PONTIAC VIBE 2010 Owners Manual

A. Engine Oil Dipstick. See″Checking Engine Oil ″under
Engine Oil on page 9-9 .
B. Engine Coolant on page 9-19 .
C. Washer Fluid on page 9-24 .
D. Coolant Recovery Tank. See Engine Coolant on
page 9-19.
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil” under Engine
Oil on page 9-9.
F. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 9-16. G.
Brakes on page 9-26 and
Hydraulic Clutch on page 9-15
(If Equipped).
H. Engine Compartment Fuse Block.
I. Battery on page 9-28 .
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting.
K. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick. See ″Checking the
Fluid Level″ underAutomatic
Transmission Fluid on page 9-12
(If Equipped) (Out of View).
Vehicle Care 9-7

When you open the hood on the 2.4L L4 engine, this is what you see.
9-8 Vehicle Care

A. Engine Oil Dipstick. See“Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 9-9 .
B. Engine Coolant on page 9-19 .
C. Washer Fluid on page 9-24 .
D. Coolant Recovery Tank. See Engine Coolant on
page 9-19.
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil” under Engine
Oil on page 9-9.
F. Brakes on page 9-26 and
Hydraulic Clutch on page 9-15
(If Equipped). G.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 9-16.
H. Engine Compartment Fuse Block.
I. Battery on page 9-28 .
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting.
K. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick. See ″Checking the
Fluid Level″ underAutomatic
Transmission Fluid on page 9-12
(If Equipped) (Out of View).Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the
engine oil level at each fuel fill.
In order to get an accurate reading,
the oil must be warm and the
vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle
is a yellow loop. See Engine
Compartment Overview on page 9-6
for the location of the engine oil
dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to drain back
into the oil pan. If this is not done,
the oil dipstick might not show the
actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or cloth,
then push it back in all the way.
Remove it again, keeping the tip
down, and check the level.
Vehicle Care 9-9

When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the indent at
the tip of the dipstick, add at least
one liter/quart of the recommended
oil. This section explains what kind of
oil to use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, seeCapacities and
Specications on page 11-2 .Notice:
Do not add too much oil.
If the engine has so much oil that
the oil level gets above the upper
hole, the engine could be
damaged.
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 9-6 for the location of
the engine oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the
way back in when through.
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
Look for three things:
1.8L Engine
2.4L Engine
9-10 Vehicle Care

•GM6094MUse only an oil that meets GM
Standard GM6094M.
•SAE 5W-30SAE 5W-30 is best for the
vehicle. These numbers on an
oil container show its viscosity,
or thickness. Do not use
other viscosity oils such
as SAE 20W-50.
•American Petroleum Institute
(API) starburst symbol
Oils meeting these requirements
should have the starburst symbol
on the container. This symbol
indicates that the oil has been
certified by the American
Petroleum Institute (API). Notice:
Use only engine oil
identied as meeting GM Standard
GM6094M and showing the
American Petroleum Institute
Certied For Gasoline Engines
starburst symbol. Failure to use
the recommended oil can result
in engine damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Cold Temperature Operation
If in an area of extreme cold,
where the temperature falls
below −29°C (−20°F), use either
an SAE 5W-30 synthetic oil or an
SAE 0W-30 engine oil. Both provide
easier cold starting for the engine at
extremely low temperatures. Always
use an oil that meets the required
specification, GM6094M.
Engine Oil Additives / Engine
Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil.
The recommended oils with the
starburst symbol that meet GM
Standard GM6094M are all that is
needed for good performance and
engine protection.
Engine oil system flushes are not
recommended and could cause
engine damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
When to Change Engine Oil
Change the oil and filter every
8 000 km (5,000 miles) or
3 months, whichever occurs first.
See Scheduled Maintenance on
page 10-3.
Vehicle Care 9-11

What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain
elements that can be unhealthy for
your skin and could even cause
cancer. Do not let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and water,
or a good hand cleaner. Wash or
properly dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the
manufacturer’s warnings about the
use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the
environment. If you change your own
oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the
filter before disposal. Never dispose
of oil by putting it in the trash, pouring
it on the ground, into sewers, or into
streams or bodies of water. Recycle
it by taking it to a place that collects
used oil.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
When to Check and Change
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Check the fluid in the transmission
and differential at the intervals listed
inScheduled Maintenance on
page 10-3, and be sure to use
the transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 10-15 .
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
This operation can be difficult, you
may choose to have this done at the
dealer/retailer service department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to
follow all the instructions here,
or you could get a false reading
on the dipstick. Wait at least 30 minutes before
checking the transmission fluid level
if you have been driving:
•When outside temperatures are
above 90°F (32°C).
•At high speed for quite a while.
•In heavy traffic — especially
in hot weather.
•While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid
should be at normal operating
temperature, which is 158°F to
176°F (70°C to 80°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by
driving about 15 miles (24 km)
when outside temperatures
are above 50°F (10°C). If it is
colder than 50°F (10°C), you
may have to drive longer.
9-12 Vehicle Care

Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare your vehicle as follows:
1. Park your vehicle on a levelplace. Keep the engine running.
2. With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever in P (Park).
3. With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever
through each gear range,
pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, position
the shift lever in P (Park).
4. Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes. Then, without shutting off the
engine, follow these steps:
The automatic transmission
dipstick has an orange handle
and is located near the front of the
engine compartment. See
Engine
Compartment Overview on page 9-6
for more information on location.
1. Release the tab and pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean
rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and then pull it
back out again. 3. Check both sides of the dipstick,
and read the lower level. The
fluid level must be between the
two dimples in the hot range.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way;
then press the tab down to lock
the dipstick in place. 1.8L shown
Vehicle Care 9-13

How to Add Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine what
kind of transmission fluid to use.
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 10-15.
If the fluid level is low, add only
enough of the proper fluid to bring
the level into the area between
dimples on the dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the dipstick
hole to bring it to the proper level.
It does not take much fluid,
generally less than one pint
(0.5 L). Do not overfill. Notice:
Too much or too
little uid can damage your
transmission. Too much can mean
that some of the uid could come
out and fall on hot engine parts or
exhaust system parts, starting a
re. Too little uid could cause the
transmission to overheat. Be sure
to get an accurate reading if you
check your transmission uid.
3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as described under
“How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid,” earlier
in this section.
4. When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the dipstick
back in all the way; then press
the tab down to lock the dipstick
in place.
Manual Transmission
Fluid
When to Check
A good time to have your manual
transmission fluid level checked
is when the engine oil is changed.
However, the fluid in your manual
transmission does not require
changing.
How to Check
This operation can be difficult, you
may choose to have this done
at your dealer/retailer service
department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to
follow all the instructions here, or
you could get a false reading.
9-14 Vehicle Care

Notice:Too much or too
little uid can damage your
transmission. Too much can mean
that some of the uid could come
out and fall on hot engine parts or
exhaust system parts, starting a
re. Too little uid could cause the
transmission to overheat. Be sure
to get an accurate reading if you
check your transmission uid.
Check the fluid level only when your
engine is off, the vehicle is parked on
a level place and the transmission
is cool enough for you to rest your
fingers on the transmission case.
Then, follow these steps:
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to the bottom of the filler
plug hole. 3. If the fluid level is good, install
the plug and be sure it is fully
seated. If the fluid level is low,
add more fluid as described in
the next steps.
How to Add Fluid
Here is how to add fluid. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine what kind of fluid to
use. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 10-15 .
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Add fluid at the filler plug hole. Add only enough fluid to bring
the fluid level up to the bottom
of the filler plug hole.
3. Install the filler plug. Be sure the plug is fully seated.
Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch linkage in your
vehicle is self-adjusting. The master
cylinder reservoir is filled with DOT-3
brake fluid.
It is not necessary to regularly
check the fluid unless you suspect
there is a leak in the system.
Adding fluid will not correct a leak.
The hydraulic clutch and brake
master cylinder use the same
reservoir.
A fluid loss in this system could
indicate a problem. Have the system
inspected and repaired.
Vehicle Care 9-15

When to Check and What
to Use
The reservoir is located at the back
of the engine compartment, on the
driver side of the vehicle.Engine
Compartment Overview on page 9-6 .Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine how often you should
check the fluid level in your master
cylinder reservoir and for the proper
fluid. See
Scheduled Maintenance
on page 10-3 andRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 10-15 .
How to Check and Add Fluid
Check that the fluid level is at
or above the MIN mark. If the level
is below the MIN mark, see the
instructions on the reservoir cap.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/filter is
in the engine compartment on
the driver side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 9-6 for more information
on location.
When to Inspect the Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter
If you are driving in dusty/dirty
conditions, inspect the air
cleaner/filter at each engine
oil change. Replace the filter
every 30,000 miles (48 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs first.
See Scheduled Maintenance on
page 10-3 for more information.
9-16 Vehicle Care