2008 SATURN SKY Owners Manual

9(LOCK/OFF):This position locks your steering
column. It is a theft-deterrent feature. You will only be
able to remove your key when the ignition is turned
to LOCK/OFF.
If you have an automatic transmission, the ignition
switch cannot be turned to LOCK/OFF unless the shift
lever is in PARK (P).
If you have a manual transmission, the ignition switch
can be turned to LOCK/OFF in any shift lever position.
{CAUTION:
If you have a manual transmission removing
the key from the ignition switch will lock the
steering column and result in a loss of ability
to steer the vehicle. This could cause a
collision. If you need to turn the engine off
while the vehicle is moving, turn the key to
ACC/ACCESSORY.
ACC (ACC/ACCESSORY):This position operates
some of your electrical accessories. It unlocks the
steering wheel and ignition.
R(ON/RUN):This is the position the switch returns to
after you start your engine and release the switch.
The switch stays in ON/RUN when the engine is
running. But even when the engine is not running, you
can use ON/RUN to operate your electrical accessories
and to display some warning and indicator lights.
The battery could be drained if you leave the key in the
ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN position with the
engine off. You may not be able to start your vehicle if
the battery is allowed to drain for an extended period
of time.
/(START):This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch
will return to ON/RUN for normal driving.
A warning tone will sound if you open the driver’s door
while in LOCK/OFF or ACC/ACCESSORY, when
the key has not been removed from the ignition.
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Key In the Ignition
Never leave your vehicle with the keys inside, as it is an
easy target for joy riders or thieves. If you leave the
key in the ignition and park your vehicle, a chime
will sound, when you open the driver’s door. Always
remember to remove your key from the ignition and take
it with you. This will lock your ignition and transmission.
Also, always remember to lock the doors.
The battery could be drained if you leave the key in the
ignition while your vehicle is parked. You may not be
able to start your vehicle after it has been parked for an
extended period of time.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories can be used for up to
10 minutes after the engine is turned off:
Audio System
Power Windows
The radio will work when the key is in ON/RUN or
ACC/ACCESSORY. Once the key is turned off, power
to the radio and windows will continue to work for
up to 10 minutes or until any door is opened.
Starting the Engine
Place the transmission in the proper gear.
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
The engine will not start in any other position — this is
a safety feature. To restart when you are already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Notice:Do not try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The shift lever should be in neutral position and the
parking brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal down to
the oor and start the engine. Your vehicle will not
start if the clutch pedal is not all the way down. That is
a safety feature.
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Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it. Operate the engine and
transmission gently to allow the oil to warm up
and lubricate all moving parts.
Your vehicle has a Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in starting the
engine and protects components. If the ignition key
is turned to the START position, and then
released when the engine begins cranking, the
engine will continue cranking for a few seconds or
until the vehicle starts. If the engine does not
start and the key is held in START for many
seconds, cranking will be stopped after 15 seconds
to prevent cranking motor damage. To prevent
gear damage, this system also prevents cranking if
the engine is already running. Engine cranking
can be stopped by turning the ignition switch
to ACC/ACCESSORY or LOCK/OFF.
Notice:Cranking the engine for long periods of
time, by returning the key to the START position
immediately after cranking has ended, can overheat
and damage the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds between each try,
to let the cranking motor cool down.2. If the engine does not start after 5-10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather (below 0°F or−18°C),
it could be ooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing the accelerator pedal all the way to the
oor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for up to a maximum of 15 seconds. Wait at
least 15 seconds between each try, to allow the
cranking motor to cool down. When the engine starts,
let go of the key and accelerator. If the vehicle starts
briey but then stops again, do the same thing.
This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.
Do not race the engine immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and transmission gently until the
oil warms up and lubricates all moving parts.
Notice:The engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way the
engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer/retailer. If you do not, your
engine might not perform properly. Any resulting
damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s
warranty.
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Automatic Transmission Operation
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, the
shift lever is located on the center console between the
front seats.
There are several different
positions for the shift lever.
PARK (P):This position locks the rear wheels. It is the
best position to use when you start the engine because
your vehicle cannot move easily.{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will
not move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, use the steps that follow.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system. You must fully
apply your regular brakes rst and then press the
shift lever button before you can shift from PARK (P)
when the ignition key is in ON/RUN. If you cannot shift
out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever
and push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) as
you maintain brake application. Then press the
shift lever button and move the shift lever into another
gear. SeeShifting Out of PARK (P) on page 2-26.
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Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
At low vehicle speeds, you can also use REVERSE (R)
to rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of
snow, ice, or sand without damaging your transmission.
SeeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or
Snow on page 4-22for additional information.
NEUTRAL (N):In this position, the engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart when you are
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. You can also
use NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is rmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine running at high speed may damage
the transmission. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting your vehicle.
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DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving. It
provides better fuel economy for your vehicle. If you
need more power for passing, and you are:
Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
The transmission will shift down to a lower gear
and have more power.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions
could result in skidding, see “Skidding” underLoss of
Control on page 4-13.
Notice:If your vehicle seems to start up rather
slowly or not shift gears when you go faster, and
you continue to drive your vehicle that way, you
could damage the transmission. Have your vehicle
serviced right away. You can drive in LOW (L)
when you are driving less than 35 mph (55 km/h)
and DRIVE (D) for higher speeds until then.
FOURTH (4):This position is also used for normal
driving. However, it reduces vehicle speed more than
DRIVE (D) without using your brakes. You might choose
FOURTH (4) instead of DRIVE (D) when driving on
hilly, winding roads and when going down a steep hill.INTERMEDIATE (I):This position is also used for
normal driving. However, it reduces the vehicle’s speed
without using your brakes, for slight downgrades
where the vehicle would otherwise accelerate due to
steepness of grade. If constant upshifting or
downshifting occurs while driving on steep hills, this
position can be used to prevent repetitive types of shifts.
You might choose INTERMEDIATE (I) instead of
DRIVE (D) when driving on hilly and winding roads.
LOW (L):This position reduces vehicle speed more
than INTERMEDIATE (I) without using your brakes.
You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or
mud. If the shift lever is put in LOW (L), the transmission
will not shift into low gear until the vehicle is going
slowly enough.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transmission. If you are
stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
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Manual Transmission Operation
This is the shift pattern for
a manual transmission.
Here is how to operate your manual transmission:
FIRST (1):Press the clutch pedal and shift into
FIRST (1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into FIRST (1) when you are going less
than 20 mph (32 km/h). If you have come to a complete
stop and it is hard to shift into FIRST (1), put the shift
lever in NEUTRAL and let up on the clutch pedal. Press
the clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST (1).
SECOND (2):Press the clutch pedal as you let up
on the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND (2).
Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5):Shift into
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same way
you do for SECOND (2).
To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press the
clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to NEUTRAL.
NEUTRAL:Use this position when you start or idle
your engine.
REVERSE (R):To back up, press the clutch pedal.
After the vehicle stops, shift into REVERSE (R). Slowly
let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator
pedal. If it is hard to shift, let the shift lever return
to NEUTRAL and release the clutch pedal. Then press
the clutch pedal again and shift into REVERSE (R).
Do not attempt to shift into the fth gear position prior to
shifting into REVERSE (R). Your transmission has a
lock out feature which prevents a fth gear to reverse
gear shift.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
Also, use FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R), along with the
parking brake, for parking your vehicle.
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Parking Brake
The parking brake lever is located between the
front seats.
To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down
and pull up on the parking brake lever. If the ignition
is on, the brake system warning light will come on.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-27.To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal
down. Pull the parking brake lever up until you can press
the release button. Hold the release button in as you
move the brake lever all the way down.
If you forget to release your parking brake, a chime will
sound and a warning message will be displayed in
the Driver Information Center (DIC) when the vehicle is
moving faster than 5 mph (8 kph). SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-41.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
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