Pontiac 2003 Vibe, Owner'S Manual

Page: 86 / 382

2-21
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
In very cold weather, 0
_F (
-
18
_C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm
-
up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures
above 32
_F (0_C), use of the coolant heater is not
required.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord
located on the driver’s side of the engine
compartment, near the front.
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. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three
-
prong
110
-
volt AC outlet. If the cord won’t 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 don’t, it could be
damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.