2004 PONTIAC VIBE towing

Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you'll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer.
And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch, platform and
attachments, safety chains, electrical connector, lamps,
tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has electric
brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and then
apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as
you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You'll need more passing distance up ahead when
you're towing a trailer. And, because you're a good deal
longer, you'll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,
have someone guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while trailering
could cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you're turning with a trailer, make wider turns
than normal. Do this so your trailer won't strike
soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or other objects.
Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
4-38

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal ¯asher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your dealer. The arrows on your instrument
panel will ¯ash whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also
¯ash, telling other drivers you're about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will ¯ash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It's
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbeforeyou start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don't shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility of the engine and the transaxle overheating.
Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle, with a
trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People
can be injured, and both your vehicle and the
trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here's
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don't shift into
PARK (P) for an automatic transaxle or into gear for
a manual transaxle, yet. When parking uphill, turn
your wheels away from the curb. When parking
downhill, turn your wheels into the curb.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
3. When the chocks are in place, release the regular
brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake and shift into PARK (P) for an automatic
transaxle or REVERSE (R) for a manual transaxle.
5. Release the regular brakes.
4-39

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
·start your engine,
·shift into a gear, and
·release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you're
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle ¯uid (don't over®ll),
engine oil, drive belt, cooling system and brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the
Index will help you ®nd them quickly. If you're trailering,
it's a good idea to review this information before you
start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-30.
4-40

Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle ¯uid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Check the ¯uid in the transaxle and differential every
30,000 miles (50 000 km). Change the ¯uid every
60,000 miles (100 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven
under one or more of these conditions:
·In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC) or higher.
·In hilly or mountainous terrain.
·When doing frequent trailer towing.
·Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
See
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services on
page 6-4.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at the dealership 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.
Notice:Too much or too little ¯uid can damage
your transaxle. Too much can mean that some of the
¯uid could come out and fall on hot engine or
exhaust system parts, starting a ®re. Too little ¯uid
could cause the transaxle to overheat. Be sure
to get an accurate reading if you check your
transaxle ¯uid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
¯uid level if you have been driving:
·When outside temperatures are above 90ÉF (32ÉC).
·At high speed for quite a while.
·In heavy traffic ± especially in hot weather.
·While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the ¯uid should be at
normal operating temperature, which is 158ÉF to 176ÉF
(70ÉC to 80ÉC).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50ÉF
(10ÉC). If it's colder than 50ÉF (10ÉC), you may have to
drive longer.
5-23

Selecting the Right Schedule
First you'll need to decide which of the two schedules is
right for your vehicle. Here's how to decide which
schedule to follow:
Short Trip/City De®nition
Follow the Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance if any
one of these conditions is true for your vehicle:
·Most trips are less than 5 miles (8 km). This is
particularly important when outside temperatures
are below freezing.
·Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
·You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top
of your vehicle.
·If the vehicle is used for delivery service, police,
taxi or other commercial application.
One of the reasons you should follow this schedule if
you operate your vehicle under any of these conditions
is that these conditions cause engine oil to break
down sooner.
Short Trip/City Intervals
Every 3,000 Miles (5 000 km):Engine Oil and Filter
Change (or 3 months, whichever occurs ®rst).
Every 6,000 Miles (10 000 km):Tire Rotation. Engine
Air Cleaner Filter Inspection, if driving in dusty
conditions.
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km):Passenger
Compartment Air Filter Replacement. Transfer Case
Fluid Change (when trailer towing). Rear Differential
Fluid Change (when trailer towing).
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km):Engine Air Cleaner
Filter Replacement. Fuel Tank, Cap, Cap Gasket and
Lines Inspection (or every 24 months, whichever occurs
®rst). Automatic Transaxle Check. Manual Transaxle
Fluid Change (severe conditions only) (or every
24 months, whichever occurs ®rst). Cooling System
Service (or every 24 months, whichever occurs ®rst).
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km):Automatic Transaxle
Fluid Change (severe conditions only). Valve Clearance
Inspection, adjust if necessary (or every 48 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).
6-5

At 60,000 Miles (100 000 km) (Or 48 Months,
Whichever Occurs First) Ð Then Every 15,000 Miles
(25 000 km) (or 12 Months, Whichever Occurs
First):Engine Accessory Drive Belt Inspection.
Every 120,000 Miles (200 000 km):Spark Plug
Replacement.
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete scheduled maintenance
on the following pages.
Long Trip/Highway De®nition
Follow this scheduled maintenanceonlyif none of the
conditions from the Short Trip/City Scheduled
Maintenance are true. Do not use this schedule if the
vehicle is used for trailer towing, driven in a dusty area
or used off paved roads. Use the Short Trip/City
schedule for these conditions
Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed engine under
highway conditions will cause engine oil to break down
slower.
Long Trip/Highway Intervals
Every 7,500 Miles (12 500 km):Engine Oil and Filter
Change (or every 12 months, whichever occurs
®rst). Tire Rotation.Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km):Passenger
Compartment Air Filter Replacement.
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km):Engine Air Cleaner
Filter Replacement. Fuel Tank, Cap, Cap Gasket and
Lines Inspection (or every 24 months, whichever occurs
®rst). Automatic Transaxle Fluid Check. Manual
Transaxle Fluid Change (severe conditions only) (or
every 24 months, whichever occurs ®rst). Cooling System
Service (or every 24 months, whichever occurs ®rst).
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km):Automatic Transaxle
Fluid Change (severe conditions only). Valve Clearance
Inspection, adjust if necessary (or every 48 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).
At 60,000 Miles (100 000 km) (or 48 Months,
Whichever Occurs First) Ð Then Every 15,000 Miles
(25 000 km) (or 12 Months, Whichever Occurs
First):Engine Accessory Drive Belt Inspection.
Every 120,000 Miles (200 000 km):Spark Plug
Replacement.
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete scheduled maintenance
on the following pages.
6-6

15,000 Miles (25 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qReplace passenger compartment air ®lter.
qChange transfer case ¯uid when doing frequent
trailer towing.
qChange rear differential ¯uid when doing frequent
trailer towing.
18,000 Miles (30 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation
on page 5-68for proper rotation pattern and
additional information.(See footnote +.)
qInspect engine air cleaner ®lter if you are driving in
dusty conditions. Replace ®lter if necessary.An
Emission Control Service. (See footnote ².)
21,000 Miles (35 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
24,000 Miles (40 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation
on page 5-68for proper rotation pattern and
additional information.(See footnote +.)
qInspect engine air cleaner ®lter if you are driving in
dusty conditions. Replace ®lter if necessary.An
Emission Control Service. (See footnote ².)
27,000 Miles (45 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
6-8

30,000 Miles (50 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qReplace passenger compartment air ®lter.
qReplace engine air cleaner ®lter (or every 24 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).
An Emission Control Service.
qInspect fuel tank, cap, cap gasket and lines for
damage or leaks (or every 24 months, whichever
occurs ®rst). Replace parts as needed.
An Emission
Control Service. (See footnote ².)
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-68for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
qDrain, ¯ush and re®ll cooling system (or every
24 months, whichever occurs ®rst). SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-27for what to use. Inspect hoses.
Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and neck.
Pressure test cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote ².)
qChange manual transaxle ¯uid every 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) only if your vehicle is used to tow a
trailer.qCheck automatic transaxle ¯uid.
qChange transfer case ¯uid when doing frequent
trailer towing.
qChange rear differential ¯uid when doing frequent
trailer towing.
33,000 Miles (55 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
36,000 Miles (60 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation
on page 5-68for proper rotation pattern and
additional information.(See footnote +.)
qInspect engine air cleaner ®lter if you are driving
in dusty conditions. Replace ®lter if necessary.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote ².)
6-9