ignition PONTIAC VIBE 2009 Owner's Manual

Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can
make it easier for others to see
the front of your vehicle during the
day. Fully functional DRL are
required on all vehicles rst sold
in Canada.
The DRL system makes the
headlamps come on at a reduced
brightness when the following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on with the
engine running.
The exterior lamps switch is off.
The parking brake is released.
When the exterior lamp switch
is turned to the headlamp position,
the DRL go off and the headlamps
come on. The other lamps that
come on with the headlamps also
come on.The headlamps automatically switch
from DRL to the regular headlamps
depending on the darkness of
the surroundings. See “Automatic
Headlamp System” following.
DRL also comes on if only the
parking lamps are being used.
Automatic Headlamp
System
When it is dark enough outside,
the automatic headlamp system
turns on the low-beam headlamps at
the normal brightness along with
other lamps such as the taillamps,
sidemarker, parking lamps and
instrument panel lights. An indicator
light on the instrument panel comes
on when the headlamps are on.
SeeInstrument Panel Cluster on
page 4-12.If the vehicle is driven through a
parking garage, overcast weather, or
a tunnel, the automatic headlamp
system may turn on. There is
a delay before the lights turn on
when starting the car at night.
Do not cover the automatic light
sensor, located on the top left corner
of the instrument panel. If the
sensor is covered the headlamps
will stay on continuously.
Fog Lamps
#
(Fog Lamps):For vehicles with
fog lamps, move the band on the turn
signal/multifunction lever to
#to turn
them on. The fog lamps only come
on when the headlamps are on
low beam.
Some localities have laws that
require the headlamps to be
on along with the fog lamps.
5-2 Lighting
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Instrument Panel
Brightness
Use the trip odometer knob located
on the right side of the instrument
panel cluster to adjust the
instrument panel brightness.
Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to brighten
or dim the instrument panel.
The brightness of the instrument
panel lights decreases when
the headlamps are on.
Dome Lamp(s)
The interior lamps control is located
on the overhead lamp. To change
the interior lamps setting, slide
the switch to one of the following
positions:
OFF:Turns the lamp off.
ON:Keeps the lamp on all
the time.
Door:Turns the lamp on when
any door or the liftgate is opened.
The lamp goes off when all the side
doors and the liftgate are closed.
If the lamp switch is in the door
position and a door is left open,
the lamps will go off automatically
after 20 minutes.
Entry Lighting
After all the doors and liftgate
are closed, and the key is out of
the ignition, in LOCK/OFF or
ACC/ACCESSORY, the light
remains on for about 15 seconds
and then goes out, except under
the following conditions:
The ignition is turned to
ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN
after all the doors and liftgate
are closed.
All the doors and the liftgate are
locked and the light is still on.
When any door is unlocked with the
key or Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
system transmitter, the light comes
on for 15 seconds, even if the door is
not opened.
Lighting 5-3
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Reading Lamps
For vehicles with a sunroof, there is
a reading lamp near the sunroof
switch.
OFF:Turns the lamp off.
ON:Keeps the lamp on all
the time.
Door:Turns the lamp on when
any door or the liftgate is opened.
The lamp goes off when all the side
doors and the liftgate are closed.
Battery Run-Down
Protection
The vehicle has a battery saver
feature designed to protect
the vehicle’s battery.
This feature will only work with the
dome lamp in the Door position.
When any interior lamp is left on
and the ignition is turned off,
the battery rundown protection
system automatically turns the lamp
off after 20 minutes. This prevents
draining of the battery.
5-4 Lighting
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Setting the Clock
The radio has a CLOCK button for
adjusting the time and date.
The date does not automatically
display. To see the date press
CLOCK while the radio is on.
The date with display times out after
a few seconds and goes back to
the normal radio and time display.
To adjust the time and date:
1. Turn the ignition key to
ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN.
2. Press the PWR VOL
(Power/Volume) knob to
turn on the radio.
3. Press the CLOCK button, and
the HR, MIN, MM, DD, YYYY
(hour, minute, month, day,
and year) categories display.
4. Press the button under the
category to be adjusted.5. To increase the time or date,
do one of the following: turn
the TUNE ADJ (Tune/Adjust)
knob clockwise, press
SEEK/TRACK
y, press
FWD
((Forward), or continue
to press the button under the
category to be adjusted.
6. To decrease the time or date,
do one of the following:
turn the TUNE ADJ knob
counterclockwise, press
SEEK/TRACK
z, or press
REV
)(Reverse).
7. To save the settings, press
the CLOCK button, or let
the display time out.To change the time default setting
from 12 hour to 24 hour, and to
change the date default setting from
month/day/year to day/month/year:
1. Press the CLOCK button
and then the button below the
forward arrow label on the
display. The 12H and 24H, and
the date MMDD (month and
day) and DDMM (day and month)
categories will display.
2. Press the button below the
12H or 24H label, and the
date MMDD (month and day) or
DDMM (day and month) label
to choose how the radio displays
the time and date.
3. To save the settings, press
the CLOCK button, or let
the screen time out.
6-2 Infotainment
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Playing a CD
The CD player can play the smaller
3 inch (8 cm) single CDs with an
adapter ring.
1. Insert a CD label side up
partway into the slot.
2. The CD player pulls the CD in
and begins playing.
3. The CD symbol and track
number displays.
4. The CD stays in the player if the
ignition or radio is turned off.
5. If the CD was the last source
selected, it resumes playing
when the radio is turned on.
Y(EJECT):Press and release to
eject a CD. Once ejected it can be
removed. If the CD is not removed
after several seconds the CD player
automatically pulls the disc back into
the player and starts playing.TUNE ADJ:Turn the TUNE ADJ
knob to select tracks on the CD.
ySEEK TRACKz:Pressyto
go to the start of the current
track, if more than ten seconds
have played. Press
zto go to the
next track. Holding or pressing
yorzmultiple times causes the
player to continue moving backward
or forward through the tracks on
the CD.
(FWD REV)(Fast Forward/
Fast Reverse):Press and hold
(
to advance playback quickly within a
track. Release to resume playing the
track. Press and hold
)to reverse
playback quickly within a track.
Release to resume playing the track.
BAND:Press to listen to the radio
when a CD is playing.CD/AUX (CD/Auxiliary):Press to
play a CD when listening to the radio.
Press the CD/AUX button again and
the system begins playing audio from
the connected portable audio player.
If a portable audio player is not
connected, “No Input Device Found”
displays.
See “Using the Auxiliary Input Jack”
later in this section.
INFO (Information):Press to
switch the display between the
track number, elapsed time of the
track, and the time. When the
ignition is off, press this button to
display the time.
EQ (Equalization):Press to select
an equalization setting while playing
a CD. See “EQ” listed previously for
more information. If an EQ setting is
selected for a CD, it is activated each
time a CD is played.
Infotainment 6-7
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Music Navigator
The music navigator feature lets
MP3 CDs play in order by artist or
album.
The MP3 player scans the disc
to sort the les by artist and
album ID3 tag information.
It can take several minutes to
scan the disc depending
on the number of MP3 les
recorded to the CD-R.
The radio starts playing while
the disc is being scanned.
After the scan is nished,
the disc starts playing.
Playing an MP3
The MP3 player can play the
smaller 3 inch (8 cm) single CDs
with an adapter ring.
1. Insert a CD label side up
partway into the slot.
2. The CD player pulls the CD in
and begins playing.3. The CD stays in the player if the
ignition or radio is turned off.
4. If the CD was the last source
selected, it resumes playing
when the radio is turned on.
Y(EJECT):Press and release
to eject a CD. Once the disc is
ejected it can be removed.
If the CD is not removed after
several seconds the CD player
automatically pulls the disc back
into the player and starts playing.
ySEEK TRACKz:Press to go to
the start of the current track, if
more than ten seconds have played.
Press
zto go to the next track.
Holding or pressing
yorzmultiple
times will cause the player to
continue moving backward or
forward through the tracks on
the CD.
(FWD REV)(Fast Forward/
Fast Reverse):Press and hold
)
to advance playback quickly within
a track. Release
(to resume
playing the track. Press and hold
)
to reverse playback quickly within a
track. Release
(to resume
playing the track.
BAND:Press to listen to the radio
when a CD is playing.
INFO (Information):Press when
an MP3 CD is loaded, then press
the button below the Song, Artist,
Album, or Folder label to view
the information.
CD/AUX (CD/Auxiliary):Press to
play a CD when listening to the
radio.
Press the CD/AUX button again and
the system begins playing audio
from the connected portable audio
player. If a portable audio player
is not connected, “No Input Device
Found” displays.
Infotainment 6-11
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Recirculation
?(Recirculation):Press to
turn the recirculation mode on or off.
An indicator light shows that it is on.
This mode recirculates the air inside
the vehicle and helps to heat or cool
the air more quickly. It can be used to
prevent outside air and odors from
entering the vehicle.
Press the button again to turn
the recirculation mode off and the
outside air mode on. Recirculation
is automatically turned off when the
climate control system mode knob
is turned to defog, defrost, or is
positioned between modes.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a
warming grid to clear fog from
the rear window. It will only work
when the ignition is in the ON/RUN
position.
=(Rear Defogger):Press to turn
the rear window defogger on or off.
An indicator light shows that it is on.
The rear window defogger stays on
until it is manually turned off. Clear
any snow from the rear window.
If the ignition is turned off, while
the rear window defogger is on, the
defogger turns back on automatically
when the ignition is in the ON/RUN
position again.
Notice:Do not use a razor blade
or sharp object to clear the inside
rear window. Do not adhere
anything to the defogger grid lines
in the rear glass. These actions
may damage the rear defogger.
Repairs would not be covered
by your warranty.
Outlet Adjustment
Use the air outlets located in
the center and outboard sides of
the instrument panel, to change the
direction of the air owing through
the vents.
Operation Tips

Clear away any ice, snow or
leaves from the outside air
inlets at the base of the
windshield.
Use of non-GM approved hood
deectors can adversely affect
the performance of the system.
Keep the area under the
front seats clear of objects for
more effective air circulation.
If the airow seems low when
the fan is at the highest setting,
the passenger compartment air
lter might need to be replaced.
For more information, see
Passenger Compartment Air
Filter later in this section.
Climate Controls 7-3
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Driving and
Operating
Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In.........8-2
Ignition Positions................8-2
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP).....................8-4
Starting the Engine.............8-4
Engine Coolant Heater.......8-5
Automatic Transmission
Operation (Four Speed). . . .8-6
Automatic Transmission
Operation (Five Speed).....8-8
Manual Transmission
Operation........................8-11
Parking Brake...................8-12
Shifting Into Park..............8-13
Shifting Out of Park..........8-14
Parking the Vehicle
(Manual Transmission). . . .8-15
Parking Over Things
That Burn........................8-16
Engine Exhaust.................8-16
Running the Vehicle
While Parked..................8-17
Driving Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving..............8-17
Drunk Driving....................8-18
Control of a Vehicle..........8-18
Braking.............................8-19
Antilock Brake
System (ABS).................8-20
Traction Control
System (TCS).................8-21
All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
System............................8-22
StabiliTrak®System..........8-22
Steering............................8-23
Off-Road Recovery............8-24
Passing.............................8-25
Loss of Control.................8-25
Driving at Night.................8-26
Driving in Rain and on
Wet Roads......................8-27
Before Leaving on a
Long Trip........................8-28
Highway Hypnosis.............8-28
Hill and Mountain Roads. . .8-28
Winter Driving...................8-29
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in
Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow. . .8-31
Rocking Your Vehicle to
Get It Out.......................8-31
Loading the Vehicle..........8-32
Fuel
Fuel..................................8-36
Gasoline Octane...............8-36
Gasoline Specications.....8-36
California Fuel..................8-36
Additives...........................8-37
Fuels in Foreign
Countries........................8-37
Filling the Tank.................8-38
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container........................8-40
Driving and Operating 8-1
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Starting and
Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:The vehicle does
not need an elaborate break-in.
But it will perform better in
the long run if you follow
these guidelines:
Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not make full-throttle
starts. Avoid downshifting
to brake or slow the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops for
the rst 200 miles (322 km) or
so. During this time the new
brake linings are not yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings
can mean premature wear and
earlier replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. SeeTowing a Trailer
on page 9-77for the trailer
towing capabilities of your
vehicle and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has four different
positions.
To shift out of P (Park), turn the
ignition to ON/RUN and apply
the brake pedal.
Notice:Using a tool to force the
key to turn in the ignition could
cause damage to the switch or
break the key. Use the correct key,
make sure it is all the way in, and
turn it only with your hand. If the
key cannot be turned by hand,
see your dealer/retailer.
8-2 Driving and Operating
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

LOCK/OFF:This is the only position
from which you can remove the key.
This locks the steering wheel,
ignition and automatic transmission.
Push in the ignition switch as you
turn the key toward you.
On vehicles with an automatic
transmission, the shift lever must be
in P (Park) to turn the ignition switch
to the LOCK/OFF position.
A warning tone will sound if the driver
door is opened with the key in the
ignition.
The ignition switch can bind in the
LOCK/OFF position with your wheels
turned off center. If this happens,
move the steering wheel from right
to left while turning the key to
ACC/ACCESSORY. If this doesn’t
work, then the vehicle needs service.{CAUTION
On manual transmission vehicles,
turning the key to LOCK/OFF and
removing it will lock the steering
column and result in a loss of
ability to steer the vehicle.
This could cause a collision.
If you need to turn the engine
off while the vehicle is moving,
turn the key only to ACC/
ACCESSORY. Do not push the
key in while the vehicle is moving.
ACC/ACCESSORY:This position
provides power to some of the
electrical accessories. It unlocks the
steering wheel and ignition. To move
the key from ACC/ACCESSORY to
LOCK/OFF, push in the key and then
turn it to LOCK/OFF.
A warning tone will sound when
the driver door is opened when the
ignition is still in ACC/ACCESSORY
or LOCK/OFF and the key is in the
ignition.ON/RUN:The ignition switch stays
in this position when the engine is
running. This position can be used to
operate the electrical accessories,
including the ventilation fan and
115 volt power outlet, as well as to
display some warning and indicator
lights. The transmission is also
unlocked in this position on
automatic transmission vehicles.
The battery could be drained
if you leave the key in the ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN position
with the engine off. You may not be
able to start the vehicle if the battery
is allowed to drain for an extended
period of time.
START:This position starts the
engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch
will return to ON/RUN for normal
driving.
Driving and Operating 8-3
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual