2008 SATURN VUE sensor

Frontal airbags are not intended to inate during vehicle
rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts.
In addition, your vehicle has dual-stage frontal airbags.
Dual-stage airbags adjust the restraint according to
crash severity. Your vehicle has electronic frontal
sensors, which help the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate frontal impact and a more severe
frontal impact. For moderate frontal impacts, dual-stage
airbags inate at a level less than full deployment.
For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs.
Your vehicle has seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail
airbags. SeeAirbag System on page 1-55. Seat-mounted
side impact and roof-rail airbags are intended to inate
in moderate to severe side crashes. In addition, these
roof-rail airbags are intended to inate during a rollover or
in a severe frontal impact. Seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags will inate if the crash severity is above
the system’s designed threshold level. The threshold
level can vary with specic vehicle design.Seat-mounted side impact airbags are not intended to
inate in frontal impacts, near-frontal impacts, rollovers,
or rear impacts. Roof-rail airbags are not intended to
inate in rear impacts. A seat-mounted side impact
airbag is intended to deploy on the side of the vehicle
that is struck. Both roof-rail airbags will deploy when
either side of the vehicle is struck, or if the sensing
system predicts that the vehicle is about to roll over,
or in a severe frontal impact.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an airbag
should have inated simply because of the damage to
a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
For frontal airbags, ination is determined by what the
vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, and how quickly
the vehicle slows down. For seat-mounted side impact
and roof-rail airbags, deployment is determined by the
location and severity of the side impact. In a rollover
event, roof-rail airbag deployment is determined by
the direction of the roll.
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The passenger sensing system works with sensors that
are part of the right front passenger seat and safety
belt. The sensors are designed to detect the presence
of a properly-seated occupant and determine if the
right front passenger frontal airbag should be enabled
(may inate) or not.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
We recommend that children be secured in a rear seat,
including: an infant or a child riding in a rear-facing
child restraint; a child riding in a forward-facing child
seat; an older child riding in a booster seat; and
children, who are large enough, using safety belts.
A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing
child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the
rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag inates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inating airbag.
Even if the passenger sensing system has
turned off the right front passenger’s frontal
airbag, no system is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under
some unusual circumstance, even though
it is turned off. Rear-facing child restraints
should be secured in a rear seat, even if the
airbag is off.
If you secure a forward-facing child restraint
in the right front seat, always move the front
passenger seat as far back as it will go.
It is better to secure the child restraint in
a rear seat.
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Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Airbags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the airbag system in several places
around your vehicle. Your dealer/retailer and the service
manual have information about servicing your vehicle and
the airbag system. To purchase a service manual, see
Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-15.
{CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition is turned
off and the battery is disconnected, an airbag
can still inate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an airbag when
it inates. Avoid yellow connectors. They are
probably part of the airbag system. Be sure to
follow proper service procedures, and make
sure the person performing work for you is
qualied to do so.
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to or change
about the vehicle that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, height, front end or side
sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or moving any parts
of the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing
and diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument
panel, roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner
or pillar garnish trim, front sensors, side impact
sensors, rollover sensor module, or airbag wiring
can affect the operation of the airbag system.
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In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing
system for the right front passenger’s position, which
includes sensors that are part of the passenger’s
seat. The passenger sensing system may not
operate properly if the original seat trim is replaced
with non-GM covers, upholstery or trim, or with GM
covers, upholstery or trim designed for a different
vehicle. Any object, such as an aftermarket seat
heater or a comfort enhancing pad or device,
installed under or on top of the seat fabric, could
also interfere with the operation of the passenger
sensing system. This could either prevent proper
deployment of the passenger airbag(s) or prevent
the passenger sensing system from properly
turning off the passenger airbag(s). SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 1-65.
If you have any questions about this, you should
contact Customer Assistance before you modify
your vehicle. The phone numbers and addresses
for Customer Assistance are in Step Two of
the Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual.
SeeCustomer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.If your vehicle has rollover roof-rail airbags, see
Different Size Tires and Wheels on page 5-70
for additional important information.
Q:Because I have a disability, I have to get my
vehicle modied. How can I nd out whether
this will affect my airbag system?
A:If you have questions, call Customer Assistance.
The phone numbers and addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See
Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.
In addition, your dealer/retailer and the service manual
have information about the location of the airbag sensors,
sensing and diagnostic module and airbag wiring.
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8(Mist):Pull the lever down and release it for a
single wiping cycle. The lever will return to its original
position. For more cycles, hold the lever down
before releasing it.
9(Off):Move the lever to this position to turn off
the wipers.
&(Intermittent):Move the lever to this position to
set a delay between wipes. To set for a shorter or longer
delay between wipes, move the switch on top of the
lever left or right to decrease or increase wiper
movement.
a(Low):Move the lever to this position for slow,
steady wiping cycles.
1(High):Move the lever to this position for rapid
wiping cycles.
Rainsense™ II Wipers
If your vehicle has Rainsense™ II windshield wipers, the
moisture sensor is located next to the inside rearview
mirror and is mounted on the windshield. When active,
these sensors are able to detect moisture on the
windshield and automatically turn on the wipers.To turn on the Rainsense™ feature, the wipers must be
set to one of the ve delay settings on the multifunction
lever. Each of the ve settings adjusts the sensitivity
of the rainsensor.
Since different drivers have different setting preferences,
it is recommended that the mid-range setting (position 3)
be used initially. For more wipes, select the higher
settings; for fewer wipes, select the lower settings located
closer to the off position on the multifunction lever.
The rainsensor will automatically control the frequency
of the wipes from the off setting to the high speed
setting according to the weather conditions. The wipers
can be left in a rainsense mode even when it is not
raining.
When Rainsense™ is active, the headlamps will turn
on automatically if the exterior lamp control is in
the AUTO position and the wipers are active.
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.
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Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving conditions,
but they can be especially helpful in the short periods
after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional daytime
running lamps are required on all vehicles rst sold
in Canada.
The DRL system makes the low-beam headlamps come
on in daylight when the following conditions are met:
The engine is running,
The exterior lamp band is in AUTO, and
The light sensor determines it is daytime.
When the DRL are on, the low-beam headlamps will be
on. The taillamps, sidemarker, and other lamps will
not be on. The instrument panel will not be lit up either.
When the exterior lamp band is turned to the headlamp
position, the regular headlamps will come on. The other
lamps that come on with the headlamps will also
come on.
When the headlamps are turned off, the regular lamps
also turn off, and the low-beam headlamps turn on.
The regular headlamp system should be used when
needed.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, the headlamps come
on automatically.
There is a light sensor located on top of the instrument
panel. Make sure it is not covered, or the headlamps
will come on when they are not needed.
The system may also turn on the headlamps when
driving through a parking garage or tunnel.
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Automatic Climate Control System
The heating, cooling, and ventilation for your vehicle can
be controlled with this system. If your vehicle has the
remote start feature, the climate control system functions
as part of the remote start feature. SeeRemote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation on page 2-5.
Automatic Operation
When automatic operation is active it allows the climate
control system to automatically control the inside air
temperature and the direction of the airow.
AUTO (Automatic Fan):Turn the fan knob to AUTO
for the system to automatically adjust the fan speed
to reach the desired inside temperature.
Temperature Control:Select the desired cabin air
temperature between 60-90°F (16-32°C). Choosing
the coldest or warmest temperature setting does
not cause the system to heat or cool any faster.
Be careful not to cover the sensor located on the top
of the instrument panel near the windshield. Also, do
not cover the sensor grille below the climate control
faceplate. These two sensors help regulate the inside
air temperature.
United States version shown,
Canada version similar.
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Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light
Several seconds after the engine is started, a chime will
sound for several seconds to remind the front passenger
to buckle their safety belt. This would only occur if the
passenger airbag is enabled. SeePassenger Sensing
System on page 1-65for more information. The
passenger safety belt light will also come on and stay on
for several seconds, then it will ash for several more.
This chime and light are
repeated if the passenger
remains unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger’s safety belt is buckled, neither the
chime nor the light will come on.
Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument
panel cluster, which shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag’s electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. The system check includes the airbag sensor,
the airbag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing and
diagnostic module. For more information on the airbag
system, seeAirbag System on page 1-55.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ash for
a few seconds. The light
should go out and the
system is ready.
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