Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-7
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-8
Child Restraints
.......................................1-29
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-50
Restraint System Check
............................1-59
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-9
Windows
.................................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-17
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-18
Mirrors
....................................................2-36
OnStar
®System
......................................2-43
Storage Areas
.........................................2-44
Sunroof
..................................................2-45
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-20
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-27
Message Center
.......................................3-41
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-46Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-31
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-47
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-48
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-57
Tires
......................................................5-58
Appearance Care
.....................................5-87
Vehicle Identi cation
.................................5-94
Electrical System
......................................5-95
Capacities and Speci cations
...................5-102
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
............................ 7-9
Index................................................................ 1
2004 Saturn ION Owner ManualM
ProCarManuals.com
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
This part is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to know about
safety belts and children. And there are different rules for
smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your
vehicle, seeOlder Children on page 1-29orInfants and
Young Children on page 1-32. Follow those rules for
everyone’s protection.
First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your
vehicle has.
We’ll start with the driver position.
Driver Position
This part describes the driver’s restraint system.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here is how to wear
it properly.
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight.
To see how, see “Seats” in the Index.3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Do not let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt
across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt
go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
If the belt stops before it reaches the buckle, let it
go back all the way and start again.
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If your vehicle has a side impact air bag for the right front
passenger and the person seated directly behind that
passenger, it is in the ceiling above the side windows.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
air bag, the bag might not in ate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
in ating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t put
anything between an occupant and an air bag,
and don’t attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering. And, because your vehicle has
side impact air bags, never secure anything to
the roof of your vehicle by routing the rope or
tiedown through any door or window opening.
If you do, the path of an in ating side impact
air bag will be blocked. The path of an in ating
air bag must be kept clear.
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Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-5
Doors and Locks.............................................2-9
Door Locks....................................................2-9
Power Door Locks........................................2-10
Delayed Locking...........................................2-10
Programmable Automatic Door Locks................2-10
Rear Door Security Locks..............................2-11
Lockout Protection........................................2-11
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-11
Rear Doors (Coupe)......................................2-12
Trunk..........................................................2-12
Windows........................................................2-14
Manual Windows..........................................2-15
Power Windows............................................2-15
Sun Visors...................................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-17
Passlock
®....................................................2-17Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-18
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-18
Ignition Positions..........................................2-18
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-20
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-22
Automatic Transaxle Operation.......................2-23
Manual Transaxle Operation...........................2-28
Parking Brake..............................................2-30
Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transaxle)................................2-31
Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transaxle)................................2-33
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transaxle)....................................2-33
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-34
Engine Exhaust............................................2-34
Running Your Engine While You
Are Parked...............................................2-35
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1
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You may be able to obtain a valet key from you retailer.
The valet key only works in the doors and ignition.
Notice:If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle,
you may have to damage the vehicle to get in.
Be sure you have spare keys.
Your key has a transponder in it that matches a
decoder in your vehicle’s steering column. If a
replacement key or additional key is needed, you must
have the key code information. Your retailer can
make keys for you with the key code information.Remote Keyless Entry System
Your keyless entry system operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modi cations to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
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At times you may notice a decrease in range. This is
normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the
transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer
to your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:
Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during
rainy or snowy weather.
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left or
right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again.
Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See “Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on
page 2-5.
If you are still having trouble, see your retailer or a
quali ed technician for service.
Remote Keyless Entry System
Operation
With this feature, you can lock and unlock the doors or
the trunk from about 26 feet (8 m) away using the remote
keyless entry transmitter supplied with your vehicle.
Q(Lock):Press this
symbol on the remote
keyless entry transmitter
to lock the doors.
This also arms the
theft-deterrent system.
See “Theft-Deterrent
System” following for
information on arming the
theft-deterrent system.
Your vehicle can be programmed so that the parking
lamps will ash and/or the horn will sound when you lock
the doors with the remote keyless entry transmitter.
See your retailer for more information on programming
this feature.
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ProCarManuals.com
W(Unlock):Press this symbol on the remote keyless
entry transmitter to unlock the driver’s door. This also
disarms the theft-deterrent system. See “Theft-Deterrent
System” following for information on disarming the
theft-deterrent system. Press the button again to unlock
the rest of the doors.
Your vehicle can be programmed so that the parking
lamps will ash and/or the horn will sound when you
unlock the doors with the remote keyless entry
transmitter. See your retailer for more information on
programming this feature.
L(Panic Alarm):The remote keyless entry transmitter
comes equipped with an instant panic alarm. Press the
horn symbol when the ignition is turned off. The horn
will sound and the parking lamps and dome lamp
will ash for up to two minutes. To stop the instant
panic alarm, press the symbol again.
V(Trunk):Press this button to open the trunk.
If the vehicle’s speed is faster than 2 mph (3 km/h),
the trunk will not open when this button is pressed.
Theft-Deterrent System
The remote keyless entry transmitter is used to
arm/disarm the theft-deterrent system. Your vehicle’s
theft-deterrent system can be programmed to three
different modes.
Active Arming:The system will arm when the lock
button on the remote keyless entry transmitter is
pressed. The system will disarm when the unlock button
is pressed.
Passive Arming:The system will arm itself one minute
after the ignition is turned off and the driver’s door
has been opened and closed. If the lock button on the
transmitter is pressed before the minute has passed, the
system will arm immediately. The system will disarm
when the unlock button is pressed.
Security System Disable:The system will not arm.
To change the mode that your vehicle is programmed to,
do the following:
1. Turn the ignition to RUN or ACC.
2. Press the panic alarm button on the transmitter
slowly four times within ve seconds.
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Doors and Locks
Door Locks
{CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers — especially children — can
easily open the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. When a door is locked,
the handle will not open it. You increase
the chance of being thrown out of the
vehicle in a crash if the doors are not
locked. So, wear safety belts properly and
lock the doors whenever you drive.
Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out. A child
can be overcome by extreme heat and can
suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Always lock your vehicle
whenever you leave it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down or
stop your vehicle. Locking your doors can
help prevent this from happening.There are several ways to manually lock your vehicle.
To lock a door from the outside, turn the key toward the
front of the vehicle.
From the inside, move the lock control on the door.
2-9
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