warning PONTIAC VIBE 2010 User Guide

If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, there are no antilock
brakes and there is a problem with
the regular brakes. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 4-17 .
Service All-Wheel Drive
Light
This light will come on briefly when
the ignition is turned on, and the
engine is not running, as a check
to show you it is working.
It should go out when the engine is
started. It should go out when the
engine is started. If it stays on, or
comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the system.
Have it checked by your dealer/
retailer.
The four-wheel-drive indicator will
light up when the All-Wheel drive is
active.
Speed Sensitive Power
Steering (SSPS) Warning
Light
Vehicles with this feature, have a
warning light that comes on briefly
when the ignition is turned to
ON/RUN as a check to show it
is working.
If the warning light does not come
on, have it fixed so it will be able to
warn if there is a problem.
If the warning light stays on, or
comes on while driving, the Speed
Sensitive Power Steering may not be
working. See your dealer/retailer for
service.
StabiliTrak®Indicator
Light
This light warns that there is a
problem with the Traction Control
System (TCS) or the Vehicle
Stability Control (VSC) system.
The light comes on when the ignition
is turned to ON/RUN.
If the light comes on while driving,
the system is not working.
The TCS light comes on when the
VSC system warning light comes on,
even if the TRAC OFF button is not
pressed.
See StabiliTrak System on
page 8-35 for more information on
Vehicle Stability Control System.
4-18 Instruments and Controls

SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 8-33 for more information.
Contact your dealer/retailer, if
the light does not come on or if it
stays on.
Traction Control System
(TCS) Warning Light
This warning light comes on briefly
when the ignition is turned to
ON/RUN.
It also comes on when the Traction
Control System is turned off by
pressing the TRAC OFF button.
See Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 8-33 for more information. If it stays on or comes on while
driving, there is a problem with the
Traction Control System (TCS),
contact your dealer/retailer.
Tire Pressure Light
This light should come on briefly as
the engine is started.
If there is a tire with low tire
pressure, the light will stay on
or come back on.
See
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 9-52 for more
information.
Engine Oil Pressure
Light
{CAUTION
Do not keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. The engine can
become so hot that it catches fire.
Someone could be burned. Check
the oil as soon as possible and
have the vehicle serviced.
Notice: Lack of proper engine
oil maintenance can damage
the engine. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule in this
manual for changing engine oil.
The oil pressure light should come
on briefly as the engine is started. If it
does not come on have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer/retailer.
Instruments and Controls 4-19

If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not flowing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and might have
some other system problem.
Low Fuel Warning Light
This light, on the fuel gage, comes
on when the fuel tank is low on
fuel. To turn if off, add fuel to the
fuel tank.
Security Light
For information regarding this light
and the vehicle’s security system,
seeVehicle Security on page 1-7 .
High-Beam on Light
The highbeam on light comes on
when the high-beam headlamps are
in use.
SeeHeadlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer on page 5-2 for more
information.
Fog Lamp Light
The fog lamp light comes on when
the fog lamps are in use.
The light goes out when the fog
lamps are turned off. See Fog
Lamps on page 5-4 for more
information.
Lamps on Reminder
This light comes on whenever the
headlights are on.
See Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 5-1 for more information.
United States
Canada
4-20 Instruments and Controls

Taillamp Indicator Light
This light comes on when the
taillamps are on.
SeeExterior Lamp Controls on
page 5-1 for more information.
Low Washer Fluid
Warning Light
This light comes on when the
windshield washer fluid is low.
SeeWasher Fluid on page 9-24
for more information.
Cruise Control Light
The CRUISE light comes on when
the cruise control is on.
See Cruise Control on page 8-36 for
more information.
Door Ajar Light
This light comes on if any door, the
rear liftgate, or the rear liftglass
are not completely closed.
Vehicle
Personalization
Your vehicle may have lighting
and door lock features that can be
programmed to your preference.
You will need to schedule an
appointment with your dealer/
retailer if you would like to change
the way these features are currently
programmed. The following is a
list of the features that can be
programmed. See your dealer/
retailer to change the programming
of these features:
Driver Door Key Unlock Switch:
If this feature is programmed on, all
of the doors will unlock when the key
is turned twice in the driver’s door
lock cylinder. When the vehicle
left the factory this feature was
programmed on.
Canada Only
Canada Only
Instruments and Controls 4-21

Lighting
Exterior LightingExterior Lamp Controls...........5-1
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer ............................
.5-2
Flash-to-Pass .......................
.5-2
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) .....................
.5-2
Automatic Headlamp System .............................
.5-3
Hazard Warning Flashers .......5-3
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ..............................
.5-3
Fog Lamps ..........................
.5-4
Interior LightingInstrument Panel Illumination
Control ..............................
.5-4
Dome Lamps .......................
.5-4
Reading Lamps ....................
.5-5
Lighting FeaturesEntry Lighting ......................
.5-5
Battery Power Protection ........5-5
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
The lever on the left side of the
steering column operates the
exterior lamps.
P/;(Exterior Lamps):
Turn the
outside band of the lever to operate
the lamps. For vehicles sold in the
U.S.,
Pappears on the instrument panel cluster when the exterior
lamps are on. For vehicles first
sold in Canada,
;appears in the
instrument panel cluster. See Lamps
on Reminder on page 4-20 .
The exterior lamp switch has three
positions:
((Off): Turns off all lamps, except
the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).
;(Parking Lamps): Turns on the
parking lamps together with the
following:
•Sidemarker Lamps
•Taillamps
•License Plate Lamp
•Instrument Panel Lights
5(Headlamps): Turns on the
headlamps, together with the
previously listed lamps and lights.
Lighting 5-1

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 Cluster on page 4-9 .
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.
Hazard Warning Flashers
|
(Hazard Warning Flasher):
Press this button located on the
instrument panel, to make the front
and rear turn signal lamps flash on
and off. This warns others that you
are having trouble.
Press
|again to turn the
flashers off.
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
An arrow on the instrument panel
cluster flashes in the direction of the
turn or lane change. Move the lever all the way up or
down to signal a turn.
Raise or lower the lever until the
arrow starts to flash to signal a
lane change. Hold it there until
the lane change is completed.
The lever returns to its starting
position whenever it is released.
If after signaling a turn or a
lane change the arrow flashes
rapidly or does not come on,
a signal bulb may be burned out.
Have the bulbs replaced. If the bulb
is not burned out, check the fuse.
See
Fuses and Circuit Breakers on
page 9-38.
Lighting 5-3

Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 4-17.
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding
to push the brake pedal is
perception time. Actually doing
it is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about
three-fourths of a second. But
that is only an average. It might be
less with one driver and as long as
two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition,
alertness, coordination, and eyesight
all play a part. So do alcohol,
drugs, and frustration. But even in
three-fourths of a second, a vehicle
moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels
20 m (66 ft). That could be a lot of
distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between the
vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping
distances vary greatly with the
surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of
the road, whether it is wet, dry, or icy;
tire tread; the condition of the brakes;
the weight of the vehicle; and the
amount of brake force applied.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some
people drive in spurts — heavy
acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping
pace with traffic. This is a mistake.
The brakes might not have time to
cool between hard stops. The brakes
will wear out much faster with a lot of
heavy braking. Keeping pace with
the traffic and allowing realistic
following distances eliminates a lot of
unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the brakes.
If the brakes are pumped, the pedal
could get harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will still be some
power brake assist but it will be used
when the brake is applied. Once the
power assist is used up, it can take
longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories can affect vehicle
performance. See
Accessories and
Modications on page 9-3 .
Steering
If the engine stalls while driving, the
power steering assist system will
continue to operate until you are able
to stop the vehicle. If power steering
assist is lost because the electric
power steering system is not
functioning, the vehicle can be
steered but it will take more effort.
8-4 Driving and Operating

The three types of skids correspond
to the vehicle’s three control
systems. In the braking skid, the
wheels are not rolling. In the steering
or cornering skid, too much speed or
steering in a curve causes tires to
slip and lose cornering force. And in
the acceleration skid, too much
throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin.
If the vehicle starts to slide, ease
your foot off the accelerator pedal
and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering
quickly enough, the vehicle may
straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is on the road. For safety,
slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important to
slow down on slippery surfaces
because stopping distance is longer
and vehicle control more limited.While driving on a surface with
reduced traction, try your best to
avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing vehicle
speed by shifting to a lower gear.
Any sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide. You might not
realize the surface is slippery until
the vehicle is skidding. Learn to
recognize warning clues — such as
enough water, ice, or packed snow
on the road to make a mirrored
surface — and slow down when you
have any doubt.
Remember: Any Antilock Brake
System (ABS) helps avoid only the
braking skid.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your ability
to stop and accelerate. Always drive
slower in these types of driving
conditions and avoid driving through
large puddles and deep-standing or
flowing water.
{CAUTION
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in
a quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake pedal
until the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to
drive through flowing water.
Driving and Operating 8-7

Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be in a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use theRoadside
Assistance Program on page 12-6 .
To get help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
•Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
•Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{CAUTION
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may cause
exhaust gases to get inside.
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
If the vehicle is stuck in the snow:
•Clear away snow from
around the base of your
vehicle, especially any that is
blocking the exhaust pipe.
•Check again from time to
time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
•Open a window about 5 cm
(two inches) on the side of
the vehicle that is away from
the wind to bring in fresh air.
•Fully open the air outlets on or
under the instrument panel.
•Adjust the Climate Control
system to a setting that
circulates the air inside the
vehicle and set the fan speed
to the highest setting. See
Climate Control System in the
Index.(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 8-23 .
Snow can trap exhaust gases
under your vehicle. This can cause
deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside. CO could overcome
you and kill you. You cannot see it
or smell it, so you might not know it
is in your vehicle. Clear away snow
from around the base of your
vehicle, especially any that is
blocking the exhaust.
Run the engine for short periods only
as needed to keep warm, but be
careful.
8-10 Driving and Operating

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 8-17