2007 PONTIAC VIBE trailer

Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbefore
you 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.
267

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 overll), 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 297.
268

Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change Automatic
Transaxle Fluid
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
at the intervals listed inPart A: Scheduled
Maintenance Services on page 376, and
be sure to use the transaxle uid listed in
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 394.
How to Check Automatic Transaxle
Fluid
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
the 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
the transaxle uid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transaxle uid level if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F
(32°C).
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 158°F to
176°F (70°C to 80°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about
15 miles (24 km) when outside temperatures are
above 50°F (10°C). If it is colder than 50°F (10°C),
you may have to drive longer.
290

If No Steam Is Coming From
Your Engine
If you get an engine overheat warning but see or
hear no steam, the problem may not be too
serious. Sometimes the engine can get a little too
hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of
steam, try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in
NEUTRAL (N) while stopped. If it is safe to do
so, pull off the road, shift to PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) and let the engine idle.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest
fan speed and open the windows as
necessary.If you no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for
about 10 minutes. If the warning does not come
back on, you can drive normally.
If the warning continues and you have not
stopped, pull over, stop, and park your vehicle
right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can idle the
engine for three minutes while you are parked.
If you still have the warning, turn off the engine
and get everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get
service help right away.
298

The low-tire pressure warning light may not come
on even if the tire ination pressure is low, or it
could come on when the tire ination pressure is
set correctly under the following circumstances:
A compact spare tire, snow tires, or tire chains
are installed on your vehicle.
The tires are over-inated, or the tire ination
pressure suddenly drops due to a tire bursting
or other causes.
The vehicle is driven on a slippery road
surface such as rough or frozen roads.
The vehicle speed is less than
19 mph (30 km/h), and the driving duration is
less than ve minutes.
The tires are made by a different manufacturer
or differ in tread pattern than the original
equipment tires.
Rapid acceleration/deceleration or multiple
consecutive sharp turns.
Towing a trailer.
The vehicle is loaded over the limit or not
balanced properly.
The initialization (reset) procedure was not
performed correctly after replacing or
rotating tires or wheels.
The outside temperature is below 32°F (0°C)
or above 104°F (40°C).
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your
tires as soon as possible and check wheel
alignment. Also check for damaged tires or wheels.
SeeWhen It Is Time for New Tires on page 335
andWheel Replacement on page 340for
more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve
more uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle.
The rst rotation is the most important. See
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services on
page 376for scheduled rotation intervals.
333

❑Replace passenger compartment air lter.
❑Inspect 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 †.)
❑Change manual transaxle uid every
30,000 miles (48 000 km) only if your vehicle
is used to tow a trailer.
35,000 Miles (56 000 km)
❑Change engine oil and lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs rst).An Emission Control
Service.
❑Rotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 333for proper rotation pattern and
additional information.(See footnote +.)
❑Inspect engine air cleaner lter if you are driving
in dusty conditions. Replace lter if necessary.
40,000 Miles (64 000 km)
❑Change engine oil and lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs rst).An Emission Control
Service.
❑Rotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 333for proper rotation pattern and
additional information.(See footnote +.)
❑Inspect engine air cleaner lter if you are driving
in dusty conditions. Replace lter if necessary.
45,000 Miles (72 000 km)
❑Change engine oil and lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs rst).An Emission Control
Service.
❑Rotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 333for proper rotation pattern and
additional information.(See footnote +.)
❑Inspect engine air cleaner lter if you are driving
in dusty conditions. Replace lter if necessary.
❑Inspect passenger compartment air lter.
379

❑Inspect 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 †.)
❑Change manual transaxle uid every
30,000 miles (48 000 km) only if your vehicle
is used to tow a trailer.
❑Change automatic transaxle uid every
60,000 miles (96 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly
driven under one or more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90°F
(32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police, or
delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the uid does not require changing.
See Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 394for the proper uid to use.65,000 Miles 104 000 km)
❑Change engine oil and lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs rst).An Emission Control
Service.
❑Rotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 333for proper rotation pattern and
additional information.(See footnote +.)
❑Inspect engine air cleaner lter if you are driving
in dusty conditions. Replace lter if necessary.
70,000 Miles (112 000 km)
❑Change engine oil and lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs rst).An Emission Control
Service.
❑Rotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 333for proper rotation pattern and
additional information.(See footnote +.)
❑Inspect engine air cleaner lter if you are driving
in dusty conditions. Replace lter if necessary.
381

❑Inspect engine accessory drive belts
(or 12 months since last inspection).
An Emission Control Service.
❑Inspect 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 †.)
❑Change manual transaxle uid every
30,000 miles (48 000 km) only if your
vehicle is used to tow a trailer.
95,000 Miles (152 000 km)
❑Change engine oil and lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs rst).An Emission Control
Service.
❑Rotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 333for proper rotation pattern and
additional information.(See footnote +.)
❑Inspect engine air cleaner lter if you are driving
in dusty conditions. Replace lter if necessary.
100,000 Miles (160 000 km)
❑Change engine oil and lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs rst).An Emission Control
Service.
❑Rotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 333for proper rotation pattern and
additional information.(See footnote +.)
❑Inspect engine air cleaner lter if you are driving
in dusty conditions. Replace lter if necessary.
105,000 Miles (168 000 km)
❑Change engine oil and lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs rst).An Emission Control
Service.
❑Rotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 333for proper rotation pattern and
additional information.(See footnote +.)
❑Inspect engine air cleaner lter if you are driving
in dusty conditions. Replace lter if necessary.
❑Inspect passenger compartment air lter.
❑Inspect engine accessory drive belts (or every
48 months, whichever occurs rst). Visually
inspect belt for fraying, excessive cracks, or
obvious damage. Replace belt if necessary.
An Emission Control Service.
383