2008 SATURN ASTRA wiper blades

Windshield Wipers
Clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them. If the
wiper blades are frozen to the
windshield, gently loosen or thaw
them. If the blades do become
damaged, install new blades or
blade inserts. SeeWindshield Wiper
Blade Replacement on page 9-21.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the
wiper motor. A circuit breaker will
stop the motor until it cools down.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent
an overload.The lever on the right side of the
steering column operates the
windshield wipers. Push up or pull
down on the lever to place it in
one of the following positions.
[(High):For rapid wiping cycles.
— (Low):For slow, steady wiping
cycles.
-- (Intermittent/RainSense™):
See RainSense™ wipers below.
9(Off):Turns off the wipers.For a single wipe pull the lever
down from the off position. The lever
will return to its original position.
For more cycles, hold the lever
down before releasing it.
RainSense™ Wipers
There is a moisture sensor mounted
on the windshield next to the inside
rearview mirror. When active, the
sensor is able to detect moisture on
the windshield and automatically
control the frequency of the wipes
according to the weather conditions.
To turn on the RainSense feature,
the wipers must be set to the
intermittent delay setting on
the windshield wiper lever.
To turn off RainSense, move the
lever downwards.
Notice:Going through an
automatic car wash with the
wipers on can damage them.
Turn the wipers off when going
through an automatic car wash.
Instruments and Controls 4-9
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Windshield Washer
{CAUTION
In freezing weather, do not use
your washer until the windshield
is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on
the windshield, blocking your
vision.
Pull the windshield wiper lever
toward you to spray washer uid
on the windshield. The wipers will
run for a few cycles to clear the
windshield. For more wash cycles,
pull the lever forward and hold.
Rear Window Wiper/
Washer
For vehicles with the rear wiper/
washer feature, it is turned on by
moving the windshield wiper lever.To turn the rear wiper on or off,
push the windshield wiper lever.
To turn on the rear washer, hold the
windshield wiper lever toward the
front of the vehicle to spray the rear
window.
The rear wiper turns on
automatically when the windshield
wiper is turned on and the shift lever
is in REVERSE (R).
The rear window washer uses the
same uid bottle as the windshield
washer. However, the rear window
washer will run out of uid before the
windshield washer. If washer uid
sprays onto the windshield but not
the rear window, check the uid
level. SeeWindshield Washer
Fluid on page 9-20.
For information on replacing the
rear wiper blades, seeWindshield
Wiper Blade Replacement on
page 9-21.
Accessory Power
Outlet(s)
The 12-volt accessory power outlets
can be used to connect electrical
equipment, such as a cellular phone.
There may be a accessory power
outlet located inside the console
below the climate controls.
Notice:Leaving electrical
equipment on for extended
periods will drain the battery.
Always turn off electrical
equipment when not in use and
do not plug in equipment that
exceeds the maximum 20 ampere
rating.
Certain electrical accessories may
not be compatible with the accessory
power outlet and could result in
blown vehicle or adapter fuses.
If there is a problem, see your
dealer/retailer for additional
information on the accessory
power outlet.
4-10 Instruments and Controls
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Before Leaving on a
Long Trip
To prepare your vehicle for a long
trip, consider having it serviced by
your dealer/retailer before departing.
Things to check on your own
include:
Windshield Washer Fluid:
Reservoir full? Windows
clean — inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:In good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:All
levels checked?
Lamps:Do they all work and are
lenses clean?
Tires:Are treads good? Are tires
inated to recommended
pressure?
Weather and Maps:Safe to
travel? Have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Always be alert and pay attention
to your surroundings while driving.
If you become tired or sleepy, nd
a safe place to park your vehicle
and rest.
Other driving tips include:
Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
Keep interior temperature cool.
Keep your eyes moving — scan
the road ahead and to the sides.
Check the rearview mirror and
vehicle instruments often.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on at or rolling terrain. Tips for
driving in these conditions include:
Keep the vehicle serviced
and in good shape.
Check all uid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
Going down steep or long hills,
shift to a lower gear.
{CAUTION
If you do not shift down, the
brakes could get so hot that
they would not work well. You
would then have poor braking
or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Shift down to
let the engine assist the brakes
on a steep downhill slope.
8-26 Driving and Operating
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Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Front Windshield Wiper
Windshield wiper blades should be
inspected for wear or cracking.
See “Maintenance Replacement
Parts” in the Limited Warranty,
Maintenance and owner Assistance
Information manual for the proper
type and length.
Raise the wiper arm, tilt the wiper
blade at a 90° angle to the
wiper arm, and remove to the side.
1. Turn the ignition off.
2. With the key in the ignition and
key in the LOCK position, press
the wiper lever down. Release
the wiper lever when the wipers
are in the vertical position.3. Raise the wiper arm away from
the windshield.
4. Turn the wiper blade at a 90°
angle to the wiper arm and
remove the blade to the side.
5. Install the new wiper blade.
6. Lower the wiper arm on to the
windshield.
Rear Windshield Wiper
1. Lift the wiper arm straight up.
2. Push the wiper blade straight out
of the wiper arm to remove.
3. Install the new wiper blade.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-21
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Notice:Using chrome polish on
aluminum wheels could damage
the wheels. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty.
Use chrome polish on chrome
wheels only.
Use chrome polish only on
chrome-plated wheels, but avoid
any painted surface of the wheel,
and buff off immediately after
application.
Notice:If you drive your vehicle
through an automatic car wash
that has silicone carbide tire
cleaning brushes, you could
damage the aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels. The repairs
would not be covered by your
warranty. Never drive a vehicle
equipped with aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels through an
automatic car wash that uses
silicone carbide tire cleaning
brushes.Windshield and Wiper Blades
Clean the outside of the windshield
with glass cleaner.
Clean the rubber blades using a lint
free cloth or paper towel soaked
with windshield washer uid or
a mild detergent. Wash the
windshield thoroughly when cleaning
the blades. Bugs, road grime,
sap, and a buildup of vehicle
wash/wax treatments may cause
wiper streaking. Replace the
wiper blades if they are worn or
damaged.
Wipers can be damaged by:
Extreme dusty conditions
Sand and salt
Heat and sun
Snow and ice, without proper
removal
Tires
To clean the tires, use a stiff brush
with tire cleaner.
Notice:Using petroleum-based
tire dressing products on your
vehicle may damage the paint
nish and/or tires. When applying
a tire dressing, always wipe off
any overspray from all painted
surfaces on your vehicle.
Sheet Metal Damage
If the vehicle is damaged and
requires sheet metal repair or
replacement, make sure the body
repair shop applies anti-corrosion
material to parts repaired or replaced
to restore corrosion protection.
Original manufacturer replacement
parts will provide the corrosion
protection while maintaining
the vehicle warranty.
9-78 Vehicle Service and Care
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