traction control PONTIAC VIBE 2009 User Guide

{CAUTION
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or
with the ignition off is dangerous.
The brakes will have to do all the
work of slowing down and they
could get so hot that they would
not work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none
going down a hill. You could crash.
Always have the engine running
and the vehicle in gear when going
downhill.
Stay in your own lane. Do not
swing wide or cut across the
center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in
your own lane.
Top of hills: Be alert — something
could be in your lane (stalled car,
accident).
Pay attention to special road
signs (falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow
or ice between the tires and the road,
creating less traction or grip. Wet ice
can occur at about 32°F (0°C) when
freezing rain begins to fall, resulting
in even less traction. Avoid driving on
wet ice or in freezing rain until roads
can be treated with salt or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the
condition. Accelerate gently so
traction is not lost. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick, so there is even less
traction.
Try not to break the fragile traction.
If you accelerate too fast, the drive
wheels will spin and polish the
surface under the tires even more.TheAntilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 8-20improves vehicle
stability during hard stops on
a slippery roads, but apply the
brakes sooner than when on
dry pavement.
Allow greater following distance
on any slippery road and watch for
slippery spots. Icy patches can occur
on otherwise clear roads in shaded
areas. The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid
sudden steering maneuvers and
braking while on ice.
Turn off cruise control, if equipped,
on slippery surfaces.
Driving and Operating 8-29
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Accessories and
Modications
When non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories are added to the vehicle,
they can affect vehicle performance
and safety, including such things
as airbags, braking, stability, ride
and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and
electronic systems like antilock
brakes, traction control, and stability
control. Some of these accessories
could even cause malfunction or
damage not covered by the vehicle
warranty.
GM Accessories are designed
to complement and function with
other systems on the vehicle.
Your GM dealer/retailer can
accessorize the vehicle using
genuine GM Accessories. Whenyou go to your GM dealer/retailer
and ask for GM Accessories, you will
know that GM-trained and supported
service technicians will perform the
work using genuine GM Accessories.
Also, seeAdding Equipment to
Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 1-34.
California Proposition 65
Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and systems
(including some inside the vehicle),
many uids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or
emit these chemicals.
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
remote keyless transmitters, may
contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-3
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Different Size Tires and
Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are
a different size than your original
equipment wheels and tires, this
may affect the way your vehicle
performs, including its braking,
ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover.
Additionally, if your vehicle has
electronic systems such as, antilock
brakes, traction control, and
electronic stability control, the
performance of these systems
can be affected.
{CAUTION
If you add different sized
wheels, your vehicle may not
provide an acceptable level of
performance and safety if tires not
recommended for those wheels
are selected. You may increase
the chance that you will crash and
suffer serious injury. Only use GM
specic wheel and tire systems
developed for your vehicle, and
have them properly installed by
a GM certied technician.
SeeBuying New Tires on page 9-54
andAccessories and Modifications
on page 9-3for additional
information.
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire
sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum selection width.
For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates
to the system developed by the
Unites States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), which grades tires
by treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance.
This applies only to vehicles
sold in the United States.
9-56 Vehicle Service and Care
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

The grades are molded on
the sidewalls of most passenger
car tires. The Uniform Tire
Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep
tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver, or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal
rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on
General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary
with respect to these grades,
they must also conform to
federal safety requirements.Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on
a specied government test
course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1
12) times as well on the
government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may
depart signicantly from the
norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices,
and differences in road
characteristics and climate.Traction — AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from
highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. Those grades represent
the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specied
government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor
traction performance.
{WARNING
The traction grade assigned
to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-57
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Tire Chains
{CAUTION
If the vehicle has P215/45R18
size tires, do not use tire chains.
There is not enough clearance.
Tire chains used on a vehicle
without the proper amount of
clearance can cause damage to
the brakes, suspension or other
vehicle parts. The area damaged
by the tire chains could cause you
to lose control of the vehicle and
you or others may be injured in a
crash.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Use another type of traction
device only if its manufacturer
recommends it for use on the
vehicle and tire size combination
and road conditions. Follow that
manufacturer’s instructions.
To help avoid damage to the
vehicle, drive slowly, readjust
or remove the device if it is
contacting the vehicle, and
do not spin the wheels.
If you do nd traction devices that
will t, install them on the front
tires.Notice:If the vehicle has a tire
size other than P215/45R18 size
tires, use tire chains only where
legal and only when you must.
Use only SAE Class “S” type
chains that are the proper size for
the tires. Install them on the front
tires and tighten them as tightly as
possible with the ends securely
fastened. Drive slowly and follow
the chain manufacturer’s
instructions. If you can hear the
chains contacting the vehicle,
stop and retighten them. If the
contact continues, slow down
until it stops. Driving too fast or
spinning the wheels with chains
on will damage the vehicle.
9-60 Vehicle Service and Care
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

I
Ignition Positions................... 8-2
Immobilizer........................... 2-9
Immobilizer Operation............. 2-9
Infants and Young Children,
Restraints........................1-38
Ination - Tire Pressure.........9-47
Inspection
Brake System.................11-17
Engine Cooling System....11-17
Exhaust System..............11-16
Fuel System...................11-16
Part C - Periodic
Maintenance...............11-16
Steering, Suspension and
Front Drive Axle Boot
and Seal....................11-16
Throttle System..............11-17
Instrument Panel
Brightness......................... 5-3
Cluster............................4-12
Overview........................... 4-2
J
Jump Starting......................9-71
K
Keyless Entry System............ 2-3
Keys.................................... 2-2
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall..........9-42
Lamp
Malfunction Indicator.........4-20
Lamps
Dome ............................... 5-3
Reading............................ 5-4
Lap-Shoulder Belt................1-16
LATCH System
Replacing Parts After a
Crash..........................1-49
LATCH System for Child
Restraints........................1-44
License Plate Lamps............9-34
Liftgate
Carbon Monoxide............... 2-8
Light
Airbag Readiness.............4-14
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning..............4-18
Brake System Warning......4-17
Charging System..............4-16Light (cont.)
Cruise Control..................4-23
Door Ajar.........................4-24
Fog Lamp ........................4-23
Highbeam On...................4-24
Lights On Reminder..........4-23
Low Fuel Warning.............4-25
Low Tire Pressure
Warning Light...............4-18
Low Washer Fluid
Warning.......................4-23
Oil Pressure.....................4-22
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator.......................4-15
Safety Belt Reminders.......4-14
Security...........................4-22
Service All-Wheel-Drive......4-24
Speed Sensitive Power
Steering (SSPS)
Warning Light...............4-18
StabiliTrak
®Indicator.........4-19
Taillamp Indicator..............4-23
TCS Warning Light...........4-19
Traction Control System
(TCS) Warning..............4-19
Lighting
Entry................................ 5-3
INDEX i-5
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