2009 SATURN ASTRA child seat

Securing Child Restraints
(Rear Seat)
When securing a child restraint in a
rear seating position, study the
instructions that came with your
child restraint to make sure it
is compatible with this vehicle.
If the child restraint has the LATCH
system, seeLower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH)
on page 1-46for how and where to
install your child restraint using
LATCH. If a child restraint is secured
in the vehicle using a safety belt
and it uses a top tether, seeLower
Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH) on page 1-46for top tether
anchor locations.
Do not secure a child restraint in a
position without a top tether
anchor if a national or local law
requires that the top tether be
anchored, or if the instructions that
come with the child restraint say
that the top strap must be anchored.In Canada, the law requires that
forward-facing child restraints have
a top tether, and that the tether
be attached.
If the child restraint does not have
the LATCH system, you will be using
the safety belt to secure the child
restraint in this position. Be sure to
follow the instructions that came
with the child restraint. Secure the
child in the child restraint when
and as the instructions say.
If more than one child restraint
needs to be installed in the
rear seat, be sure to readWhere to
Put the Restraint on page 1-44.
1. Put the child restraint on the seat.
2. Pick up the latch plate, and
run the lap and shoulder portions
of the vehicle’s safety belt
through or around the restraint.
The child restraint instructions
will show you how.3. Push the latch plate into the
buckle until it clicks.
Position the release button on
the buckle so that the safety belt
could be quickly unbuckled if
necessary.
Seats and Restraints 1-51
ProCarManuals.com

4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt
all the way out of the retractor to
set the lock.5. To tighten the belt, push down
on the child restraint, pull the
shoulder portion of the belt
to tighten the lap portion of the
belt, and feed the shoulder
belt back into the retractor. When
installing a forward-facing child
restraint, it may be helpful to use
your knee to push down on
the child restraint as you tighten
the belt.6. If your child restraint has a top
tether, follow the child restraint
manufacturer’s instructions
regarding the use of the top
tether. SeeLower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH)
on page 1-46for more
information.
7. Push and pull the child restraint
in different directions to be sure
it is secure.
To remove the child restraint,
unbuckle the vehicle safety belt and
let it return to the stowed position.
If the top tether is attached to a top
tether anchor, disconnect it.
1-52 Seats and Restraints
ProCarManuals.com

Securing Child Restraints
(Right Front Seat)
This vehicle has airbags. A rear
seat is a safer place to secure
a forward-facing child restraint.
SeeWhere to Put the Restraint on
page 1-44.
In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system which is
designed to turn off the right
front passenger frontal and
seat-mounted side impact airbag
under certain conditions. See
Passenger Sensing System on
page 1-30andPassenger Airbag
Status Indicator on page 4-15
for more information, including
important safety information.A label on the 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 airbag inates.
This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inating
airbag. A child in a forward-facing
child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front
passenger airbag inates and the
passenger seat is in a forward
position.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Even if the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right
front passenger 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.
Secure rear-facing child
restraints 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.
SeePassenger Sensing System
on page 1-30for additional
information.
Seats and Restraints 1-53
ProCarManuals.com

If the child restraint has the LATCH
system, seeLower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH)
on page 1-46for how and where to
install the child restraint using
LATCH. If a child restraint is secured
in the seating position using a
safety belt and it uses a top tether,
seeLower Anchors and Tethers
for Children (LATCH) on page 1-46
for top tether anchor locations.
Do not secure a child seat in
a position without a top tether
anchor if a national or local
law requires that the top tether be
anchored, or if the instructions
that come with the child restraint
say that the top strap must be
anchored.
In Canada, the law requires that
forward-facing child restraints have
a top tether, and that the tether
be attached.You will be using the lap-shoulder
belt to secure the child restraint
in this position. Follow the
instructions that came with the
child restraint.
1. Move the seat as far back as it
will go before securing the
forward-facing child restraint.
When the passenger sensing
system has turned off the
right front passenger frontal and
seat-mounted side impact
airbag, the off indicator on the
passenger airbag status indicator
should light and stay lit when
you start the vehicle. See
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 4-15.
2. Put the child restraint on
the seat.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run
the lap and shoulder portions of
the vehicle’s safety belt
through or around the restraint.
The child restraint instructions
will show you how.4. Push the latch plate into the
buckle until it clicks.
Position the release button on
the buckle so that the safety belt
could be quickly unbuckled if
necessary.
1-54 Seats and Restraints
ProCarManuals.com

5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt
all the way out of the retractor to
set the lock.6. To tighten the belt, push down
on the child restraint, pull the
shoulder portion of the belt
to tighten the lap portion of the
belt and feed the shoulder
belt back into the retractor.
When installing a forward-facing
child restraint, it may be
helpful to use your knee to push
down on the child restraint as
you tighten the belt.7. Push and pull the child restraint
in different directions to be sure
it is secure.
If the airbags are off, the off
indicator in the passenger airbag
status indicator will come on
and stay on when the vehicle is
started.
If a child restraint has been
installed and the on indicator is lit,
see “If the On Indicator is Lit for
a Child Restraint” underPassenger
Sensing System on page 1-30
for more information.
To remove the child restraint,
unbuckle the vehicle safety belt and
let it return to the stowed position.
Seats and Restraints 1-55
ProCarManuals.com

Windows
{CAUTION
Leaving children, helpless adults,
or pets in a vehicle with the
windows closed is dangerous.
They can be overcome by the
extreme heat and suffer
permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Never leave a
child, a helpless adult, or a pet
alone in a vehicle, especially with
the windows closed in warm or
hot weather.
Power Windows
{CAUTION
Leaving children in a vehicle with
the keys is dangerous for many
reasons, children or others could
be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power
windows or other controls or
even make the vehicle move.
The windows will function and
they could be seriously injured or
killed if caught in the path of a
closing window. Do not leave
keys in a vehicle with children.
When there are children in the
rear seat use the window lockout
button to prevent unintentional
operation of the windows.The window switches are located on
each of the doors.
To lower a window, press the switch
down. To raise a window, pull the
switch up.
Express-Down Window
This feature is on all windows.
It allows you to lower the window
all the way without holding the
switch down.
2-10 Keys, Doors and Windows
ProCarManuals.com

Certication Label
A vehicle specic Certication
label, found on the rear edge
of the driver’s door, tells you the
gross weight capacity of the
vehicle, called the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). The
GVWR includes the weight
of the vehicle, all occupants,
fuel, and cargo. Never exceed
the GVWR for your vehicle,
or the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) for either the front or
rear axle.And, if you do have a heavy
load, you should spread it out.
See “Steps for Determining
Correct Load Limit” earlier in this
section.
{CAUTION
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR), or
either the maximum front or
rear Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). If you do, parts on
the vehicle can break, and it
can change the way your
vehicle handles. These could
cause you to lose control and
crash. Also, overloading can
shorten the life of the vehicle.
If you put things inside your
vehicle — like suitcases,
tools, packages, or anything
else — they will go as fast as the
vehicle goes. If you have to stop
or turn quickly, or if there is a
crash, they will keep going.
{CAUTION
Things you put inside the
vehicle can strike and injure
people in a sudden stop or
turn, or in a crash.
Put things in the trunk of
your vehicle. In a trunk,
put them as far forward as
you can. Try to spread the
weight evenly.
Never stack heavier
things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle so that
some of them are above
the tops of the seats.
Do not leave an
unsecured child restraint in
the vehicle.
When you carry something
inside the vehicle, secure
it whenever you can.
Do not leave a seat folded
down unless you need to.
Label Example
Driving and Operating 8-33
ProCarManuals.com

Locks
Door ................................. 2-5
Power Door ....................... 2-6
Rear Door Security Locks.... 2-6
Loss of Control....................8-22
Low Fuel Warning Light........4-24
Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children......................1-46
Lumbar Seat Adjustment......... 1-3
M
Maintenance Replacement
Parts.............................11-14
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required
Services.......................11-6
At Each Fuel Fill..............11-9
At Least Once a
Month........................11-10
At Least Once a Year......11-10
Introduction......................11-1
Maintenance Footnotes......11-8
Maintenance Record........11-16
Maintenance Replacement
Parts.........................11-14Maintenance Schedule (cont.)
Maintenance
Requirements...............11-1
Owner Checks and
Services.......................11-9
Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants............11-12
Scheduled Maintenance.....11-3
Using..............................11-2
Your Vehicle and the
Environment.................11-2
Malfunction Indicator Lamp....4-18
Manual Seats........................ 1-2
Manual Transmission
Fluid...............................9-12
Operation.......................... 8-9
Message
DIC Warnings and
Messages....................4-36
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror.....2-11
Outside...........................2-11
Outside Power Mirrors.......2-12
MyGMLink.com....................12-4
N
Navigation System,
Privacy..........................12-17
New Vehicle Break-In............. 8-2
Notices and Cautions............... iii
O
Odometer...........................4-13
Odometers, Trip...................4-13
Off-Road Recovery...............8-21
Oil
Engine.............................. 9-7
Low Oil Level Light...........4-22
Pressure Light..................4-21
Oil, Engine Oil Life System..... 9-9
Older Children, Restraints......1-38
OnStar, Privacy..................12-17
OnStar
®System, see
OnStar®Manual...............4-38
Outlet Adjustment.................. 7-4
Outlets
Accessory Power..............4-10
Outside
Mirrors............................2-11
Power Mirrors..................2-12
i-6 INDEX
ProCarManuals.com