light PONTIAC VIBE 2008 Workshop Manual

Fuel Gage
The fuel gage shows about how much fuel is in your fuel
tank. An arrow on the fuel gage indicates that the fuel
ller door is on the driver side of your vehicle. The fuel
gage works only when the ignition switch is ON. When
the gage rst indicates E or empty, you still have a little
fuel left, about 1 or 2 gallons (3.8 L or 7.6 L), but you
need to get more right away. When your vehicle is low on
fuel the low fuel warning light, located below the empty
mark, will also come on to remind you to add fuel.Here are ve things some owners ask about. None of
these show a problem with the fuel gage:
At the gas station, the fuel pump shuts off before
the gage reads F or full.
It takes a little more or less fuel to ll up than the
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took
more or less than half the tank’s capacity to ll it.
It takes the gage several minutes to read F or full
after lling the vehicle with fuel.
The gage moves a little when you turn, stop or
speed up.
The gage does not go back to E or empty when you
turn off the ignition. United States
Canada
3-41

Low Fuel Warning Light
This light is located on the
fuel gage and comes on
when the fuel tank is
low on fuel.
To turn it off, add fuel to the fuel tank. SeeFuel on
page 5-5for more information.
Audio System(s)
Determine which radio your vehicle has and then read
the pages following to familiarize yourself with its
features.
{CAUTION:
This system provides you with far greater
access to audio stations and song listings.
Giving extended attention to entertainment
tasks while driving can cause a crash and you
or others can be injured or killed. Always keep
your eyes on the road and your mind on the
drive — avoid engaging in extended searching
while driving.
Keeping your mind on the drive is important for
safe driving. SeeDefensive Driving on page 4-2.
Here are some ways in which you can help avoid
distraction while driving.
3-42

Radio(s)
Your vehicle has one of these radios as its audio
system.
If your vehicle has the Premium audio system, it
includes seven speakers. See your dealer/retailer for
details.
The radio has a theft-deterrent feature. A red light blinks
while the engine is off to indicate the radio is protected.
It will not operate if it is installed in a different vehicle. Radio with CD (MP3) shown,
Radio with CD (Basic) similar
Radio with Six-Disc CD Player
3-44

Setting the Tone
(Bass/Midrange/Treble)
TONE:Press and release this button until BASS,
MID (midrange), or TREB (treble) displays. The SELECT
LED indicator lights to show that the tone control can
be adjusted. Turn the SELECT knob to increase or to
decrease. If a station is weak or has static, decrease
the treble.
Press and hold the TONE button until FLAT displays,
to return all of the tone controls to the middle position.
EQ (Equalizer):Press this button to select customized
bass, midrange, and treble equalization settings.
Up to six customized equalization settings, can be
programmed on the six numbered pushbuttons,
by performing the following steps:
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Use the TONE button and the SELECT knob to
create the desired equalization.
3. Press and hold the EQ button for two seconds.
SELECT EQ # displays and the EQ symbol
ashes.
4. Press EQ or turn the SELECT knob to select the
desired EQ number.5. Press and hold the EQ button to store the
equalization setting and the number. A beep
sounds and EQ SAVED displays.
6. Repeat the steps for the other EQ settings and
numbers.
EQ 5 has been programmed at the factory for use with
talk radio, but it can be set to a different tone.
For vehicles that have a radio with a Six-Disc CD
player, see the following for setting the tone.
AUDIO:For the Radio with Six-Disc CD player,
push and release the AUDIO knob until BASS, MID
(midrange), or TREB (treble) displays. Turn the knob to
increase or to decrease the tone. If a station is weak or
has static, decrease the treble.
To adjust bass, midrange, or treble to the middle position,
select BASS, MID, or TREB and push and hold the
AUDIO knob. The radio beeps once and adjusts the
display level to the middle position.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the AUDIO knob when no tone
or speaker controls display. CENTERED displays and a
beep sounds.
3-47

AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization):For the Radio
with Six-Disc CD player, press this button to select
customized equalization settings designed for country,
jazz, talk, pop, rock, and classical.
To return to the manual mode, press the AUTO EQ
button until CUSTOM displays. Then manually adjust
the bass, midrange, and treble using the AUDIO knob.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
BAL (Balance):To adjust the balance between the right
and the left speakers, press and release this button until
BAL displays. The SELECT LED indicator lights to show
that the speakers can be adjusted. Turn the SELECT
knob to move the sound toward the right or the left
speakers.
FADE:Press and release this button until FADE
displays, to adjust the fade between the front and the
rear speakers. The SELECT LED indicator lights to
show that the speakers can be adjusted. Turn the
SELECT knob to move the sound toward the front
or the rear speakers.Press and hold the BAL FADE button for two seconds
to return all speaker settings to the middle position.
For vehicles that have a radio with a Six-Disc CD player,
see the following for adjusting the speakers.
AUDIO:For the Radio with Six-Disc CD player, push
and release the AUDIO knob until BAL (balance)
displays, to adjust the balance between the right and
the left speakers. Turn the knob to move the sound
toward the right or the left speakers.
Push and release the AUDIO knob until FAD (fade)
displays, to adjust the fade between the front and rear
speakers. Turn the knob to move the sound toward
the front or the rear speakers.
Select balance or fade and push and hold the AUDIO
knob, to adjust the balance and the fade to the middle
position. The radio beeps once and adjusts the display
level to the middle position.
Push and hold the AUDIO knob when no tone or speaker
controls display, to adjust all tone and speaker controls
to the middle position. CENTERED displays and a beep
sounds.
3-48

Care of Your CDs
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. Handle them carefully. Store CD-R(s)
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 does not play properly or not at all. 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.
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.
If there is no apparent damage, try a known good CD.
Care of Your CD Player
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.
The use of CD lens cleaners for CDs is not advised,
due to the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics
with lubricants internal to the CD player mechanism.
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.
3-52

For vehicles that have a radio with a Six-Disc CD player,
see the following:
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.
4. Load a CD. Insert the CD partway into the slot,
label side up. The player pulls the CD in.
To insert multiple CDs, do the following:
1. Turn the ignition on.
2. Press and hold the LOAD button for two seconds.
A beep sounds and the indicator light, located to
the right of the slot, begins to ash.
3. Once the light stops ashing and turns green, load
a CD. Insert the CD partway into the slot, label side
up. The player pulls the CD in.
Once the CD is loaded, the light begins ashing
again. Once the light stops ashing and turns green,
load another CD. The CD player takes up to six CDs.
Do not try to load more than six.To load more than one CD but less than six, complete
Steps 1 through 3. When nished loading CDs, the
radio begins to play the last CD loaded.
If more than one CD has been loaded, a number for
each CD displays.
Playing a Specic Loaded CD
For every CD loaded, a number appears on the display.
To play a specic CD, rst press the CD AUX button,
then press the numbered pushbutton that corresponds
to the CD. A small bar appears under the CD number
that is playing and the track number displays.
If an error appears on the display, see “CD Messages”
later in this section.
LOAD / CD
Z(Eject):Press the CD eject side of this
button to eject a CD(s). A beep sounds and the indicator
light ashes to let you know when a CD is being ejected.
REMOVE CD displays. The CD can be removed.
If the CD is not removed, after 25 seconds, the CD is
automatically pulled back into the player. If the CD is
pushed back into the player, before the 25 second time
period is complete, the player senses an error and tries
to eject the CD several times before stopping.
3-53

AM
The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM,
especially at night. The longer range can cause station
frequencies to interfere with each other. For better radio
reception, most AM radio stations boost the power levels
during the day, and then reduce these levels during the
night. Static can also occur when things like storms and
power lines interfere with radio reception. When this
happens, try reducing the treble on your radio.
FM Stereo
FM stereo gives the best sound, but FM signals only
reach about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Tall buildings
or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing the
sound to fade in and out.
XM™ Satellite Radio Service
XM™ Satellite Radio Service gives digital radio
reception from coast-to-coast in the 48 contiguous
United States, and in Canada. Just as with FM,
tall buildings or hills can interfere with satellite radio
signals, causing the sound to fade in and out. In
addition, traveling or standing under heavy foliage,
bridges, garages, or through tunnels could cause loss
of the XM signal for a period of time. The radio may
display NO XM SIGNAL to indicate interference.
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.
If your vehicle has a sunroof, the performance of the
XM™ system may be affected 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.
3-64

For persons under 21, it is against the law in every
U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical,
psychological, and developmental reasons for
these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway
safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol
and then drive.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s
system can make crash injuries worse, especially
injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or heart. This means
that when anyone who has been drinking — driver
or passenger — is in a crash, that person’s chance
of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than
if the person had not been drinking.
Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems help to control your vehicle
while driving — brakes, steering, and accelerator. At
times, as when driving on snow or ice, it is easy to ask
more of those control systems than the tires and road can
provide. Meaning, you can lose control of your vehicle.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 5-3.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-32.
Braking action involves perception time and reaction
time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to bring
up your foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or
more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness,
coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol,
drugs, and frustration. But even in three-fourths of a
second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between
your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement or
gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is wet, dry, or
icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes; the weight of
the vehicle; and the amount of brake force applied.
4-3

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a
mistake. The brakes might not have time to cool between
hard stops. The brakes will wear out much faster if you do
alot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the traffic and
allow realistic following distances, you will eliminate a lot
of unnecessary braking. That means better braking and
longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are driving,
brake normally but do not pump the brakes. If you do, the
pedal could get harder to push down. If the engine stops,
you will still have some power brake assist. But you will
use it when you brake. Once the power assist is used up,
it can take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be
harder to push.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 5-3.Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle might have the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced electronic braking
system that will help prevent a braking skid.
If your vehicle has ABS, this warning light on the
instrument panel will come on briey when you start
your vehicle.
When you start the engine, or when you begin to
drive away, ABS will check itself. You might hear
a momentary motor or clicking noise while this test is
going on, and you might even notice that the brake
pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, the antilock brake
system warning light will stay on. SeeAntilock Brake
System Warning Light on page 3-33. United States
Canada
4-4