2004 SATURN L-SERIES stop start

Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet
road, you can not stop, accelerate or turn as well
because your tire-to-road traction is not as good as on
dry roads.And, if your tires do not have much tread left, you will
get even less traction. It is always wise to go slower and
be cautious if rain starts to fall while you are driving.
The surface may get wet suddenly when your reexes
are tuned for driving on dry pavement.
The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your
windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy
rain can make it harder to see road signs and
traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road
and even people walking.
It is wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment in
good shape and keep your windshield washer tank lled
with washer uid. Replace your windshield wiper
inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing
areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to
separate from the inserts.
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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.
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When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
information. Things that are especially important in
trailer operation are automatic transaxle uid (do not
overll), engine oil, axle lubricant, drive belt, cooling
system and brake system. Each of these is covered in
this manual, and the Index will help you nd them
quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review this
information before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-26.
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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 Specications....................................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
Ination - 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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1. You can remove the coolant surge tank pressure
cap when the cooling system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and upper radiator
hose, is no longer hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise (left) about one-quarter of a
turn. If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. This
will allow any pressure still left to be vented out the
discharge hose.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and
remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper
DEX-COOL
®coolant mixture, to the COLD line.4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start
the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fans.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper DEX-COOL
®coolant mixture
to the coolant surge tank until the level reaches the
COLD line.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the
pressure cap is hand-tight.
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Service........................................................... 5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle..................................................... 5-5
Doing Your Own Work................................... 5-4
Engine Soon Light.......................................3-34
Publications Ordering Information...................7-10
Vehicle Soon Light.......................................3-39
Service Bulletins.............................................7-11
Service Engine Soon Light...............................3-34
Service Manuals.............................................7-10
Setting Preset Stations....................3-43, 3-46, 3-51
Setting the Time.............................................3-41
Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)..........3-44, 3-47, 3-52
Sheet Metal Damage.......................................5-87
Shift Lock Release..........................................2-26
Shifting Into Park (P).......................................2-28
Shifting Out of Park (P)...................................2-30
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster...........................1-19
Skidding........................................................4-14
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips.......................4-20
Special Fabric Cleaning Problems.....................5-83
Specications, Capacities.................................5-98
Speedometer..................................................3-27
Split Folding Rear Seat..................................... 1-8
Starting Your Engine.......................................2-21
Steering........................................................4-10
Steering in Emergencies..................................4-11
Steering Tips..................................................4-10
Steering Wheel, Tilt Wheel................................. 3-5
Stereo RCA Jacks..........................................3-60Storage Areas
Center Console Storage Area........................2-41
Glove Box..................................................2-41
Load Floor Storage Box...............................2-42
Roof Rack System.......................................2-42
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...............5-79
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow......................4-30
Sun Visors.....................................................2-18
Sunroof.........................................................2-45
T
Tachometer....................................................3-27
Taillamps
Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps................................5-50, 5-52
TCS Warning Light..........................................3-32
Temperature and Compass Display....................2-34
Temperature Display........................................2-37
Theft-Deterrent, Radio.....................................3-69
Theft-Deterrent System...................................... 2-6
Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-18
Passlock
®...................................................2-18
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-5
Tire Ination Check........................................... 6-9
Tire Sidewall Labeling......................................5-54
Tire Size.......................................................5-58
Tire Terminology and Denitions........................5-59
Tires.............................................................5-54
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