Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Speci cations....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling Your Tank............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-20
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-23
Engine Coolant.............................................5-23
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-26
Engine Overheating.......................................5-26
Cooling System............................................5-29
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-34
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-35
Brakes........................................................5-36Battery........................................................5-39
Jump Starting...............................................5-40
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-46
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-46
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps....................................5-47
Fog Lamps..................................................5-49
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
(Sedan)...................................................5-49
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
(Wagon)...................................................5-50
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps (Sedan).............................5-50
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps (Wagon)............................5-52
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-52
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-53
Tires..............................................................5-54
In ation - Tire Pressure.................................5-61
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-62
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-64
Buying New Tires.........................................5-64
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-65
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-67
Wheel Replacement......................................5-67
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
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Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
allowing your emission control system to work properly.
You should not have to add anything to your fuel.
However, some gasolines contain only the minimum
amount of additive required to meet U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency regulations. General Motors
recommends that you buy gasolines that are advertised
to help keep fuel injectors and intake valves clean. If your
vehicle experiences problems due to dirty injectors or
valves, try a different brand of gasoline.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be available in
your area to contribute to clean air. General Motors
recommends that you use these gasolines, particularly if
they comply with the speci cations described earlier.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel
system and also damage the plastic and rubber
parts. That damage would not be covered under
your warranty.Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. General Motors does
not recommend the use of such gasolines. Fuels
containing MMT can reduce the life of spark plugs and
the performance of the emission control system may
be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may turn on.
If this occurs, return to your authorized Saturn retailer
for service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard
to nd. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you will be driving.
5-7
ProCarManuals.com
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start a re. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake uid, windshield washer and
other uids, and plastic or rubber. You or
others could be burned. Be careful not to drop
or spill things that will burn onto a hot engine.
Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:
1. Pull the handle located
inside the vehicle.
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ProCarManuals.com
A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20for more information.
B. Engine Oil Dipstick. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-16for
more information.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-16for
more information.
D. Power Steering Fluid. SeePower Steering Fluid on
page 5-34for more information.
E. Brake Master Cylinder Fluid. SeeBrakes on
page 5-36for more information.F. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-39for more
information.
G. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 5-23for more information.
H. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-35for more information.
Before closing the hood, be sure all ller caps are on
properly.
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A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20for more information.
B. Engine Oil Dipstick. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-16for
more information.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-16for
more information.
D. Brake Master Cylinder Fluid. SeeBrakes on
page 5-36for more information.
E. Power Steering Fluid. SeePower Steering Fluid on
page 5-34for more information.F. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-39for more
information.
G. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 5-23for more information.
H. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-35for more information.
Before closing the hood, be sure all ller caps are on
properly.
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Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine oil dipstick
Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the MIN mark, then you will need
to add at least one quart of oil. But you must use the
right kind. This section explains what kind of oil to use.
For engine oil crankcase capacity, seeCapacities
and Speci cations on page 5-98.
Notice:Do not add too much oil. If your engine has
so much oil that the oil level gets above the upper
mark that shows the proper operating range,
your engine could be damaged.
2.2L L4 (L61) Dipstick Shown, 3.0L V6 (L81) Similar
2.2L L4 (L61) Engine
3.0L V6 (L81) Engine
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