2007 SATURN ION lights

Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages on
your vehicle. The pictures help to locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something
is wrong before it becomes serious enough to
cause an expensive repair or replacement. Paying
attention to the warning lights and gages could also
save you or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
As the details show on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briey when you start
the engine just to let you know they are working.
If you are familiar with this section, you should
not be alarmed when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often
gages and warning lights work together to let you
know when there is a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and
stays on as you are driving, or when one of the
gages shows there may be a problem, check
the section that tells you what to do about
it. Please follow this manual’s advice. Waiting to
do repairs can be costly and even dangerous.
So please get to know your vehicle’s warning lights
and gages. They can be a big help.
Your vehicle also has a message center that
works along with the warning lights and gages.
SeeMessage Center on page 182for more
information.
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{CAUTION:
Even though the passenger sensing
system is designed to turn off the
passenger’s frontal airbag if the system
detects a rear-facing child restraint, no
system is fail-safe, and no one can
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance, even
though it is turned off. We recommend
that rear-facing child restraints be secured
in the rear seat, even if the airbag is off.
If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the
airbag status indicator, it means that the
passenger sensing system has turned off the right
front passenger’s frontal airbag. SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 77for more on this,
including important safety information.If, after several seconds, all status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there
may be a problem with the lights or the passenger
sensing system. See your retailer for service.
{CAUTION:
If the off indicator and the airbag
readiness light ever come on together, it
means that something may be wrong with
the airbag system. If this ever happens,
have the vehicle serviced promptly,
because an adult-size person sitting in the
right front passenger seat may not have
the protection of the frontal airbag. See
Airbag Readiness Light on page 167.
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Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, the anti-lock
brake system (ABS) warning light will come
on briey, as a check, when you start your vehicle.
If it does not, have your vehicle serviced so that
the light works properly when it needs to.
The ABS light is located
in the instrument panel
cluster, to the left of
the engine coolant
temperature gage.
If the light stays on longer than a few seconds
after you start your engine, or comes on and stays
on while you are driving, try resetting the system.To reset the system, do the following:
1. If you are driving, pull over when it is safe to
do so.
2. Be sure the vehicle is in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the ignition.
4. Then restart the engine.
If the light remains on after resetting the system or
comes on again while driving, your vehicle
needs service. If the ABS light is on, but the
regular brake system warning light is not on, the
anti-lock brakes are not working properly, but
the regular brakes are still functioning. Have your
vehicle serviced right away. If both brake lights
are on, you do not have anti-lock brakes, and
there’s a problem with your regular brakes as well.
Have your vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 256.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should
come on briey when you turn the ignition
key to RUN. If the light does not come on then,
have it xed so it will be ready to warn you if there
is a problem.
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If your vehicle has 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 has 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 detent 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.
Canada
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Slow down, especially on higher speed roads.
Your vehicle’s headlamps can light up only so
much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe
place and rest.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime.
But as we get older these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as
much light to see the same thing at night as a
20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your
night vision. For example, if you spend the
day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear
sunglasses. Your eyes will have less trouble
adjusting to night. But if you are driving, do not
wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down on
glare from headlamps, but they also make a
lot of things invisible.You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or
even several seconds, for your eyes to re-adjust
to the dark. When you are faced with severe glare,
as from a driver who does not lower the high
beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlamps,
slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into
the approaching headlamps.
Keep the windshield and all the glass on your
vehicle clean — inside and out. Glare at night is
made much worse by dirt on the glass. Even
the inside of the glass can build up a lm caused
by dust. Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and
ash more than clean glass would, making the
pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that the headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it is easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as the headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim, so should your
eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer
from night blindness — the inability to see in dim
light — and are not even aware of it.
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Manual Transaxle Fluid
It is not necessary to check the transaxle uid level.
A transaxle uid leak is the only reason for uid
loss. If a leak occurs, take the vehicle to your
retailer’s service department and have it repaired
as soon as possible. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 402for the proper uid
to use.
Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch linkage in your vehicle is
self-adjusting. This system does not have its own
reservoir. It receives uid from the brake master
cylinder reservoir.
SeeBrakes on page 308for more information.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is
designed to remain in your vehicle for ve years or
150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever occurs
rst, if you add only DEX-COOL
®extended
life coolant.The following explains your cooling system and
how to add coolant when it is low. If you have
a problem with engine overheating, seeEngine
Overheating on page 297.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to
−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core, or
radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at the
rst maintenance service after each
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
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W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators......... 163
Warnings
Hazard Warning Flashers......................... 142
Other Warning Devices............................ 142
Safety and Symbols..................................... 4
Vehicle Damage.......................................... 5
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..................... 346
Different Size........................................... 343
Replacement............................................ 346
Where to Put the Restraint............................ 52
Windows..................................................... 100
Manual..................................................... 100
Power...................................................... 101
Windshield
Washer.................................................... 145
Washer Fluid........................................... 307Windshield (cont.)
Wiper Blade Replacement........................ 327
Wiper Blades, Cleaning............................ 370
Wiper Fuses............................................ 375
Wiper Lever............................................. 146
Winter Driving............................................. 244
Winter Tires................................................. 329
X
XM Radio Messages................................... 212
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System......... 215
Y
Your Vehicle and the Environment............... 388
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