tires PONTIAC VIBE 2009 Owner's Guide

Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent,
cracked or badly rusted or corroded.
If wheel nuts keep coming loose,
the wheel, wheel bolts and wheel
nuts should be replaced. If the
wheel leaks air, replace it (except
some aluminum wheels, which can
sometimes be repaired). See your
dealer/retailer if any of these
conditions exist.
Your dealer/retailer will know the
kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have
the same load-carrying capacity,
diameter, width, offset and be
mounted the same way as the
one it replaces.If you need to replace any of the
wheels, wheel bolts or wheel
nuts, replace them only with new
GM original equipment parts.
This way, you will be sure to have
the right wheel, wheel bolts and
wheel nuts for the vehicle.
{CAUTION
Using the wrong replacement
wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel
nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the
braking and handling of your
vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control.
You could have a collision in
which you or others could be
injured. Always use the correct
wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts for replacement.Notice:The wrong wheel can
also cause problems with bearing
life, brake cooling, speedometer
or odometer calibration, headlamp
aim, bumper height, vehicle
ground clearance, and tire or tire
chain clearance to the body and
chassis.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on
page 9-62for more information.Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION
Putting a used wheel on the
vehicle is dangerous. You cannot
know how it has been used
or how far it has been driven.
It could fail suddenly and cause
a crash. If you have to replace a
wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
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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.
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Tire Changing
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout
while you are driving, especially if
you maintain your vehicle’s tires
properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is
much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a
blowout, here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire
creates a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot off
the accelerator pedal and grip thesteering wheel rmly. Steer to
maintain lane position, and then
gently brake to a stop well out of
the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and
may require the same correction
you would use in a skid. In any
rear blowout remove your foot
from the accelerator pedal. Get the
vehicle under control by steering the
way you want the vehicle to go. It
may be very bumpy and noisy, but
you can still steer. Gently brake to a
stop, well off the road if possible.
{CAUTION
Lifting a vehicle and getting under
it to do maintenance or repairs is
dangerous without the appropriate
safety equipment and training. If a
jack is provided with the vehicle, it
is designed only for changing a
at tire. If it is used for anything
else, you or others could be badly
injured or killed if the vehicle slips
off the jack. If a jack is provided
with the vehicle, only use it for
changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part
shows how to use the jacking
equipment to change a at tire
safely.
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Return the jack and tools to the left
side of the compartment after use.
Compact Spare Tire
The compact spare tire was fully
inated when the vehicle was new,
it can lose air after a time. Check
the ination pressure regularly.
It should be 60 psi (414 kPa).
After installing the compact spare
on your vehicle, you should stop as
soon as possible and make sure
your spare tire is correctly inated.
The compact spare is intended to
perform well at speeds up to 50 mph
(80 km/h), so you can nish your trip
and have your full-size tire repaired
or replaced where you want. Replace
your spare with a full-size tire as
soon as you can.Notice:When the compact spare
is installed, do not take the vehicle
through an automatic car wash
with guide rails. The compact
spare can get caught on the rails
which can damage the tire, wheel
and other parts of the vehicle.
Do not use your compact spare on
other vehicles.
Do not mix your compact spare
tire or wheel with other wheels or
tires. Keep your spare tire and
its wheel together.
Notice:Tire chains will not
t the compact spare. Using
them can damage the vehicle
and can damage the chains too.
Do not use tire chains on the
compact spare.
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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.
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If You Do Decide To Pull A
Trailer
If you do, here are some important
points:
There are many different laws,
including speed limit restrictions,
having to do with trailering. Make
sure the rig will be legal, not only
where you live but also where you
will be driving. A good source for
this information can be state or
provincial police.
Consider using a sway control.
Ask a hitch dealer about sway
controls.
Do not tow a trailer at all during
the rst 1,000 miles (1 600 km)
the new vehicle is driven. The
engine, axle or other parts could
be damaged.
Then, during the rst 500 miles
(800 km) that trailer is towed, do
not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h)
and do not make starts at full
throttle. This helps the engine
and other parts of the vehicle
wear in at the heavier loads.
Obey speed limit restrictions
when towing a trailer. Do not drive
faster than the maximum posted
speed for trailers, or no more than
55 mph (90 km/h), to save wear
on the vehicle’s parts.
Three important considerations have
to do with weight:
the weight of the trailer
the weight of the trailer tongue
and the total weight on your
vehicle’s tires
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than
1,500 lbs (680 kg). But even
that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to
use your rig. For example, speed,
altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your
vehicle is used to pull a trailer are
all important. It can also depend on
any special equipment that you have
on your vehicle, and the amount of
tongue weight the vehicle can carry.
See “Weight of the Trailer Tongue”
later in this section for more
information.
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Maximum trailer weight is calculated
assuming only the driver is in the tow
vehicle and it has all the required
trailering equipment. The weight
of additional optional equipment,
passengers and cargo in the tow
vehicle must be subtracted from
the maximum trailer weight.
You can ask your dealer/retailer for
our trailering information or advice,
or you can write us at our Customer
Assistance Offices. SeeCustomer
Assistance Offices on page 12-4for
more information.
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer
is an important weight to measure
because it affects the total or gross
weight of your vehicle. The Gross
Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes the
curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo
you may carry in it, and the people
who will be riding in the vehicle.And if you tow a trailer, you must add
the tongue load to the GVW because
your vehicle will be carrying that
weight, too. SeeLoading the Vehicle
on page 8-32for more information
about your vehicle’s maximum load
capacity.
If using a weight-carrying hitch or a
weight-distributing hitch, the trailer
tongue (A) should weigh 10 to
15 percent of the total loaded trailer
weight (B).After the trailer is loaded, weigh
the trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights
are proper. If they are not, you may
be able to get them right simply
by moving some items around in
the trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s
Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are
inated to the upper limit for cold
tires. These numbers are located on
the Tire and Loading Information
label located on the vehicle’s center
pillar (B-pillar). SeeLoading the
Vehicle on page 8-32. Then be sure
you do not go over the GVW limit
for your vehicle, including the weight
of the trailer tongue.
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Hitches
It is important to have the correct
hitch equipment. Crosswinds,
large trucks going by and rough
roads are a few reasons why
you will need the right hitch.
Here are some rules to follow:
Do not let the steel in a hitch
contact the aluminum on your
bumper because it can corrode.
Use something like paint or plastic
tape to separate the steel and
aluminum. The same steel to
aluminum problem can happen
with fasteners too.
Will you have to make any holes
in the body of your vehicle when
you install a trailer hitch? If you
do, then be sure to seal the holes
later when you remove the hitch.
If you do not seal them, deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) from the
exhaust can get into your vehicle.
See “Engine Exhaust” in the
Index. Dirt and water can too.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains
between your vehicle and your
trailer. Cross the safety chains
under the tongue of the trailer
so that the tongue will not drop
to the road if it becomes separated
from the hitch. Instructions about
safety chains may be provided
by the hitch manufacturer or by
the trailer manufacturer. Follow the
manufacturer’s recommendation for
attaching safety chains and do not
attach them to the bumper. Leave
sufficient slack in the chain for turns.
Never allow safety chains to drag on
the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Does your trailer have its own
brakes?
Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for the trailer brakes so
you will be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly. If you have
antilock brakes, do not tap into your
vehicle’s brake system. If you do,
both systems will not work well,
or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. Get to know
the rig before setting out for the open
road. Acquaint yourself with the feel
of handling and braking with the
added weight of the trailer. And
always keep in mind that the vehicle
you are driving is now a good deal
longer and not nearly as responsive
as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer
hitch, platform and attachments,
safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment.
If the trailer has electric brakes, start
your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller
by hand to be sure the brakes
are working. This lets you check
your electrical connection at the
same time.
During your trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure,
and that the lamps and any
trailer brakes are still working.
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Windshield and Wiper Blades
Clean the outside of the windshield
with glass cleaner.
Clean the rubber blades using a lint
free cloth or paper towel soaked with
windshield washer uid or a mild
detergent. Wash the windshield
thoroughly when cleaning the blades.
Bugs, road grime, sap, and a buildup
of vehicle wash/wax treatments may
cause wiper streaking. Replace the
wiper blades if they are worn or
damaged.
Wipers can be damaged by:
Extreme dusty conditions
Sand and salt
Heat and sun
Snow and ice, without proper
removal
Tires
To clean the tires, use a stiff brush
with tire cleaner.
Notice:Using petroleum-based
tire dressing products on your
vehicle may damage the paint
nish and/or tires. When applying
a tire dressing, always wipe off
any overspray from all painted
surfaces on your vehicle.
Sheet Metal Damage
If the vehicle is damaged and
requires sheet metal repair or
replacement, make sure the body
repair shop applies anti-corrosion
material to parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion
protection.Original manufacturer replacement
parts will provide the corrosion
protection while maintaining
the vehicle warranty.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep
scratches in the nish should be
repaired right away. Bare metal will
corrode quickly and may develop into
major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be
repaired with touch-up materials
available from your dealer/retailer.
Larger areas of nish damage can be
corrected in your dealer’s/retailer’s
body and paint shop.
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The proper uids and lubricants to
use are listed in Part D. Make
sure whoever services the vehicle
uses these. All parts should be
replaced and all necessary repairs
done before you or anyone else
drives the vehicle.
These schedules are for
vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo
within recommended limits on
the Tire and Loading Information
label. SeeLoading the Vehicle
on page 8-32.
are driven on reasonable road
surfaces within legal driving limits.
use the recommended fuel.
SeeGasoline Octane on
page 8-36.
Scheduled Maintenance
The services shown in this schedule
up to 120,000 miles (192 000 km)
should be repeated after
120,000 miles (192 000 km) at the
same intervals for the life of this
vehicle.
SeePart B: Owner Checks and
Services on page 11-12,Part C:
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
on page 11-16, andPart D:
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11-18.
Footnotes
†The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency or the California Air
Resources Board has determined
that the failure to perform this
maintenance item will not nullify the
emissions warranty or limit recall
liability prior to the completion of the
vehicle’s useful life. We, however,
urge that all recommended
maintenance services be performed
at the indicated intervals and the
maintenance be recorded.+A good time to check your brakes
is during tire rotation. See Brake
System Inspection on page 11-17.
5,000 Miles (8 000 km)
❑Change engine oil and lter
(or every 3 months, whichever
occurs rst).An Emission Control
Service.
❑Rotate tires. SeeTire Inspection
and Rotation on page 9-53for
proper rotation pattern and
additional information.
(See footnote +.)
❑Inspect engine air cleaner lter
if you are driving in dusty
conditions. Replace lter if
necessary.
10,000 Miles (16 000 km)
❑Change engine oil and lter
(or every 3 months, whichever
occurs rst).An Emission
Control Service.
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2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual