2009 SATURN ASTRA octane

Light On Steady:An emission
control system malfunction has been
detected on the vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required.
An emission system malfunction
might be corrected by doing the
following:
Make sure the fuel cap is fully
installed. SeeFilling the Tank
on page 8-36. The diagnostic
system can determine if the
fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. A loose or
missing fuel cap allows fuel
to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap
properly installed should turn
the light off.
If the vehicle has been driven
through a deep puddle of water,
the vehicle’s electrical system
might be wet. The condition
is usually corrected when
the electrical system dries out.
A few driving trips should turn
the light off.
Make sure to fuel the vehicle
with quality fuel. Poor fuel
quality causes the engine not to
run as efficiently as designed
and may cause: stalling after
start-up, stalling when the vehicle
is changed into gear, misring,
hesitation on acceleration,
or stumbling on acceleration.
These conditions might go away
once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions
occurs, change the fuel brand
used. It will require at least
one full tank of the proper fuel
to turn the light off.
SeeGasoline Octane on
page 8-34.
If none of the above have made
the light turn off, have your
dealer/retailer check the vehicle.The dealer/retailer has the proper
test equipment and diagnostic
tools to x any mechanical or
electrical problems that might have
developed.
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local
governments have or might begin
programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on your vehicle.
Failure to pass this inspection
could prevent getting a vehicle
registration.
Here are some things to know to
help the vehicle pass an inspection:
The vehicle will not pass this
inspection if the check engine
light is on with the engine
running, or if the key is in the
ON/RUN and the light is not on.
4-20 Instruments and Controls
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Driving and
Operating
Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In.........8-2
Ignition Positions................8-2
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP).....................8-3
Starting the Engine.............8-3
Engine Heater....................8-5
Automatic Transmission
Operation..........................8-6
Manual Transmission
Operation..........................8-9
Parking Brake...................8-10
Shifting Into Park..............8-11
Shifting Out of Park..........8-12
Parking the Vehicle...........8-13
Parking Over Things
That Burn........................8-13
Engine Exhaust.................8-14
Running the Vehicle
While Parked..................8-14
Driving Your Vehicle
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy.........................8-15
Defensive Driving..............8-16
Drunk Driving....................8-16
Control of a Vehicle..........8-17
Braking.............................8-17
Antilock Brake
System (ABS).................8-18
StabiliTrak®System..........8-19
Steering............................8-20
Off-Road Recovery............8-21
Passing.............................8-22
Loss of Control.................8-22
Driving at Night.................8-23
Driving in Rain and on
Wet Roads......................8-24
Before Leaving on a
Long Trip........................8-25
Highway Hypnosis.............8-25
Hill and Mountain
Roads.............................8-26
Winter Driving...................8-27
If Your Vehicle is Stuck
in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow
..........................8-29
Rocking Your Vehicle to
Get It Out.......................8-29
Loading the Vehicle..........8-30
Fuel
Fuel..................................8-34
Gasoline Octane...............8-34
Gasoline Specications.....8-34
California Fuel..................8-34
Additives...........................8-34
Fuels in Foreign
Countries........................8-35
Filling the Tank.................8-36
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container........................8-37
Driving and Operating 8-1
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Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel
is an important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle. To help
keep the engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, we
recommend the use of gasoline
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a
posted octane rating of 87 or higher.
If the octane rating is less than 87,
you might notice an audible knocking
noise when you drive, commonly
referred to as spark knock. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. If you are using gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher and you
hear heavy knocking, the engine
needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should
meet ASTM specication D 4814
in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 or 3.511 in Canada.
Some gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. SeeAdditives on
page 8-34for additional information.
California Fuel
If the vehicle is certied to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California emissions
standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specications, but emission control
system performance might be
affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp could turn on and the vehiclemight fail a smog-check test. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 4-18. If this occurs, return to
your authorized dealer/retailer for
diagnosis. If it is determined that the
condition is caused by the type of
fuel used, repairs might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines
in the United States are now
required to contain additives that
help prevent engine and fuel system
deposits from forming, allowing
the emission control system to work
properly. In most cases, you
should not have to add anything to
the fuel. However, some gasolines
contain only the minimum amount of
additive required to meet U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
regulations. To help keep fuel
injectors and intake valves clean, or
if the vehicle experiences problems
due to dirty injectors or valves,
look for gasoline that is advertised
as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
8-34 Driving and Operating
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For customers who do not use
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline
regularly, one bottle of GM Fuel
System Treatment PLUS, added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help clean deposits
from fuel injectors and intake valves.
GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS is
the only gasoline additive
recommended by General Motors.
Also, your dealer/retailer has
additives that will help correct and
prevent most deposit-related
problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates,
such as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines might be
available in your area. We
recommend that you use these
gasolines, if they comply with the
specications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
10% ethanol must not be used in
vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.Notice:This vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under
the vehicle warranty.
Some gasolines that are
not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant
where you buy gasoline whether the
fuel contains MMT. We recommend
against the use of such gasolines.
Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the
performance of the emission control
system could be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp might
turn on. If this occurs, return to your
dealer/retailer for service.Fuels in Foreign
Countries
If you plan on driving in another
country outside the United States or
Canada, the proper fuel might be
hard to nd. Never use leaded
gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text
on fuel. Costly repairs caused
by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by the vehicle warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask
an auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in
the country where you will be
driving.
Driving and Operating 8-35
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Your Vehicle and the
Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only
helps to keep the vehicle in good
working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended
maintenance is important. Improper
vehicle maintenance can even
affect the quality of the air we
breathe. Improper uid levels or the
wrong tire ination can increase
the level of emissions from the
vehicle. To help protect the
environment, and to keep the
vehicle in good condition, be sure
to maintain the vehicle properly.
Using the Maintenance
Schedule
We want to help keep this vehicle in
good working condition. But we
do not know exactly how you
will drive it. You might drive very
short distances only a few times a
week. Or you might drive long
distances all the time in very hot,
dusty weather. You might use
the vehicle in making deliveries.
Or you might drive it to work, to do
errands, or in many other ways.
Because of all the different
ways people use their vehicles,
maintenance needs vary. You might
need more frequent checks and
replacements. So please read the
following and note how you drive.
If you have any questions on
how to keep the vehicle in good
condition, see your dealer/retailer.This schedule is for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo
within recommended limits on the
Tire and Loading Information
label. SeeLoading the Vehicle
on page 8-30.
are driven on reasonable road
surfaces within legal driving
limits.
use the recommended fuel.
SeeGasoline Octane on
page 8-34.
The services inScheduled
Maintenance on page 11-3should
be performed when indicated.
SeeAdditional Required Services
on page 11-6andMaintenance
Footnotes on page 11-8for further
information.
11-2 Service and Maintenance
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F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner............9-11
Final Drive
End Play Measurement....... 5-4
Finish Damage....................9-79
Fixed Mast Antenna.............6-24
Flashers, Hazard Warning....... 4-4
Flash-to-Pass........................ 4-8
Flat Tire..............................9-60
Flat Tire, Changing...............9-61
Flat Tire, Storing..................9-66
Fluid
Automatic Transmission.....9-12
Power Steering.................9-20
Windshield Washer...........9-20
Fog Lamp
Fog .................................. 5-2
Fog Lamp Light...................4-22
Fuel...................................8-34
Additives.........................8-34
California Fuel..................8-34
Driving for Better
Economy......................8-15
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container.....................8-37Fuel (cont.)
Filling the Tank.................8-36
Fuels in Foreign
Countries.....................8-35
Gage ..............................4-24
Gasoline Octane...............8-34
Gasoline Specications......8-34
Low Warning Light............4-24
Fuses.................................9-35
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block...................9-35
Rear Compartment
Fuse Block...................9-37
G
Gage
Fuel................................4-24
Speedometer...................4-13
Tachometer......................4-13
Gasoline
Octane............................8-34
Specications...................8-34
Glove Box............................ 3-1
GM Mobility Reimbursement
Program..........................12-6
H
Hazard Warning Flashers........ 4-4
Head Restraints..................... 1-5
Headlamp
Aiming ............................9-26
Headlamp Wiring.................9-34
Headlamps
Bulb Replacement.............9-28
Daytime Running Lamp....... 5-2
Delayed............................ 5-2
Exterior Lamps................... 5-1
Flash-to-Pass..................... 4-8
Front Turn Signal
Lamps .........................9-28
Halogen Bulbs..................9-28
High/Low Beam Changer..... 4-8
Heater................................. 7-1
Engine.............................. 8-5
Height Adjuster, Seat.............. 1-2
Highbeam On Light..............4-23
High-Speed Operation,
Tires...............................9-48
Highway Hypnosis................8-25
Hill and Mountain Roads.......8-26
Hood
Release............................ 9-5
i-4 INDEX
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