2006 SATURN ION engine

Boost Gage
If your vehicle is equipped with this gage, it is located
on the steering column.
This gage indicates vacuum during light to moderate
throttle and boost under heavier throttle.
This gage displays the air pressure level in the intake
manifold before it enters the engine’s combustion
chamber.
This gage is automatically centered at zero every time
the ignition is turned to RUN. Actual vacuum or boost
is displayed from this zero point.The boost gage is also equipped with three pairs of
lights that are located on each side of the gage. These
lights are used to indicate three different engine rpm
levels. The default setting for the lower pair of lights is
4,400 rpm, the middle pair of lights is 5,600 rpm, and the
top pair of lights is 6,200 rpm. These settings can be
adjusted by turning the stem behind each light. To have
the light pair come on at a higher rpm level, turn the stem
counterclockwise. To have the light pair come on at a
lower rpm level, turn the stem clockwise. Each turn
adjusts the settings by 100 rpm. To restore the default
settings, press and hold any stem for three seconds.
The lights will ash three times.
To turn the lights off or on, press and release any stem.Message Center
The message center is located in the instrument
panel cluster. It gives you important safety and
maintenance facts.
If there are several messages, each message will be
shown for a few seconds and will continue to repeat until
cleared. To clear a message, press the trip/reset button
while the message you want to clear is being displayed.
Many messages will also cause a chime to sound, to
alert you to the message. United States
Canada
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Transaxle Fluid Hot Message
If the TRANS HOT
message is displayed,
the automatic transaxle
uid may be overheating.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-29for 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.
Check Gage Message
If the CHK GAGE message
is displayed, the engine
coolant may be
overheated. A chime will
also sound to alert
you to this message.
If this message is displayed, check your engine coolant
temperature gage. If the needle is in the red area, your
engine may be overheating. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-36andEngine
Overheating on page 5-29for more information.
Notice:Driving with either the CHK GAGE message
or the COOLANT message displayed in the message
center and the Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on
your instrument panel in the red zone could cause
your vehicle to overheat. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-29. Your vehicle could be damaged and the
damages might not be covered by your warranty.
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Audio System(s)
Determine which radio your vehicle has and then read the
pages following to familiarize yourself with its features.
Driving without distraction is a necessity for a safer
driving experience. SeeDefensive Driving on page 4-2.
By taking a few moments to read this manual and get
familiar with your vehicle’s audio system, you can use it
with less effort, as well as take advantage of its features.
While your vehicle is parked, set up your audio system
by presetting your favorite radio stations, setting the
tone and adjusting the speakers. Then, when driving
conditions permit, you can tune to your favorite
stations using the presets and steering wheel controls
if the vehicle has them.
{CAUTION:
This system provides you with a far greater
access to audio stations and song listings.
Giving extended attention to entertainment
tasks while driving can cause a crash and you
or others can be injured or killed. Always keep
your eyes on the road and your mind on the
drive — avoid engaging in extended searching
while driving.Keeping your mind on the drive is important for safe
driving. For more information, seeDefensive Driving
on page 4-2.
Here are some ways in which you can help avoid
distraction while driving.
While your vehicle is parked:
Familiarize yourself with all of its controls.
Familiarize yourself with its operation.
Set up your audio system by presetting your favorite
radio stations, setting the tone, and adjusting the
speakers. Then, when driving conditions permit,
you can tune to your favorite radio stations using
the presets and steering wheel controls if the vehicle
has them.
Notice:Before adding any sound equipment to your
vehicle, such as an audio system, CD player, CB
radio, mobile telephone, or two-way radio, make sure
that it can be added by checking with your retailer.
Also, check federal rules covering mobile radio and
telephone units. If sound equipment can be added, it
is very important to do it properly. Added sound
equipment may interfere with the operation of your
vehicle’s engine, radio, or other systems, and even
damage them. Your vehicle’s systems may interfere
with the operation of sound equipment that has
been added.
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Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-34.
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That is perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or
more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness,
coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol,
drugs, and frustration. But even in three-fourths of a
second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between
your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement
or gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is
wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the condition of your brakes;
the weight of the vehicle; and the amount of brake
force applied.Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is
a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much
faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace
with the traffic and allow realistic following distances,
you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking.
That means better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you are driving, brake
normally but do not pump your brakes. If you do,
the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist.
But you will use it when you brake. Once the power
assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and
the brake pedal will be harder to push.
Adding non-Saturn accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories and Modications on
page 5-3.
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Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle may have the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), an advanced electronic braking system that will
help prevent a braking skid.
If your vehicle has ABS,
this warning light on the
instrument panel will
come on briey when
you start your vehicle.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive
away, your ABS will check itself. You may hear a
momentary motor or clicking noise while this test is
going on, and you may even notice that your brake
pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If
one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each wheel.
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Braking in Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver gets into a situation
that requires hard braking.
If you have ABS, you can steer and brake at the same
time. However, if you do not have ABS, your rst
reaction — to hit the brake pedal hard and hold it
down — may be the wrong thing to do. Your wheels can
stop rolling. Once they do, the vehicle cannot respond
to your steering. Momentum will carry it in whatever
direction it was headed when the wheels stopped rolling.
That could be off the road, into the very thing you
were trying to avoid, or into traffic.
If you do not have ABS, use a “squeeze” braking
technique. This will give you maximum braking while
maintaining steering control. You can do this by pushing
on the brake pedal with steadily increasing pressure.
In an emergency, you will probably want to squeeze the
brakes hard without locking the wheels. If you hear or
feel the wheels sliding, ease off the brake pedal.
This will help you retain steering control. If you do have
ABS, it is different. SeeAnti-Lock Brake System
(ABS) on page 4-7.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more than
even the very best braking.
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
Your vehicle may have an Enhanced Traction System
(ETS) that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. The system operates only if
it senses that one or both of the front wheels are
spinning or beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, the system reduces engine power and may
also upshift the transaxle to limit wheel spin.
The LOW TRAC message will be displayed when your
Enhanced Traction System is engaged and limiting
wheel spin. SeeLow Traction Message on page 3-44.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the Enhanced
Traction System begins to limit wheel spin, the
cruise control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
re-engage the cruise control. SeeCruise Control
on page 3-10.
The Enhanced Traction System operates in all transaxle
shift lever positions. But the system can upshift the
transaxle only as high as the shift lever position
you have chosen, so you should use the lower gears
only when necessary.
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Steering
Electric Power Steering
If the engine stalls while you are driving, the power
steering assist system will continue to operate until you
are able to stop the vehicle. If you lose power steering
assist because the system is not functioning, you
can steer but it will take much more effort.
If you turn the steering wheel in either direction
several times until it stops, or hold the steering wheel in
the stopped position for an extended amount of time,
you may notice a reduced amount of power steering
assist. The normal amount of power steering assist
should return shortly after a few normal steering
movements.
The electric power steering system does not require
regular maintenance.
If you suspect steering
problems and/or the
PWR STR message is
displayed, see your retailer
for service and repair.
SeePower Steering
Message on page 3-46.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves.
The traction of the tires against the road surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change its path when
you turn the front wheels. If there is no traction, inertia
will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If
you have ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you
will understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle
at which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you
are in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly apply the brakes. Both control
systems — steering and braking — have to do their work
where the tires meet the road. Unless you have
four-wheel anti-lock brakes, adding the hard braking can
demand too much of those places. You can lose control.
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Driving too fast through large water puddles or even
going through some car washes can cause problems,
too. The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid
puddles. But if you cannot, try to slow down before you
hit them.
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 reections
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 cannot 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.
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