2009 SATURN ASTRA four wheel drive

Starting and
Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:The vehicle does
not need an elaborate break-in.
But it will perform better in
the long run if you follow these
guidelines:
Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not make full-throttle
starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops for
the rst 200 miles (322 km)
or so. During this time the new
brake linings are not yet
broken in. Hard stops with new
linings can mean premature
wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in
guideline every time you get
new brake linings.Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions
Use the key to turn the ignition
switch to four different positions.
Notice:Using a tool to force the
key to turn in the ignition could
cause damage to the switch or
break the key. Use the correct key,
make sure it is all the way in, and
turn it only with your hand. If the
key cannot be turned by hand, see
your dealer/retailer.To shift out of P (Park), the ignition
must be in the ON/RUN position
and the regular brake pedal must be
applied.
A (LOCK/OFF):This is the only
position from which you can remove
the key. This locks the steering
wheel, ignition and automatic
transmission.
On vehicles with an automatic
transmission, the shift lever must be
in P (Park) to turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK/OFF position.
The ignition switch can bind in the
LOCK/OFF position with your wheels
turned off center. If this happens,
move the steering wheel from right
to left while turning the key to
STEERING UNLOCK/IGNITION
OFF. If this doesn’t work, then the
vehicle needs service.
B (STEERING UNLOCKED/
IGNITION OFF):This position
unlocks the steering wheel.
8-2 Driving and Operating
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Low-Prole Tires
If the vehicle has 225/40ZR18 or
215/45R18 size tires, they
are classied as low-prole
performance tires. These tires
are designed for very responsive
driving on wet or dry pavement.
You may also notice more
road noise with low-prole
performance tires and that they
tend to wear faster.
Notice:If the vehicle has
low-prole tires, they are more
susceptible to damage from
road hazards or curb impact
than standard prole tires.
Tire and/or wheel assembly
damage can occur when
coming into contact with road
hazards like, potholes, or
sharp edged objects, or when
sliding into a curb. The vehicle
warranty does not cover this
type of damage. Keep tires
set to the correct inationpressure and, when possible
avoid contact with curbs,
potholes, and other road
hazards.
Winter Tires
If the vehicle has 225/40ZR18 or
215/45R18 size tires, they are
classied as low-prole performance
tires. These tires are designed for
very responsive driving on wet or dry
pavement. If you expect to drive
on snow or ice covered roads often,
you may want to get winter tires
for your vehicle. All season tires
provide good overall performance on
most surfaces but they may not
offer the traction you would like or
the same level of performance
as winter tires on snow or ice
covered roads.
Winter tires, in general, are
designed for increased traction
on snow and ice covered roads.With winter tires, there may be
decreased dry road traction,
increased road noise, and shorter
tire tread life. After switching to
winter tires, be alert for changes in
vehicle handling and braking.
See your dealer/retailer for details
regarding winter tire availability
and proper tire selection. Also, see
Buying New Tires on page 9-54.
If you choose to use winter tires:
Use tires of the same brand and
tread type on all four wheel
positions.
Use only radial ply tires of the
same size, load range, and
speed rating as your original
equipment tires.
Winter tires with the same speed
rating as the original equipment tires
may not be available for H, V, W,
Y and ZR speed rated tires.
If you choose winter tires with a
lower speed rating, never exceed
the tire’s maximum speed capability.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-41
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GM’s exclusive TPC Spec system
considers over a dozen critical
specications that impact the overall
performance of your vehicle,
including brake system performance,
ride and handling, traction control,
and tire pressure monitoring
performance. GM’s TPC Spec
number is molded onto the tire’s
sidewall near the tire size. If the tires
have an all-season tread design,
the TPC Spec number will be
followed by an MS for mud and
snow. SeeTire Sidewall Labeling on
page 9-42for additional information.
GM recommends replacing tires
in sets of four. This is because
uniform tread depth on all tires will
help keep your vehicle performing
most like it did when the tires
were new. Replacing less than a
full set of tires can affect the braking
and handling performance of your
vehicle. SeeTire Inspection
and Rotation on page 9-52for
information on proper tire rotation.{CAUTION
Mixing tires could cause you
to lose control while driving.
If you mix tires of different
sizes, brands, or types
(radial and bias-belted tires),
the vehicle may not handle
properly, and you could have
a crash. Using tires of different
sizes, brands, or types may
also cause damage to the
vehicle. Be sure to use the
correct size, brand, and type
of tires on all wheels. It is all
right to drive with the compact
spare temporarily, as it was
developed for use on the
vehicle. SeeCompact Spare
Tire on page 9-68.{CAUTION
If you use bias-ply tires on
the vehicle, the wheel rim
anges could develop cracks
after many miles of driving.
A tire and/or wheel could fail
suddenly, causing a crash.
Use only radial-ply tires with
the wheels on the vehicle.
If you must replace your vehicle’s
tires with those that do not have
a TPC Spec number, make
sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating, and
construction type (radial and
bias-belted tires) as your vehicle’s
original tires.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-55
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