2008 SATURN ASTRA service indicator

Fuel Gage
Your fuel gage tells you about how
much fuel you have left, when
the ignition is on.
When the indicator nears empty,
the low fuel warning light will come
on. You still have a little fuel left,
but you should get more soon.
SeeLow Fuel Warning Light
on page 4-25for more information.The arrow on the fuel gage points
to the side of the vehicle with
the fuel door.
Here are ve things that some
owners ask about. These are normal
and do not indicate a problem with
your fuel gage:At the service station, the gas
pump shuts off before the gage
reads full.
It takes a little more or less fuel to
ll up than the gage indicated.
The indicator moves a little when
you turn a corner or speed up.
The gage goes back to empty
when you turn off the ignition.
The vehicle is driven or parked on
a grade.
Low Fuel Warning Light
This light, below the fuel gage,
should come on briey when the
ignition is turned on as a check to let
you know that the light is working.
This light also comes on when
the fuel tank is low on fuel. When
you add fuel the light should go off.
If it does not, have your vehicle
serviced.
Instruments and Controls 4-25
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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, we
recommend the use of gasoline
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with
a posted octane rating of 87 or
higher. If the octane rating is less
than 87, you might 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 assoon as possible. If you are using
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher
and you hear heavy knocking, the
engine needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should
meet ASTM specication
D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 or 3.511 in Canada.
Some gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. SeeAdditives on
page 8-36for additional information.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California emissions
standards, your vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specications, but emission control
system performance might be
affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp could turn on and your vehicle
might fail a smog-check test. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 4-20. If this occurs, return to
your authorized dealer/retailer for
diagnosis. If it is determined that the
condition is caused by the type of
fuel used, repairs might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Driving and Operating 8-35
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Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines
in the United States are now required
to contain additives that help prevent
engine and fuel system deposits
from forming, allowing the emission
control system to work properly.
In most cases, you should not have
to add anything to the fuel. However,
some gasolines contain only the
minimum amount of additive required
to meet U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency regulations.
To help keep fuel injectors and intake
valves clean, or if your vehicle
experiences problems due to dirty
injectors or valves, look for gasoline
that is advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline. Also, your
dealer/retailer has additives that
will help correct and prevent most
deposit-related problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates,
such as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines might
be available in your area.We recommend that you use these
gasolines, if they comply with the
specications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
10% ethanol must not be used in
vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.
Notice:Your vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under your
warranty.
Some gasolines that are
not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant
where you buy gasoline whether the
fuel contains MMT. We recommend
against the use of such gasolines.Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the
performance of the emission control
system could be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp might turn
on. If this occurs, return to your
dealer/retailer for service.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries
If you plan on driving in another
country outside the United States or
Canada, the proper fuel might be
hard to nd. Never use leaded
gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text
on fuel. Costly repairs caused
by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask
an auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in
the country where you will be
driving.
8-36 Driving and Operating
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Required Services” in the Limited
Warranty, Maintenance and
Owner Assistance Information
manual. Use new brake uid
from a sealed container only.
See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Limited Warranty,
Maintenance and Owner Assistance
Information manual.
Always clean the brake uid
reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it.
This helps keep dirt from entering
the reservoir.
{CAUTION
With the wrong kind of uid in
the brake hydraulic system,
the brakes might not work well.
This could cause a crash.
Always use the proper brake
uid.Notice:
Using the wrong uid can
badly damage brake
hydraulic system parts.
For example, just a few drops
of mineral-based oil, such
as engine oil, in the brake
hydraulic system can
damage brake hydraulic
system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced.
Do not let someone put in
the wrong kind of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your
vehicle’s painted surfaces, the
paint nish can be damaged.
Be careful not to spill brake
uid on your vehicle. If you
do, wash it off immediately.
SeeExterior Cleaning on
page 9-75.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has disc brakes.
Notice:Continuing to drive
with worn-out brake pads could
result in costly brake repair.
Front disc brake pads have built-in
brake pad wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning sound
when the brake pads are worn
and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be
heard all the time your vehicle is
moving, except when you are
pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead
to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound,
have your vehicle serviced.
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Rear disc brake pads do not have
built-in brake pad wear indicators.
Periodic visual inspection of the rear
brake pads is required to determine
when to replace the pads. Visually
inspect the rear brake pads
whenever the rear wheels are
removed such as during tire rotation.
1. Set the parking brake and make
sure that the brakes have been
given enough time to cool.
2. Remove the rear wheels.
3. Visually inspect the rear brake
inner pads (C) at each rear
wheel through the inspection
window in the brake caliper (A).Brake pads should be replaced
when the inner pad (C) is
worn to 5/64 in (2 mm) of pad
thickness (B). New brake
pads, with no wear, are 25/64 of
an inch (10 mm) thick.
4. After brake pad inspection or
replacement, install the rear
wheels.Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when
the brakes are rst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel bolts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel bolts in
the proper sequence to torque
specications inCapacities
and Specifications on page 10-2.
Brake linings should always
be replaced as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer/retailer if the brake
pedal does not return to normal
height, or if there is a rapid increase
in pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service might be required.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop,
the disc brakes adjust for wear.
9-24 Vehicle Service and Care
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Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:A tire used on passenger cars
and some light duty trucks
and multipurpose vehicles.
Recommended Ination
Pressure
:Vehicle
manufacturer’s recommended
tire ination pressure as shown
on the tire placard. See
Inflation - Tire Pressure on
page 9-46andLoading
the Vehicle on page 8-30.
Radial Ply Tire
:A pneumatic
tire in which the ply cords that
extend to the beads are laid
at 90 degrees to the centerline
of the tread.
Rim
:A metal support for a tire
and upon which the tire beads
are seated.
Sidewall
:The portion of a tire
between the tread and the bead.
Speed Rating
:An alphanumeric
code assigned to a tire indicating
the maximum speed at which a
tire can operate.Traction
:The friction between
the tire and the road surface.
The amount of grip provided.
Tread
:The portion of a tire that
comes into contact with the road.
Treadwear Indicators
:Narrow
bands, sometimes called wear
bars, that show across the tread
of a tire when only 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) of tread remains.
SeeWhen It Is Time for New
Tires on page 9-53.
UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality
Grading Standards)
:A tire
information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a
tire’s traction, temperature,
and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers
using government testing
procedures. The ratings are
molded into the sidewall of the
tire. SeeUniform Tire Quality
Grading on page 9-56.Vehicle Capacity Weight
:The number of designated
seating positions multiplied
by 150 lbs (68 kg) plus the
rated cargo load. SeeLoading
the Vehicle on page 8-30.
Vehicle Maximum Load on
the Tire
:Load on an individual
tire due to curb weight,
accessory weight, occupant
weight, and cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard
:A label
permanently attached to a
vehicle showing the vehicle’s
capacity weight and the original
equipment tire size and
recommended ination pressure.
See “Tire and Loading
Information Label” under
Loading the Vehicle on
page 8-30.
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When high-speed driving ends,
return the tire pressure to the
recommended cold ination
pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
Loading the Vehicle on page 8-30.
Tire pressure should be checked
and correctly set when the tires are
cold. SeeInflation - Tire Pressure
on page 9-46.
Tire Pressure Monitor
System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) uses radio and sensor
technology to check tire pressure
levels. The TPMS sensors monitor
the air pressure in your vehicle’s tires
and transmit tire pressure readings to
a receiver located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare
(if provided), should be checked
monthly when cold and inated to
the ination pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on
the vehicle placard or tire inationpressure label. (If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than
the size indicated on the vehicle
placard or tire ination pressure
label, you should determine the
proper tire ination pressure
for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your
vehicle has been equipped with
a tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) that illuminates a low
tire pressure telltale when one or
more of your tires is signicantly
under-inated.
Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires
as soon as possible, and inate them
to the proper pressure. Driving on
a signicantly under-inated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure. Under-ination
also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the
vehicle’s handling and stopping
ability.Please note that the TPMS is
not a substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-ination has
not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire
pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped
with a TPMS malfunction indicator to
indicate when the system is not
operating properly. The TPMS
malfunction indicator is combined
with the low tire pressure telltale.
When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will ash for
approximately one minute and then
remain continuously illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long
as the malfunction exists.
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When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be
able to detect or signal low tire
pressure as intended. TPMS
malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation
of replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the vehicle that prevent
the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction
telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to
ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow
the TPMS to continue to function
properly.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 9-50for
additional information.Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) and
Industry and Science Canada
The Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) operates on a radio
frequency and complies with
Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
1. This device may not cause
harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause
undesired operation.The TPMS operates on a radio
frequency and complies with
RSS-210 of Industry and Science
Canada. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause
interference.
2. This device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause
undesired operation of the
device.
Changes or modications to this
system by other than an authorized
service facility could void
authorization to use this equipment.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-49
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