2004 PONTIAC VIBE lock

6. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug
on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this
applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you'd
be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid
under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen.
This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The
shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across
the chest. These parts of the body are best able to
take belt restraining forces.
The safety belt locks if there's a sudden stop or
crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the
retractor.
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt
adjuster to the height that is right for you. Adjust the
height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered
on your shoulder. The belt should be away from your
face and neck, but not falling off your shoulder.
To move it down, squeeze
the button and move the
height adjuster to the
desired position. You can
move the adjuster up just
by pushing up on the
shoulder belt guide. After
you move the adjuster to
where you want it, try to
move it down without
squeezing the release
button to make sure it has
locked into position.
1-16

The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the
mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it's more
likely that the fetus won't be hurt in a crash. For
pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making
safety belts effective is wearing them properly.
Right Front Passenger Position
To learn how to wear the right front passenger's safety
belt properly, seeDriver Position on page 1-14.
The right front passenger's safety belt works the same
way as the driver's safety belt ± except for one thing.
If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the
way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature.
If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way
and start again.
Rear Seat Passengers
It's very important for rear seat passengers to buckle
up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the
rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those
who are wearing safety belts.
Rear passengers who aren't safety belted can be
thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike
others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.
Rear Seat Passenger Positions
1-22

Lap-Shoulder Belt
All rear seating positions have lap-shoulder belts. Here's
how to wear one properly.
1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don't let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt
across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt
go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
If the buckle does not click, check to be sure
that you are using the correct buckle. The buckle
for the center rear passenger position has the word
CENTER on it.
When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way, it
will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way
and start again.
If the belt is not long enough, see
Safety Belt
Extender on page 1-26.
Make sure the release button on the buckle is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
1-23

The safety belt locks if there's a sudden stop or a
crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of
the retractor.
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt
is too loose. In a crash, you would move
forward too much, which could increase injury.
The shoulder belt should ®t against your body.
To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.
1-25

4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.5. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into
the retractor while you push down on the child
restraint. If you're using a forward-facing child
restraint, you may ®nd it helpful to use your knee to
push down on the child restraint as you tighten
the belt.
6. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the
vehicle's safety belt and let it go back all the way.
The safety belt will move freely again and be
ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger.
1-43

4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.
1-45

If your vehicle has one, the right front passenger's side
impact air bag is in the side of the passenger's
seatback closest to the door.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
air bag, the bag might not in¯ate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
in¯ating air bag must be kept clear. Don't put
anything between an occupant and an air bag,
and don't attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering. Don't let seat covers block the
in¯ation path of a side impact air bag.
1-51

Keys...............................................................2-2
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-5
Doors and Locks.............................................2-7
Door Locks....................................................2-7
Power Door Locks..........................................2-8
Rear Door Security Locks................................2-8
Leaving Your Vehicle......................................2-9
Liftgate/Liftglass.............................................2-9
Windows........................................................2-11
Manual Windows..........................................2-11
Power Windows............................................2-12
Sun Visors...................................................2-13
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-13
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-13
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-16
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-16
Ignition Positions..........................................2-16
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-18
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-19
Automatic Transaxle Operation.......................2-20
Manual Transaxle Operation...........................2-23
Parking Brake..............................................2-27Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-28
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-30
Parking Your Vehicle.....................................2-31
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-32
Engine Exhaust............................................2-33
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked. . . .2-34
Mirrors...........................................................2-35
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-35
Outside Remote Control Mirrors......................2-36
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-36
Storage Areas................................................2-37
Glove Box...................................................2-37
Cupholder(s)................................................2-37
Coinholder(s)................................................2-37
Instrument Panel Storage Area.......................2-37
Center Console Storage Area.........................2-37
Floor Mats...................................................2-37
Luggage Carrier...........................................2-38
Rear Storage Area........................................2-40
Rear Cargo Accessory Track System...............2-40
Cargo Cover................................................2-41
Sunroof.........................................................2-42
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1