2004 SATURN L-SERIES change wheel

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal asher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your dealer. The arrows on your instrument
panel will ash whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also
ash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you do not shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility of the engine and the transaxle overheating.
Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle, with a
trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People
can be injured, and both your vehicle and the
trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P).
When parking uphill, turn your wheels away from
the curb. When parking downhill, turn your wheels
into the curb.
2. Have someone place chocks behind the trailer
wheels.
3. When the chocks are in place, release the regular
brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake and shift into PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
4-45
ProCarManuals.com

When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.
If you are towing your Saturn vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground, the transaxle and tire
maintenance should be scheduled by mileage
accumulated through both driving and towing, not to
driven (odometer) mileage. Tire wear will reect actual
“rolling” mileage and may be greater than expected
for the current odometer mileage.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear ination pressures as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make certain that all wheel bolts
are properly tightened. See “Wheel Bolt Torque” under
Capacities and Specications on page 5-98.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel bolts
become loose after a time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
places where the wheel attaches to the vehicle.
In an emergency, you can use a cloth or a
paper towel to do this; but be sure to use a
scraper or wire brush later, if you need to, to
get all the rust or dirt off. See “Changing a Flat
Tire” in the Index.
5-63
ProCarManuals.com

If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blowout” while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel rmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use
in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop, well off the road if possible.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous without
the appropriate safety equipment and training.
The jack provided with your vehicle is
designed only for changing a at tire. If it is
used for anything else, you or others could be
badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips off
the jack. Use the jack provided with your
vehicle only for changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a at tire safely.
5-69
ProCarManuals.com

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your
hazard warning ashers.
{CAUTION:
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over or fall on you
or other people. You and they could be badly
injured or even killed. Find a level place to
change your tire.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
To help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake rmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the
vehicle.
To be even more certain the vehicle won’t
move, you should put blocks at the front and
rear of the tire farthest away from the one
being changed. That would be the tire, on the
other side, at the opposite end of the vehicle.
5-70
ProCarManuals.com

The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
(Sedan)
The equipment you’ll need is located in the trunk.
1. Open the jack access door on the left side panel of
the trunk.
2. Remove the nut that holds the jack in place and
remove the jack together with the wheel wrench.
5-71
ProCarManuals.com

6. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground so there is enough room for the compact
spare tire to t underneath the wheel well.
7. Remove all of the wheel nuts.
8. Take off the tire and wheel.9. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces
and spare wheel.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make the wheel bolts
become loose after a time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
the places where the wheel attaches to the
vehicle. In an emergency, you can use a cloth
or a paper towel to do this; but be sure to use
a scraper or wire brush later, if you need to, to
get all the rust or dirt off.
5-76
ProCarManuals.com

Buying New Tires........................................5-64
Chains.......................................................5-68
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-70
Compact Spare Tire.....................................5-81
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-69
Ination - Tire Pressure................................5-61
Inspection and Rotation................................5-62
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-65
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-67
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-67
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-64
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................2-22
Top Strap......................................................1-46
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-47
Torque Lock...................................................2-29
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires..................4-42
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-32
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-40
Your Vehicle...............................................4-32
Traction
Control System (TCS).................................... 4-9
Control System Warning Light.......................3-32
Trailer Brakes.................................................4-43
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-23
Transaxle Operation, Automatic.........................2-23
Trap-Resistant Trunk Kit...................................2-15
Trunk Ajar Light..............................................3-39
Trunk (Sedan)................................................2-13Trunk/Liftgate.................................................2-13
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-6
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer..................4-45
U
Understanding Radio Reception........................3-71
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-65
Unlocking the Theft-Deterrent Feature After a
Power Loss................................................3-70
Used Replacement Wheels..............................5-68
Using Cleaner on Fabric..................................5-83
Using the Recovery Hook................................4-31
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-5
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................4-34
Service Soon Light......................................3-39
Symbols......................................................... iv
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Recorders.................................................... 7-8
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN).............................................5-90
Service Parts Identication Label...................5-91
13
ProCarManuals.com

Vehicle Storage..............................................5-40
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-24
Video Screen.................................................3-62
Visor Vanity Mirrors.........................................2-18
Visors...........................................................2-18
W
Wagon..................................................1-10, 1-48
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators................3-25
Warnings
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-4
Other Warning Devices.................................. 3-5
Safety and Symbols......................................... iii
Vehicle Damage.............................................. iv
Washer Fluid, Low Warning Light......................3-39
Washing Your Vehicle......................................5-85
Weight of the Trailer........................................4-41
Weight of the Trailer Tongue.............................4-42
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use........................5-17
What to Do with Used Oil................................5-20
What to Use..................................5-24, 5-34, 5-35
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................5-67
Replacement...............................................5-67When to Add Engine Oil..................................5-16
When to Change Engine Oil (GM Oil
Life System)...............................................5-19
When to Check..............................................5-62
When to Check Power Steering Fluid................5-34
When to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.....5-20
When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking
on a Hill.....................................................4-46
Where to Put the Restraint...............................1-44
Why Safety Belts Work....................................1-12
Window Lock Out...........................................2-18
Windows.......................................................2-16
Manual......................................................2-17
Power........................................................2-17
Windshield Washer........................................... 3-9
Fluid..........................................................5-35
Windshield Wiper
Blade Replacement......................................5-53
Fuses........................................................5-91
Windshield Wiper Lever..................................... 3-8
Winter Driving................................................4-26
Y
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................... 6-2
14
ProCarManuals.com