2004 PONTIAC VIBE steering wheel

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

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-4
Gasoline Speci®cations....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-21
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-23
Manual Transaxle Fluid..................................5-25
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-26
Engine Coolant.............................................5-27
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-29
Engine Overheating.......................................5-30
Cooling System............................................5-32
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-38
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-39Brakes........................................................5-40
Battery........................................................5-44
Jump Starting...............................................5-45
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-51
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-52
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-52
Headlamps..................................................5-52
Front Turn Signal Lamps...............................5-54
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-55
Rear Combination Lamps...............................5-56
Back-Up Lamps............................................5-58
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-59
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-60
Tires..............................................................5-61
In¯ation Ð Tire Pressure...............................5-67
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-68
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-70
Buying New Tires.........................................5-71
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-72
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-73
Wheel Replacement......................................5-74
Tire Chains..................................................5-75
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-76
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-77
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-88
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start a ®re. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake ¯uid, windshield washer and
other ¯uids, and plastic or rubber. You or
others could be burned. Be careful not to drop
or spill things that will burn onto a hot engine.
Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:
1. Pull the release handle
inside the vehicle. It's
located below the
instrument panel to the
left of the steering
wheel.
5-10

If a Tire Goes Flat
It's unusual for a tire to ªblowoutº while you're driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it's much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a ªblowout,º here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the ¯at tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel ®rmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you'd use
in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop, well off the road if possible.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous without
the appropriate safety equipment and training.
The jack provided with your vehicle is
designed only for changing a ¯at tire. If it is
used for anything else, you or others could be
badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips off
the jack. Use the jack provided with your
vehicle only for changing a ¯at tire.
If a tire goes ¯at, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a ¯at tire safely.
5-76

Shifting Out of Park (P)...................................2-30
Short Trip/City De®nition.................................... 6-5
Short Trip/City Intervals..................................... 6-5
Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance................ 6-7
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster...........................1-16
Six-Speed......................................................2-24
Skidding........................................................4-14
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips.......................4-18
Special Fabric Cleaning Problems.....................5-90
Speci®cations, Capacities...............................5-101
Speedometer..................................................3-27
Starter Switch Check.......................................6-21
Starting Your Engine.......................................2-18
Steering.......................................................... 4-9
Steering in Emergencies..................................4-11
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle Boot
and Seal Inspection.....................................6-24
Steering Tips..................................................4-10
Storage Areas................................................2-37
Center Console Storage Area........................2-37
Coinholder(s)..............................................2-37
Cupholder(s)...............................................2-37
Glove Box..................................................2-37
Instrument Panel Storage Area......................2-37
Luggage Carrier..........................................2-38
Rear Cargo Accessory Track System..............2-40
Rear Storage Area.......................................2-40
Storing the Flat Tire and Tools..........................5-85
Storing the Spare Tire and Tools.......................5-87
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow......................4-28Sun Visors.....................................................2-13
Sunroof.........................................................2-42
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)...............1-47
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-53
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-56
What Makes an Air Bag In¯ate?....................1-53
What Will You See After an Air
Bag In¯ates?...........................................1-54
When Should an Air Bag In¯ate?...................1-52
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-50
T
Tachometer....................................................3-28
Temperature Display........................................3-28
Testing the Alarm............................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-13
Content Theft-Deterrent................................2-13
Throttle System Inspection...............................6-25
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-5
Tire In¯ation Check.........................................6-19
Tire Sidewall Labeling......................................5-62
Tire Size.......................................................5-64
Tire Terminology and De®nitions........................5-65
Tires.....................................................5-61, 5-94
Buying New Tires........................................5-71
Chains.......................................................5-75
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-77
Compact Spare Tire.....................................5-88
12

W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators................3-25
Warnings......................................................... 3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-4
Other Warning Devices.................................. 3-4
Safety and Symbols......................................... iii
Vehicle Damage.............................................. iv
Washer Fluid, Low Warning Light......................3-39
Washing Your Vehicle......................................5-92
Weatherstrip Lubrication...................................6-20
Weight of the Trailer Tongue.............................4-36
Weight of the Trailer........................................4-35
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use........................5-18
What to Do with Used Oil................................5-21
What to Use..................................5-28, 5-38, 5-39
Wheels..........................................................5-73
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................5-73
Replacement...............................................5-74
When to Add Engine Oil..................................5-17
When to Change Engine Oil.............................5-20
When to Check......................................5-25, 5-68
When to Check and Change............................5-23
When to Check and What to Use.....................5-27
When to Check Power Steering Fluid................5-38
When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking
on a Hill.....................................................4-40Where to Put the Restraint...............................1-36
Why Safety Belts Work....................................1-10
Windows.......................................................2-11
Manual......................................................2-11
Power........................................................2-12
Windshield, Backglass and Wiper Blades...........5-93
Windshield Washer........................................... 3-8
Fluid..........................................................5-39
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check................6-19
Windshield Wiper............................................5-60
Blade Replacement......................................5-60
Fuses........................................................5-98
Windshield Wipers............................................ 3-7
Winter Driving................................................4-24
Wiper Blade Check.........................................6-20
X
XMŸ Radio Satellite Service (USA Only)...........3-42
XMŸ Satellite Radio Antenna System................3-64
XMŸ Satellite Radio Service (USA Only)...........3-64
Y
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................... 6-2
14