2009 SATURN VUE HYBRID Owners Manual

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 5-5for 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 3-30. 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.
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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.
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Filling the Tank
{CAUTION
Fuel vapor burns violently and a
fuel re can cause bad injuries.
To help avoid injuries to you and
others, read and follow all the
instructions on the pump island.
Turn off the engine when you are
refueling. Do not smoke if you are
near fuel or refueling the vehicle.
Do not use cellular phones. Keep
sparks, ames, and smoking
materials away from fuel. Do not
leave the fuel pump unattended
when refueling the vehicle. This is
against the law in some places.
Do not re-enter the vehicle while
pumping fuel. Keep children away
from the fuel pump; never let
children pump fuel.Unlock the gas cap door by pressing
the door lock switch located on
the driver door trim.
The tethered fuel cap is located
behind a hinged fuel door on
the driver side of the vehicle.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it
slowly counterclockwise. The fuel
cap has a spring in it; if the cap
is released too soon, it will spring
back to the right. To avoid fuel
contact on the painted surface of
the vehicle when lling the fuel tank,
place the tethered cap on the fuel
ller door.
{CAUTION
Fuel can spray out on you if you
open the fuel cap too quickly. If
you spill fuel and then something
ignites it, you could be badly
burned. This spray can happen if
the tank is nearly full, and is more
likely in hot weather. Open the
fuel cap slowly and wait for any
hiss noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not
top off or overll the tank and wait a
few seconds after you have
nished pumping before removing
the nozzle. Clean fuel from
painted surfaces as soon as
possible. SeeWashing Your Vehicle
on page 5-69.
When replacing the fuel cap, turn
it clockwise until it clicks. Make
sure the cap is fully installed.
The diagnostic system can
determine if the fuel cap has been
left off or improperly installed.
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This would allow fuel to evaporate
into the atmosphere. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 3-30.
{CAUTION
If a re starts while you are
refueling, do not remove the
nozzle. Shut off the ow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by
notifying the station attendant.
Leave the area immediately.
Notice:If you need a new fuel
cap, be sure to get the right type.
Your dealer/ retailer can get one
for you. If you get the wrong type,
it might not t properly. This can
cause the malfunction indicator
lamp to light and can damage the
fuel tank and emissions system.
SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 3-30.
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container
{CAUTION
Never ll a portable fuel container
while it is in the vehicle. Static
electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the fuel vapor.
You can be badly burned and the
vehicle damaged if this occurs. To
help avoid injury to you and others:
Dispense fuel only into
approved containers.
Do not ll a container while
it is inside a vehicle, in a
vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed,
or on any surface other than
the ground.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Bring the ll nozzle in contact
with the inside of the ll
opening before operating the
nozzle. Contact should be
maintained until the lling is
complete.
Do not smoke while
pumping fuel.
Do not use a cellular phone
while pumping fuel.
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Checking Things
Under the Hood
{CAUTION
An electric fan under the hood can
start up and injure you even when
the engine is not running. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION
Things that burn can get on hot
engine parts and start a re.
These include liquids like fuel, oil,
coolant, brake uid, windshield
washer and other uids, and
plastic or rubber. You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to
drop or spill things that will burn
onto a hot engine.
Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:
1. Pull the handle with this symbol
on it. It is located under the
instrument panel on the driver
side of the vehicle.
2. Then go to the front of the
vehicle and lift up on the
secondary hood release lever.
3. Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure
all the ller caps are on properly.
Then pull the hood down and close
it rmly.
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Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood, you will see the following:
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A. SeeEngine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 5-15.
B. Remote Negative (−) Terminal.
SeeJump Starting on page 5-28.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. SeeEngine
Oil on page 5-11.
D. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. See
Cooling System on page 5-17.
E. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
Protection Cap. SeeCoolant
Surge Tank Pressure Cap
on page 5-22.
F. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block on
page 5-77.
G. Remote Positive (+) Terminal.
SeeJump Starting on page 5-28.H. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-24.
I. Engine Oil Dipstick (out of view).
SeeEngine Oil on page 5-11.
Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the
engine oil level at each fuel ll. In
order to get an accurate reading, the
oil must be warm and the vehicle
must be on level ground.The engine oil dipstick handle is a
yellow loop. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-10for the location of the
engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the
oil several minutes to drain back
into the oil pan. If this is not
done, the oil dipstick might not
show the actual level.
2. Pull the dipstick and clean it with
a paper towel or cloth, then push
it back in all the way. Remove
it again, keeping the tip down and
check the level.
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When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the MIN (minimum)
mark, add at least one quart/liter
of the recommended oil. This
section explains what kind of oil to
use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, seeCapacities and
Specifications on page 5-81.Notice:Do not add too much oil.
If the engine has so much oil
that the oil level gets above the
upper mark that shows the proper
operating range, the engine
could be damaged.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 5-10for the location of
the engine oil ll cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the
way back in when through.
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
Look for three things:
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