2010 PONTIAC VIBE weight

In many crashes severe enough to
inflate the airbag, windshields are
broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage
may also occur from the right front
passenger airbag.
•Airbags are designed to inflate
only once. After an airbag inflates,
you will need some new parts for
the airbag system. If you do not
get them, the airbag system will
not be there to help protect you
in another crash. A new system
will include airbag modules and
possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers
the need to replace other parts.
•The vehicle has a crash sensing
and diagnostic module which
records information after a crash.
SeeVehicle Data Recording and
Privacy on page 12-14 andEvent
Data Recorders on page 12-14 .
•Let only qualified technicians work
on the airbag systems. Improper
service can mean that an airbag
system will not work properly.
See your dealer/retailer for
service.
Passenger Sensing
System
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system for the right front
passenger position. The passenger
airbag status indicator will be visible
in the instrument panel when the
vehicle is started.
The words ON and OFF will be
visible during the system check.
When the system check is complete,
either the word ON or the word OFF will be visible depending on
whether the seat is occupied and/or
the weight of the occupant. If the
seat is unoccupied, the light will not
be visible after the system check.
See
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 4-13 .
The passenger sensing system will
turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag and seat-mounted
side impact airbag under certain
conditions. The driver airbags and
the roof-rail airbags are not affected
by the passenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system will
also turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag, seat-mounted side
impact airbag (if equipped), and
safety belt pretensioner if it detects
that there is no occupant in that
position.
The passenger sensing system
works with sensors that are part
of the right front passenger seat.
Seats and Restraints 2-29

The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the right front
passenger frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact airbag
(if equipped) if:
•The right front passenger seat is
unoccupied.
•The system determines that an
infant is present in a rear-facing
infant seat.
•The system determines that a
small child is present in a child
restraint.
•The system determines that
a small child is present in a
booster seat.
•A right front passenger takes
his/her weight off of the seat for a
period of time.
•The right front passenger seat is
occupied by a smaller person,
such as a child who has outgrown
child restraints.
•Or, if there is a critical problem
with the airbag system or the
passenger sensing system.
When the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right
front passenger frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact airbag
(if equipped), the off indicator will
light and stay lit to remind you that
the airbags are off. See Passenger
Airbag Status Indicator on
page 4-13.
The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn on (may inflate) the
right front passenger frontal airbag
and seat-mounted side impact airbag
(if equipped) anytime the system
senses that a person of adult size
is sitting properly in the right front
passenger seat. When the passenger sensing
system has allowed the airbags
and pretensioner to be enabled,
the on indicator will light and stay
lit to remind you that the airbags
and pretensioner are active.
For some children who have
outgrown child restraints and for
very small adults, the passenger
sensing system may or may not
turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag and seat-mounted
side impact airbag (if equipped),
depending upon the person’s seating
posture and body build. Everyone in
the vehicle who has outgrown child
restraints should wear a safety belt
properly — whether or not there is an
airbag for that person.
Seats and Restraints 2-31

Child Restraints
Older Children
Older children who have outgrown
booster seats should wear the
vehicle’s safety belts.
The manufacturer’s instructions that
come with the booster seat, state
the weight and height limitations forthat booster. Use a booster seat
with a lap-shoulder belt until
the child passes the below fit test:
•Sit all the way back on the
seat. Do the knees bend at the
seat edge? If yes, continue.
If no, return to the booster seat.
•Buckle the lap-shoulder belt.
Does the shoulder belt rest on the
shoulder? If yes, continue. If no,
then return to the booster seat.
•Does the lap belt fit low and snug
on the hips, touching the thighs? If
yes, continue. If no, return to the
booster seat.
•Can proper safety belt fit be
maintained for the length of the
trip? If yes, continue. If no, return
to the booster seat.
Q:What is the proper way to
wear safety belts?
A:An older child should wear a
lap-shoulder belt and get the
additional restraint a shoulder belt
can provide. The shoulder belt
should not cross the face or neck.
The lap belt should fit snugly
below the hips, just touching the
top of the thighs. This applies belt
force to the child’s pelvic bones in
a crash. It should never be worn
over the abdomen, which could
cause severe or even fatal
internal injuries in a crash.
According to accident statistics,
children and infants are safer when
properly restrained in a child restraint
system or infant restraint system
secured in a rear seating position.
In a crash, children who are not
buckled up can strike other people
who are buckled up, or can be
thrown out of the vehicle. Older
children need to use safety
belts properly.
Seats and Restraints 2-37

{CAUTION
Never do this.
Children who are up against, or
very close to, any airbag when it
inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. Never put a rear-facing
child restraint in the right front
seat. Secure a rear-facing child
restraint in a rear seat. It is also
better to secure a forward-facing
child restraint in a rear seat. If you
must secure a forward-facing child
restraint in the right front seat,
always move the front passenger
seat as far back as it will go.
Q:What are the different types of
add-on child restraints?
A:Add-on child restraints, which
are purchased by the vehicle’s
owner, are available in four basic
types. Selection of a particular
restraint should take into
consideration not only the child’s
weight, height, and age but also
whether or not the restraint will be
compatible with the motor vehicle
in which it will be used. For most basic types of child
restraints, there are many
different models available.
When purchasing a child
restraint, be sure it is designed
to be used in a motor vehicle. If it
is, the restraint will have a label
saying that it meets federal motor
vehicle safety standards.
The restraint manufacturer’s
instructions that come with the
restraint state the weight and
height limitations for a particular
child restraint. In addition, there
are many kinds of restraints
available for children with special
needs.
2-40 Seats and Restraints

Load Rails and Hooks
There are hooks for hanging items
in the cabin, luggage compartment,
and in the cargo management
system, if the vehicle has one.
On the front passenger side, press
the hook to open and use it. There is
a weight limit of 44 lb (20 kg).
The luggage compartment hooks
should only be used to hang
items under 7 lb (3 kg).
For vehicles with a cargo
management system, open the deck
lid to hang items under 5 lb (2.3 kg).
Cargo Tie Downs
The cargo tie down straps and
hooks are intended to be used to
secure a flat tire or other items.
The tie down hooks are located in
the rear cargo area. The straps are
under the rear floor panel.
To use, hook the end of the straps
to the hooks in a criss-cross pattern.
Pull on the straps at the buckle to
tighten as needed.
Cargo Management
System
A cargo management system, for
vehicles that have it, can be used for
organizing and separating items
in the rear of the vehicle.To use:
1. Open the cover.
2. Unfold the side panels out and
lock them into place to hold up
the cover.
3. Hook the nets into the cover slots to use as dividers.
There are also hooks on the inside
cover to hold items.
Additional storage is available on
both sides of the cargo management
system. Turn the knobs to the
UNLOCK position, and remove
the deck boards to access the
storage area.
3-4 Storage

This light flashes until the right front
passenger safety belt is buckled.
The passenger safety belt reminder
light will not come on if the right front
passenger belt is already buckled or
if a sensor does not detect the weight
of a passenger in that seat.
If something is placed on the right
front passenger seat, the sensors
in the seat may detect that object
and cause the right front passenger
safety belt reminder light to come on.
If this happens, remove the object.Airbag Readiness Light
This light shows if there is an
electrical problem. The system
check includes the airbag sensor,
the pretensioners, the airbag
modules, the wiring and the crash
sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the airbag
system, seeAirbag System on
page 2-23.
The airbag readiness light comes
on and stays on for several seconds
when the vehicle is started. Then the
light goes out. If it stays on after the vehicle has
been started or comes on when while
driving, the airbag system may not
work properly. Have the vehicle
serviced right away.
{CAUTION
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started or
comes on while driving, it means
the airbag system might not be
working properly. The airbags in
the vehicle might not inflate in a
crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid
injury, have the vehicle serviced
right away.
4-12 Instruments and Controls

Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator
The vehicle has the passenger
sensing system. SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 2-29
for important safety information.
The instrument panel has a
passenger airbag status indicator.
When the vehicle is started,
the passenger airbag status
indicator will light ON and OFF for
several seconds as a system check. Then, after several more seconds,
the status indicator will light either
ON or OFF if there is weight on the
seat, to let you know the status of
the right front passenger frontal and
seat-mounted side impact airbags
(if equipped). If the seat is
unoccupied, the light will not be
visible after the system check.
If the word ON is lit on the
passenger airbag status indicator, it
means that the right front passenger
frontal and seat-mounted side impact
airbags (if equipped) are enabled
(may inflate).
If the word OFF is lit on the
passenger airbag status indicator, it
means that the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact airbag
(if equipped). See
Passenger
Sensing System on page 2-29 for
more on this, including important
safety information. If, after several seconds, all status
indicator lights remain on, there
may be a problem with the lights
or the passenger sensing system.
See your dealer/retailer for service.
{CAUTION
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong with
the airbag system. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have
the vehicle serviced right away.
See
Airbag Readiness Light on
page 4-12 for more information,
including important safety
information.
Instruments and Controls 4-13

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