2007 SATURN ION wheel

Fog Lamps
If your vehicle has this feature, use your fog lamps
for better visibility in foggy or misty conditions.
The button for your fog
lamps is located next to
the instrument panel
brightness control.
Push the button to turn the fog lamps on or off.
When using fog lamps, the parking lamps or
low-beam headlamps must be on.
A light on the button will come on when the fog
lamps are on. The fog lamps will go off whenever
the high-beam headlamps come on. When the
high-beam headlamps go off, the fog lamps
will come on again.
Some localities have laws that require the
headlamps to be on along with the fog lamps.
Instrument Panel Brightness
This feature controls the brightness of the
instrument panel lights.
The thumbwheel for
this feature is located
on the instrument panel
to the left of the
steering column.
Turn the thumbwheel to the right to brighten the
lights or to the left to dim them.
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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.
Changing the Language (Canada Only)
Vehicles rst sold in Canada have instrument panel
clusters that show messages in either English or
French. To change the language, do the following:
1. Turn the ignition on.
2. Press the trip/reset button until the current
language of ENGLISH or FRENCH is
displayed.
3. Press and hold the trip/reset button for
several seconds until the language is
changed.
4. Press the trip/reset button to return to the
odometer display.
Low Traction Message
If your vehicle has an
enhanced traction
system (ETS), this LOW
TRAC message will
be displayed when the
system is limiting
wheel spin.
SeeEnhanced Traction System (ETS) on
page 226for more information.
Traction Off Message
If your vehicle has an
enhanced traction
system (ETS), this
TRAC OFF message
will be displayed briey
when the system
has been turned off.
SeeEnhanced Traction System (ETS) on
page 226for more information.
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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 218. 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. 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.
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4(Information) (XM™ Satellite Radio Service,
MP3, and RDS Features):Press the information
button to display additional text information related
to the current FM-RDS or XM™ station, or MP3
song. A choice of additional information such as:
Channel, Song, Artist, CAT (category) may appear.
Continue pressing the information button to
highlight the desired label, or press the pushbutton
positioned under any one of the labels and the
information about that label is displayed.
When information is not available, No Info displays.
Storing a Radio Station as a Favorite
Drivers are encouraged to set up their radio station
favorites while the vehicle is parked. Tune to
your favorite stations using the presets, favorites
button, and steering wheel controls (if equipped).
SeeDefensive Driving on page 218.FAV (Favorites):A maximum of 36 stations
can be programmed as favorites using the
six pushbuttons positioned below the radio station
frequency labels and by using the radio favorites
page button (FAV button). Press the FAV button to
go through up to six pages of favorites, each
having six favorite stations available per page.
Each page of favorites can contain any
combination of AM, FM, or XM™ (if equipped)
stations. To store a station as a favorite, perform
the following steps:
1. Tune to the desired radio station.
2. Press the FAV button to display the page
where you want the station stored.
3. Press and hold one of the six pushbuttons
until a beep sounds. Whenever that
pushbutton is pressed and released, the
station that was set, returns.
4. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton radio
station you want stored as a favorite.
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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.ABS can change the brake pressure faster than
any driver could. The computer is programmed to
make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the
obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving
updates on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
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Remember: ABS does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal
or always decrease stopping distance. If you get
too close to the vehicle in front of you, you will not
have time to apply your brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough
room up ahead to stop, even though you
have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down rmly and let anti-lock work for you.
You may feel a slight brake pedal pulsation
or notice some noise, but this is normal.
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 223.
In many emergencies, steering can help you
more than even the very best braking.
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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 ETS is engaged and limiting wheel spin.
SeeLow Traction Message on page 182. You may
feel or hear the system working, but this is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the ETS
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 147.
The ETS 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.The ETS automatically comes on whenever you
start your vehicle. The light on the traction control
button will also come on to let you know the
system is on. To limit wheel spin, especially in
slippery road conditions, you should always leave
the system on. But you can turn the traction
control system off if you ever need to. You should
turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets
stuck in sand, mud or snow and rocking the
vehicle is required. SeeRocking Your Vehicle to
Get It Out on page 250andIf Your Vehicle is
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 249.
To turn the system on
or off, press the
enhanced traction
system button located
on the instrument panel.
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When you turn the system off, the TRAC OFF
message will be displayed. If the ETS is limiting
wheel spin when you press the button to turn
the system off, the TRAC OFF message will be
displayed, but the system will not turn off until
there is no longer a current need to limit wheel
spin. You can turn the system back on at any time
by pressing the button again. The TRAC OFF
message will no longer be displayed.
Adding non-Saturn accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 270for more information.
Limited-Slip Differential
Your vehicle may have this feature. A limited-slip
transaxle can give you additional traction on
snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel. It works like a
standard transaxle most of the time, but when one
of the front wheels loses traction, this feature
will allow the wheel with traction to move
the vehicle.
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 the PWR STR
message in the
message center is
displayed, see your
retailer for service.
SeePower Steering
Message on page 184.
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