2007 SATURN ION Owners Manual

Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached, on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured, and
both your vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill,
here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) for an automatic transaxle, or into
gear for a manual transaxle.
When parking uphill, turn your wheels away
from the curb. When parking downhill,
turn your wheels into the curb.
2. Have someone place chocks behind the trailer
wheels.3. When the chocks are in place, release
the regular brakes until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake and shift into PARK (P) for an
automatic transaxle or REVERSE (R) for
a manual transaxle.
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal
down while you:
start your engine
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the
chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
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Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when
you are pulling a trailer. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 391for more information.
Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle uid (don’t
overll), engine oil, axle lubricant, drive belt,
cooling system and brake system. Each of these
is covered in this manual, and the Index will
help you nd them quickly. If you are trailering,
it’s a good idea to review this information
before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and
bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat
during severe operating conditions. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 297.
Changing a Tire When Trailer Towing
If you get a at tire while towing a trailer, be
sure to secure the trailer and disconnect it from
the vehicle before changing the tire.
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Service........................................................ 270
Accessories and Modications................... 270
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 271
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 271
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 272
Fuel............................................................. 272
Gasoline Octane........................................ 272
Gasoline Specications.............................. 273
California Fuel........................................... 273
Additives................................................... 273
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 274
Filling the Tank......................................... 275
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 277
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 278
Hood Release........................................... 279
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 280
Engine Oil................................................. 283
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 288
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 290
Automatic Transaxle Fluid......................... 292
Manual Transaxle Fluid............................. 293
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 293Engine Coolant.......................................... 293
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 297
Engine Overheating................................... 297
Cooling System......................................... 300
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 307
Brakes...................................................... 308
Battery...................................................... 311
Jump Starting............................................ 312
Headlamp Aiming........................................ 318
Bulb Replacement....................................... 318
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 318
Headlamps (Coupe)................................... 319
Headlamps (Sedan)................................... 320
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL) (Coupe).............. 322
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL) (Sedan).............. 323
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL)................................ 324
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps...................................... 324
License Plate Lamp................................... 326
Replacement Bulbs................................... 326
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
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Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 327
Tires............................................................ 328
Winter Tires (Red Line)............................. 329
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 330
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 334
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 337
High-Speed Operation............................... 338
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 339
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 341
Buying New Tires...................................... 341
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 343
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 344
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 346
Wheel Replacement.................................. 346
Tire Chains............................................... 348
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 349
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 350
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 351
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire....................................... 356
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...... 362
Compact Spare Tire.................................. 365Appearance Care........................................ 366
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 366
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 367
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 368
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 369
Weatherstrips............................................ 369
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 369
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 370
Finish Care............................................... 370
Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 370
Aluminum Wheels...................................... 371
Tires......................................................... 372
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 372
Finish Damage.......................................... 372
Underbody Maintenance............................ 372
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 373
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 373
Vehicle Identication.................................. 374
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)........... 374
Service Parts Identication Label............... 374
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
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Electrical System........................................ 375
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 375
Windshield Wiper Fuses............................ 375
Power Windows and Other Power
Options.................................................. 375Fuses and Circuit Breakers....................... 375
Floor Console Fuse Block......................... 376
Engine Compartment Fuse Block............... 378
Capacities and Specications.................... 384
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
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Service
Your Saturn retailer knows your vehicle best and
wants you to be happy with it. We hope you
will go to your retailer for all your service needs.
You will get genuine Saturn parts and
Saturn-trained and supported service people.
We hope you will want to keep your Saturn vehicle
all Saturn.
Genuine Saturn parts have one of these marks.
Accessories and Modications
When you add non-Saturn accessories to your
vehicle they can affect your vehicle’s performance
and safety, including such things as, airbags,
braking, stability, ride and handling, emissions
systems, aerodynamics, durability, and electronic
systems like anti-lock brakes, traction control,
and stability control. Some of these accessories
may even cause malfunction or damage not
covered by warranty.
Saturn accessories are designed to complement
and function with other systems on your
vehicle. Your Saturn retailer can accessorize your
vehicle using genuine Saturn accessories.
When you go to your Saturn retailer and ask for
Saturn accessories, you will know that
Saturn-trained and supported service technicians
will perform the work using genuine Saturn
accessories.
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California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Engine exhaust, many parts and
systems (including some inside the vehicle), many
uids, and some component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these chemicals.
Doing Your Own Service Work
{CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could
be damaged if you try to do service work
on a vehicle without knowing enough
about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement
parts, and tools before you attempt any
vehicle maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts,
and other fasteners. English and metric
fasteners can be easily confused. If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later
break or fall off. You could be hurt.
If you want to do some of your own service work,
you should use the proper service manual. It
tells you much more about how to service your
vehicle than this manual can. To order the proper
service manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 425.
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Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work, see
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 82.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of any service
work you perform. SeeMaintenance Record
on page 406.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your
vehicle can affect the airow around it. This may
cause wind noise and affect windshield washer
performance. Check with your retailer before
adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part
of the proper maintenance of your vehicle.
To help keep the engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, Saturn recommends
the use of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline.
The 8th digit of the Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN) shows the code letter or number
that identies your vehicle’s engine. The VIN is at
the top left of the instrument panel. SeeVehicle
Identication Number (VIN) on page 374.
Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 2.2L L4 engine (VIN Code F),
use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is less
than 87, you may notice an audible knocking noise
when you drive, commonly referred to as spark
knock. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher as soon as possible. If you are
using gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher and you
hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
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