2008 SATURN ASTRA maintenance

Airbag System Check
The airbag system does not need
regularly scheduled maintenance
or replacement. Make sure the
airbag readiness light is working.
SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 4-14for more information.
Notice:If an airbag covering is
damaged, opened, or broken, the
airbag may not work properly.
Do not open or break the airbag
coverings. If there are any opened
or broken airbag covers, have
the airbag covering and/or airbag
module replaced. For the location
of the airbag modules, seeWhat
Makes an Airbag Inflate? on
page 1-28. See your dealer/retailer
for service.
Replacing Airbag System
Parts After a Crash
{CAUTION
A crash can damage the
airbag systems in your vehicle.
A damaged airbag system
may not work properly and
may not protect you and your
passenger(s) in a crash,
resulting in serious injury or
even death. To help make
sure your airbag systems are
working properly after a crash,
have them inspected and any
necessary replacements made
as soon as possible.If an airbag inates, you will need
to replace airbag system parts.
See your dealer/retailer for service.
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started
or comes on when you are driving,
the airbag system may not work
properly. Have the vehicle serviced
right away. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 4-14for more
information.
1-36 Seats and Restraints
ProCarManuals.com

Speedometer and
Odometer
The speedometer lets you see your
speed in both miles per hour (mph)
or kilometers per hour (km/h).
The odometer shows how far
your vehicle has been driven,
in either miles or kilometers.
If your vehicle needs a new
odometer installed, the new one will
be set to the mileage total of the old
odometer. If it cannot, it will be set at
zero and a label must be put on the
driver’s door to show the old mileage
reading when the new odometer was
installed. If the mileage is unknown,
the label should then indicate
“previous mileage unknown.”
Trip Odometer(s)
The trip odometer, located at the
center of the instrument panel
cluster, tells how far the vehicle
has been driven since the trip
odometer was set to zero.
To reset the trip odometer, hold the
reset stem, located to the right of
the speedometer, for approximately
one second while the trip odometer
is displayed. The engine must
be turned on.
Service Display
The vehicle may have a display
above the odometer that shows
when service is needed. The number
that displays with “INSP” is theremaining distance that can be
driven until service is required.
SeeEngine Oil Life System on
page 9-9and the index of the Saturn
Astra Limited Warranty, Maintenance
and Owner Assistance Information
Manual.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine
speed in revolutions per minute.
Instruments and Controls 4-13
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Stop and check the tires as soon as
it is safe to do so. If underinated,
inate to the proper pressure.
SeeTires on page 9-38for more
information.
This light ashes for approximately
one minute and then stays on when
the system detects a malfunction.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor System
on page 9-48for more information.
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
A computer system called OBD II
(On-Board Diagnostics-Second
Generation) monitors operation
of the fuel, ignition, and emission
control systems. It makes sure that
emissions are at acceptable levels
for the life of the vehicle, helping to
produce a cleaner environment.This light comes on briey, as a
check to show it is working, when the
ignition is turned to ON/RUN. If the
light does not come on, see your
dealer/retailer.
If the light stays on it indicates that
there is an OBD II problem and
service is required.
Malfunctions often are indicated by
the system before any problem is
apparent. Heeding the light can
prevent more serious damage to the
vehicle. This system is also designed
to assist the service technician in
correctly diagnosing any malfunction.Notice:If the vehicle is
continually driven with this light
on, after a while, the emission
controls might not work as well,
the vehicle’s fuel economy might
not be as good, and the engine
might not run as smoothly. This
could lead to costly repairs that
might not be covered by the
warranty.
Notice:Modications made to
the engine, transmission, exhaust,
intake, or fuel system of the
vehicle or the replacement of the
original tires with other than those
of the same Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) can affect the
vehicle’s emission controls and
can cause this light to come on.
Modications to these systems
could lead to costly repairs not
covered by the warranty. This
could also result in a failure
to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test.
SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 9-3.
4-20 Instruments and Controls
ProCarManuals.com

Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local
governments have or might begin
programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on your vehicle.
Failure to pass this inspection
could prevent getting a vehicle
registration.
Here are some things to know to
help the vehicle pass an inspection:
The vehicle will not pass this
inspection if the check engine
light is on or not working properly.
The vehicle will not pass this
inspection if the OBD (on-board
diagnostic) system determines
that critical emission control
systems have not been
completely diagnosed by the
system. The vehicle would
be considered not ready for
inspection. This can happen
if the battery has recently beenreplaced or if the battery has
run down. The diagnostic system
is designed to evaluate critical
emission control systems during
normal driving. This can take
several days of routine driving.
If this has been done and the
vehicle still does not pass the
inspection for lack of OBD system
readiness, your dealer/retailer can
prepare the vehicle for inspection.
Oil Pressure Light
{CAUTION
Do not keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. The engine can
become so hot that it catches
re. You or others could be
burned. Check the oil as soon
as possible and have the
vehicle serviced.Notice:Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance may damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always follow the maintenance
schedule in this manual for
changing engine oil.
This light comes on briey when the
ignition is turned on as a check to
be sure it works. If it does not, have
the vehicle serviced.
If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not owing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and might have
some other system problem.
4-22 Instruments and Controls
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Low Oil Level Light
This light should come on briey
when the ignition is turned on as
a check to let you know that the
light is working.
If this light comes on and stays on
while the engine is running, it means
your engine is low on oil. You need
to check the oil level as soon as
possible. SeeEngine Oil on page 9-7
for further information.
Notice:Lack of proper engine
oil maintenance may damage the
engine. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule in this
manual for changing engine oil.
Winter Driving Mode
Light
This light will come on when the
winter driving mode feature is in use.
When you turn off the winter driving
mode feature, the light will go out.
If it stays on, your vehicle may need
service. See your dealer/retailer.
See “Winter Driving Mode” under
Automatic Transmission Operation
on page 8-5for more information.
Fog Lamp Light
The fog lamp light will come on
when the fog lamps are in use.
The light will go out when the fog
lamps are turned off. SeeFog
Lamps on page 5-2for more
information.
Instruments and Controls 4-23
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It is recommended to leave the
system on for normal driving
conditions, 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. It may also be
necessary to turn off the system
when driving in extreme off-road
conditions where high wheel spin
is required. SeeIf Your Vehicle is
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow
on page 8-29.
StabiliTrak may also turn off
automatically if it determines that a
problem exists with the system.
The light on the instrument panel
cluster will be on solid to warn
the driver that StabiliTrak is disabled
and requires service. If the problem
does not clear after restarting
the vehicle, you should see your
dealer/retailer for service.The
gswitch is located on the
instrument panel below the Driver
Information Center (DIC).
To turn off StabiliTrak, press and
hold the
gswitch until the light in the
switch illuminates.
To turn StabiliTrak on again, press
the
gswitch again or restart the
vehicle.
A light in the switch should come
on briey when the ignition key
is turned to ON/RUN as a check
to let you know that the light
is working.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 9-3for
more information.
Steering
If the engine stalls while you
are driving, the power steering assist
system should continue to operate
until you are able to stop the
vehicle. If you lose power steering
assist because the power steering
system is not functioning, you
can steer, but it will take more effort.
If you turn the steering wheel in
either direction several times until it
stops, or hold the steering wheel in
the stopped position for an extended
amount of time, you may notice a
reduced amount of power steering
assist. The normal amount of power
steering assist should return shortly
after a few normal steering
movements.
The power steering system does not
require regular maintenance. If you
suspect steering system problems
and/or the Service Vehicle Soon light
comes on, contact your dealer/
retailer for service repairs.
8-20 Driving and Operating
ProCarManuals.com

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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Buying New Tires.............9-54
Different Size Tires
and Wheels.....................9-55
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading...........................9-56
Wheel Alignment and
Tire Balance....................9-58
Wheel Replacement..........9-58
Tire Chains.......................9-59
Tire Changing
If a Tire Goes Flat............9-60
Changing a Flat Tire.........9-60
Removing the Spare
Tire and Tools.................9-61
Removing the Flat Tire
and Installing the
Spare Tire
.......................9-62
Storing a Flat or Spare
Tire and Tools.................9-66
Compact Spare Tire..........9-67
Jump Starting
Jump Starting...................9-68
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle.........9-72
Recreational Vehicle
Towing............................9-72
Towing a Trailer................9-72
Appearance Care
Interior Cleaning................9-72
Exterior Cleaning..............9-75
Sheet Metal Damage........9-78
Finish Damage..................9-79
Underbody Maintenance. . . .9-79
Chemical Paint Spotting. . . .9-79
Vehicle Care/Appearance
Materials.........................9-80
Service
For service and parts needs,
visit your dealer/retailer. You will
receive genuine Saturn parts
and Saturn-trained and supported
service people.
Genuine Saturn parts have one of
these marks.
9-2 Vehicle Service and Care
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