2004 SATURN ION Owners Manual

When the ignition is on, the BRAKE light will come on
when you set your parking brake. The light will stay on if
your parking brake doesn’t release fully. A chime will
also sound if the parking brake is not fully released and
the vehicle is moving. If it stays on after your parking
brake is fully released, it means you have a brake
problem.
The BRAKE light will also come on to indicate a low
brake uid level. SeeBrakes on page 5-38for
more information.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the
oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-31.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning light
on can lead to an accident. If the light is still
on after you have pulled off the road and
stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
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Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, the anti-lock brake
system (ABS) warning light will come on briey, as
a check, when you start your vehicle. If it doesn’t, have
your vehicle serviced so that the light works properly
when it needs to.
The ABS light is located in
the instrument panel
cluster, to the left of the
engine coolant temperature
gage.
If the light stays on longer than a few seconds after
you start your engine, or comes on and stays on
while you are driving, try resetting the system.To reset the system, do the following:
1. If you are driving, pull over when it is safe to do so.
2. Be sure the vehicle is in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the ignition.
4. Then restart the engine.
If the light remains on after resetting the system or
comes on again while driving, your vehicle needs
service. If the ABS light is on, but the regular brake
system warning light is not on, you do not have anti-lock
brakes, but you still have regular brakes. Have your
vehicle serviced right away. If both brake lights are on,
you do not have anti-lock brakes, and there’s a
problem with your regular brakes as well. Have your
vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on
page 4-31.
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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage on the left
measures the temperature
of the vehicle’s engine
coolant. If the pointer
moves into the shaded
area, your engine is
too hot!
If the engine coolant temperature reaches 253° (123°C)
the CHK GAGE message will appear and a chime
will sound to alert you to the engine coolant
temperature gage. SeeMessage Center on page 3-41.If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road and
stop your vehicle, be sure the air conditioning is off,
let the engine idle for a few minutes, then turn off
the engine.
If your engine control system detects a failure in the
engine coolant temperature circuit, the malfunction
indicator lamp (service engine soon) light will come on.
The coolant gage may read all the way hot or cold.
The engine cooling fan will be turned on to protect the
engine and transmission. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 3-36for more information.
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Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Service Engine Soon Light
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics-
Second Generation) and is intended to assure that
emissions are at acceptable levels for the life of
the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment.
The SERVICE ENGINE SOON light comes on to
indicate that there is a problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system
before any problem is apparent. This may prevent more
serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also
designed to assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:If you keep driving your vehicle with this
light on, after a while, your emission controls
may not work as well, your fuel economy may notbe as good and your engine may not run as
smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that may
not be covered by your warranty.
Notice:Modications made to the engine,
transaxle, exhaust, intake or fuel system of your
vehicle or the replacement of the original tires with
other than those of the same Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) can affect your vehicle’s emission
controls and may cause this light to come on.
Modications to these systems could lead to costly
repairs not covered by your warranty. This may
also result in a failure to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is
not running. If the light does not come on, have it
repaired. This light will also come on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing— A misre condition has been
detected. A misre increases vehicle emissions
and may damage the emission control system on
your vehicle. Diagnosis and service may be
required.
Light On Steady— An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Diagnosis and service may be required.
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If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
Avoiding hard accelerations.
Avoiding steep uphill grades.
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops ashing and remains on steady,
see “If the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to ash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle.Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart
the engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If the
Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is still ashing,
follow the previous steps, and see your retailer for
service as soon as possible.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully
install the cap. SeeFilling Your Tank on page 5-8.
The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has
been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing
fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly installed
should turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.
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Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel.
SeeGasoline Octane on page 5-5. Poor fuel quality will
cause your engine not to run as efficiently as designed.
You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling
when you put the vehicle into gear, misring, hesitation
on acceleration or stumbling on acceleration.
(These conditions may go away once the engine is
warmed up.) This will be detected by the system and
cause the light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least
one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
your retailer can check the vehicle. Your retailer has
the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to x
any mechanical or electrical problems that may
have developed.Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
may begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this
inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle
registration.
Here are some things you need to know in order to help
your vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the SERVICE
ENGINE SOON light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD
(on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical
emission control systems have not been completely
diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be
considered not ready for inspection. This can happen if
you have recently replaced your battery or if your
battery has run down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several days
of routine driving. If you have done this and your vehicle
still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD
system readiness, your retailer can prepare the vehicle
for inspection.
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Oil Pressure Light
If you have a low engine
oil pressure problem, this
light will stay on after
you start your engine,
or come on when you are
driving. This indicates
that your engine is
not receiving enough oil.
The engine could be low on oil, or could have some
other oil problem. Have it xed immediately.
The oil light may also come on when the ignition is on
but the engine is not running, the light will come on as a
test to show you it is working, but the light will go out
when you turn the ignition to START. If it doesn’t come
on with the ignition on, you may have a problem with
the fuse or bulb. Have it xed right away.{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low.
If you do, your engine can become so hot that
it catches re. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
may damage the engine. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule in this manual for changing
engine oil.
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Passlock®Warning Light
Your vehicle is equipped
with a Passlock®
theft-deterrent system.
With this system, the
security light will ash as
you open the door if
your ignition is off.
For more information, seePasslock
®on page 2-17.
Fuel Gage
When the ignition is on,
the fuel gage on the right
tells you about how much
fuel you have left in
your tank.
When the indicator nears empty, the LOW FUEL
message will come on. You still have a little fuel left,
but you should get more soon. SeeLow Fuel Warning
Message on page 3-45for more information.
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