2007 SATURN ION instrument panel

Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the
instrument panel, which shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag’s electrical
system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there
is an electrical problem. The system check
includes the airbag sensor, the airbag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic
module. For more information on the airbag
system, seeAirbag System on page 68.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ash
for a few seconds.
Then the light should go
out. This means the
system is ready.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start the vehicle or comes on when you are driving,
your airbag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after
you start your vehicle, it means the airbag
system may not be working properly. The
airbags in your vehicle may not inate in
a crash, or they could even inate without
a crash. To help avoid injury to yourself
or others, have your vehicle serviced right
away if the airbag readiness light stays on
after you start your vehicle.
The airbag readiness light should ash for a few
seconds 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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Battery Warning Light
The battery warning light
will come on briey as a
check, when you turn on
the ignition. Then it
should go out when the
engine is started.
If the light does not come on when you start your
vehicle, have your vehicle serviced right away. This
condition may indicate your battery warning light is
not functioning properly. If this light comes on while
you are driving, be sure to turn off accessories such
as the radio and climate control system. Have your
vehicle serviced right away.
Up-Shift Light
Your vehicle may have an up-shift light. When this
light comes on, you should shift to the next
higher gear if weather, road, and traffic conditions
allow you to.This light is located in
your instrument panel
cluster to the left of
the speedometer.
SeeManual Transaxle Operation on page 112for
more information.
Brake System Warning Light
This light should come on briey when you turn
the ignition to RUN. If it does not come on
then, have it xed so it will be ready to warn you if
there is a problem.
United States Only
United StatesCanada
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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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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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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 173andEngine Overheating on page 297
for 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 297. Your vehicle could be damaged
and the damages might not be covered by your
warranty.
Power Steering Message
If the PWR STR
message is displayed,
a problem has been
detected with the
electric power steering.
If you suspect electric power steering problems
and/or the PWR STR message is on, see
your retailer for service and repair.
Trunk Ajar Warning Message
When the TRUNK
message is displayed, it
means the trunk lid is
not fully closed.
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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. The brakes may not have time to
cool between hard stops. The 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 vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are
driving, brake normally but do not pump the
brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to
push down. If the 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 270.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.
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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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Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to come in
contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When you are turning with a trailer, make wider
turns than normal. Do this so your trailer will
not strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees
or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal asher and/or extra wiring.
See your retailer if you need information.
The arrows on your instrument panel will ash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change.
Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also
ash, telling other drivers you are about to turn,
change lanes or stop.When towing a trailer, the arrows on your
instrument panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs
on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind you are seeing your signal when
they are not. It’s important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving on Grades
Notice:Do not tow on steep continuous
grades exceeding 6 miles (9.6 km). Extended,
higher than normal engine and transaxle
temperatures may result and damage your
vehicle. Frequent stops are very important to
allow the engine and transaxle to cool.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before
you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you
do not shift down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get hot and
no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce
your speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce
the possibility of the engine and the transaxle
overheating. If your engine does overheat,
seeEngine Overheating on page 297.
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