safe, and
no one can guarantee that an airbag will not
deploy under some unusual circumstance,
even though it is turned off. We recommend
that rear-facing child restraints be secured
in a rear seat, even if the airbag(s) are off.
If you secure a forward-facing child restraint
in the right front seat, always move the front
passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is
better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat.
The passenger sensing system is designed to turn
off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) if:
The right front passenger seat is unoccupied.
The system determines that an infant is present
in a rear-facing infant seat.
1-60

The system determines that a small child is present
in a child restraint.
The system determines that a small child is present
in a booster seat.
A right front passenger takes his/her weight off of
the seat for a period of time.
The right front passenger seat is occupied by a
smaller person, such as a child who has outgrown
child restraints.
Or, if there is a critical problem with the airbag
system or the passenger sensing system.
When the passenger sensing system has turned off the
right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted
side impact airbag (if equipped), the OFF indicator
will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag or
airbags are off.
If a child restraint has been installed and the on
indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child
restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child restraint
with the ignition key in the ACC or LOCK position,
following the child restraint manufacturer’s directions
and refer toSecuring a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position on page 1-46.
If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the
vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to make sure that
the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing the child restraint
into the seat cushion. If this happens, slightly reclinethe vehicle’s seatback and adjust the seat cushion if
possible. Also make sure the child restraint is not trapped
under the vehicle head restraint. If this happens, adjust
the head restraint. SeeHead Restraints on page 1-5.
Remove any additional material from the seat such as
blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters, or seat
massagers before reinstalling or securing the child
restraint.
If the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in the child
restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle and check
with your dealer/retailer.
An object, person or child in the rear seat contacting or
pressing the right front passenger’s seatback, or objects
stowed under the right front passenger’s seat, may affect
the proper functioning of the passenger sensing system.
When you use a safety belt extender in the right front
passenger’s seat, make sure the passenger airbag status
indicator shows the word ON. If the indicator shows OFF,
disconnect the extender’s latch from the buckle then
reconnect the safety belt. Make sure the indicator light
shows ON, then reconnect the safety belt extender.
If you use the safety belt extender while the indicator light
shows OFF, the right front passenger’s frontal airbag,
seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped), and the
safety belt pretensioner may not activate correctly.
SeeAirbag System on page 1-50for important safety
information about your airbags.
1-61

Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to or change
about the vehicle that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, height, front end or side
sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or moving any parts
of the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing
and diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument
panel, roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner
or pillar garnish trim, front sensors, or airbag wiring
can affect the operation of the airbag system.
In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing
system for the right front passenger’s position, which
includes sensors that are part of the passenger’s
seat. The passenger sensing system may not
operate properly if the original seat trim is replaced
with non-GM covers, upholstery or trim, or with
GM covers, upholstery or trim designed for a
different vehicle. Any object, such as an aftermarket
seat heater or a comfort enhancing pad or device,installed under or on top of the seat fabric, could also
interfere with the operation of the passenger sensing
system. This could either prevent proper deployment
of the passenger airbag(s) or prevent the passenger
sensing system from properly turning off the
passenger airbag(s). SeePassenger Sensing
System on page 1-59.
If you have any questions about this, you should
contact Customer Assistance before you modify
your vehicle. The phone numbers and addresses
for Customer Assistance are in Step Two of
the Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual.
SeeCustomer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.
Q:Because I have a disability, I have to get
my vehicle modied. How can I nd out whether
this will affect my airbag system?
A:If you have questions, call Customer Assistance.
The phone numbers and addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See
Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.
In addition, your dealer/retailer and the service manual
have information about the location of the airbag sensors,
sensing and diagnostic module and airbag wiring.
1-65

Keys...............................................................2-2
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation.......................................2-4
Doors and Locks.............................................2-7
Door Locks....................................................2-7
Power Door Locks..........................................2-8
Rear Door Security Locks................................2-9
Liftgate/Liftglass............................................2-10
Windows........................................................2-12
Manual Windows..........................................2-12
Power Windows............................................2-13
Sun Visors...................................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-14
Immobilizer..................................................2-14
Immobilizer Operation (Canada Only)...............2-15
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-18
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-18
Ignition Positions..........................................2-19
Starting the Engine.......................................2-20
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-22
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-23
Overdrive Off...............................................2-25
Manual Transmission Operation......................2-26
Parking Brake..............................................2-27Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)............................2-28
Shifting Out of PARK (P)...............................2-30
Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission).....2-31
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-31
Engine Exhaust............................................2-32
Running the Engine While Parked...................2-32
Mirrors...........................................................2-33
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-33
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar®..............2-33
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror................2-34
Outside Remote Control Mirrors......................2-34
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-35
OnStar
®System.............................................2-35
Storage Areas................................................2-39
Glove Box...................................................2-39
Cupholder(s)................................................2-39
Coinholder(s)................................................2-39
Instrument Panel Storage...............................2-39
Center Console Storage.................................2-39
Floor Mats...................................................2-39
Luggage Carrier...........................................2-40
Rear Storage Area........................................2-41
Rear Cargo Accessory Track System...............2-42
Cargo Cover................................................2-42
Cargo Tie Downs..........................................2-42
Sunroof.........................................................2-43
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Rear Door Security Locks
Your vehicle is equipped with rear door security locks
that help prevent passengers from opening the rear
doors on your vehicle from the inside.
The security locks are
located on the inside of
the rear door trim.To use these locks, do the following:
1. Slide the lever down.
2. Close the door.
3. Do the same thing to the other rear door lock.
The rear doors on your vehicle cannot be opened from
the inside when this feature is in use.
To open a rear door with the security lock, do the
following:
1. Unlock the door from the inside.
2. Then open the door from the outside.
If you don’t cancel the security lock feature, adults and
older children who ride in the rear won’t be able to open
the rear door from the inside. You should let adults and
older children know how these security locks work, and
how to cancel the locks.
2-9

To cancel the rear door security lock, do the following:
1. Unlock the door from the inside and open the
door from the outside.
2. Slide the lever up.
3. Do the same for the other rear door.
The rear door locks will now work normally.
Liftgate/Liftglass
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the liftgate or
liftglass open because carbon monoxide (CO)
gas can come into your vehicle. You cannot
see or smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
and even death. If you must drive with the
liftgate open or if electrical wiring or other
cable connections must pass through the seal
between the body and the liftgate or liftglass:
Make sure all other windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your climate control
system to its highest speed and select the
control setting that will force outside air
into your vehicle. See “Climate Control
System” in the Index.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 2-32.
2-10

Immobilizer Operation
(Canada Only)
Your vehicle has a passive theft-deterrent system.
The system is automatically armed when the key
is removed from the ignition.
You do not have to manually arm or disarm the system.
The security light will come on if there is a problem
with arming or disarming the theft-deterrent system.
Your vehicle will have one of the following security lights,
located on the instrument panel to the left of the steering
wheel.
The security light will ash when the system is armed.When the key is inserted in the ignition the transponder in
the key head transmits an electronic code to the vehicle
and automatically cancels the system. Only the correct
key will start the vehicle.
If the engine does not start, there may be a problem
with your theft-deterrent system. Turn the ignition off
and try again.
If the engine still does not start, and the key appears
to be undamaged, try another ignition key. At this time,
you may also want to check the fuse. SeeFuses
and Circuit Breakers on page 5-91.
If the engine still does not start with the other key,
your vehicle needs service. If your vehicle does start,
the rst key may be faulty. See your dealer/retailer who
can service the theft-deterrent system and have a new
key made.
If any of the following conditions occur, contact your
dealer/retailer.
The security light stays on.
The security light does not start ashing when the
key is removed from the ignition.
The security light ashes inconsistently.
See your dealer/retailer to have a new key with a
transponder made. Bring the key and key number
with you.
In an emergency, contact Roadside Assistance
Program. SeeRoadside Assistance Program on
page 7-6.
2-15

Do not leave the key or device that disarms
or deactivates the theft deterrent system in
the vehicle.
Content Theft-Deterrent
Your vehicle may have a theft-deterrent system
designed to activate an alarm if someone attempts to
damage or break into your vehicle. The alarm will sound
and the headlamps and turn signal lamps will ash for
about one minute. The interior lights will also come on
when the interior lamps control is in the door position.
Your vehicle will have one of the following security
lights, located on the instrument panel to the left of
the steering wheel.
Arming the System
To arm the system:
1. Remove the key from the ignition.
The security light will ash when the key is removed
from the ignition. SeeImmobilizer Operation (Canada
Only) on page 2-15for additional information.
2. Have all passengers get out of the vehicle.
3. Close and lock all doors including the liftgate/liftglass
with the key or Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter.
The security light will come on when all doors and
liftgate are closed and locked.
The system will be automatically set after
30 seconds. When the system is set, the
security light will ash.
4. After the security light starts ashing, you may
leave the vehicle.
Do not leave anyone in the vehicle when you set
the system, because unlocking the vehicle from the
inside will activate the system.
2-16

Testing the Alarm
To test the alarm:
1. Open all the windows.
2. Set the system as described in the previous
procedure. The doors and liftgate should be locked
with the key or RKE transmitter. Be sure to wait
until the security light starts ashing.
3. Unlock the driver’s door from the inside.
The system should activate the alarm.
4. Stop the alarm as described in the disarming
procedure following.
5. Repeat this operation for the other doors.
Also check that the system is activated when
the battery terminal is disconnected and then
reconnected.
If the system does not work properly, have it
checked by your dealer/retailer.
How the System Alarm is Activated
The system will activate the alarm:
If the driver’s or front passenger’s door is unlocked
without using the key or RKE transmitter.
If any door or the liftgate/liftglass is forcibly opened
without the key or RKE transmitter.
If the battery terminal is disconnected and then
reconnected.
If the ignition is hot-wired.
If the side window glass is broken or damaged.
The security light will come on when the system
is activated.
If the driver’s or front passenger’s doors are unlocked
without using the key or RKE transmitter, the other doors
and the liftgate will be automatically locked again.
After one minute the alarm will automatically stop and
the security light will start ashing again.
2-17