2005 SATURN ION maintenance

Transaxle Fluid Hot Message
If the TRANS HOT
message is displayed, the
automatic transaxle
uid may be overheating.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-28for more
information.
Transaxle Fluid Cold Message
If equipped, the TRANS
COLD message will be
displayed if the automatic
transaxle uid temperature
is too cold to operate
correctly.
When this happens, shifting out of PARK (P) is
prevented until the transaxle uid warms up. Let the
engine run for a few minutes until this message is
no longer displayed. The vehicle may then be shifted
out of PARK (P).
Low Coolant Level Warning
Message
When the COOLANT
message is displayed
while the engine is
running, the engine
coolant is low.
SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-24for more information.
Change Engine Oil Message
When the CHG OIL
message is displayed, it
means that service is
required for your vehicle.
SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4andEngine
Oil on page 5-15for more information.
3-41
ProCarManuals.com

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. SeeScheduled Maintenance on
page 6-4for more information. Things that are especially
important in trailer operation are automatic transaxle
uid (don’t 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 5-28.
Changing a Tire When Trailer Towing
If you get a at tire while towing a trailer, be sure
to secure the trailer and disconnect it from the vehicle
before changing the tire.
4-44
ProCarManuals.com

Buying New Tires.........................................5-67
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-68
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-69
Wheel Replacement......................................5-69
Tire Chains..................................................5-71
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-72
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-73
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools................5-74
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire................................................5-77
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-81
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-83
Appearance Care............................................5-83
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.................5-84
Fabric/Carpet...............................................5-85
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces..................................................5-86
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-86
Weatherstrips...............................................5-86
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-87
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................5-87Finish Care..................................................5-87
Windshield and Wiper Blades.........................5-88
Aluminum Wheels.........................................5-88
Tires...........................................................5-89
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-89
Finish Damage.............................................5-89
Underbody Maintenance................................5-90
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-90
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................5-91
Vehicle Identication......................................5-92
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN).................5-92
Service Parts Identication Label.....................5-92
Electrical System............................................5-93
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................5-93
Windshield Wiper Fuses................................5-93
Power Windows and Other Power Options.......5-93
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................5-93
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..........................5-94
Engine Compartment Fuse Block....................5-96
Capacities and Specications........................5-100
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2
ProCarManuals.com

Doing Your Own Service Work
If you want to do some of your own service work, you
will want to use the proper service manual. It tells
you much more about how to service your vehicle than
this manual can. To order the proper service manual,
seeService Publications Ordering Information on
page 7-9.
Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, seeServicing Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-58.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any service work you
perform. SeeMaintenance Record on page 6-17.{CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts,
and tools before you attempt any vehicle
maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts, and
other fasteners. English and metric
fasteners can be easily confused. If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later
break or fall off. You could be hurt.
5-4
ProCarManuals.com

Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle
can affect the airow around it. This may cause
wind noise and affect windshield washer performance.
Check with your retailer before adding equipment to
the outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part of the
proper maintenance of your vehicle.
Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 2.2L L4 engine, use regular
unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of 87 or higher.
If the octane is less than 87, you may get a heavy
knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs, use a
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, you might damage your engine. A
little pinging noise when you accelerate or drive
uphill is considered normal. This does not indicate a
problem exists or that a higher-octane fuel is necessary.
If you are using 87 octane or higher-octane fuel and
hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
If your vehicle has the 2.0L Supercharged engine, use
premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of
91 or higher for best performance. You may also
use middle grade or regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher, but your vehicle’s acceleration
may be slightly reduced. If the octane is less than 87,
you may get a heavy knocking noise when you drive. If
this occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher as soon as possible. Otherwise, you might
damage your engine.
5-5
ProCarManuals.com

Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter Replacement
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine air cleaner/lter.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/lter at the MaintenanceII
intervals and replace it at the rst oil change after each
50,000 mile (83 000 km) interval. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 6-4for more information. If you
are driving in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect the lter
at each engine oil change. 2.2L L4 Engine
2.0L L4 Supercharged Engine
5-22
ProCarManuals.com

Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
parts have to be of top quality and work well together if
the vehicle is to have really good braking. Your
vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality
brake parts. When you replace parts of your braking
system — for example, when your brake linings
wear down and you need new ones put in — be sure
you get new approved Saturn replacement parts. If you
do not, your brakes may no longer work properly.
For example, if someone puts in brake linings that are
wrong for your vehicle, the balance between your
front and rear brakes can change — for the worse. The
braking performance you have come to expect can
change in many other ways if someone puts in
the wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery. When it is
time for a new battery, get one that has the replacement
number shown on the original battery’s label. We
recommend an ACDelco
®replacement battery.
Your vehicle’s battery is located in the trunk next to the
compact spare tire. To access the battery, use the
trunk’s oor carpet latch to lift the cover up.Warning:Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after
handling.
Vehicle Storage
If you are not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days
or more, remove the black, negative (−) cable from
the battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
{CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
are not careful. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-42for tips on working around a battery
without getting hurt.
5-41
ProCarManuals.com

Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb Number
Back-Up Lamps 921
CHMSL PC-175
Fog Lamp 881L
Front Sidemarker Lamps
(Coupe Only)168
Front Turn Signal/
Parking Lamp5702KA
Headlamps 9007
Stoplamp and
Taillamps (Top)3057K
For replacement bulbs not listed here, contact your
retailer.
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected at least
twice a year for wear or cracking. See “Windshield
Wipers, Blade Check” underScheduled Maintenance on
page 6-4for more information.
Replacement blades come in different types and are
removed in different ways. For proper type and length,
seeNormal Maintenance Replacement Parts on
page 6-16. Here’s how to remove the wiper blades:1. Turn on the wipers to the low wipe setting.
2. Turn off the ignition while the wipers are at the
outer positions of the wiper pattern. The blades
are more accessible for removal/replacement while
in this position.
3. Pull the windshield wiper arm away from the
windshield.
4. While holding the wiper arm away from the glass,
push the release clip from under the blade
connecting point and pull the old blade assembly
down toward the glass to remove it from the
wiper arm.
5. Push the new wiper blade securely on the wiper arm
until you hear the release clip “click” into place.
5-55
ProCarManuals.com