2008 SATURN ASTRA light

Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, try to
use another vehicle and some
jumper cables to start your vehicle.
Be sure to use the following steps
to do it safely.
{CAUTION
Batteries can hurt you. They
can be dangerous because:
They contain acid that can
burn you.
They contain gas that can
explode or ignite.
They contain enough
electricity to burn you.
If you do not follow these steps
exactly, some or all of these
things can hurt you.Notice:Ignoring these steps
could result in costly damage to
your vehicle that would not
be covered by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by
pushing or pulling it will not work,
and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must
have a 12-volt battery with a
negative ground system.
Notice:If the other vehicle’s
system is not a 12-volt system
with a negative ground, both
vehicles can be damaged. Only
use vehicles with 12-volt systems
with negative grounds to jump
start your vehicle.
2. Get the vehicles close enough
so the jumper cables can
reach, but be sure the vehicles
are not touching each other.
If they are, it could cause
a ground connection you do not
want. You would not be able
to start your vehicle, and the bad
grounding could damage the
electrical systems.To avoid the possibility of the
vehicles rolling, set the parking
brake rmly on both vehicles
involved in the jump start
procedure. Put an automatic
transmission in PARK (P)
or a manual transmission in
NEUTRAL before setting
the parking brake.
Notice:If you leave your radio or
other accessories on during the
jump starting procedure, they
could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by your
warranty. Always turn off your
radio and other accessories when
jump starting your vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both
vehicles. Unplug unnecessary
accessories plugged into the
cigarette lighter or the accessory
power outlet. Turn off the radio
and all lamps that are not needed.
This will avoid sparks and help
save both batteries. And it could
save the radio!
9-68 Vehicle Service and Care
ProCarManuals.com

4. Open the hoods and locate the
batteries. Find the positive (+)
and negative (−) terminal
locations on each vehicle. Your
vehicle’s positive (+) terminal
is identied by “+” sign on battery
case or terminal.Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 9-6.
{CAUTION
An electric fan can start up
even when the engine is not
running and can injure you.
Keep hands, clothing and tools
away from any underhood
electric fan.
{CAUTION
Using a match near a battery
can cause battery gas to
explode. People have been hurt
doing this, and some have been
blinded. Use a ashlight if you
need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough
water. You do not need to add
water to the battery installed in
your new vehicle. But if a
battery has ller caps, be sure
the right amount of uid is
there. If it is low, add water to
take care of that rst. If you
don’t, explosive gas could be
present.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Battery uid contains acid that
can burn you. Do not get it on
you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, ush
the place with water and get
medical help immediately.
{CAUTION
Fans or other moving engine
parts can injure you badly.
Keep your hands away from
moving parts once the engine
is running.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-69
ProCarManuals.com

Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
The vehicle was neither designed
nor intended to be towed with any of
its wheels on the ground.
Consult your dealer/retailer or a
professional towing service if
the disabled vehicle needs to be
towed. SeeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 11-5.
Notice:Dolly towing or dinghy
towing your vehicle may
cause damage because of
reduced ground clearance.
Always put your vehicle on a
atbed truck.
Recreational Vehicle
Towing
Notice:Dolly towing or dinghy
towing your vehicle may
cause damage because of
reduced ground clearance.
Always put your vehicle on a
atbed trailer.
The vehicle was neither designed
nor intended to be towed with any
of its wheels on the ground.
Towing a Trailer
The vehicle is neither designed nor
intended to tow a trailer.
Appearance Care
Interior Cleaning
Your vehicle’s interior will continue
to look its best if it is cleaned
often. Although not always visible,
dust and dirt can accumulate
on your upholstery. Dirt can damage
carpet, fabric, leather, and plastic
surfaces. Regular vacuuming
is recommended to remove particles
from the upholstery. It is important
to keep your upholstery from
becoming and remaining heavily
soiled. Soils should be removed as
quickly as possible. Your vehicle’s
interior may experience extremes of
heat that could cause stains to
set rapidly.
Lighter colored interiors may require
more frequent cleaning. Use care
because newspapers and garments
that transfer color to your home
furnishings may also transfer color
to your vehicle’s interior.
9-72 Vehicle Service and Care
ProCarManuals.com

If your vehicle has a basecoat/
clearcoat paint nish, the clearcoat
gives more depth and gloss to
the colored basecoat. Always use
waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for a
basecoat/clearcoat paint nish.
Notice:Machine compounding
or aggressive polishing on a
basecoat/clearcoat paint nish
may damage it. Use only
non-abrasive waxes and polishes
that are made for a basecoat/
clearcoat paint nish on your
vehicle.
Foreign materials such as calcium
chloride and other salts, ice
melting agents, road oil and tar,
tree sap, bird droppings, chemicals
from industrial chimneys, etc.,
can damage your vehicle’s nish if
they remain on painted surfaces.
Wash the vehicle as soon as
possible. If necessary, use
non-abrasive cleaners that are
marked safe for painted surfaces to
remove foreign matter.Exterior painted surfaces are
subject to aging, weather and
chemical fallout that can take their
toll over a period of years. You
can help to keep the paint nish
looking new by keeping your vehicle
garaged or covered whenever
possible.
Protecting Exterior Bright
Metal Parts
Bright metal parts should be
cleaned regularly to keep their
luster. Wash with water or
use chrome polish on chrome or
stainless steel trim, if necessary.
Use special care with aluminum trim.
To avoid damaging protective
trim, never use auto or chrome
polish, steam or caustic soap
to clean aluminum. A coating of
wax, rubbed to high polish, is
recommended for all bright
metal parts.Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your
vehicle’s nish is to keep it clean by
washing it often.
Do not wash the vehicle in direct
sunlight. Use a car washing soap.
Notice:Certain cleaners contain
chemicals that can damage the
emblems or nameplates on your
vehicle. Check the cleaning
product label. If it states that it
should not be used on plastic
parts, do not use it on your vehicle
or damage may occur and it would
not be covered by the warranty.
Do not use cleaning agents that are
petroleum based or that contain
acid or abrasives, as they can
damage the paint, metal or plastic
on your vehicle. Approved cleaning
products can be obtained from
your dealer/retailer. SeeVehicle
Care/Appearance Materials on
9-76 Vehicle Service and Care
ProCarManuals.com

Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
Description Usage
Polishing Cloth Interior and exterior polishing cloth.
Tar and Road Oil Remover Removes tar, road oil, and asphalt.
Chrome Cleaner and Polish Use on chrome or stainless steel.
White Sidewall Tire Cleaner Removes soil and black marks from whitewalls and raised white lettering.
Vinyl Cleaner Cleans vinyl.
Glass Cleaner Removes dirt, grime, smoke and ngerprints.
Chrome Wheel Cleaner Removes dirt and grime from chrome wheels.
Finish Enhancer Removes dust, ngerprints, and surface contaminants. Spray on and
wipe off.
Swirl Remover Polish Removes swirl marks, ne scratches, and other light surface
contamination.
Cleaner Wax Removes light scratches and protects nish.
9-80 Vehicle Service and Care
ProCarManuals.com

Description Usage
Foaming Tire Shine Low Gloss Cleans, shines, and protects tires. No wiping necessary.
Wash Wax Concentrate Medium foaming shampoo. Cleans and lightly waxes. Biodegradable
and phosphate free.
Spot Lifter Quickly removes spots and stains from carpets, vinyl, and cloth
upholstery.
Odor Eliminator Odorless spray odor eliminator used on fabrics, vinyl, leather and carpet.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-81
ProCarManuals.com

Who is Covered?
Roadside Assistance coverage is for
the vehicle operator, regardless of
ownership. In Canada, a person
driving this vehicle without the
consent of the owner is not eligible
for coverage.
Services Provided
The following services are provided
in the U.S. and Canada up to
5 years/100,000 miles (160 000 km),
whichever comes rst, and, in
Canada only, up to a maximum
of $100.
Fuel Delivery:Delivery of enough
fuel for the vehicle to get to
the nearest service station
(approximately $5 Canada).
In Canada, service to provide
diesel may be restricted. For
safety reasons, propane and
other alternative fuels are not
provided through this service.
Lock-Out Service:Lock-out
service is covered at no charge if
you are unable to gain entry into
your vehicle. A remote unlock
may be available if you have an
active OnStar
®subscription.
To ensure security, the driver
must present personal
identication before lock-out
service is provided. In Canada,
the vehicle registration is also
required.
Emergency Tow From a Public
Roadway or Highway:Tow to
the nearest Saturn retailer for
warranty service or in the event
of a vehicle-disabling crash.
Winch-out assistance is provided
when the vehicle is mired in sand,
mud, or snow.
Flat Tire Change:Installation of a
spare tire in good condition, when
equipped and properly inated,
is covered at no charge.The customer is responsible for
the repair or replacement of the
tire if not covered by a
warrantable failure.
Jump Start:A battery jump start
is covered at no charge if the
vehicle does not start.
Trip Routing Service (Canada
Only):Upon request, Roadside
Assistance will send you detailed,
computer personalized maps,
highlighting your choice of either
the most direct route or the most
scenic route to your destination,
anywhere in North America, along
with helpful travel information
pertaining to your trip.
Please allow three weeks before
your planned departure date.
Trip routing requests are limited
to six per calendar year.
11-6 Customer Information
ProCarManuals.com

Owner Publications
Information on how to obtain
product bulletins and as described
below is applicable only in the
fty U.S. states and the District
of Columbia, and only for cars and
light trucks with a Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) less
than 10,000 pounds (4 536 kg).
Copies of individual bulletins
are also at your participating Saturn
retailer. You can ask to see them.
In Canada, information relating
to product service bulletins can
be obtained by contacting your
Saturn retailer.
Service Bulletins
Saturn regularly sends its retailers
useful service bulletins about Saturn
products. Saturn monitors product
performance in the eld. We then
prepare bulletins for servicing our
products better. You can get these
bulletins, too.Bulletins cover various subjects.
Some pertain to the proper use and
care of your vehicle. Some describe
costly repairs. Others describe
inexpensive repairs which, if done on
time with the latest parts, may avoid
future costly repairs.
Some bulletins tell a technician how
to repair a new or unexpected
condition. Others describe a quicker
way to x your vehicle. They can
help a technician service your
vehicle better.
Most bulletins apply to conditions
affecting a small number of vehicles.
Your Saturn retailer or a qualied
technician may have to determine
if a specic bulletin applies to
your vehicle. To order Saturn
bulletins, call Saturn Publications
at 1-800-2-SATURN or visit
saturn-publications.com to order
online.
Vehicle Data
Recording and
Privacy
Your Saturn vehicle has a number of
sophisticated computers that record
information about the vehicle’s
performance and how it is driven.
For example, your vehicle uses
computer modules to monitor and
control engine and transmission
performance, to monitor the
conditions for airbag deployment and
deploy airbags in a crash and, if so
equipped, to provide antilock braking
to help the driver control the vehicle.
These modules may store data to
help your dealer/retailer technician
service your vehicle. Some modules
may also store data about how you
operate the vehicle, such as rate of
fuel consumption or average speed.
These modules may also retain the
owner’s personal preferences, such
as radio pre-sets, seat positions, and
temperature settings.
Customer Information 11-15
ProCarManuals.com