2009 PONTIAC VIBE warning

Brake System Warning
Light
The vehicle’s hydraulic brake
system is divided into two parts.
If one part is not working, the other
part can still work and stop the
vehicle. For good braking both parts
need to be working well.
If the warning light comes on, there
is a brake problem. Have the brake
system inspected right away.
If the vehicle has anti-lock brakes,
this light should come on when
the key is turned to START.If it does not come on, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn if
there is a problem.
When the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light also comes
on when the parking brake is
set. The light will stay on if the
parking brake does not fully release.
If it stays on after the parking
brake is fully released, it means
there is a brake problem.
{CAUTION
The brake system might not be
working properly if the brake
system warning light is on.
Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after the
vehicle has been pulled off the
road and carefully stopped, have
the vehicle towed for service.
See Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light later in this section
andTowing Your Vehicle on
page 9-75.
United States
Canada
Instruments and Controls 4-17
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
The ABS warning light comes on
briey when the ignition key is
turned to ON/RUN. 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.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition
to LOCK/OFF. If the light comes
on while 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 driving, the vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system
warning light is not on, there are
still brakes, but no antilock brakes.If the regular brake system
warning light is also on, there are
no antilock brakes and there is
a problem with the regular brakes.
SeeBrake System Warning Light
on page 4-17.
Speed Sensitive Power
Steering (SSPS)
Warning Light
Vehicles with this feature, have a
warning light that comes on briey
when the ignition is turned to
ON/RUN as a check to show it is
working.
If the warning light does not come
on, have it xed so it will be able to
warn if there is a problem.If the warning light stays on, or
comes on while driving, the Speed
Sensitive Power Steering may
not be working. See your
dealer/retailer for service.
Low Tire Pressure
Warning Light
This light should come on briey as
the engine is started.
If there is a tire with low tire
pressure, the light will stay on or
come back on.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor System
on page 9-48for more information. United States
Canada
4-18 Instruments and Controls
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Traction Control System
(TCS) Warning Light
This warning light comes on briey
when the ignition is turned to
ON/RUN.
It also comes on when the Traction
Control System is turned off by
pressing the TRAC OFF button.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 8-21for more information.
If it stays on or comes on while
driving, there is a problem with the
Traction Control System (TCS),
contact your dealer/retailer.
StabiliTrak®Indicator
Light
This light warns that there is a
problem with the Traction Control
System (TCS) or the Vehicle
Stability Control (VSC) system.
The light comes on when the ignition
is turned to ON/RUN.
If the light comes on while driving,
the system is not working.
The TCS light comes on when the
VSC system warning light comes on,
even if the TRAC OFF button is
not pressed.
SeeStabiliTrak
®System on
page 8-22for more information on
Vehicle Stability Control System.SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 8-21for more information.
Contact your dealer/retailer, if
the light does not come on or if it
stays on.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant
temperature. If the gage pointer
moves into the red area, the engine
is too hot. Pull off the road, stop
the vehicle, and turn off the engine
as soon as possible. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 9-22.
United StatesCanada
Instruments and Controls 4-19
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

If the light comes on and stays on,
it means that oil is not owing
through the engine properly.
The vehicle could be low on oil and
might have some other system
problem.
Fog Lamp Light
For vehicles with this feature,
this light comes on whenever the
front fog lamps are on.
SeeExterior Lamps Controls on
page 5-1for more information.
Lights On Reminder
This light comes on whenever the
headlights are on.
SeeExterior Lamps Controls on
page 5-1for more information.
Taillamp Indicator Light
This light will come on when your
taillamps are on.
SeeExterior Lamps Controls on
page 5-1for more information.
Cruise Control Light
The CRUISE light comes on when
the cruise control is on.
SeeCruise Control on page 4-4for
more information.
Low Washer Fluid
Warning Light
This light comes on when the
windshield washer uid is low.
SeeWindshield Washer Fluid on
page 9-24for more information.
Canada Only
Canada Only
Instruments and Controls 4-23
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Service All-Wheel Drive
Light
This light will come on briey when
the ignition is turned on, and the
engine is not running, as a check to
show you it is working.
It should go out when the engine is
started. It should go out when the
engine is started. If it stays on, or
comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the system.
Have it checked by your dealer/
retailer.
The four-wheel-drive indicator will
light up when the All-Wheel drive
is active.
Highbeam On Light
This light comes on when the
high-beam headlamps are in use.
SeeHeadlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer on page 4-7for more
information.
Door Ajar Light
This light comes on if any door,
the rear liftgate, or the rear liftglass
are not completely closed.
Fuel Gage
The fuel gage shows about how
much fuel is in the fuel tank.
An arrow on the fuel gage indicates
that the fuel ller door is on the driver
side of the vehicle. The fuel gage
works only when the ignition switch is
turned to ON/RUN. When the gage
rst indicates E or empty, there is still
about 2 gallons ( 7.6 L) of fuel left,
but more needs to be added right
away. When the vehicle is low on fuel
the low fuel warning light, located
below the empty mark, comes on.
United StatesCanada
4-24 Instruments and Controls
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Five things that do not indicate a
problem with the fuel gage:
At the gas station, the fuel pump
shuts off before the gage reads
F or full.
It takes a little more or less fuel
to ll up than the gage indicated.
For example, the gage may
have indicated the tank was half
full, but it actually took more
or less than half the tank’s
capacity to ll it.
It takes the gage several minutes
to read F or full after lling the
vehicle with fuel.
The gage moves a little when
you turn, stop or speed up.
The gage does not go back to
E or empty when you turn off
the ignition.
Low Fuel Warning Light
This light, on the fuel gage, comes
on when the fuel tank is low on
fuel. To turn if off, add fuel to the
fuel tank.
OnStar®System
OnStar uses several innovative
technologies and live advisors to
provide a wide range of safety,
security, information, and
convenience services. If the airbags
deploy, the system is designed to
make an automatic call to OnStar
Emergency advisors who can
request emergency services be
sent to your location. If the keys are
locked in the vehicle, call OnStar at
1-888-4-ONSTAR to have a signal
sent to unlock the doors. OnStar
Hands-Free Calling, including
30 trial minutes good for 60 days, is
available on most vehicles. Press the
OnStar button to have an OnStar
advisor contact Roadside Service. United States
Canada
Instruments and Controls 4-25
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

LOCK/OFF:This is the only position
from which you can remove the key.
This locks the steering wheel,
ignition and automatic transmission.
Push in the ignition switch as you
turn the key toward you.
On vehicles with an automatic
transmission, the shift lever must be
in P (Park) to turn the ignition switch
to the LOCK/OFF position.
A warning tone will sound if the driver
door is opened with the key in the
ignition.
The ignition switch can bind in the
LOCK/OFF position with your wheels
turned off center. If this happens,
move the steering wheel from right
to left while turning the key to
ACC/ACCESSORY. If this doesn’t
work, then the vehicle needs service.{CAUTION
On manual transmission vehicles,
turning the key to LOCK/OFF and
removing it will lock the steering
column and result in a loss of
ability to steer the vehicle.
This could cause a collision.
If you need to turn the engine
off while the vehicle is moving,
turn the key only to ACC/
ACCESSORY. Do not push the
key in while the vehicle is moving.
ACC/ACCESSORY:This position
provides power to some of the
electrical accessories. It unlocks the
steering wheel and ignition. To move
the key from ACC/ACCESSORY to
LOCK/OFF, push in the key and then
turn it to LOCK/OFF.
A warning tone will sound when
the driver door is opened when the
ignition is still in ACC/ACCESSORY
or LOCK/OFF and the key is in the
ignition.ON/RUN:The ignition switch stays
in this position when the engine is
running. This position can be used to
operate the electrical accessories,
including the ventilation fan and
115 volt power outlet, as well as to
display some warning and indicator
lights. The transmission is also
unlocked in this position on
automatic transmission vehicles.
The battery could be drained
if you leave the key in the ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN position
with the engine off. You may not be
able to start the vehicle if the battery
is allowed to drain for an extended
period of time.
START:This position starts the
engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch
will return to ON/RUN for normal
driving.
Driving and Operating 8-3
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Driver Shift Control (DSC)
DSC mode allows you to choose
the top gear limit of the vehicle’s
transmission and the vehicle’s speed
while driving down hill or towing a
trailer. To use this feature, do the
following:
1. Move the shift lever from
D (Drive) left to S (Shift Control).
While driving in this mode,
the transmission will remain
in the driver selected range.
When coming to a stop, the
vehicle will automatically shift
into 1 (First) gear.
2. Move the shift lever forward to
increase the gear range, or
rearward to decrease the gear
range available based upon your
current driving conditions and
needs.The number displayed in the
instrument cluster is the highest gear
that the transmission will be allowed
to operate in. However, your vehicle
can automatically shift to lower gears
as required by various driving
conditions. This means that all gears
below that number are available.
The display in the instrument
cluster will change from the currently
displayed message to 4 (Fourth)
when you enter S (Shift Control),
and change to indicate the requested
gear range when moving the shift
lever forward or rearward.
While using the DSC feature the
transmission will have rmer shifting
and sportier performance. You can
use this for sport driving or when
climbing hills to stay in gear longer
or to downshift for more power or
engine braking.The transmission will only allow
shifting into gears appropriate
for the vehicles speed and engine
revolutions per minute (RPM):
The transmission will not
automatically shift to the next
higher gear if the vehicle speed
or engine RPM is too high.
The transmission will not allow
shifting to the next lower gear if
the vehicle speed or engine RPM
is too high. An audible warning
will sound and the downshift will
not be allowed. The downshift
request will have to be made
again once the vehicle reaches
an acceptable speed.
Downshift
RequestedRequired
Vehicle Speed
4 (Fourth) to
3 (Third)Below 95 mph
(153 km/h)
3 (Third) to
2 (Second)Below 60 mph
(97 km/h)
2 (Second) to
1 (First)Below 30 mph
(48 km/h)
8-10 Driving and Operating
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual