2010 PONTIAC VIBE engine

Fuels in Foreign
Countries
If you plan on driving in another
country outside the United States
or Canada, the proper fuel might
be hard to find. Never use leaded
gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text
on fuel. Costly repairs caused by
use of improper fuel would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an
auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in the
country where you will be driving.
Fuel Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines
in the United States are now required
to contain additives that help prevent
engine and fuel system deposits
from forming, allowing the emission
control system to work properly.
In most cases, you should not have
to add anything to the fuel. However,
some gasolines contain only the
minimum amount of additive required
to meet U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency regulations.
To help keep fuel injectors and
intake valves clean, or if the vehicle
experiences problems due to dirty
injectors or valves, look for gasoline
that is 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 the auto companies. A list of
marketers providing TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline can be found
at www.toptiergas.com.For customers who do not use
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline
regularly, one bottle of GM Fuel
System Treatment PLUS, added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help clean deposits
from fuel injectors and intake valves.
GM Fuel System Treatment
PLUS is the only gasoline additive
recommended by General Motors.
It is available at your dealer/retailer.
Gasolines containing oxygenates,
such as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines might be
available in your area. We
recommend that you use these
gasolines, if they comply with the
specifications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
10% ethanol must not be used in
vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.
8-40 Driving and Operating

Notice:This vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under the
vehicle warranty.
Some gasolines that are
not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant
where you buy gasoline whether the
fuel contains MMT. We recommend
against the use of such gasolines.
Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the
performance of the emission
control system could be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp might
turn on. If this occurs, return to your
dealer/retailer for service.Filling the Tank
{CAUTION
Fuel vapor burns violently and a
fuel fire can cause bad injuries.
To help avoid injuries to you and
others, read and follow all the
instructions on the pump island.
Turn off the engine when you are
refueling. Do not smoke if you are
near fuel or refueling the vehicle.
Do not use cellular phones. Keep
sparks, flames, and smoking
materials away from fuel. Do not
leave the fuel pump unattended
when refueling the vehicle. This is
against the law in some places.
Do not re-enter the vehicle while
pumping fuel. Keep children away
from the fuel pump; never let
children pump fuel. The fuel door release lever is near
the floor under the driver seat on the
outboard side.
Driving and Operating 8-41

Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
{CAUTION
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly.
For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work
well — or even at all. The driver
and passengers could be seriously
injured. The vehicle may also be
damaged; the resulting repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer only
if all the steps in this section have
been followed. Ask your dealer/
retailer for advice and information
about towing a trailer with the
vehicle.
The vehicle can tow a trailer if it is
equipped with the proper trailer
towing equipment. To identify the
trailering capacity of the vehicle, see Trailer Towing on page 8-48
.
Trailering is different than just driving
the vehicle by itself. Trailering means
changes in handling, acceleration,
braking, durability and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes
correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.
The following information has many
time-tested, important trailering tips
and safety rules. Many of these are
important for your safety and that of
your passengers. So please read this
section carefully before pulling a
trailer.
Load-pulling components such as
the engine, transmission, wheel
assemblies and tires are forced to
work harder against the drag of
the added weight. The engine
is required to operate at relatively
higher speeds and under greater
loads, generating extra heat.
Also, the trailer adds considerably
to wind resistance, increasing
the pulling requirements.
Pulling A Trailer
Here are some important points:
•There are many different laws,
including speed limit restrictions,
having to do with trailering. Make
sure the rig will be legal, not only
where you live but also where you
will be driving. A good source for
this information can be state or
provincial police.
•Do not tow a trailer at all during
the first 1 600 km (1,000 miles)
the new vehicle is driven.
The engine, axle or other
parts could be damaged.
•Then, during the first 800 km
(500 miles) that a trailer is towed,
do not drive over 80 km/h
(50 mph) and do not make starts
at full throttle. This helps the
engine and other parts of the
vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.
8-44 Driving and Operating

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

The trailer tongue (A) should weigh
10 to 15 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight (B).
After loading the trailer, weigh
the trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they aren’t, adjustments
might be made by moving some
items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s
Tires
Be sure the vehicle’s tires are
inflated to the upper limit for cold
tires. These numbers can be found
on the Tire-Loading Information
label. SeeVehicle Load Limits on
page 8-12. Make sure not to go over
the GVW limit for the vehicle,
including the weight of the trailer
tongue.
Towing Equipment
Hitches
It is important to have the correct
hitch equipment. Crosswinds, large
trucks going by and rough roads are
a few reasons why the right hitch is
needed.
•The rear bumper on the vehicle is
not intended for hitches. Do not
attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to it. Use
only a frame-mounted hitch that
does not attach to the bumper.
•Will any holes be made in the
body of the vehicle when the
trailer hitch is installed? If there
are, then be sure to seal the holes
later when the hitch is removed.
If the holes are not sealed, dirt,
water, and deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) from the exhaust
can get into the vehicle. See
Engine Exhaust on page 8-23 .
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer. Cross the
safety chains under the tongue of the
trailer to help prevent the tongue
from contacting the road if it
becomes separated from the hitch.
Always leave just enough slack so
the rig can turn. Never allow safety
chains to drag on the ground.
Driving and Operating 8-49

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

Jump StartingJump Starting....................
.9-69
TowingTowing the Vehicle .............
.9-73
Recreational Vehicle Towing ............................
.9-73
Appearance CareExterior Care.....................
.9-75
Interior Care ......................
.9-80
Floor Mats .........................
.9-83
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer/retailer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects
or other reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and systems
(including some inside the vehicle),
many fluids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or emit
these chemicals.
9-2 Vehicle Care