2004 PONTIAC VIBE check engine light

{CAUTION:
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 can not 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 your exhaust pipe. And check around
again from time to time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the wind. This will
help keep CO out.Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little
faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and
it keeps the battery charged. You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly
for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine
again and repeat this only when you feel really
uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as
possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help
keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle and do
some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so until
help comes.
4-27

Engine Oil
If the engine oil pressure
light appears on the
instrument cluster, it
means you need to check
your engine oil level
right away.
For more information, see
Oil Pressure Light on
page 3-38.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. 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 5-12for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don't, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
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.
1.8L (Code 8) Engine
1.8L (Code L) Engine
5-16

When to Check and What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine
how often you should
check the ¯uid level in your
master cylinder reservoir
and for the proper
¯uid. See
Part B: Owner
Checks and Services
on page 6-19
andPart D:
Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on
page 6-26
.
How to Check and Add Fluid
Check to make sure that the ¯uid level is at or above
the MIN mark. If the level is below the MIN mark,
see the instructions on the reservoir cap.
Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating on
page 5-30.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and the proper
coolant will:
·Give freezing protection down to-34ÉF (-37ÉC).
·Give boiling protection up to 265ÉF (129ÉC).
·Protect against rust and corrosion.
·Help keep the proper engine temperature.
·Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
5-27

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-17
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-39
Additional Program Information........................... 7-9
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-97
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)......3-45, 3-54
Air Bag .........................................................3-30
Readiness Light..........................................3-30
Air Bag System, Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS).............................................1-47
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-21
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-51
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System........................... 4-9
Aluminum Wheels...........................................5-94
AM ...............................................................3-63
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-64
Antenna, XMŸ Satellite Radio Antenna
System......................................................3-64
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-32
Anti-lock Brake System..................................... 4-7
Appearance Care............................................5-89
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-92
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-95
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-89Appearance Care (cont.)
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-92
Finish Damage............................................5-94
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-94
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-95
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-95
Weatherstrips..............................................5-92
Arming the System.........................................2-14
Ashtrays........................................................3-19
Audio System(s).............................................3-41
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-64
Care of Your CDs........................................3-64
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-64
Navigation/Radio System..............................3-63
Radio with CD............................................3-42
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-52
Setting the Time..........................................3-41
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-63
XMŸ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-64
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-13
Automatic Transaxle........................................2-18
Fluid..........................................................5-23
Operation...................................................2-20
Automatic Transaxle Shift Lock Control
System Check.............................................6-22
1

B
Backing Up....................................................4-38
Battery..........................................................5-44
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-6
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-21
Body Lubrication Service..................................6-21
Brake............................................................2-27
Parking......................................................2-27
System Inspection.......................................6-25
System Warning Light..................................3-31
Brake Fluid....................................................5-40
Brake Wear...................................................5-43
Brakes..........................................................5-40
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-9
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-16
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-52
Back-Up Lamps...........................................5-58
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........5-55
Front Turn Signal Lamps..............................5-54
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-52
Headlamps.................................................5-52
Rear Combination Lamps.............................5-56
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-59
Buying New Tires...........................................5-71
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-5
Canada ± Customer Assistance.......................... 7-5
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Canadian Roadside Assistance........................... 7-8
Capacities and Speci®cations..........................5-101
Carbon Monoxide.....................4-24, 4-34, 2-9, 2-33
Care of.........................................................5-92
Safety Belts................................................5-92
Your CD Player...........................................3-64
Your CDs ...................................................3-64
Cargo Cover..................................................2-41
Cargo Tie Downs............................................2-41
Carrier Assembly-Differential
(Rear Drive Module)....................................5-51
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-37
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-55
Chains, Tires..................................................5-75
Charging System Light....................................3-31
Check...........................................................3-34
Engine Light...............................................3-34
Checking Coolant............................................5-28
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-16
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-56
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-95
2

Customer Assistance Information (cont.)
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States
Government............................................7-10
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-6
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-11
D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-13
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting.................................3-21
Dinghy Towing................................................4-31
Disarming the System.....................................2-15
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-3
Dolly Towing..................................................4-32
Door.............................................................3-39
Ajar Light...................................................3-39
Locks.......................................................... 2-7
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-8
Rear Door Security Locks............................... 2-8
Driver............................................................1-14
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-14
Seat Height Adjuster...................................... 1-3
Driving..........................................................4-15
At Night.....................................................4-15
City...........................................................4-19
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-20Driving (cont.)
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-22
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-16
Winter........................................................4-24
Driving On Grades..........................................4-39
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-24
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-18
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-18
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-38
E
Electrical System............................................5-97
Add-On Equipment......................................5-97
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-98
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-98
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-98
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-98
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-37
Engine..........................................................5-21
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-21
Battery.......................................................5-44
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-34
Coolant Heater............................................2-19
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-33
Coolant......................................................5-27
Cooling System Inspection............................6-25
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
4

Engine (cont.)
Exhaust.....................................................2-33
Oil .............................................................5-16
Overheating................................................5-30
Starting......................................................2-18
Engine Compartment Fuse Block.....................5-100
Engine Coolant Level Check.............................6-19
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing..................4-40
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-19
Engine Oil Level Check...................................6-19
Entry Lighting.................................................3-15
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-26
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-12
F
Filter.............................................................5-21
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-21
Finding a PTY Station.....................................3-55
Finding a PTY Station (RDS and XMŸ).............3-45
Finding a Station....................................3-43, 3-53
Finish Care....................................................5-93
Finish Damage...............................................5-94
Five-Speed....................................................2-23Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-64
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-6
Flat Tire........................................................5-76
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-77
Floor Mats.....................................................2-37
Fluid.............................................................5-23
Automatic Transaxle.....................................5-23
Manual Transaxle........................................5-25
Power Steering...........................................5-38
Windshield Washer......................................5-39
Fluid Level Check...........................................6-20
FM Stereo.....................................................3-63
Folding Seatback, Passenger............................. 1-5
Following Distance..........................................4-38
Fuel............................................................... 5-4
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-6
Gage.........................................................3-40
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-4
Gasoline Speci®cations.................................. 5-5
System Inspection.......................................6-24
Fuses...........................................................5-98
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-98
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-98
5

G
Gage............................................................3-33
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-33
Fuel..........................................................3-40
Speedometer..............................................3-27
Tachometer.................................................3-28
Gasoline......................................................... 5-4
Octane........................................................ 5-4
Speci®cations............................................... 5-5
Glove Box.....................................................2-37
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities.................................................... 7-6
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-4
Head Restraints............................................... 1-5
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.................... 3-6
Headlamp Wiring............................................5-98
Headlamps....................................................5-52
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-52
Front Turn Signal Lamps..............................5-54
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-52
Headlamps On Reminder.................................3-13
Height Adjuster, Driver Seat............................... 1-3
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-22
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-22
Hitches..........................................................4-37Hood............................................................5-10
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-10
Hood Latch Operation Check............................6-19
Horn............................................................... 3-5
How the System Alarm is Activated...................2-15
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank............................................5-34
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator..................5-36
How to Add Fluid....................................5-25, 5-26
How to Check................................5-23, 5-25, 5-68
How to Check and Add Fluid............................5-27
How to Check Power Steering Fluid..................5-38
How to Remove and Replace the Floor Mat.......2-38
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-14
Hydraulic Clutch.............................................5-26
Hydroplaning..................................................4-18
I
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine..........5-31
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine...............5-30
If the Light Is Flashing.....................................3-35
If the Light Is On Steady.................................3-36
If You Are Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow.......4-28
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer.....................4-35
If You're Caught in a Blizzard...........................4-26
Ignition Positions.............................................2-16
6