Pontiac 2009 Vibe User manual

Seats and Restraints ......... 1-1
Front Seats .................... 1-2
Rear Seats .................... 1-7
Safety Belts ................... 1-8
Airbag System .............. 1-21
Child Restraints ............. 1-36
Keys, Doors and
Windows ............................ 2-1
Keys ............................. 2-2
Doors and Locks ............ 2-6
Theft-Deterrent Systems ... 2-9
Windows ...................... 2-12
Mirrors ......................... 2-13
Sunroof ........................ 2-14
Storage .............................. 3-1
Storage ......................... 3-1
Instruments and
Controls ............................. 4-1
Instrument Panel
Overview .................... 4-2
Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators ............ 4-11
OnStar
®
System ............ 4-25
Lighting ............................. 5-1
Lighting ......................... 5-1
Infotainment ...................... 6-1
Audio System(s) ............. 6-1
Climate Controls ............... 7-1
Climate Controls ............. 7-1
Driving and Operating ....... 8-1
Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle ............... 8-2
Driving Your Vehicle ...... 8-17
Fuel ............................ 8-36
Vehicle Service
and Care ............................ 9-1
Service .......................... 9-2
Owner Checks ................ 9-5
Headlamp Aiming .......... 9-30
Bulb Replacement ......... 9-31
Electrical System ........... 9-35
Tires ........................... 9-41
Tire Changing ............... 9-61
Jump Starting ............... 9-71
Towing ........................ 9-75
Appearance Care .......... 9-83
Technical Data ................. 10-1
Vehicle Identification ...... 10-1
Capacities and
Specifications ............ 10-2
Normal Maintenance
Replacement Parts ..... 10-4
Service and
Maintenance ..................... 11-1
Service and
Maintenance .............. 11-1
Customer Information ...... 12-1
Customer Information ..... 12-1
Reporting Safety
Defects ................... 12-15
Vehicle Data Recording
and Privacy ............. 12-17
Index ....................................i-1
2009 Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual M
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM
Emblem, PONTIAC, the PONTIAC
Emblem and the name VIBE
are registered trademarks of
General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest
information at the time it was printed.
GM reserves the right to make
changes after that time without
further notice. For vehicles first
sold in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors of Canada Limited”
for Pontiac Division wherever it
appears in this manual.
This manual describes features
that may or may not be on
your specific vehicle.
Read this manual from beginning to
end to learn about the vehicle’s
features and controls. Pictures,
symbols, and words work together
to explain vehicle operation.
Keep this manual in the vehicle for
quick reference.
Canadian Owners
A French language copy of this
manual can be obtained from your
dealer/retailer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
helminc.com
Propriétaires Canadiens
On peut obtenir un exemplaire de
ce guide en français auprès de
concessionnaire ou à l’adresse
suivante:
Helm Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
helminc.com
ii Preface
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 25823089 B Second Printing
©
2008 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Index
To quickly locate information about
the vehicle use the Index in the back
of the manual. It is an alphabetical
list of what is in the manual and the
page number where it can be found.
Cautions and Notices
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means “Do Not,”
“Do not do this” or “Do not let this
happen.”
A box with the word CAUTION is
used to tell about things that could
hurt you or others if you were to
ignore the warning.
{CAUTION
These mean there is something
that could hurt you or other people.
Cautions tell what the hazard is and
what to do to avoid or reduce the
hazard. Read these cautions.
A notice tells about something that
can damage the vehicle.
Notice: These mean there is
something that could damage
your vehicle.
Many times, this damage would not
be covered by the vehicle’s warranty,
and it could be costly. The notice
tells what to do to help avoid the
damage.
There are also warning labels on
the vehicle which use the same
words, CAUTION or Notice.
Preface iii
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

✍NOTES
iv Preface
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Seats and
Restraints
Front Seats
Manual Seats .....................1-2
Seat Height Adjuster ...........1-2
Reclining Seatbacks ...........1-3
Passenger Folding
Seatback ...........................1-4
Head Restraints ..................1-6
Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation ...........1-7
Safety Belts
Safety Belts ........................1-8
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly ..........................1-11
Lap-Shoulder Belt .............1-16
Safety Belt Use During
Pregnancy .......................1-19
Safety Belt Extender .........1-19
Safety Belt Check .............1-20
Care of Safety Belts .........1-20
Replacing Safety Belt
System Parts After a
Crash ..............................1-20
Airbag System
Airbag System ..................1-21
Where Are the Airbags? ....1-23
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? ............................1-24
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? ............................1-26
How Does an Airbag
Restrain? ........................1-26
What Will You See After
an Airbag Inflates? ..........1-26
Passenger Sensing
System ............................1-28
Servicing Your
Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ............................1-33
Adding Equipment to
Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ............................1-34
Airbag System Check .......1-35
Replacing Airbag System
Parts After a Crash .........1-35
Child Restraints
Older Children ..................1-36
Infants and Young
Children ..........................1-38
Child Restraint Systems ....1-41
Where to Put the
Restraint .........................1-43
Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children
(LATCH) ..........................1-44
Replacing LATCH System
Parts After a Crash .........1-49
Securing Child Restraints
(Right Front Seat) ...........1-50
Securing Child Restraints
(Rear Seats) ...................1-53
Seats and Restraints 1-1
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Front Seats
Manual Seats
{CAUTION
You can lose control of the
vehicle if you try to adjust a
manual driver’s seat while the
vehicle is moving. The sudden
movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push a
pedal when you do not want to.
Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
To move a manual seat forward or
rearward:
1. Lift the bar to unlock the seat.
2. Slide the seat to the desired
position and release the bar.
Try to move the seat to be sure it is
locked in place.
Seat Height Adjuster
The driver seat height adjuster is
located on the outboard side of the
seat. To raise or lower the seat,
pull up or push down on the lever
repeatedly until the seat is at
the desired height.
1-2 Seats and Restraints
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Reclining Seatbacks
{CAUTION
You can lose control of the
vehicle if you try to adjust a
manual driver’s seat while the
vehicle is moving. The sudden
movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push a
pedal when you do not want to.
Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
{CAUTION
If the seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the
seatback to be sure it is locked.
{CAUTION
Sitting in a reclined position when
your vehicle is in motion can be
dangerous. Even if you buckle up,
your safety belts cannot do their
job when you are reclined like this.
The shoulder belt cannot do its job
because it will not be against your
body. Instead, it will be in front of
you. In a crash, you could go into
it, receiving neck or other injuries.
The lap belt cannot do its job
either. In a crash, the belt could go
up over your abdomen. The belt
forces would be there, not at your
pelvic bones. This could cause
serious internal injuries.
For proper protection when the
vehicle is in motion, have the
seatback upright. Then sit well
back in the seat and wear your
safety belt properly.
Seats and Restraints 1-3
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

On vehicles with manual reclining
seatbacks the lever used to operate
them is located on the outboard
side of the seat.
To recline the seatback:
1. Lift the recline lever.
2. Move the seatback to the desired
position, then release the lever to
lock the seatback in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to
make sure it is locked.
To return the seatback to an upright
position:
1. Lift the lever fully, without
applying pressure to the
seatback, and the seatback will
return to the upright position.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to
make sure it is locked.
Passenger Folding
Seatback
{CAUTION
If you fold the seatback forward to
carry longer objects, such as skis,
be sure any such cargo is not
near an airbag. In a crash, an
inflating airbag might force that
object toward a person. This
could cause severe injury or even
death. Secure objects away from
the area in which an airbag would
inflate. For more information, see
Where Are the Airbags? on
page 1-23 and Loading the
Vehicle on page 8-32.
1-4 Seats and Restraints
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

{CAUTION
Things you put on this seatback
can strike and injure people in a
sudden stop or turn, or in a crash.
Remove or secure all items
before driving.
On vehicles with this feature, the
seatback folds down to allow
for more cargo space. When the
area is not being used for more
cargo space or as a temporary table,
put the seatback in the locked,
upright position. Only adjust the seat
when the vehicle is not moving.
To fold the seatback down:
1. Move the seat rearward.
2. Lower the head restraint to the
lowest position and make sure
the seatback is at the most
upright position and locked.
3. Pull up on one of the levers
located on either side of the back
of the passenger seatback.
4. Fold the seatback down.
To raise the seatback:
1. Pull up on one of the levers
located on either side of the back
of the passenger’s seatback.
2. Pull the seatback up and push it
back to lock it into place. Make
sure the safety belt is not twisted
or caught in the seatback.
3. Push and pull the top of the
seatback to be sure it is
locked into position.
4. Use the reclining front seatback
lever to adjust the seatback to a
comfortable position.
Seats and Restraints 1-5
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Head Restraints
The front seats have adjustable
head restraints. The rear seats have
adjustable headrests in all seating
positions.
{CAUTION
With head restraints that are not
installed and adjusted properly,
there is a greater chance that
occupants will suffer a neck/spinal
injury in a crash. Do not drive until
the head restraints for all
occupants are installed and
adjusted properly.
Adjust the head restraint so that the
top of the restraint is at the same
height as the top of the occupant’s
head. This position reduces the
chance of a neck injury in a crash.
Pull the head restraint up to
raise it.
To lower the head restraint, press
the button, located on the top of
the seatback, and push the
restraint down.
1-6 Seats and Restraints
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual