2010 PONTIAC VIBE manual transmission

Manual Transmission
Recommended Shift Speeds
Engine1.8L
1to2 34 mph
(55 km/h)
2to3 56 mph
(91 km/h)
3to4 82 mph
(132 km/h)
4to5 121 mph
(195 km/h)
Engine 2.4L
1to2 31 mph
(50 km/h)
2to3 53 mph
(86 km/h)
3to4 82 mph
(132 km/h)
4to5 112 mph
(181 km/h)
If vehicle speed drops below 20 mph
(32 km/h), or if the engine is not
running smoothly, you should
downshift to the next lower gear.
You may have to downshift two or
more gears to keep the engine
running smoothly or for good
performance.Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
With this feature, engine power is
sent to all four wheels at all times.
This is like four-wheel drive, but there
is no separate lever or switch to
engage or disengage the rear axle.
It is fully automatic, and adjusts itself
as needed for road conditions.
Driving and Operating 8-31

Using Cruise Control on Hills
The cruise control performance will
vary depending upon the vehicle
speed, load, and the steepness of
the hills.
When going up steep hills, you might
have to step on the accelerator pedal
to maintain the vehicle speed.
When going downhill, you might
have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep the vehicle speed down.
Applying the brake or downshifting
to 2 SECOND or L LOW turns
off the cruise control.Ending Cruise Control
There are several ways to turn off
the cruise control:
•Step on the brake pedal or push
the clutch pedal, if the vehicle
has a manual transmission.
•Press the ON-OFF button.
•Pull the cruise control lever
toward you.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory
is erased when the cruise control or
the ignition is turned off.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel
is an important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle. To help
keep the engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, we
recommend the use of gasoline
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline.
Look for the TOP TIER label on the
fuel pump to ensure gasoline meets
enhanced detergency standards
developed by auto companies. A list
of marketers providing TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline can be found at
www.toptiergas.com.
8-38 Driving and Operating

•Vehicles with an automatic
transmission can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts too
often under heavy loads and/or
hilly conditions. For vehicles with
a manual transmission, it is better
not to use the highest gear.
•Use the Sport Shift mode and the
cruise control when towing.
•Obey speed limit restrictions
when towing a trailer. Do not drive
faster than the maximum posted
speed for trailers, or no more than
90 km/h (55 mph), to save wear
on the vehicle’s parts.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. Get to know
the rig before setting out for the open
road. Get acquainted with the feel of
handling and braking with the added
weight of the trailer. And always keep
in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now longer and not as
responsive as the vehicle is by itself.Before starting, check all trailer
hitch parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires and mirror adjustments. If the
trailer has electric brakes, start the
vehicle and trailer moving and then
apply the trailer brake controller by
hand to be sure the brakes are
working. This checks the electrical
connection at the same time.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure,
and that the lamps and any
trailer brakes are still working.
Towing with StabiliTrak
When towing, the sound of the
StabiliTrak modulator might
be heard. StabiliTrak is reacting to
the vehicle movement caused
by the trailer, which mainly occurs
during cornering. This is normal
when towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid situations that
require heavy braking and sudden
turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. Because the
rig is longer, it is necessary to go
much farther beyond the passed
vehicle before returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel
with one hand. Then, to move the
trailer to the left, move that hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and, if
possible, have someone guide you.
Driving and Operating 8-45

Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns
while trailering could cause the
trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. The vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the trailer won’t strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other
objects. Avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
The arrows on the instrument panel
flash whenever signaling a turn or
lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps also flash, telling
other drivers the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes or stopping. When towing a trailer, the arrows on
the instrument panel flash for turns
even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. For this reason you may
think other drivers are seeing the
signal when they are not. It is
important to check occasionally to be
sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the transmission
is not shifted down, the brakes
might have to be used so much that
they would get hot and no longer
work well.
Vehicles with an automatic
transmission can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower gear
if the transmission shifts too often
under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions. For vehicles with a
manual transmission, it is better
not to use the highest gear.When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, consider the
following: Engine coolant will boil at a
lower temperature than at normal
altitudes. If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle may show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run while parked,
preferably on level ground, with the
automatic transmission in P (Park)
for a few minutes before turning the
engine off. For vehicles with manual
transmissions, let the engine run
while parked, preferably on level
ground, with the transmission out of
gear and the parking brake applied,
for a few minutes before turning the
engine off. If the overheat warning
comes on, see
Engine Overheating
on page 9-23.
8-46 Driving and Operating

Parking on Hills
{CAUTION
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet for vehicles
with an automatic transmission,
or into gear for vehicles with a
manual transmission. Turn the
wheels into the curb if facing
downhill or into traffic if facing
uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels. 3. When the wheel chocks are in
place, release the brake pedal
until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park) for vehicles
with an automatic transmission
or into gear for vehicles with
a manual transmission.
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on
a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal while you:
•start the 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
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See this
manual’s Maintenance Schedule or
Index for more information. Things
that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission
fluid, engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system and brake system.
It is a good idea to inspect these
before and during the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
on page 9-23.
Driving and Operating 8-47

Vehicle Care
General InformationGeneral Information..............
.9-2
California Proposition 65 Warning ........................
.9-2
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements ........9-3
Accessories and Modifications ......................
.9-3
Vehicle ChecksDoing Your Own
Service Work .....................
.9-4
Hood ..................................
.9-5
Engine Compartment Overview ...........................
.9-6
Engine Oil ...........................
.9-9
Automatic Transmission Fluid ...............................
.9-12
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . .9-14
Hydraulic Clutch .................
.9-15
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter .......9-16
Cooling System ..................
.9-19
Engine Coolant ..................
.9-19Engine Overheating
.............9-23
Power Steering Fluid ............9-24
Washer Fluid .....................
.9-24
Brakes ..............................
.9-26
Brake Fluid ........................
.9-27
Battery ..............................
.9-28
All-Wheel Drive ..................
.9-29
Starter Switch Check ............9-30
Wiper Blade Replacement .....9-30
Headlamp AimingHeadlamp Aiming...............
.9-32
Bulb ReplacementBulb Replacement ..............
.9-33
Halogen Bulbs ...................
.9-33
Headlamps and Parking Lamps .............................
.9-33
Taillamps ...........................
.9-35
License Plate Lamp .............9-36
Replacement Bulbs .............
.9-37
Electrical SystemElectrical System Overload . . . .9-37
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . .9-38
Engine Compartment Fuse Block ..............................
.9-38
Instrument Panel Fuse Block ..............................
.9-41
Wheels and TiresTires.................................
.9-43
Tire Sidewall Labeling ..........9-44
Tire Designations ................
.9-46
Tire Terminology and Definitions ........................
.9-46
Tire Pressure .....................
.9-49
Tire Pressure Monitor System ............................
.9-50
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation .........................
.9-52
Tire Inspection ...................
.9-54
Tire Rotation ......................
.9-55
When It Is Time for New Tires ...............................
.9-56
Buying New Tires ...............
.9-56
Different Size Tires and Wheels ............................
.9-58
Uniform Tire Quality Grading ...........................
.9-58
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance ...........................
.9-60
Wheel Replacement .............9-60
Tire Chains ........................
.9-61
If a Tire Goes Flat ..............
.9-62
Tire Changing ....................
.9-63
Compact Spare Tire .............9-68
Vehicle Care 9-1

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

Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder and, on
manual transmission vehicles, the
clutch hydraulic system use the
same reservoir. The reservoir is filled
with DOT-3 brake fluid as indicated
on the reservoir cap. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 9-6
for the location of the reservoir. There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir
might go down:
•The brake fluid level goes down
because of normal brake lining
wear. When new linings are
installed, the fluid level goes
back up.
•A fluid leak in the brake and/or
clutch hydraulic system can also
cause a low fluid level. Have the
brake and/or clutch hydraulic
system fixed, since a leak means
that sooner or later the brakes
and/or clutch will not work well.
Do not top off the brake/clutch fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings are
worn, there will be too much fluid
when new brake linings are installed. Add or remove brake fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done
on the brake/clutch hydraulic system.
{CAUTION
If too much brake fluid is added,
it can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake fluid only when work
is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See Brake System Warning
Light on page 4-17.
Vehicle Care 9-27