This message displays only while the ignition is in
RUN. This message stays on until road conditions
change and StabiliTrak
®is not active.
This message cannot be acknowledged and
cleared from the screen.
STABILITY CONTROL OFF
If your vehicle has StabiliTrak®, this message
displays any time the system turns off. When this
message has been displayed, StabiliTrak
®is
no longer available to assist you with directional
control of the vehicle. Adjust your driving
accordingly. SeeStabiliTrak
®System on page 367.
This message displays only while the ignition is
in RUN.
Any of the following conditions may cause the
StabiliTrak
®system to turn off:
The battery is low.
There is a StabiliTrak®system failure. See
your retailer for service.
STARTING DISABLED
This message displays if the starting of the engine
is disabled due to the electronic throttle control
system or vehicle theft-deterrent system.
Have your vehicle serviced by your retailer
immediately.
This message only appears while the ignition is in
RUN and will not disappear until the problem is
resolved.
This message cannot be acknowledged.
TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVE
If your vehicle has the Traction Control System
(TCS), this message displays when the system is
on. Slippery road conditions may exist if this
message is displayed, so adjust your driving
accordingly. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 365for more information.
This message only displays while the ignition is in
RUN and will not disappear until driving conditions
change and the TCS is no longer active.
This message cannot be acknowledged or cleared
from the screen.
259
ProCarManuals.com
TRACTION CONTROL OFF
If your vehicle has the Traction Control System
(TCS), this message displays when the TCS turns
off. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on
page 365for more information.
This message only displays while the ignition is in
RUN and disappears after two seconds.
Any of the following conditions may cause the
TCS to turn off:
The TCS is turned off by pressing the traction
control button located on the center of the
instrument panel. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 365.
The battery is low.
There is a TCS failure. See your retailer for
service.
TRANSMISSION FLUID HOT
This message displays when the transaxle uid in
your vehicle is too hot. Stop the vehicle and
allow it to idle until it cools down. If the warning
message continues to display, have the vehicle
serviced by your retailer as soon as possible.This message displays and a chime sounds only
while the ignition is in RUN. Press any of the
DIC buttons to acknowledge this message and to
clear it from the screen.
This message continues to display for two seconds
if it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It also re-displays for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the
condition still exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message re-appears
when the engine is turned on.
TURN SIGNAL ON
This message displays as a reminder to turn off
the turn signal if you drive your vehicle for
more than about 0.75 mile (1.2 km) with a turn
signal on. SeeTurn Signal/Multifunction Lever on
page 183.
This message displays and a chime sounds only
when the ignition is in RUN. This message
clears from the DIC if the turn signal is manually
turned off, a turn is completed, or the message
is acknowledged.
260
ProCarManuals.com
FOB LOCK FEEDBACK
This feature allows you to select the type of
feedback you will receive when locking the vehicle
with the remote keyless entry transmitter.
Press the menu button until FOB LOCK
FEEDBACK appears on the DIC display. Press
the set/reset button to scroll through the following
choices:
OFF:There will be no feedback when locking the
vehicle.
LIGHTS:The exterior lamps will ash when you
press the lock button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter.
LIGHTS and HORN (default):The exterior lamps
will ash when you press the lock button on the
remote keyless entry transmitter, and the horn will
sound when the lock button is pressed again
within ve seconds of the previous command.
Choose one of the available settings and press the
menu button while it is displayed on the DIC to
select it and move on to the next feature.
REMOTE START
If your vehicle has remote start, this feature allows
the remote start to be turned OFF or ON. The
remote start feature allows you to start the engine
from outside of the vehicle using the remote
keyless entry transmitter. See “Remote Vehicle
Start” underRemote Keyless Entry System
Operation on page 107for more information.
Press the menu button until REMOTE START
appears on the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button to scroll through the following choices:
OFF:The remote start feature will be disabled.
ON (default):The remote start feature will
be enabled.
Choose one of the available settings and press
the menu button while it is displayed on the DIC to
select it and move on to the next feature.
REAR PARK CHIME
If your vehicle has the Ultrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA) system, this feature allows
the URPA system’s chime to be turned OFF or
ON. SeeUltrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)
on page 200for more information.
266
ProCarManuals.com
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.
Notice:Before adding any sound equipment
to your vehicle, such as an audio system,
CD player, CB radio, mobile telephone,
or two-way radio, make sure that it can be
added by checking with your retailer. Also,
check federal rules covering mobile radio and
telephone units. If sound equipment can be
added, it is very important to do it properly.
Added sound equipment may interfere with the
operation of your vehicle’s engine, radio, or
other systems, and even damage them.
Your vehicle’s systems may interfere with the
operation of sound equipment that has
been added.Notice:The chime signals related to safety
belts, parking brake, and other functions
of your vehicle operate through the radio/
entertainment system. If that equipment
is replaced or additional equipment is added to
your vehicle, the chimes may not work. Make
sure that replacement or additional equipment
is compatible with your vehicle before
installing it. SeeAccessories and Modifications
on page 412.
Your vehicle has a feature called Retained
Accessory Power (RAP). With RAP, the audio
system can be played even after the ignition
is turned off. SeeRetained Accessory Power
(RAP) on page 139for more information.
271
ProCarManuals.com
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
Modi cations on page 412.Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), an advanced electronic braking system
that will help prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive
away, 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.
If there is a problem
with ABS, this warning
light will stay on.
SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning
Light on page 227.
363
ProCarManuals.com
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
With ABS, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you
more than even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle has a traction control system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. The system operates if it
senses that one or both of the front wheels are
spinning or beginning to lose traction. When
this happens, the system brakes the spinning
wheel(s) and/or reduces engine power to
limit wheel spin.
The TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVE message will
come on in the Driver Information Center (DIC)
when the traction control system is limiting wheel
spin. You may feel or hear the system working,
but this is normal.
365
ProCarManuals.com
When the STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVE
message is on, you should continue to steer in the
direction you want to go. The system is designed
to help you in bad weather or other difficult driving
situations by making the most of whatever road
conditions will permit. For more information on the
stability messages, seeDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 234.
If the StabiliTrak
®system turns off, the traction
control system warning light will illuminate, and
the STABILITY CONTROL OFF message
will appear on the DIC to warn the driver that
StabiliTrak
®is no longer available to assist you
with directional control of the vehicle. Adjust
your driving accordingly.
To realize the full bene ts of the stability
enhancement system, you should normally leave
StabiliTrak
®on, but it may be necessary to
turn the system off if your vehicle is stuck in sand,
mud, ice or snow, and you want to “rock” your
vehicle to attempt to free it. SeeRocking
Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 391and
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or
Snow on page 390.
Traction Control Operation
The traction control system is part of the
StabiliTrak®system. Traction control limits wheel
spin by reducing engine power to the wheels
(engine speed management) and by applying
brakes.
The traction control system is enabled
automatically when you start your vehicle. It will
activate and display the TRACTION CONTROL
ACTIVE message in the DIC if it senses that
one or both of the front wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction while driving.
If the brake traction-control system activates
constantly or if the brakes have heated up due
to high-speed braking, brake traction-control will be
disabled and the TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVE
message will be displayed. In the limited mode,
the traction control system will only use engine
traction-control and is limited in its ability to provide
optimal performance since the system will not
utilize brake traction-control to control slip on the
drive wheels. The system will return to normal
operation after the brakes have cooled. This can
take up to two minutes or longer depending
on brake usage.
368
ProCarManuals.com
The traction control system may activate on
dry or rough roads or under conditions such as
heavy acceleration while turning or abrupt
upshifts/downshifts of the transaxle. When this
happens you may notice a reduction in
acceleration, or may hear a noise or vibration.
This is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the system
activates, the STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVE
message will appear on the DIC and the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When
road conditions allow you to use cruise again,
you may re-engage the cruise control. SeeCruise
Control on page 188.
StabiliTrak
®may also turn off automatically if it
determines that a problem exists with the system.
If the problem does not clear itself after restarting
the vehicle, you should see your retailer for
service.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the
engine stops or the system is not functioning,
you can steer but it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned
on the news happen on curves. Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is
subject to the same laws of physics when driving on
curves. The traction of the tires against the road
surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change
its path when you turn the front wheels. If there is
no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the
same direction. If you have ever tried to steer a
vehicle on wet ice, you will understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on
the condition of your tires and the road surface,
the angle at which the curve is banked, and
your speed. While you are in a curve, speed is
the one factor you can control.
369
ProCarManuals.com