2010 PONTIAC VIBE open hood

Air Vents
Use the air outlets located in the
center and outboard sides of the
instrument panel, to change the
direction of the air flowing through
the vents.
Operation Tips•
Clear away any ice, snow or
leaves from the outside air
inlets at the base of the
windshield.
•Use of non-GM approved hood
deflectors can adversely affect
the performance of the system.
•Keep the area under the
front seats clear of objects for
more effective air circulation.
•If the airflow seems low when
the fan is at the highest setting,
the passenger compartment air
filter might need to be replaced.
For more information, see
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter on page 7-4.
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter
Both outside and recirculated air
are routed through a passenger
compartment air filter. Pollen, dust
particles and other contaminants
are removed by the filter. Airflow
reductions indicate that the filter
needs to be replaced. For a
replacement filter see your dealer/
retailer. See Scheduled Maintenance
on page 10-3 for replacement
intervals. The access panel for the air filter is
behind the glove box. To replace
the filter:
1. Open the glove box door. Push
each side of the glovebox in
and pull out to remove.
7-4 Climate Controls

To Use the Engine Coolant
Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap theelectrical cord. The electrical
cord is located on the driver side
of the engine compartment.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION
Plugging the cord into an
ungrounded outlet could cause
an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord
could overheat and cause a fire.
You could be seriously injured.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Plug the cord into a properly
grounded three-prong 110-volt AC
outlet. If the cord will not reach,
use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least
15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the
cord as it was before to keep
it away from moving engine
parts. If you do not, it could be
damaged.
The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer/retailer
in the area where you will be
parking the vehicle for the best
advice on this.
Shifting Into Park
{CAUTION
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow. If you are pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 8-44 .
8-20 Driving and Operating

Recommended Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a
posted octane rating of 87 or higher.
If the octane rating is less than 87,
you might notice an audible knocking
noise when you drive, commonly
referred to as spark knock. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. If you are using gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher and you
hear heavy knocking, the engine
needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should
meet ASTM specification D 4814
in the United States or CAN/
CGSB-3.5 or 3.511 in Canada.
Some gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. SeeFuel Additives
on page 8-40 for additional
information.
California Fuel
Requirements
If the vehicle is certified to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specifications.
See the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California emissions
standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control
system performance might be
affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp could turn on and the vehicle
might fail a smog-check test.
See Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 4-14. If this occurs, return to
your authorized dealer/retailer for
diagnosis. If it is determined that the
condition is caused by the type of
fuel used, repairs might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Driving and Operating 8-39

This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your
own service work, seeAirbag
System Check on page 2-36 .
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date
of any service work performed.
See Maintenance Records on
page 10-18.Hood
To open the hood:
1. Pull the release handle, located below the instrument panel to
the left of the steering wheel. 2. From the front of the vehicle,
pull up on the secondary
hood release located near
the middle of the hood.
3. Lift the hood.
4. Release the hood prop rod from its retainer and insert into the slot,
moving it straight up. If it is moved
to the side or toward the inside
of the vehicle, it may become
detached.
Before closing the hood, be sure
all the filler caps are on properly.
Return the hood prop rod carefully
back to its retainer to avoid
damaging the vehicle.
Vehicle Care 9-5

Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood on the 1.8L L4 engine, this is what you see.
9-6 Vehicle Care

When you open the hood on the 2.4L L4 engine, this is what you see.
9-8 Vehicle Care

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

If No Steam Is Coming From
Your Engine
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but steam is not heard or
seen escaping, the problem may
not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too
hot when the vehicle:
•Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
•Stops after high-speed driving.
•Idles for long periods in traffic.
•Tows a trailer.
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam, try this for
a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in N (Neutral) while stopped. If it
is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral)
and let the engine idle.
2. Turn on the heater to full hot at the highest fan speed and open
the windows as necessary. If the overheat warning is no longer
displayed, the vehicle can be driven.
Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 minutes. If the warning does not
come back on, continue to drive.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, idle
the engine for three minutes while
the vehicle is parked. If the warning
is still displayed, turn off the engine
and get everyone out of the vehicle
until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood
but to get service help right away.
Power Steering Fluid
The vehicle has electronic power
steering and does not use power
steering fluid. If you suspect a
problem, see your dealer/retailer.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield
washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions
before use. If you will be operating
your vehicle in an area where the
temperature may fall below freezing,
use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
9-24 Vehicle Care