2010 PONTIAC VIBE warning

Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 4-17.
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding
to push the brake pedal is
perception time. Actually doing
it is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about
three-fourths of a second. But
that is only an average. It might be
less with one driver and as long as
two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition,
alertness, coordination, and eyesight
all play a part. So do alcohol,
drugs, and frustration. But even in
three-fourths of a second, a vehicle
moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels
20 m (66 ft). That could be a lot of
distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between the
vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping
distances vary greatly with the
surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of
the road, whether it is wet, dry, or icy;
tire tread; the condition of the brakes;
the weight of the vehicle; and the
amount of brake force applied.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some
people drive in spurts — heavy
acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping
pace with traffic. This is a mistake.
The brakes might not have time to
cool between hard stops. The brakes
will wear out much faster with a lot of
heavy braking. Keeping pace with
the traffic and allowing realistic
following distances eliminates a lot of
unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the brakes.
If the brakes are pumped, the pedal
could get harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will still be some
power brake assist but it will be used
when the brake is applied. Once the
power assist is used up, it can take
longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories can affect vehicle
performance. See
Accessories and
Modications on page 9-3 .
Steering
If the engine stalls while driving, the
power steering assist system will
continue to operate until you are able
to stop the vehicle. If power steering
assist is lost because the electric
power steering system is not
functioning, the vehicle can be
steered but it will take more effort.
8-4 Driving and Operating

The three types of skids correspond
to the vehicle’s three control
systems. In the braking skid, the
wheels are not rolling. In the steering
or cornering skid, too much speed or
steering in a curve causes tires to
slip and lose cornering force. And in
the acceleration skid, too much
throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin.
If the vehicle starts to slide, ease
your foot off the accelerator pedal
and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering
quickly enough, the vehicle may
straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is on the road. For safety,
slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important to
slow down on slippery surfaces
because stopping distance is longer
and vehicle control more limited.While driving on a surface with
reduced traction, try your best to
avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing vehicle
speed by shifting to a lower gear.
Any sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide. You might not
realize the surface is slippery until
the vehicle is skidding. Learn to
recognize warning clues — such as
enough water, ice, or packed snow
on the road to make a mirrored
surface — and slow down when you
have any doubt.
Remember: Any Antilock Brake
System (ABS) helps avoid only the
braking skid.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your ability
to stop and accelerate. Always drive
slower in these types of driving
conditions and avoid driving through
large puddles and deep-standing or
flowing water.
{CAUTION
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in
a quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake pedal
until the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to
drive through flowing water.
Driving and Operating 8-7

Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be in a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use theRoadside
Assistance Program on page 12-6 .
To get help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
•Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
•Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{CAUTION
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may cause
exhaust gases to get inside.
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
If the vehicle is stuck in the snow:
•Clear away snow from
around the base of your
vehicle, especially any that is
blocking the exhaust pipe.
•Check again from time to
time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
•Open a window about 5 cm
(two inches) on the side of
the vehicle that is away from
the wind to bring in fresh air.
•Fully open the air outlets on or
under the instrument panel.
•Adjust the Climate Control
system to a setting that
circulates the air inside the
vehicle and set the fan speed
to the highest setting. See
Climate Control System in the
Index.(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 8-23 .
Snow can trap exhaust gases
under your vehicle. This can cause
deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside. CO could overcome
you and kill you. You cannot see it
or smell it, so you might not know it
is in your vehicle. Clear away snow
from around the base of your
vehicle, especially any that is
blocking the exhaust.
Run the engine for short periods only
as needed to keep warm, but be
careful.
8-10 Driving and Operating

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 8-17

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 firmer 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
Requested Required
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)
Manual Transmission
1 (First):
Press the clutch pedal and
shift into 1 (First). Then, slowly let
up on the clutch pedal as you press
the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into 1 (First) when
you are going less than 20 mph
(32 km/h). If you have come to a
complete stop and it is hard to shift
into 1 (First), put the shift lever in
Neutral and let up on the clutch.
Press the clutch pedal back down.
Then shift into 1 (First).
Driving and Operating 8-29

Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced
electronic braking system that
helps prevent a braking skid.
When the engine is started and the
vehicle begins to drive away, ABS
checks itself. A momentary motor or
clicking noise might be heard while
this test is going on, and it might
even be noticed that the brake pedal
moves a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. SeeAntilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
on page 4-17. Let us say the road is wet and you
are driving safely. Suddenly, an
animal jumps out in front of you.
You slam on the brakes and continue
braking. Here is what happens
with ABS:
A computer senses that the wheels
are slowing down. If one of the
wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the
brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
the driver steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change
the time needed to get a foot up to
the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to apply
the brakes if that vehicle suddenly
slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop,
even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and
let antilock work. The antilock pump
or motor might be heard operating,
and the brake pedal might be
felt to pulsate, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows the driver to steer and
brake at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help more
than even the very best braking.
United States
Canada
8-32 Driving and Operating

Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the
brake pedal down and pull up on the
parking brake lever. If the ignition is
on, the brake system warning light
will come on.
To release the parking brake, hold
the brake pedal down. Pull the
parking brake lever up until you canpress the release button. Hold the
release button in as you move the
lever all the way down.
Notice:
Driving with the parking
brake on can overheat the brake
system and cause premature wear
or damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer, see
Driving Characteristics and Towing
Tips on page 8-44.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control
System (TCS)
Your vehicle has a traction control
system that limits wheel spin. This is
especially useful in slippery road
conditions. The system operates
only if it senses that one or both of
the drive wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, the system works the front
brakes and reduces engine power to
limit wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system
working, but this is normal. Leave the
system on during ordinary driving so
that it can operate when needed.
Driving and Operating 8-33

When the ignition is turned to
ON/RUN, the system automatically
turns on. If the system has been
turned off, it will automatically turn on
at 55 km/h (35 mph). TCS cannot be
turned off above 55 km/h (35 mph).
This light should come on briefly
when the engine is started.
The traction control system warning
light flashes and an alarm will sound
intermittently when the system is
limiting wheel spin.
gis located to the left of the steering
wheel below the instrument panel
cluster.
When getting the vehicle out of mud
or newly fallen snow, turn off the
traction control system. The system
that controls engine performance
interferes with the process of freeing
the front wheels. To turn off traction
control, press and release
g. The
traction control system warning light
will come on. To turn the traction
control system back on, press
g
again or increase vehicle speed and
the system will automatically turn
back on. The traction control system
warning light will go off. See Traction
Control System (TCS) Warning Light
on page 4-19 for more information. To turn off both the traction control
system and StabiliTrak, press and
hold
gwhile the vehicle is stopped.
The traction control system warning
light and the VSC OFF light will come
on. To turn the systems back on,
press
gagain. If both systems are
turned off, they will not turn back on
automatically when vehicle speed
increases.
If the VSC OFF light flashes, there
is a problem in the traction control
system or StabiliTrak.
Adding non-GM accessories can
affect your vehicle’s performance.
See Accessories and Modications
on page 9-3 for more information.
8-34 Driving and Operating