Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL®
coolant mixtureat the surge tank, but only when the
engine is cool. SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-23
for instructions on “How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank.”
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is
hand-tight.
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
Notice:If the pressure cap is not tightly installed,
coolant loss and possible engine damage may occur.
Be sure the cap is properly and tightly secured.
If you replace your coolant surge tank pressure cap,
a Saturn cap is required.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage and a coolant
temperature warning light on your vehicle’s instrument
panel. SeeEngine Coolant Temperature Gage on
page 3-30andEngine Coolant Temperature Warning
Light on page 3-29. You will also find a low coolant level
warning light on your vehicle’s instrument panel. See
Low Coolant Warning Light on page 3-30.
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If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn
you badly, even if you just open the hood.
Stay away from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it off and get
everyone away from the vehicle until it cools
down. Wait until there is no sign of steam or
coolant before you open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch re.
You or others could be badly burned. Stop
your engine if it overheats, and get out of
the vehicle until the engine is cool.
Notice:If your engine catches re because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can
be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not
be covered by your warranty.
If No Steam Is Coming From
Your Engine
An overheat warning, along with a low coolant light, can
indicate a serious problem. SeeLow Coolant Warning
Light on page 3-30.
If you get an engine overheat warning with no low
coolant light, but see or hear no steam, the problem may
not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a
little too hot when you:
•Climb a long hill on a hot day.
•Stop after high-speed driving.
•Idle for long periods in traffic.
•Tow a trailer.
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Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder
reservoir is filled with
DOT-3 brake fluid. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12
for the location of the
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level
in the reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake
fluid goes down to an acceptable level during normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are put in, the
fluid level goes back up. The other reason is that fluid is
leaking out of the brake system. If it is, you should
have your brake system fixed, since a leak means that
sooner or later your brakes will not work well, or will
not work at all.So, it is not a good idea to top off your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid will not correct a leak. If you add
fluid when your linings are worn, then you will have
too much fluid when you get new brake linings.
You should add or remove brake fluid, as necessary,
only when work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If you have too much brake uid, it can spill on
the engine. The uid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
uid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-27.
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{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to Saturn torque specifications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your retailer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in pedal
travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a moderate brake stop, your
brakes adjust for wear. If you rarely make a moderate or
heavier stop, then your brakes might not adjust correctly.
If you drive in that way, then — very carefully — make a
few moderate brake stops about every 1,000 miles
(1 600 km), so your brakes will adjust properly.
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.
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Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance.
(This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on Saturn passenger cars and
light trucks may vary with respect to these grades,
they must also conform to federal safety requirements
and additional General Motors Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
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A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-16
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-83
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-17
Air Conditioning..............................................3-18
Airbag
Readiness Light..........................................3-26
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic
Module (SDM).............................................. 7-7
Airbag System................................................1-46
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-52
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-54
What Makes an Airbag Inflate?......................1-52
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates?....1-53
When Should an Airbag Inflate?....................1-51
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-48
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-62
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-28
Appearance Care............................................5-73
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-78
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-75
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-80
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-76
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-73
Finish Care.................................................5-76
Finish Damage............................................5-79Appearance Care (cont.)
Glass Surfaces............................................5-75
Instrument Panel.........................................5-75
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-75
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-79
Tires..........................................................5-78
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-79
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-80
Vinyl..........................................................5-75
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-76
Weatherstrips..............................................5-76
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-77
Ashtrays........................................................3-17
Assist Handles...............................................2-29
Audio System(s).............................................3-38
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-61
Care of Your CD and DVD Player..................3-62
Care of Your CDs and DVDs........................3-62
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-62
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-43
Radio with CD............................................3-39
Setting the Time..........................................3-38
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-58
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-61
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-14
Automatic Transaxle
Fluid..........................................................5-20
Operation...................................................2-18
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B
Battery..........................................................5-36
Run-Down Protection...................................3-16
Battery Warning Light......................................3-27
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-22
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-7
Emergencies................................................ 4-8
Parking......................................................2-22
System Warning Light..................................3-27
Brakes..........................................................5-33
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-15
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-42
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........5-45
Fog Lamps.................................................5-44
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-42
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-42
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-46
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps........................................5-45
Buying New Tires...........................................5-57
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specifications............................5-89
Carbon Monoxide...................2-10, 2-25, 4-26, 4-40
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-75
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-61
Your CD and DVD Player.............................3-62
Your CDs and DVDs....................................3-62
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-28
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-45
Chains, Tire...................................................5-61
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-31
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-80
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-33
Infants and Young Children...........................1-29
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-39
Older Children.............................................1-26
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Child Restraints (cont.)
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-41
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position..................................................1-41
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-43
Top Strap...................................................1-37
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-38
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-36
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-17
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-78
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-76
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-73
Finish Care.................................................5-76
Glass Surfaces............................................5-75
Instrument Panel.........................................5-75
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-75
Tires..........................................................5-78
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-79
Vinyl..........................................................5-75
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-76
Weatherstrips..............................................5-76
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-77Climate Control System...................................3-18
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-21
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-20
Comfort Guides, Rear Safety Belt.....................1-24
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-72
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-6
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-30
Engine Temperature Warning Light.................3-29
Low Warning Light.......................................3-30
Surge Tank Pressure Cap.............................5-23
Cooling System..............................................5-26
Cruise Control Lever.......................................3-10
Customer Assistance Information
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users............................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to Saturn.................. 7-8
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government................................ 7-8
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government.......................... 7-8
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-5
Service Publications Ordering Information......... 7-9
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