tow PONTIAC VIBE 2009 Repair Manual

Ignition Transmission Lock
Check
While parked, and with the parking
brake set, try to turn the ignition
to LOCK/OFF in each shift lever
position.
For automatic transmission
vehicles, the ignition should turn
to LOCK/OFF only when the shift
lever is in P (Park).
For manual transmission vehicles,
the ignition should turn to LOCK/
OFF only if you push the ignition
key in farther, while turning it
toward LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer/retailer if
service is required.
Parking Brake and Automatic
Transmission P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{CAUTION
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the
vehicle facing downhill. Keeping
your foot on the regular brake,
set the parking brake.
To check the parking brake’s
holding ability: With the engine
running and transmission in
N (Neutral), slowly remove foot
pressure from the regular
brake pedal. Do this until the
vehicle is held by the parking
brake only.
To check the P (Park)
mechanism’s holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to
P (Park). Then release the
parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Contact your dealer/retailer if
service is required.
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain
water to ush any corrosive
materials from the underbody.
Take care to clean thoroughly
any areas where mud and other
debris can collect.
Service and Maintenance 11-15
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Calling for Assistance
When calling Roadside Assistance,
have the following information ready:
Your name, home address, and
home telephone number
Telephone number of your
location
Location of the vehicle
Model, year, color, and license
plate number of the vehicle
Odometer reading, Vehicle
Identication Number (VIN), and
delivery date of the vehicle
Description of the problem
Coverage
Services are provided up to
5 years/100,000 miles (160 000 km),
whichever comes rst.
In the U.S., anyone driving the
vehicle is covered. In Canada, a
person driving the vehicle without
permission from the owner is not
covered.Roadside Assistance is not a part of
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Pontiac and General Motors of
Canada Limited reserve the right to
make any changes or discontinue
the Roadside Assistance program at
any time without notication.
Pontiac and General Motors of
Canada Limited reserve the right to
limit services or payment to an owner
or driver if they decide the claims are
made too often, or the same type of
claim is made many times.
Services Provided

Emergency Fuel Delivery:
Delivery of enough fuel
for the vehicle to get to the
nearest service station.
Lock-Out Service:Service is
provided to unlock the vehicle if
you are locked out. A remote
unlock may be available if you
have OnStar
®. For security
reasons, the driver must present
identication before this service
is given.
Emergency Tow From a Public
Road or Highway:Tow to the
nearest Pontiac dealer for
warranty service, or if the vehicle
was in a crash and cannot be
driven. Assistance is also given
when the vehicle is stuck in sand,
mud, or snow.
Flat Tire Change:Service is
provided to change a at tire with
the spare tire. The spare tire,
if equipped, must be in good
condition and properly inated.
It is the owner’s responsibility for
the repair or replacement of the
tire if it is not covered by the
warranty.
Battery Jump Start:Service is
provided to jump start a dead
battery.
12-6 Customer Information
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Trip Interruption Benets and
Assistance:If your trip is
interrupted due to a warranty
failure, incidental expenses
may be reimbursed during the
5 years/100,000 miles
(160 000 km) Powertrain warranty
period. Items considered are
hotel, meals, and rental car.
Services Not Included in
Roadside Assistance

Impound towing caused by
violation of any laws.
Legal nes.
Mounting, dismounting or
changing of snow tires, chains,
or other traction devices.
Towing or services for vehicles
driven on a non-public road or
highway.
Services Specic to Canadian
Purchased Vehicles

Fuel delivery:Reimbursement is
approximately $5 Canadian.
Diesel fuel delivery may be
restricted. Propane and other
fuels are not provided through
this service.
Lock-Out Service:Vehicle
registration is required.
Trip Routing Service:Detailed
maps of North America are
provided when requested either
with the most direct route or the
most scenic route. There is a
limit of six requests per year.
Additional travel information is
also available. Allow three weeks
for delivery.
Trip Interruption Benets
and Assistance:Must be over
250 kilometres from where your
trip was started to qualify.
General Motors of Canada Limited
requires pre-authorization,
original detailed receipts, and a
copy of the repair orders. Once
authorization has been received,
the Roadside Assistance advisor
will help you make arrangements
and explain how to receive
payment.
Alternative Service:
If assistance cannot be provided
right away, the Roadside
Assistance advisor may give you
permission to get local emergency
road service. You will receive
payment, up to $100, after
sending the original receipt to
Roadside Assistance. Mechanical
failures may be covered, however
any cost for parts and labor for
repairs not covered by the
warranty are the owner
responsibility.
Customer Information 12-7
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

If a Crash Occurs
Here is what to do if you are
involved in a crash.
Check to make sure that you are
all right. If you are uninjured,
make sure that no one else in
your vehicle, or the other vehicle,
is injured.
If there has been an injury, call
emergency services for help.
Do not leave the scene of a crash
until all matters have been taken
care of. Move your vehicle only if
its position puts you in danger or
you are instructed to move it by a
police officer.
Give only the necessary and
requested information to police
and other parties involved in the
crash. Do not discuss your
personal condition, mental frame
of mind, or anything unrelated to
the crash. This will help guard
against post-crash legal action.
If you need roadside assistance,
call GM Roadside Assistance.
SeeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 12-5for more
information.
If your vehicle cannot be driven,
know where the towing service
will be taking it. Get a card from
the tow truck operator or write
down the driver’s name,
the service’s name, and the
phone number.
Remove any valuables from your
vehicle before it is towed away.
Make sure this includes your
insurance information and
registration if you keep these
items in your vehicle.
Gather the important information
you will need from the other
driver. Things like name, address,
phone number, driver’s license
number, vehicle licenseplate, vehicle make, model and
model year, Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN), insurance
company and policy number, and
a general description of the
damage to the other vehicle.
If possible, call your insurance
company from the scene of the
crash. They will walk you through
the information they will need.
If they ask for a police report,
phone or go to the police
department headquarters the next
day and you can get a copy of the
report for a nominal fee. In some
states/provinces with “no fault”
insurance laws, a report may not
be necessary. This is especially
true if there are no injuries and
both vehicles are driveable.
Customer Information 12-13
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Choose a reputable collision
repair facility for your vehicle.
Whether you select a dealer/
retailer or a private collision repair
facility to x the damage, make
sure you are comfortable with
them. Remember, you will have to
feel comfortable with their work for
a long time.
Once you have an estimate, read
it carefully and make sure you
understand what work will be
performed on your vehicle. If you
have a question, ask for an
explanation. Reputable shops
welcome this opportunity.
Managing the Vehicle Damage
Repair Process
In the event that your vehicle
requires damage repairs, GM
recommends that you take an active
role in its repair. If you have a
pre-determined repair facility
of choice, take your vehicle there,
or have it towed there. Specify to
the facility that any required
replacement collision parts be
original equipment parts, either
new Genuine GM parts or recycled
original GM parts. Remember,
recycled parts will not be covered
by your GM vehicle warranty.
Insurance pays the bill for the repair,
but you must live with the repair.
Depending on your policy limits,
your insurance company may
initially value the repair using
aftermarket parts.Discuss this with your repair
professional, and insist on Genuine
GM parts. Remember if your
vehicle is leased you may be
obligated to have the vehicle
repaired with Genuine GM parts,
even if your insurance coverage
does not pay the full cost.
If another party’s insurance
company is paying for the repairs,
you are not obligated to accept
a repair valuation based on
that insurance company’s collision
policy repair limits, as you have
no contractual limits with that
company. In such cases, you can
have control of the repair and
parts choices as long as cost stays
within reasonable limits.
12-14 Customer Information
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

O
Odometer...........................4-13
Odometers, Trip...................4-13
Off-Road Recovery...............8-24
Oil
Engine.............................. 9-9
Pressure Light..................4-22
Older Children, Restraints......1-36
Online Owner Center............12-3
OnStar, Privacy..................12-18
OnStar
®System, see
OnStar®Manual...............4-25
Outlet Adjustment.................. 7-3
Outlets
Accessory Power................ 4-9
Outside
Power Mirrors..................2-14
Overhead Console................. 3-2
Owner Checks, Service.......... 9-5
Owners, Canadian.................... ii
P
Paint, Damage.....................9-89
Park
Shifting Into.....................8-13
Shifting Out of..................8-14
Park Brake..........................8-12Parking
Over Things That Burn......8-16
Parking Your Vehicle............8-15
Part A - Scheduled
Maintenance Services........11-3
Part B - Owner Checks
and Services..................11-12
Part C - Periodic Maintenance
Inspections.....................11-16
PartD-Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants......11-18
PartE-Maintenance
Record..........................11-20
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator..........................4-15
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter............................ 7-4
Passenger Sensing System . . . 1-28
Passing..............................8-25
Perchlorate Materials
Requirements, California...... 9-3
Power
Door Locks........................ 2-7
Electrical System..............9-36
Outlet 115 Volt Alternating
Current........................4-10
Retained Accessory............ 8-4
Steering Fluid...................9-24
Windows.........................2-12Pressure Cap......................9-22
Privacy.............................12-17
Event Data Recorders.....12-17
Navigation System..........12-18
OnStar..........................12-18
Radio Frequency
Identication................12-18
R
Radio Frequency Identication
(RFID), Privacy...............12-18
Radio(s)............................... 6-3
Radios
Reception........................6-14
Setting the Clock................ 6-2
Reading Lamps..................... 5-4
Rear Door Security Locks....... 2-7
Rear Seat Operation.............. 1-7
Rear Windshield Washer/
Wiper............................... 4-8
Rearview Mirrors..................2-13
Reclining Seatbacks............... 1-3
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . 9-75
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System............................. 2-3
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System, Operation.............. 2-4
INDEX i-7
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Spare Tire
Compact.........................9-70
Installing..........................9-64
Removing........................9-63
Storing............................9-68
Specications, Capacities......10-2
Speed Sensitive Power
Steering (SSPS)
Warning Light...................4-18
Speedometer.......................4-13
StabiliTrak
®Indicator Light.....4-19
Stabilitrak®System...............8-22
Starting the Engine................ 8-4
Steering..............................8-23
Steering, Suspension and
Front Drive Axle Boot and
Seal Inspection...............11-16
Steering Wheel Controls,
Audio..............................6-13
Steering Wheel, Tilt Wheel...... 4-4
Storage Areas
Cargo Management
System.......................... 3-6
Center Console
Storage Area.................. 3-2
Cupholders........................ 3-1
Driver Storage
Compartment.................. 3-3
Glove Box......................... 3-1Storage Areas (cont.)
Luggage Carrier................. 3-2
Overhead Console.............. 3-2
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or
Snow..............................8-31
Sun Visors..........................2-13
Sunroof..............................2-14
T
Tachometer.........................4-13
Taillamp Indicator Light.........4-23
Taillamps............................9-33
TCS Warning Light...............4-19
Theft-Deterrent Systems......... 2-9
Content Theft-Deterrent.....2-10
Immobilizer........................ 2-9
Immobilizer Operation......... 2-9
Throttle System Inspection . . . 11-17
Tilt Wheel............................. 4-4
Time, Setting......................... 6-2
Tires..................................9-41
Buying New Tires.............9-54
Chains............................9-60
Changing a Flat Tire.........9-62
Compact Spare Tire..........9-70
Different Size...................9-56Tires (cont.)
If a Tire Goes Flat............9-61
Ination - Tire Pressure.....9-47
Inspection and Rotation.....9-53
Installing the Spare Tire.....9-64
Pressure Monitor
Operation.....................9-50
Pressure Monitor System . . . 9-48
Removing the Flat Tire......9-64
Removing the Spare Tire
and Tools.....................9-63
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools.....................9-68
Tire Sidewall Labeling.......9-42
Tire Terminology and
Denitions....................9-44
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading.......................9-56
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance.......................9-58
Wheel Replacement..........9-59
When It Is Time for
New Tires....................9-54
Towing
Recreational Vehicle..........9-75
Towing a Trailer................9-77
Your Vehicle
.....................9-75
INDEX i-9
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual