2004 SATURN ION Owners Manual

Automatic Transaxle Operation
Five-Speed Automatic and VTi Variable
If your vehicle is equipped with either the ve-speed
automatic transaxle or the VTi variable automatic
transaxle, the shift lever is located on the console
between the seats.
There are several different positions for the automatic
transaxle.
PARK (P):This position locks your front wheels.
It’s the best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle can’t move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, always set
your parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). SeeShifting Into Park (P) (Automatic
Transaxle) on page 2-31. If you are pulling a
trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-39.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift
lock control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition key is in RUN. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P),
ease pressure on the shift lever – push the shift lever all
the way into PARK (P) and also release the shift lever
button as you maintain brake application. Then move the
shift lever into the gear you wish. Press the shift lever
button before moving the shift lever. SeeShifting Out of
Park (P) (Automatic Transaxle) on page 2-33.
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For vehicles with the VTi variable transaxle, if the TRANS
COLD message is displayed in cold temperatures
(below−13°F (−25°C)) and the shift lever is moved out of
PARK (P), the transaxle will not go into gear. Return the
shift lever to PARK (P) and wait for the TRANS COLD
message to turn off.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transaxle.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-30.
For vehicles with the VTi variable transaxle, if you
accidentally shift into REVERSE (R) while the vehicle is
moving forward or into DRIVE (D) while the vehicle is
moving backward, the transaxle will remain in NEUTRAL
(N) to protect itself.NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is rmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine racing may damage the transaxle.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Be sure the engine is not racing when shifting
your vehicle.
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Notice:Shifting to a drive gear from NEUTRAL (N)
while the vehicle is moving could damage the
transaxle. Make sure the vehicle is stopped before
shifting from NEUTRAL (N) into a drive gear.
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D):This position is for
normal driving with the automatic transaxle. If you need
more power for passing, and you’re:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator all the way down.
INTERMEDIATE (I):This position is also used for
normal driving, however, it offers more power and lower
fuel economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D).
Here are some times you might choose
INTERMEDIATE (I) instead of AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D):
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When going down a steep hill.LOW (L):This position gives you more power but lower
fuel economy. You can use LOW (L) on hills. It can
help control your speed as you go down steep mountain
roads, but then you would also want to use your
brakes off and on.
Notice:Don’t drive in LOW (L) for more than
25 miles (40 km), or at speeds over 55 mph
(90 km/h), or you can damage your transaxle.
Use DRIVE (D) or INTERMEDIATE (I) as much as
possible. Don’t shift into LOW (L) unless you
are going slower than 65 mph (105 km/h) or you can
damage your engine.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle
in one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transaxle. If you are stuck,
do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
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Shift Lock Release
This vehicle is equipped with an electric shift lock
release system. The shift lock release is designed to
do the following:
Prevent the ignition key from being removed unless
the shift lever is in PARK (P), and
Prevent movement of the shift lever out of
PARK (P) unless the ignition is in a position other
than LOCK. The shift lock release is always
functional except in the case of a dead battery or
low voltage (less than 9 V) battery.The following procedure allows the ignition to be turned to
LOCK and for ignition key removal in case of a dead
battery or low voltage battery for vehicles equipped with a
column shift lever.
1. Make sure the shift lever is in PARK (P).
2. Using a tool, pry off the cover from the bottom of
the steering column.
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3. Place your nger into the access hole and locate
the plunger.
4. Press and hold the plunger toward the driver’s
door while turning the ignition key to LOCK.
Remove the key.
Have your vehicle serviced at your retailer as soon as
possible.
The following procedure is used to shift the transaxle out of
PARK (P) in case of a dead battery or low voltage battery.
1. Turn the ignition to LOCK and remove the key.
2. Carefully pry the shift lock override cover from the
oor shift console.
3. Insert the end of your ignition key into the slot and
press down rmly.
4. Apply the brake and move the shift lever to
NEUTRAL (N).
5.
While maintaining brake application, start the vehicle
and move the shift lever into the desired gear position.
6. Have the vehicle xed as soon as possible.
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Manual Transaxle Operation
Five-Speed
This is your shift pattern.
Here’s how to operate your transaxle:
FIRST (1):Press the clutch pedal and shift into
FIRST (1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into FIRST (1) when you’re going less
than 20 mph (32 km/h). If you’ve come to a complete
stop and it’s hard to shift into FIRST (1), put the
shift lever in NEUTRAL and let up on the clutch. Press
the clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST (1).SECOND (2):Press the clutch pedal as you let up on
the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND (2).
Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5):Shift into
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5), the same way
you do for SECOND (2). Slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press
the clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to
NEUTRAL.
NEUTRAL:Use this position when you start or idle
your engine.
REVERSE (R):To back up, press down the clutch
pedal, lift up the ring on the shift lever and shift
into REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch pedal slowly
while pressing the accelerator pedal.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transaxle.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
Also, use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brake,
for parking your vehicle.
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Shift Speeds
{CAUTION:
If you skip a gear when you downshift, you
could lose control of your vehicle. You could
injure yourself or others. Don’t shift down more
than one gear at a time when you downshift.
Up-Shift Light
If you have a manual
transaxle, you may have
an up-shift light. This light
will show you when to
shift to the next higher gear
for the best fuel economy.When this light comes on, you can shift to the next
higher gear if weather, road and traffic conditions let you.
For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and shift
when the light comes on.
While you accelerate, it is normal for the light to go on
and off if you quickly change the position of the
accelerator. Ignore the light when you downshift.
Notice:If you skip more than one gear when you
downshift, or if you race the engine when you
release the clutch pedal while downshifting,
you could damage the engine, clutch, driveshaft
or the transmission. Do not skip gears or race the
engine when downshifting.
United States Only
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Parking Brake
The parking brake lever is located between the seats.To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down
and pull up on the parking brake lever. If the ignition is
on, the brake system warning light will come on.
To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal
down. Pull the parking brake lever up until you can press
the release button. Hold the release button in as you
move the brake lever all the way down.
Make sure to release the parking brake before driving
the vehicle.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that
the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
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