2010 PONTIAC VIBE check oil

How to Add Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine what
kind of transmission fluid to use.
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 10-15.
If the fluid level is low, add only
enough of the proper fluid to bring
the level into the area between
dimples on the dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the dipstick
hole to bring it to the proper level.
It does not take much fluid,
generally less than one pint
(0.5 L). Do not overfill. Notice:
Too much or too
little uid can damage your
transmission. Too much can mean
that some of the uid could come
out and fall on hot engine parts or
exhaust system parts, starting a
re. Too little uid could cause the
transmission to overheat. Be sure
to get an accurate reading if you
check your transmission uid.
3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as described under
“How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid,” earlier
in this section.
4. When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the dipstick
back in all the way; then press
the tab down to lock the dipstick
in place.
Manual Transmission
Fluid
When to Check
A good time to have your manual
transmission fluid level checked
is when the engine oil is changed.
However, the fluid in your manual
transmission does not require
changing.
How to Check
This operation can be difficult, you
may choose to have this done
at your dealer/retailer service
department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to
follow all the instructions here, or
you could get a false reading.
9-14 Vehicle Care

When to Check and What
to Use
The reservoir is located at the back
of the engine compartment, on the
driver side of the vehicle.Engine
Compartment Overview on page 9-6 .Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine how often you should
check the fluid level in your master
cylinder reservoir and for the proper
fluid. See
Scheduled Maintenance
on page 10-3 andRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 10-15 .
How to Check and Add Fluid
Check that the fluid level is at
or above the MIN mark. If the level
is below the MIN mark, see the
instructions on the reservoir cap.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/filter is
in the engine compartment on
the driver side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 9-6 for more information
on location.
When to Inspect the Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter
If you are driving in dusty/dirty
conditions, inspect the air
cleaner/filter at each engine
oil change. Replace the filter
every 30,000 miles (48 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs first.
See Scheduled Maintenance on
page 10-3 for more information.
9-16 Vehicle Care

What to Use
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL®
coolant, which will not damage
aluminum parts. If this coolant
mixture is used, nothing else
needs to be added.
{CAUTION
Adding only plain water to the
cooling system can be dangerous.
Plain water, or some other liquid
such as alcohol, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, the engine could
get too hot but would not get the
overheat warning. The engine
could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.Notice:
If an improper coolant
mixture is used, the engine could
overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Too much water in the mixture
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other
parts.
•Gives freezing protection down to
−34°F (− 38°C).
•Gives boiling protection up to
265°F (129°C).
•Protects against rust and
corrosion.
•Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
•Lets the warning lights and gages
work as they should.
Notice: Using coolant other than
DEX-COOL can cause premature
engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any
repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL (silicate-free)
coolant in your vehicle.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface. When the engine is cold,
the coolant level should be at LOW,
or a little higher. When the engine
is warm, the level should be up to
FULL, or a little higher. If it is not,
there could be a leak at the pressure
cap or in the radiator hoses, heater
hoses, radiator, water pump, or
somewhere else in the cooling
system.
See
Engine Compartment Overview
on page 9-6 for the location of
the coolant recovery tank.
9-20 Vehicle Care

How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Recovery Tank
If you need more coolant, add the
proper DEX-COOL®coolant mixture
at the coolant recovery tank, but
be careful not to spill it.
Occasionally check the coolant level
in the radiator. For information on
how to add coolant to the radiator,
see Cooling System on page 9-19 .
{CAUTION
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
{CAUTION
Adding only plain water to your
cooling system can be dangerous.
Plain water, or some other liquid
such as alcohol, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water
or the wrong mixture, your engine
could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch fire and
you or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and a proper
coolant.
Notice: In cold weather, water
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core and other
parts. Use the recommended
coolant and the proper coolant
mixture.
Vehicle Care 9-21

5. Put the cap back on the coolantrecovery tank, but leave the
pressure cap off.
6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch
out for the engine cooling fan.
7. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator filler neck may
be lower. If the level is lower,
add more of the proper coolant
mixture through the filler neck
until the level reaches the base
of the filler neck.
8. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during this procedure
if coolant begins to flow out of the
filler neck, reinstall the pressure
cap. Be sure the ears on the
pressure cap are in line with
the vent tube.Engine Overheating
A coolant temperature gage is
located on the vehicle’s instrument
panel. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 4-11 .
Check to see if the electric engine
cooling fan is running. If the engine
is overheating, the fan should be
running. If it is not, the vehicle needs
service.
If no problem is apparent, but the
coolant level is not at or above the
FULL mark, add a 50/50 mixture
of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant at the coolant
recovery tank. See Engine Coolant
on page 9-19 for more information
about the proper coolant mixture.
If the coolant inside the coolant
recovery tank is boiling, do not do
anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on
a level surface.
If Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
{CAUTION
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away from
the vehicle until it cools down. Wait
until there is no sign of steam or
coolant before you open the hood.
If you keep driving when your
engine is overheated, the liquids
in it can catch fire. You or others
could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if it overheats, and get
out of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.
Notice: If the engine catches
re because of being driven with
no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Vehicle Care 9-23

Service and
Maintenance
General InformationGeneral Information.............10-1
Scheduled MaintenanceScheduled Maintenance ........10-3
Recommended Fluids,
Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants ......................
.10-15
Maintenance Replacement Parts .............................
.10-17
Maintenance RecordsMaintenance Records .........10-18
General Information
Important: Keep engine oil at the
proper level and change as
recommended.
Have you purchased the GM
Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements the vehicle warranties.
See the Warranty and Owner
Assistance booklet or your dealer/
retailer for details.
Notice:
Maintenance intervals,
checks, inspections, replacement
parts, and recommended uids
and lubricants as prescribed in
this manual are necessary to
keep this vehicle in good working
condition. Any damage caused
by failure to follow scheduled
maintenance might not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Proper vehicle maintenance not only
helps to keep the vehicle in good
working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended
maintenance is important. Improper
vehicle maintenance can even affect
the quality of the air we breathe.
Improper fluid levels or the wrong tire
inflation can increase the level of
emissions from the vehicle. To help
protect the environment, and to keep
the vehicle in good condition, be sure
to maintain the vehicle properly.
Using the Maintenance
Schedule
We want to help keep this vehicle in
good working condition. But we do
not know exactly how you will drive it.
You might drive very short distances
only a few times a week. Or you
might drive long distances all the
time in very hot, dusty weather.
You might use the vehicle in making
deliveries. Or you might drive it to
work, to do errands, or in many
other ways.
Service and Maintenance 10-1

Scheduled
Maintenance
The services shown in this schedule
up to 192 000 km (120,000 miles)
should be repeated after 192 000 km
(120,000 miles) at the same intervals
for the life of this vehicle.
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 Tire
Rotation on page 9-55 .
8 000 km (5,000 Miles)
❑Change engine oil and filter
(or every 3 months, whichever
occurs first). An Emission Control
Service.
❑ Rotate tires. See Tire Rotation on
page 9-55 for proper rotation
pattern and additional information.
(See footnote +.)
❑ Inspect engine air cleaner filter
if vehicle is driven in dusty
conditions. Replace filter if
necessary.
16 000 km (10,000 Miles)
❑ Change engine oil and filter
(or every 3 months, whichever
occurs first). An Emission Control
Service.
❑ Rotate tires. See Tire Rotation
on page 9-55 for proper rotation
pattern and additional information.
(See footnote +.)
❑ Inspect engine air cleaner filter
if vehicle is driven in dusty
conditions. Replace filter if
necessary.
24 000 km (15,000 Miles)
❑ Change engine oil and filter
(or every 3 months, whichever
occurs first). An Emission Control
Service.
❑ Rotate tires. See Tire Rotation
on page 9-55 for proper rotation
pattern and additional information.
(See footnote +.)
❑ Inspect engine air cleaner filter
if vehicle is driven in dusty
conditions. Replace filter if
necessary.
❑ Inspect passenger compartment
air filter.
❑ Change transfer case fluid when
doing frequent trailer towing.
❑ Change rear differential fluid when
doing frequent trailer towing.
Service and Maintenance 10-3

32 000 km (20,000 Miles)
❑Change engine oil and filter
(or every 3 months, whichever
occurs first). An Emission Control
Service.
❑ Rotate tires. See Tire Rotation
on page 9-55 for proper rotation
pattern and additional information.
(See footnote +.)
❑ Inspect engine air cleaner filter
if vehicle is driven in dusty
conditions. Replace filter if
necessary.
40 000 km (25,000 Miles)
❑ Change engine oil and filter
(or every 3 months, whichever
occurs first). An Emission Control
Service.
❑ Rotate tires. See Tire Rotation
on page 9-55 for proper rotation
pattern and additional information.
(See footnote +.)
❑ Inspect engine air cleaner filter
if vehicle is driven in dusty
conditions. Replace filter if
necessary.
48 000 km (30,000 Miles)
❑ Change engine oil and filter
(or every 3 months, whichever
occurs first). An Emission Control
Service.
❑ Rotate tires. See Tire Rotation
on page 9-55 for proper rotation
pattern and additional information.
(See footnote +.)
❑ Replace engine air cleaner filter
(or every 24 months, whichever
occurs first). See Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 9-16 for
more information.
❑ Check restraint system. Make
sure the safety belt reminder light
and safety belt assemblies are
working properly. Look for any
other loose or damaged safety
belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety
belt system from doing its job,
have it repaired. Have any torn
or frayed safety belts replaced.
Also see Safety System Check
on page 2-21. ❑
Replace passenger compartment
air filter.
❑ Change transfer case fluid when
doing frequent trailer towing.
❑ Change rear differential fluid when
doing frequent trailer towing.
❑ Inspect fuel tank, cap, cap gasket,
and lines for damage or leaks
(or every 24 months, whichever
occurs first). Replace parts as
needed. An Emission Control
Service. (See footnote †.)
❑ Change manual transmission fluid
every 48 000 km (30,000 miles)
only if your vehicle is used to tow
a trailer.
10-4 Service and Maintenance