Keys, Doors and
Windows............................ 1-1
Keys and Locks .............. 1-2
Doors ............................ 1-6
Vehicle Security .............. 1-7
Exterior Mirrors .............1-10
Interior Mirrors ..............1-11
Windows ...................... 1-11
Roof ............................ 1-13
Seats and Restraints......... 2-1
Head Restraints .............. 2-2
Front Seats .................... 2-3
Rear Seats .................... 2-7
Safety Belts ................... 2-8
Airbag System ..............2-23
Child Restraints .............2-37
Storage.............................. 3-1
Storage Compartments .... 3-1
Additional Storage Features ..................... 3-2
Roof Rack System .......... 3-5
Instruments and
Controls............................. 4-1
Instrument Panel Overview .................... 4-2
Controls ......................... 4-4
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ............. 4-8
Vehicle Personalization . . . 4-21
OnStar System .............4-23
Lighting............................. 5-1
Exterior Lighting .............. 5-1
Interior Lighting ............... 5-4
Lighting Features ............ 5-5
Infotainment System......... 6-1
Introduction .................... 6-1
Radio ............................ 6-4
Audio Players ................. 6-9
Climate Controls............... 7-1
Climate Control Systems ... 7-1
Air Vents ....................... 7-4
Maintenance ................... 7-4
Driving and Operating....... 8-1
Driving Information .......... 8-2
Starting and Operating . . . 8-16
Engine Exhaust .............8-23
Automatic Transmission .............8-24
Manual Transmission .....8-29
Drive Systems ..............8-31
Brakes ......................... 8-32
Ride Control Systems ....8-33
Cruise Control ...............8-36
Fuel ............................ 8-38
Towing ........................ 8-43
Conversions and Add-Ons ................... 8-50
Vehicle Care...................... 9-1
General Information ......... 9-2
Vehicle Checks ............... 9-4
Headlamp Aiming ..........9-32
Bulb Replacement .........9-33
Electrical System ...........9-37
2010 Pontiac Vibe Owner ManualM
Power Door Locks
On vehicles with this feature, the
power door lock switch is located on
the armrest of the driver and front
passenger door.
Q:Press to lock all the doors.
K:Press to unlock all the doors.
Safety Locks
Rear door security locks prevent
passengers from opening the
rear doors from the inside.
Open the rear doors to access the
security locks.
To set these locks, slide the lever
down on each door and close it.
The doors can only be opened from
outside with the door unlocked.
To return the doors to normal
operation, slide the lever up.
Doors
Liftgate
{CAUTION
Exhaust gases can enter the
vehicle if it is driven with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch open, or with
any objects that pass through the
seal between the body and the
trunk/hatch or liftgate. Engine
exhaust contains Carbon
Monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle must be driven with
the liftgate, or trunk/hatch open:
•Close all of the windows.
•Fully open the air outlets on or
under the instrument panel.
(Continued)
1-6 Keys, Doors and Windows
The security light is in the center of
the instrument panel.
Arming the System
To arm the system:
1. Close all the doors and theliftgate.
2. Lock the doors and liftgate with the key or Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter.
The security light comes on
solid. The system is armed after
30 seconds and the security
light will flash.
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 by closing and locking the doors and liftgate
with the RKE transmitter.
Wait until the security light is
flashing.
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. 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.
1-8 Keys, Doors and Windows
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.
Immobilizer
See Radio Frequency Statement
(US, Can) on page 12-16 for
information regarding Part 15 of
the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and
RSS-210/211 of Industry and
Science Canada.
Immobilizer Operation
This vehicle has a passive
theft-deterrent system.
You do not have to manually arm or
disarm the system.
The system is automatically armed
when the key is removed from
the ignition.
The security light is in the center of
the instrument panel. It comes
on if there is a problem with arming
or disarming the theft-deterrent
system. The security light flashes when the
system is armed.
Only the correct key starts the
vehicle.
If the engine does not start, there
could be a problem with the
theft-deterrent system. Turn the
ignition off and try again.
If the engine still does not start, and
the key appears to be undamaged,
try another ignition key. Check
the fuse. See
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 9-38 .
If the engine still does not start with
the other key, the vehicle needs
service. If the vehicle does start, the
first key may be faulty. See your
dealer/retailer who can service the
theft-deterrent system and have
a new key made.
Keys, Doors and Windows 1-9
If any of the following conditions
occur, contact your dealer/retailer.
•The security light stays on.
•The security light does not start
flashing when the key is
removed from the ignition.
•The security light flashes
inconsistently.
See your dealer/retailer to have a
new key with a transponder made.
In an emergency, contact
Roadside Assistance Program.
See Roadside Assistance Program
on page 12-6.
Do not leave the key or device that
disarms or deactivates the theft
deterrent system in the vehicle.
Exterior Mirrors
Power Mirrors
The controls are located to
the left of the steering wheel
on the instrument panel. The
vehicle must be in ON/RUN or
ACC/ACCESSORY to adjust the
mirrors.
1. Adjust either mirror by pushing the selector switch to the
L (left) or R (right). 2. Use the arrows on the control
pad to adjust the direction of
the mirror.
3. Move the selector switch back to the center. This locks the mirrors
in place.
Folding Mirrors
Manually fold the mirrors inward to
prevent damage when going through
an automatic car wash. To fold, push
the mirror toward the vehicle. Push
the mirror outward, to return to its
original position.
1-10 Keys, Doors and Windows
or the instrument panel...or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as
the vehicle does. You get more time
to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the
forces. That is why safety belts make
such good sense.
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q:
Will I be trapped in the vehicle
after a crash if I am wearing a
safety belt?
A:You could be — whether you are
wearing a safety belt or not. But
your chance of being conscious
during and after an accident, so
you canunbuckle and get out, is
much greater if you are belted.
And you can unbuckle a safety
belt, even if you are upside down.
Q:If my vehicle has airbags, why
should I have to wear safety
belts?
A:Airbags are supplemental
systems only; so they work with
safety belts — not instead of
them. Whether or not an airbag
is provided, all occupants still
have to buckle up to get the most
protection. That is true not only
in frontal collisions, but especially
in side and other collisions.
Seats and Restraints 2-11
Airbag System
This vehicle has the following
airbags:
•A frontal airbag for the driver.
•A frontal airbag for the right front
passenger.
The vehicle may have the following
airbags:
•A seat-mounted side impact
airbag for the driver.
•A seat-mounted side impact
airbag for the right front
passenger.
•A roof-rail airbag for the driver
and the passenger seated
directly behind the driver.
•A roof-rail airbag for the
right front passenger and the
passenger seated directly behind
the right front passenger. All of the airbags in the vehicle will
have the word AIRBAG embossed in
the trim or on an attached label near
the deployment opening.
For frontal airbags, the word
AIRBAG will appear on the middle
part of the steering wheel for the
driver and on the instrument panel
for the right front passenger.
With seat-mounted side impact
airbags, the word AIRBAG
will appear on the side of the
seatback closest to the door.
With roof-rail airbags, the word
AIRBAG will appear along the
headliner or trim.
Airbags are designed to supplement
the protection provided by safety
belts. Even though today’s airbags
are also designed to help reduce the
risk of injury from the force of an
inflating bag, all airbags must inflate
very quickly to do their job. Here are the most important things
to know about the airbag system:
{CAUTION
You can be severely injured or
killed in a crash if you are not
wearing your safety belt — even if
you have airbags. Airbags are
designed to work with safety belts,
but do not replace them. Also,
airbags are not designed to deploy
in every crash. In some crashes
safety belts are your only restraint.
See
When Should an Airbag
In ate? on page 2-26.
Wearing your safety belt during a
crash helps reduce your chance of
hitting things inside the vehicle or
being ejected from it. Airbags are
“supplemental restraints” to the
safety belts. Everyone in your
vehicle should wear a safety belt
properly — whether or not there
is an airbag for that person.
Seats and Restraints 2-23
{CAUTION
Airbags inflate with great force,
faster than the blink of an eye.
Anyone who is up against, or very
close to, any airbag when it inflates
can be seriously injured or killed.
Do not sit unnecessarily close to
the airbag, as you would be if you
were sitting on the edge of your
seat or leaning forward. Safety
belts help keep you in position
before and during a crash. Always
wear your safety belt, even with
airbags. The driver should sit as
far back as possible while still
maintaining control of the vehicle.
Occupants should not lean on or
sleep against the door or side
windows in seating positions with
seat-mounted side impact airbags
and/or roof-rail airbags.
{CAUTION
Children who are up against, or
very close to, any airbag when it
inflates can be seriously injured or
killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder
belts offer protection for adults and
older children, but not for young
children and infants. Neither the
vehicle’s safety belt system nor
its airbag system is designed for
them. Young children and infants
need the protection that a child
restraint system can provide.
Always secure children properly
in your vehicle. To read how, see
Older Children on page 2-37or
Infants and Young Children on
page 2-38. There is an airbag readiness
light on the instrument panel cluster,
which shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag
electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an
electrical problem. See
Airbag
Readiness Light on page 4-12 for
more information.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver frontal airbag is in the
middle of the steering wheel.
2-24 Seats and Restraints