2007 PONTIAC VIBE brake fluid

Service........................................................ 272
Accessories and Modications................... 272
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 273
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 273
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 274
Fuel............................................................. 274
Gasoline Octane........................................ 274
Gasoline Specications.............................. 274
California Fuel........................................... 275
Additives................................................... 275
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 276
Filling the Tank......................................... 277
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 279
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 280
Hood Release........................................... 280
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 282
Engine Oil................................................. 284
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 288
Automatic Transaxle Fluid......................... 290Manual Transaxle Fluid............................. 292
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 293
Engine Coolant.......................................... 294
Radiator Pressure Cap.............................. 297
Engine Overheating................................... 297
Cooling System......................................... 299
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 304
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 305
Brakes...................................................... 306
Battery...................................................... 309
Jump Starting............................................ 310
Bulb Replacement....................................... 315
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 315
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and
Parking Lamps....................................... 316
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL)................................ 317
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps...... 318
Back-Up Lamps......................................... 320
Replacement Bulbs................................... 320
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
269

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 305.
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 304.
C. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure
Cap on page 297.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 284.
E. Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling System
on page 299.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 284.G. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick (If
Equipped). See “Checking the Fluid Level”
underAutomatic Transaxle Fluid on page 290.
H. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir and
Hydraulic Clutch (If Equipped). See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 306andHydraulic
Clutch on page 293.
I. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 288.
J. Battery. SeeBattery on page 309.
K. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 367.
283

Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare your vehicle as follows:
1. Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
2. With the parking brake applied, place the shift
lever in PARK (P).
3. With your foot on the brake pedal, move the
shift lever through each gear range, pausing
for about three seconds in each range.
Then, position the shift lever in PARK (P).
4. Let the engine run at idle for three to
ve minutes.Then, without shutting off the engine, follow
these steps:
The automatic transaxle dipstick has an orange
handle and is located near the front of the engine
compartment. SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 282for more information on location.
1. Release the tab and pull out the dipstick and
wipe it with a clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds
and then pull it back out again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the
lower level. The uid level must be between
the two dimples in the hot range.
4. If the uid level is in the acceptable range,
push the dipstick back in all the way; then
press the tab down to lock the dipstick in place.
291

Check the uid level only when your engine is off,
the vehicle is parked on a level place and the
transaxle is cool enough for you to rest your
ngers on the transaxle case.
Then, follow these steps:
1. Remove the ller plug.
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to the
bottom of the ller plug hole.
3. If the uid level is good, install the plug and be
sure it is fully seated. If the uid level is low,
add more uid as described in the next steps.
How to Add Fluid
Here is how to add uid. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine what kind of uid to use.
SeePart D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 394.
1. Remove the ller plug.
2. Add uid at the ller plug hole. Add only
enough uid to bring the uid level up to
the bottom of the ller plug hole.
3. Install the ller plug. Be sure the plug is fully
seated.
Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch linkage in your vehicle is
self-adjusting. The master cylinder reservoir
is lled with DOT-3 brake uid.
It is not necessary to regularly check the uid
unless you suspect there is a leak in the system.
Adding uid will not correct a leak.
The hydraulic clutch and brake master cylinder
use the same reservoir.
A uid loss in this system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected and repaired.
293

Brakes
Brake Fluid
The hydraulic clutch and
brake master cylinder
use the same reservoir.
It is lled with DOT-3
brake uid. SeeEngine
Compartment
Overview on page 282
for the location of
the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid
level in the reservoir might go down. The rst
is that the brake uid goes down to an acceptable
level during normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are put in, the uid level goes back
up. The other reason is that uid is leaking out of
the brake system or the hydraulic clutch system.
If it is, have that system xed immediately, since a
leak means that the brakes will not work well, or
will not work at all.So, it is not a good idea to top off the brake uid.
Adding brake uid will not correct a leak. If
you add uid when the linings are worn, then you
will have too much uid when you get new
brake linings. You should add or remove brake
uid, as necessary, only when work is done on the
brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has too much brake uid, it
can spill on the engine. The uid will burn
if the engine is hot enough. You or others
could be burned, and your vehicle could
be damaged. Add brake uid only when
work is done on the brake and/or clutch
hydraulic system.
When the brake uid falls to a low level, the brake
warning light will come on. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 166.
306

What to Add
When you do need brake uid, use only DOT-3
brake uid. Use new brake uid from a sealed
container only. SeePart D: Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 394.
Always clean the brake uid reservoir cap and the
area around the cap before removing it. This
helps keep dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in the brake
system, the brakes may not work well, or
they may not even work at all. This could
cause a crash. Always use the proper
brake uid.Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just a
few drops of mineral-based oil, such
as engine oil, in the brake system can
damage brake system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced. Do not
let someone put in the wrong kind of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint nish can
be damaged. Be careful not to spill brake
uid on your vehicle. If you do, wash it
off immediately. SeeWashing Your Vehicle
on page 358.
307

Maintenance Schedule................................ 374
Introduction............................................... 374
Maintenance Requirements........................ 374
Your Vehicle and the Environment............ 374
How This Section is Organized................. 374
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services................................................. 376
Using the Maintenance Schedule............... 376
Scheduled Maintenance............................. 377
Part B: Owner Checks and Services......... 386
At Each Fuel Fill....................................... 386
At Least Once a Month............................. 386
At Least Twice a Year.............................. 387At Least Once a Year............................... 388
Part C: Periodic Maintenance
Inspections............................................. 392
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive
Axle Boot and Seal Inspection............... 392
Exhaust System Inspection........................ 392
Fuel System Inspection............................. 392
Engine Cooling System Inspection............. 393
Throttle System Inspection........................ 393
Brake System Inspection........................... 393
Part D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants.............................................. 394
Part E: Maintenance Record...................... 396
Section 6 Maintenance Schedule
373

Scheduled Maintenance
The services shown in this schedule up to
120,000 miles (192 000 km) should be repeated
after 120,000 miles (192 000 km) at the same
intervals for the life of this vehicle.
SeePart B: Owner Checks and Services on
page 386,Part C: Periodic Maintenance
Inspections on page 392, andPart D:
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 394.
Footnotes
†The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or
the California Air Resources Board has determined
that the failure to perform this maintenance item
will not nullify the emissions warranty or limit recall
liability prior to the completion of the vehicle’s
useful life. We, however, urge that all
recommended maintenance services be performed
at the indicated intervals and the maintenance
be recorded.
+A good time to check your brakes is during tire
rotation. See Brake System Inspection on
page 393.
5,000 Miles (8 000 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.
10,000 Miles (16 000 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.
377