2007 PONTIAC VIBE brake

Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when
you are not using cruise, you might hit a
button and go into cruise when you do
not want to. You could be startled and
even lose control. Keep the cruise control
switch off until you want to use cruise
control.
1. Press the ON-OFF button at the end of the
cruise control lever. The CRUISE light on the
instrument panel cluster comes on. See
Cruise Control Light on page 174for more
information.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Move the lever down to−SET and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose the cruise control is set at a desired
speed and then you apply the brake. This shuts
off cruise control. But you do not need to reset it.
If the vehicle speed is 25 mph (40 km/h) or
greater, push the lever up to +RES
(Resume/Accelerate). The vehicle returns to the
previously set speed and stays there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are three ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher
speed. Move the lever down to−SET.
Release the lever and the accelerator pedal.
You will now cruise at the higher speed.
Move the cruise lever up to +RES. Hold it
there until you get up to the speed desired,
and then release the lever.
To increase the vehicle speed in very small
amounts, move the lever to +RES briey
and then release it. Each time this is done,
the vehicle goes about 1 mph (1.6 km/h)
faster.
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Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while
using cruise control:
Push and hold the lever to−SET until you reach
the lower speed desired, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, push the
lever down briey. Each time this is done, the
vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the vehicle
speed. When you take your foot off the pedal,
the vehicle slows down to the cruise control speed
you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works on hills depends
upon the vehicle speed, load, and the steepness
of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you might have to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle
speed.When going downhill, you might have to brake or
shift to a lower gear to keep the vehicle speed
down. Of course, applying the brake or
downshifting to SECOND (2) or LOW (L) turns off
the cruise control. Many drivers nd this to be
too much trouble and do not use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are several ways to turn off the cruise
control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal or push the
clutch pedal, if you have a manual transaxle.
Press the ON-OFF button again.
Pull the cruise control lever toward you.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the
ignition, the cruise control set speed memory
is erased.
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Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during
the day. DRL can be helpful in many different
driving conditions, but they can be especially
helpful in the short periods after dawn and before
sunset. Fully functional daytime running lamps
are required on all vehicles rst sold in Canada.
The DRL system will make the headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when the
following conditions are met:
The ignition is on with the engine running.
The exterior lamps switch is off.
The parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only the headlamps will be
on at a reduced brightness. The taillamps,
sidemarker and other lamps will not be on. The
instrument panel will not be lit up either.
When you turn the exterior lamp switch to the
headlamp position, the DRL will go off and
the headlamps will come on. The other lamps that
come on with the headlamps will also come on.When it begins to get dark, the headlamps will
automatically switch from DRL to the regular
headlamps. See “Automatic Headlamp System”
following.
When you turn the exterior lamp switch off, the
regular lamps will go off and the headlamps
will change to the reduced brightness of DRL
provided it is not dark outside. DRL also comes on
if only the parking lamps are being used.
Automatic Headlamp System
Your vehicle has an automatic light sensor on the
top left corner of the instrument panel, so be
sure it is not covered or the headlamps will be on
continuously.
When it is dark enough outside, the automatic
headlamp system will turn on the low-beam
headlamps at the normal brightness along with
other lamps such as the taillamps, sidemarker,
parking lamps and instrument panel lights. This is
indicated by the headlamp symbol on your
instrument panel cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 159.
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Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If one part is not working, the other
part can still work and stop you. For good
braking, though, you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected
right away.
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, this light
should come on when you turn the key to START.
If it does not come on then, have it xed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.When the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will also come on when you set your
parking brake. The light will stay on if your parking
brake does not release fully. If it stays on after
your parking brake is fully released, it means you
have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. You may notice
that the pedal is harder to push or the pedal may
go closer to the oor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed
for service. SeeAnti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light on page 167andTowing Your
Vehicle on page 259.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light
is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after you have pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
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Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), this light
comes on when the engine is started and can
stay on for several seconds. This is normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to LOCK. If
the light comes on while you are driving, stop
as soon as possible and turn the ignition off. Then
start the engine again to reset the system. If
the light still stays on, or comes on again while
you are driving, your vehicle needs service. If the
regular brake system warning light is not on,
you still have brakes, but you do not have anti-lock
brakes. If the regular brake system warning light
is also on, you do not have anti-lock brakes
and there is a problem with the regular brakes.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 166.The ABS warning light comes on briey when you
turn the ignition key to ON. This is normal. If
the light does not come on then, have it xed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Low Tire Pressure Warning Light
This light should come
on briey as you start
the engine.
It will then come on only when a low tire pressure
condition exists.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor System on page 330
for more information.
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Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle............................................ 222
Defensive Driving...................................... 222
Drunken Driving........................................ 223
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 226
Braking...................................................... 226
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 227
Braking in Emergencies............................. 229
Traction Control System (TCS).................. 230
StabiliTrak
®System................................... 231
Panic Brake Assist.................................... 231
Steering.................................................... 232
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 234
Passing..................................................... 235
Loss of Control.......................................... 237
Driving at Night......................................... 238Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 239
City Driving............................................... 242
Freeway Driving........................................ 243
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................. 244
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 245
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 246
Winter Driving........................................... 248
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.......................................... 252
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 253
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 253
Towing........................................................ 259
Towing Your Vehicle ................................. 259
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 259
Towing a Trailer........................................ 261
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
221

Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go
where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the
steering, and the accelerator. All three systems
have to do their work at the places where the tires
meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or
ice, it is easy to ask more of those control systems
than the tires and road can provide. That means
you can lose control of your vehicle.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 272.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 166.
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to
bring up your foot and do it. That is reaction time.Average reaction time is about three-fourths of
a second. But that is only an average. It might be
less with one driver and as long as two or
three seconds or more with another. Age, physical
condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight
all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs, and
frustration. But even in three-fourths of a second,
a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between
your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary
greatly with the surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of the road,
whether it is wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the
condition of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
and the amount of brake force applied.
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Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by
heavy braking — rather than keeping pace with
traffic. This is a mistake. The brakes may not have
time to cool between hard stops. The brakes
will wear out much faster if you do a lot of heavy
braking. If you keep pace with the traffic and
allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are
driving, brake normally but do not pump the
brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to
push down. If the engine stops, you will still have
some power brake assist. But you will use it
when you brake. Once the power assist is used
up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 272.Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle may have the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced electronic braking
system that will help prevent a braking skid.
If your vehicle has ABS, this warning light on the
instrument panel will come on briey when
you start your vehicle.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to
drive away, ABS will check itself. You may hear a
momentary motor or clicking noise while this test is
going on, and you may even notice that your brake
pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, the anti-lock brake
system warning light will stay on. SeeAnti-Lock
Brake System Warning Light on page 167.
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