Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System
If this vehicle has the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) system,
it operates on a radio frequency
subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and
with Industry Canada.
This device complies with
Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause
interference.
2. This device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause
undesired operation of the device.This device complies with
RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause
interference.
2. This device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause
undesired operation of the device.
Changes or modi cations to this
system by other than an authorized
service facility could void
authorization to use this equipment.If there is a decrease in the
RKE operating range, try this:Check the distance.
The transmitter may be
too far from the vehicle.
Stand closer during rainy or
snowy weather.
Check the location. Other
vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal. Take a
few steps to the left or right,
hold the transmitter higher, and
try again.
Check the transmitter’s battery.
See “Battery Replacement”
later in this section.
If the transmitter is still not
working correctly, see your
dealer/retailer or a quali ed
technician for service.
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-3
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual
Battery Replacement
The battery in the transmitter is
weak and should be changed if it
does not work at the normal range
in any location.
Notice:When replacing the
battery, do not touch any of the
circuitry on the transmitter.
Static from your body could
damage the transmitter.To replace the battery, use a at,
thin non-metal object or
tape-wrapped metal object.
1. Separate the transmitter.
2. Remove the module.3. Open the module cover.
4. Remove the old battery.
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-5
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual
5. Insert the new battery,
positive (+) side facing up.
Replace with a CR2025 or
equivalent battery.
6. Snap the module back together
and replace it in the transmitter.
7. Snap the front and back of the
transmitter together.
Doors and Locks
Door Locks
{CAUTION
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers, especially
children, can easily open the
doors and fall out of a moving
vehicle. When a door is
locked, the handle will not
open it. You increase the
chance of being thrown out of
the vehicle in a crash if the
doors are not locked. So, wear
safety belts properly and lock
the doors whenever you drive.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Young children who get into
unlocked vehicles may be
unable to get out. A child
can be overcome by
extreme heat and can suffer
permanent injuries or even
death from heat stroke.
Always lock your vehicle
whenever you leave it.
Outsiders can easily enter
through an unlocked door
when you slow down or stop
your vehicle. Locking your
doors can help prevent this
from happening.
2-6 Keys, Doors and Windows
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual
Arming the System
To arm the system:
1. Close all the doors and the
liftgate.
2. Lock the doors and liftgate with
the key or Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter.
The security light comes on solid.
The system automatically arms
after 30 seconds. The security
light ashes when the system
is armed.
No one should be in the vehicle
when the alarm system is armed
because unlocking the vehicle from
the inside activates the system.
To avoid setting off the alarm make
sure all passengers are out of
the vehicle and the windows are
closed before arming the system.
Disarming the System
To disarm the alarm do one of the
following:
Unlock the doors with the key.
Unlock the doors and liftgate with
the RKE transmitter.
Start the engine.
Testing the Alarm
To test the alarm:
1. Open all the windows.
2. Set the system as described
in the previous procedure.
The doors and liftgate should
be locked with the key or RKE
transmitter. Be sure to wait until
the security light starts ashing.
3. Unlock the driver door from the
inside. The system should
activate the alarm.
4. Stop the alarm as described in
the disarming procedure.
5. Repeat this operation for the
other doors. Also, check that
the system is activated when the
battery terminal is disconnected
and then reconnected.If the system does not work
properly, have it checked by your
dealer/retailer.
How the System Alarm is
Activated
The system activates the alarm if:
A locked door or the liftgate is
unlocked or opened without the
RKE transmitter.
A locked door is unlocked or
opened without the key.
The liftgate is unlocked or opened
with the key.
The battery is reconnected.
The side windows are tapped or
broken.
Do not leave the key or device that
disarms or deactivates the theft
deterrent system in the vehicle.
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-11
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local
governments have or might begin
programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on the vehicle.
Failure to pass this inspection could
prevent getting a vehicle registration.
Here are some things to know to
help the vehicle pass an inspection:
The vehicle will not pass this
inspection if the check engine
light is on with the engine
running, or if the key is in the
ON/RUN and the light is not on.
The vehicle will not pass
this inspection if the OBD II
(on-board diagnostic) system
determines that critical emission
control systems have not been
completely diagnosed by the
system. The vehicle would
be considered not ready forinspection. This can happen if
the battery has recently been
replaced or if the battery has run
down. The diagnostic system
is designed to evaluate critical
emission control systems
during normal driving. This can
take several days of routine
driving. If this has been done
and the vehicle still does not
pass the inspection for lack
of OBD II system readiness,
your dealer/retailer can prepare
the vehicle for inspection.
Security Light
For information regarding this light
and the vehicle’s security system,
seeContent Theft-Deterrent
on page 2-10.
Oil Pressure Light
{CAUTION
Do not keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. The engine can
become so hot that it catches re.
Someone could be burned. Check
the oil as soon as possible and
have the vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always follow the maintenance
schedule in this manual for
changing engine oil.
The oil pressure light should come
on brie y as the engine is started.
If it does not come on have the
vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer.
4-22 Instruments and Controls
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual
Lighting
Lighting
Exterior Lamps Controls.....5-1
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)....................5-2
Automatic Headlamp
System.............................5-2
Fog Lamps.........................5-2
Instrument Panel
Brightness.........................5-3
Dome Lamp(s)....................5-3
Entry Lighting.....................5-3
Reading Lamps..................5-4
Battery Run-Down
Protection.........................5-4
Lighting
Exterior Lamps Controls
The lever on the left side of the
steering column operates the
exterior lamps.
P/;(Exterior Lamps):Turn the
outside band of the lever to operate
the lamps. For vehicles sold in the
U.S.,
Pappears on the instrument
panel cluster when the exterior
lamps are on. For vehicles rst
sold in Canada,
;appears in the
instrument panel cluster. SeeLights
On Reminder on page 4-23.The exterior lamp switch has three
positions:
((Off):Turns off all lamps, except
the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).
;(Parking Lamps):Turns on
the parking lamps together with the
following:
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamp
Instrument Panel Lights
5(Headlamps):Turns on the
headlamps, together with the
previously listed lamps and lights.
Headlamps on Reminder
A tone sounds when the ignition is
turned to LOCK/OFF, the driver
door is opened and the key
is removed from the ignition while
the lamps are on.
Lighting 5-1
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
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories may be
used for less than a minute after
the engine is turned off.
Power Windows, if equipped
Sunroof, if equipped
The power windows and sunroof
will continue to work for less than a
minute or until either front door is
opened. The radio will work when
the key is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY.
Starting the Engine
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart
when you are already moving,
use N (Neutral) only.
Notice:Shifting into P (Park)
with the vehicle moving could
damage the transmission.
Shift into P (Park) only when
your vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The shift lever should be in
NEUTRAL and the parking brake
engaged. Hold the clutch pedal
to the oor and start the engine.
The vehicle will not start if the clutch
pedal is not all the way down.
Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition to START.
When the engine starts, let go of
the key. The idle speed will go
down as the engine gets warm.
Vehicles equipped with
the 1.8L engine have a
Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in
starting the engine and protects
components. If the ignition key is
turned to the START position,
and then released when the
engine begins cranking, the
engine will continue cranking for
a about 30 seconds or until the
vehicle starts. If the engine doesnot start and the key is held in
START for many seconds,
cranking will be stopped after
25 seconds to prevent cranking
motor damage. To prevent gear
damage, this system also
prevents cranking if the engine is
already running. Engine cranking
can be stopped by turning
the ignition switch to ACC/
ACCESSORY or LOCK/OFF.
Vehicles equipped with the
2.4L engine should not be
cranked for more than
30 seconds at a time.
This may overheat the
starter and wiring systems.
Notice:Holding the key in
START for longer than 15 seconds
at a time will cause the battery to
be drained much sooner. And
the excessive heat can damage
the starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to
help avoid draining the battery
or damaging the starter.
8-4 Driving and Operating
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual