Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive
defensively.
Please start with a very important safety device in your
vehicle: Buckle up. SeeSafety Belts: They Are for
Everyone on page 1-11.
Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.”
On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means
“always expect the unexpected.”
Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to
be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what
they might do. Be ready for their mistakes.
Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of
accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following
distance. It is the best defensive driving maneuver, in
both city and rural driving. You never know when the
vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly.
Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on
the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving
task — such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call,reading, or reaching for something on the oor — makes
proper defensive driving more difficult and can even
cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger to
help do things like this, or pull off the road in a safe place
to do them yourself. These simple defensive driving
techniques could save your life.Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is
a national tragedy. It is the number one contributor
to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims
every year.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a
vehicle:
Judgment
Muscular Coordination
Vision
Attentiveness.
Police records show that almost half of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was
drinking and driving. In recent years, more than
16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been
associated with the use of alcohol, with more than
300,000 people injured.
4-2
ProCarManuals.com
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and
you are going fast enough. When your vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it can if your
tires do not have much tread or if the pressure in
one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is
standing on the road. If you can see re ections
from trees, telephone poles or other vehicles, and
raindrops “dimple” the water’s surface, there could be
hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just is not a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.
The best advice is to slow down when it is raining.
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
Notice:If you drive too quickly through deep
puddles or standing water, water can come in
through your engine’s air intake and badly damage
your engine. Never drive through water that is
slightly lower than the underbody of your vehicle. If
you can not avoid deep puddles or standing
water, drive through them very slowly.
Driving Through Flowing Water
{CAUTION:
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces.
If you try to drive through owing water, as you
might at a low water crossing, your vehicle can
be carried away. As little as six inches of
owing water can carry away a smaller vehicle.
If this happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not ignore police
warning signs, and otherwise be very cautious
about trying to drive through owing water.
4-19
ProCarManuals.com
Customer Assistance and Information...............7-2
Customer Satisfaction Procedure......................7-2
Online Owner Center......................................7-4
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY)
Users........................................................7-5
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities..................................................7-5
Roadside Assistance Program..........................7-6
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Recorders..................................................7-8Reporting Safety Defects..................................7-9
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States
Government...............................................7-9
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government..............................................7-10
Reporting Safety Defects to Saturn..................7-10
Service Publications Ordering Information.........7-10
Section 7 Customer Assistance and Information
7-1
ProCarManuals.com
Customer Assistance and
Information
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
Your satisfaction and goodwill are important to
your retailer and to Saturn. Together we are committed
to providing our customers with unparalleled service,
before, during and after the purchase of a Saturn
vehicle, for total customer satisfaction. We call this the
Saturn Difference. Normally, any concerns with the
sales transaction or the operation of your vehicle will be
resolved by your retailer’s sales or service departments.
If, for any reason, your ownership experience falls
below your expectations, we suggest you take
the following action:
STEP ONE:Contact the Retail Customer Assistance
Liaison. Any member of the retail management team has
the authority and the desire to resolve your concerns.
Normally, concerns can be quickly resolved at this level.STEP TWO:Should you need additional assistance,
contact the Saturn Customer Assistance Center by
calling 1-800-553–6000. In Canada, contact the Saturn
Customer Communication Centre at 1-800-263-1999.
A Saturn Customer Assistance Center team member will
handle your call and assist in providing product and
warranty information, the nearest retailer location,
roadside assistance, brochures, literature and discuss
any concerns you may have.
We encourage you to call the toll-free number in order
to give your inquiry prompt attention. Please have
the following information available to give the Customer
Assistance Representative:
Vehicle Identi cation Number. (You will nd this
17-digit number on the vehicle registration or
title, on the upper driver’s side corner of the dash or
on your roadside assistance key card.)
The name of your selling and servicing retail facility.
Vehicle delivery date and present mileage.
Your daytime and evening phone numbers.
7-2
ProCarManuals.com
You may contact the BBB Auto Line Program by using
the toll-free telephone number or by writing them at
the following address:
BBB Auto Line Program
Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.
4200 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203-1804
This program is available in all 50 states and the District
of Columbia. Eligibility is limited by vehicle age,
mileage and other factors. Saturn Corporation reserves
the right to change eligibility limitations and/or
discontinue its participation in this program.Online Owner Center
The Owner Center is a resource for your GM ownership
needs. You can nd your speci c vehicle information
all in one place.
The Owner Center allows you to:
Get e-mail service reminders.
Access information about your speci c vehicle,
including tips and videos and an electronic
version of this owner’s manual. (United States only)
Keep track of your vehicle’s service history and
maintenance schedule.
Find GM dealers for service nationwide.
Receive special promotions and privileges only
available to members. (United States only)
Refer to the web for updated information.
To register your vehicle, visit www.MyGMLink.com.
(United States) or My GM Canada within
www.gmcanada.com (Canada).
7-4
ProCarManuals.com
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users
To assist owners who have hearing difficulties, Saturn
has installed special TDD (Telecommunication Devices
for the Deaf) equipment in its Saturn Customer
Assistance Center.
Any hearing- or speech-impaired customer who has
access to a TDD or to a conventional Text Telephone
(TTY) can communicate with Saturn by dialing
1-800-TDD-6000. TTY users in Canada may dial
1-800-263-3830.
GM Mobility Program for Persons
with Disabilities
This program, available to
quali ed applicants, can
reimburse you up to $1,000
toward eligible aftermarket
driver or passenger
adaptive equipment you
may require for your vehicle
(hand controls, wheelchair/
scooter lifts, etc.).
This program can also provide you with free resource
information, such as area driver assessment centers and
mobility equipment installers. The offer is available for
a limited period of time from the date of vehicle
purchase/lease.
For more details, or to determine your vehicle’s
eligibility, see your Saturn retailer or call the Saturn
Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-553-6000. Text
telephone (TTY) users, call 1-800-833-6000.
In Canada, customers may call the Saturn Customer
Communication Centre at 1-800-263-1999. TTY users in
Canada may call 1-800-263-3830.
7-5
ProCarManuals.com
In many instances, mechanical failures are covered
under Saturn’s Bumper-to-Bumper warranty. However,
when other services are utilized, our Roadside
Assistance Representatives will explain any payment
obligations you might incur.
For prompt and efficient assistance when calling, please
provide the following to the Roadside Assistance
Representatives:
Your name, home address, and home telephone
number
Telephone number of your location
Location of the vehicle
Model, year, color, and license plate number
Mileage, Vehicle Identi cation Number and delivery
date of the vehicle
Description of the problemWhile we hope you never have the occasion to use our
service, it is added security while traveling for you
and your family. Remember we are only a phone call
away. Saturn Roadside Assistance: 1-800-553-6000;
text telephone (TTY) users, call 1-800-833-6000.
Saturn reserves the right to limit services or
reimbursement to an owner or driver when, in Saturn’s
judgment, the claims become excessive in frequency
or type of occurrence.
Roadside Assistance is not part of or included in the
coverage provided by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Saturn reserves the right to make any changes or
discontinue the Roadside Assistance program at any
time without noti cation.
Canadian Roadside Assistance
Vehicles purchased in Canada have an extensive Saturn
Roadside Assistance program accessible from anywhere
in Canada or the United States. Please refer to the
Warranty and Owner Assistance Information book.
7-7
ProCarManuals.com
Customer Assistance Information
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY)
Users....................................................... 7-5
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities................................................ 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to Saturn................7-10
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government............................................7-10
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States
Government.............................................. 7-9
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-6
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-10
D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-13
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light.............3-39
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting.........................3-19, 3-23
Delayed Locking.............................................2-10
Dinghy Towing................................................4-33
Disabling the Theft-Deterrent Feature.................3-71
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dolly Towing..................................................4-34
Dome Lamp...................................................3-15
Door
Delayed Locking..........................................2-10
Locks.......................................................... 2-9Door (cont.)
Power Door Locks.......................................2-10
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-11
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-11
Driver
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-16
Seat Height Adjuster...................................... 1-3
Six-Way Power Seat...................................... 1-4
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-15
City...........................................................4-20
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-21
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-24
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-17
Winter........................................................4-26
Driving on Grades...........................................4-45
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-27
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-19
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-19
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-44
DVD
Rear Seat Entertainment System...................3-59
DVD Display Error Messages...........................3-67
DVD Distortion...............................................3-68
DVD Radio....................................................3-62
DVD Radio Error Messages.............................3-68
4
ProCarManuals.com