2007 SATURN AURA HYBRID Owners Manual

The Engine Will Remain Running When:

The engine, transaxle, or hybrid battery is
not warmed up yet.
The outside temperature is approximately
−4°F (−20°C).
When the A/C is in Normal Mode.
A/C is in Hybrid Mode and the climate control
system is working to cool the vehicle. See
Automatic Climate Control System on
page 154for more information.
Defrost is selected.
The shift lever is in PARK (P), NEUTRAL (N),
REVERSE (R), INTERMEDIATE (I) or
LOW (L).
The hybrid battery pack charge is low.
The 12V vehicle battery charge is low, or
loads are high.
The hood is not fully closed.
The Engine Will Restart When:

The brake pedal is released.
The accelerator pedal is applied.
When shifting out of DRIVE (D) to any
other gear.
If the A/C button is selected, the duration of
the AUTO STOP will depend on the outside
temperature. This economy mode improves
fuel economy by limiting the effects of the air
conditioning. The warmer it is outside, the
shorter the time before the engine is restarted
to provide cabin cooling.
The climate control system is turned from Off
to On (econ or normal A/C, or oor/
defog/defrost) SeeAutomatic Climate Control
System on page 154for more information.
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The engine is required to run for either heater
or climate control performance. See “Air
Conditioning Engine Start/Stop” under
Automatic Climate Control System on
page 154for more information.
The hybrid battery pack charge is low and
requires recharging.
Auto Stop time is greater than two minutes.
Engine Coolant Heater
Your vehicle may have this feature. In very cold
weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder, the engine coolant
heater can provide easier starting and better
fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually, the
coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum
of four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At
temperatures above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant
heater is not required. Your vehicle may also
have an internal thermostat in the plug end of the
cord. This will prevent operation of the engine
coolant heater when the temperature is at or above
0°F (−18°C) as noted on the cord.
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To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical
cord. The engine coolant heater cord is
located near the air cleaner box on the
passenger side of the engine compartment.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 264for more information on location.
3. Plug the cord into a normal, grounded 110-volt
AC outlet.
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded
outlet could cause an electrical shock.
Also, the wrong kind of extension cord
could overheat and cause a re. You
could be seriously injured. Plug the cord
into a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will not
reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug
and store the cord as it was before to keep it
away from moving engine parts. If you do
not, it could be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater
plugged in? The answer depends on the outside
temperature, the kind of oil you have, and
some other things. Instead of trying to list
everything here, we ask that you contact your
retailer in the area where you will be parking your
vehicle. The dealer/retailer can give you the
best advice for that particular area.
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Automatic Transaxle Operation
The shift lever is located on the console between
the seats.
There are several
different positions for
the automatic transaxle.
PARK (P):This position locks the front wheels. It
is the best position to use when you start the
engine because your vehicle cannot move easily.{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake rmly set. Your
vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle will not
move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, always set your parking brake
and move the shift lever to PARK (P). See
Shifting Into PARK (P) on page 120.
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Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P)
before starting the engine. Your vehicle has an
automatic transaxle shift lock control system. You
have to fully apply the regular brakes rst and
then press the shift lever button before shifting
from PARK (P) while the ignition key is in RUN. If
you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure
on the shift lever and push the shift lever all
the way into PARK (P) while maintaining brake
application. Then press the shift lever button and
move the shift lever into another gear. See
Shifting Out of PARK (P) on page 122.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving forward could damage
the transaxle. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of
snow, ice or sand without damaging your
transaxle, seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 241.NEUTRAL (N):In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To restart the engine
while your vehicle is already moving, use
NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use NEUTRAL (N) when
your vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed is dangerous.
Unless your foot is rmly on the brake
pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift into a drive
gear while your engine is running at high
speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while the engine is running at
high speed may damage the transaxle.
The repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at
high speeds when shifting your vehicle.
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DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving with
the automatic transaxle. It provides the best fuel
economy for your vehicle. If you need more power
for passing, and you are:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push
the accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going above 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator all the way down.
Downshifting the transaxle in slippery road
conditions could result in skidding, see “Skidding”
underLoss of Control on page 226.
INTERMEDIATE (I):This position is also used for
normal driving. However, it reduces vehicle
speed without using your brakes for slight
downgrades where the vehicle would otherwise
accelerate due to the steepness of the grade.
If constant upshifting or downshifting occurs while
driving up steep hills, this position can be used
to prevent repetitive types of shifts. You might
choose INTERMEDIATE (I) instead of DRIVE (D)
when driving on hilly, winding roads, so that
there is less shifting between gears.The engine will not Auto Stop when the shifter is
in INTERMEDIATE (I). SeeStarting the Engine
(Automatic Engine Start/Stop) on page 110
for more information.
LOW (L):This position reduces vehicle speed
more than INTERMEDIATE (I) without actually
using the brakes. It can be used on very
steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the shift
lever is put in LOW (L), the transaxle will not shift
into LOW (L) until the vehicle is going slowly
enough.
The engine will not Auto Stop when the shifter is
in LOW (L). SeeStarting the Engine (Automatic
Engine Start/Stop) on page 110for more
information.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage the transaxle. If
you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When
stopping on a hill, use the brakes, or parking
brake to hold the vehicle in place.
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Parking Brake
To set the parking
brake, push down the
parking brake pedal with
your left foot. If the
ignition is on, the brake
system warning light
will come on. SeeBrake
System Warning Light
on page 168.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular
brake pedal down with your right foot. Push down
momentarily on the parking brake pedal with
your left foot until you feel the pedal release. If the
parking brake is not released when you begin to
drive, the brake system warning light will be
on and a chime will sound warning you that the
parking brake is still on.The PUSH PARK PEDAL message will also
appear in the Driver Information Center (DIC) to
remind you to release the parking brake. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 182.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to brake system
parts. Make sure that the parking brake is fully
released and the brake warning light is off
before driving.
Regenerative Braking
Your vehicle has a regenerative braking system.
Regenerative braking takes some of the energy
from the moving vehicle and turns it back
into electrical energy. This energy is then stored
back into the vehicle’s hybrid battery system,
contributing to increased fuel efficiency.
The system works whenever you take your foot off
the accelerator pedal while your vehicle is
moving in a forward gear. This causes your vehicle
to slow down slightly faster. It may feel like the
brake pedal is being pressed, even when it is not.
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Shifting Into PARK (P)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow.1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot
and set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pressing
the button on the shift lever while pushing the
shift lever all the way toward the front of
the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you
can leave your vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
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