change wheel PONTIAC VIBE 2009 User Guide

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on the hazard
warning ashers. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 4-3.
{CAUTION
Changing a tire can be dangerous.
The vehicle can slip off the jack
and roll over or fall on you or other
people. You and they could be
badly injured or even killed. Find
a level place to change your tire.
To help prevent the vehicle from
moving:
1. Set the parking brake rmly.
2. Put an automatic
transmission shift lever in
P (Park), or shift a manual
transmission to 1 (First) or
R (Reverse).
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
3. Turn off the engine and do
not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to
remain in the vehicle.
To be certain the vehicle will not
move, put blocks at the front and
rear of the tire farthest away from
the one being changed. That
would be the tire on the other
side, at the opposite end of the
vehicle.When you have a at tire, use the
following example as a guide to
assist you in the placement of
wheel blocks.
The following information tells you
how to use the jack and change
a tire.
9-62 Vehicle Service and Care
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

8. Remove the wheel nuts and the
at tire.
9. Install the spare tire.
{CAUTION
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When
you change a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle.
In an emergency, you can use a
cloth or a paper towel to do this;
but be sure to use a scraper
or wire brush later, if needed,
to get all the rust or dirt off.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on
page 9-62.10. Remove any rust or dirt from
the wheel bolts, mounting
surfaces and spare wheel.
11. Place the compact spare tire on
the wheel-mounting surface.
{CAUTION
Never use oil or grease on bolts
or nuts because the nuts might
come loose. The vehicle’s wheel
could fall off, causing a crash.
9-66 Vehicle Service and Care
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

4. Clamp the steering wheel in a
straight-ahead position with a
clamping device designed
for towing.
5. Remove the key from the
ignition.
6. Secure the vehicle to the dolly.
7. Release the parking brake.
Towing a Trailer
{CAUTION
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly.
For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work
well or even at all. The driver and
passengers could be seriously
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
injured. The vehicle may also be
damaged; the resulting repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer only
if all the steps in this section have
been followed. Ask your
dealer/retailer for advice and
information about towing a trailer
with the vehicle.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it
is equipped with the proper trailer
towing equipment. To identify the
vehicle trailering capacity of your
vehicle, you should read the
information in “Weight of the Trailer”
that appears later in this section.
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 is 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, transmission, 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.
In addition, the trailer adds
considerably to wind resistance,
increasing the pulling requirements.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-77
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

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
More distance in front is needed to
pass when towing a trailer. And,
because the tow vehicle and trailer
are longer, you will need to go
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. The vehicle could
be damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering.
When you are turning with a trailer,
make wider turns than normal.
Do this so your trailer will not 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/retailer. The arrows
on the instrument panel ash
whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the
trailer lamps also ash, telling other
drivers you are about to turn, change
lanes or stop.When towing a trailer, the arrows
on the 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 is
important to check occasionally to be
sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gearbeforeyou start down a long or
steep downgrade. If you do not 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
transmission overheating.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-81
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire.....9-64
Removing the Spare Tire
and Tools........................9-63
Replacement Bulbs..............9-35
Replacement Parts,
Maintenance....................10-4
Replacing LATCH System
Parts After a Crash...........1-49
Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government.....12-15
General Motors...............12-16
United States
Government................12-15
Restraint System Check
Replacing Airbag System
Parts After a Crash........1-35
Replacing Safety Belt
System Parts After a
Crash..........................1-20
Retained Accessory Power...... 8-4
Roadside
Assistance Program..........12-5
Rocking Your Vehicle to
Get it Out ........................8-31
Routing, Engine Drive Belt....10-5
Running the Vehicle While
Parked............................8-17S
Safety Belt Reminders..........4-14
Safety Belts.......................... 1-8
Care of ...........................1-20
Check.............................1-20
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly.......................1-11
Lap-Shoulder Belt.............1-16
Replacing Parts After a
Crash..........................1-20
Safety Belt Extender.........1-19
Safety Belt Use During
Pregnancy....................1-19
Scheduled Maintenance........11-4
Seatback, Folding Passenger . . . 1-4
Seats
Head Restraints................. 1-6
Height Adjuster.................. 1-2
Passenger Folding
Seatback....................... 1-4
Rear Seat Operation........... 1-7
Reclining Seatbacks............ 1-3
Securing Child
Restraints................1-50, 1-53
Security Light......................4-22Service................................ 9-2
Accessories and
Modications.................. 9-3
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle..... 9-4
All-Wheel-Drive Light.........4-24
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements.... 9-3
California Proposition
65 Warning.................... 9-3
Doing Your Own Work........ 9-4
Engine Soon Lamp...........4-20
Owner Checks................... 9-5
Publications Ordering
Information.................12-16
Service Airbag Notication
System Message..............4-16
Service, Scheduling
Appointments...................12-8
Servicing Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle....1-33
Setting the Clock................... 6-2
Sheet Metal Damage............9-89
Shifting Into Park.................8-13
Shifting Out of Park..............8-14
Signals, Turn and
Lane-Change..................... 4-7
i-8 INDEX
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Traction
Control System (TCS).......8-21
Control System Warning
Light............................4-19
Stabilitrak
®System...........8-22
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic................9-14
Fluid, Manual...................9-16
Transmission Operation,
Automatic...................8-6, 8-8
Transmission Operation,
Manual............................8-11
Trip Odometers....................4-13
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals............................. 4-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction
Lever................................ 4-4
U
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading...........................9-56
V
Vehicle
Control............................8-18
Loading...........................8-32
Parking Your....................8-15
Running While Parked.......8-17
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy..........................12-17
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN)...................10-1
Service Parts Identication
Label...........................10-1
Ventilation Adjustment............. 7-3
Visors.................................2-13
W
Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators........................4-11
Warnings
Hazard Warning Flashers.... 4-3
Washer Fluid, Low Warning
Light...............................4-23
Wheels
Alignment and
Tire Balance.................9-58
Different Size...................9-56
Replacement....................9-59Where to Put the Restraint....1-43
Windows.............................2-12
Power.............................2-12
Windshield
Washer............................. 4-8
Washer Fluid....................9-24
Wiper Blade
Replacement................9-25
Wiper Fuses....................9-36
Wipers.............................. 4-7
Windshield, Rear Washer/
Wiper............................... 4-8
Winter Driving......................8-29
X
XM Radio Messages............6-12
XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna System...............6-14
Y
Your Vehicle and the
Environment.....................11-2
i-10 INDEX
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual