2009 SATURN VUE HYBRID light

It is recommended to leave the
system on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn the system off if the
vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, ice or
snow, and you want to “rock” the
vehicle to attempt to free it.
StabiliTrak may also turn off
automatically if it determines that a
problem exists with the system. The
TCS/StabiliTrak warning light will be
on solid to warn the driver that
StabiliTrak is disabled and requires
service. If the problem does not clear
itself after restarting the vehicle, see
your dealer/retailer for service.
If cruise control is being used when
StabiliTrak activates, the cruise
control automatically disengages.
The cruise control can be
re-engaged when road conditions
allow. SeeCruise Control on
page 3-9.Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
The vehicle has a Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) feature as part of the
StabiliTrak system. If the vehicle is
towing a trailer and the system
detects that the trailer is swaying, the
vehicle’s brakes are applied without
the driver pressing the brake pedal.
The TCS/StabiliTrak warning light
will ash on the instrument panel
cluster to notify the driver to reduce
speed. If the trailer continues to
sway, StabiliTrak will reduce engine
torque to help slow the vehicle.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories can affect the vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 5-3for
more information.
Traction Control System
(TCS)
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) that limits wheel spin.
This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system
operates only if it senses that one or
both of the front wheels are spinning
or beginning to lose traction. When
this happens, TCS applies the
brakes to limit wheel spin and also
reduces engine power. The system
may be heard or felt while it is
working, but this is normal.
This light will ash when TCS is
limiting wheel spin.
It is recommended to leave the
system on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn the system off if the vehicle is
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow, and
you want to “rock” the vehicle to
4-8 Driving Your Vehicle
ProCarManuals.com

attempt to free it. SeeRocking Your
Vehicle to Get It Out on page 4-17
andIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 4-17for
more information.
The TCS/StabiliTrak
®button is
located on the instrument panel.
Press and release this button to turn
off TCS. The TCS warning light
will be displayed on the instrument
panel. The traction control system
can be turned back on by pressing
the TCS/StabiliTrak button.
If the system is limiting wheel spin
when the button is pressed, the
system will not turn off until there is
no longer a current need to limit
wheel spin. The system can
be turned back on at any time by
pressing the button again. If the
TCS light does not come on,TCS may not be functioning
properly and the vehicle should be
serviced at your dealer/retailer.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories can affect the vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 5-3for
more information.Steering
Electric Power Steering
If the engine stalls while driving, the
power steering assist system will
continue to operate until you
are able to stop the vehicle. If power
steering assist is lost because the
electric power steering system is not
functioning, the vehicle can be
steered but it will take more effort.
If you turn the steering wheel in
either direction several times until it
stops, or hold the steering wheel
in the stopped position for an
extended amount of time, you maynotice a reduced amount of power
steering assist. The normal
amount of power steering assist
should return shortly after a
few normal steering movements.
The electric power steering system
does not require regular
maintenance. If you suspect
steering system problems and/or the
Service Vehicle Soon light comes
on, contact your dealer/retailer
for service repairs.Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a
reasonable speed.
Traction in a curve depends on the
condition of the tires and the
road surface, the angle at which the
curve is banked, and vehicle
speed. While in a curve, speed is
the one factor you can control.
If there is a need to reduce speed,
do it before entering the curve,
while the front wheels are straight.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-9
ProCarManuals.com

Try to adjust the speed so you can
drive through the curve. Maintain
a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until out of the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can
be more effective than braking. For
example, you come over a hill and
nd a truck stopped in your lane, or a
car suddenly pulls out from nowhere,
or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of
you. These problems can be avoided
by braking — if you can stop in time.
But sometimes you cannot stop in
time because there is no room.
That is the time for evasive
action — steering around the
problem.
The vehicle can perform very well
in emergencies like these. First apply
the brakes. SeeBraking on
page 4-5. It is better to remove
as much speed as possible from acollision. Then steer around the
problem, to the left or right
depending on the space available.
An emergency like this requires
close attention and a quick decision.
If holding the steering wheel at
the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock
positions, it can be turned a full
180 degrees very quickly without
removing either hand. But you have
to act fast, steer quickly, and just
as quickly straighten the wheel once
you have avoided the object.The fact that such emergency
situations are always possible is a
good reason to practice defensive
driving at all times and wear
safety belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle’s right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only
slightly below the pavement,
recovery should be fairly easy.
4-10 Driving Your Vehicle
ProCarManuals.com

If the vehicle starts to slide, ease
your foot off the accelerator pedal
and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering
quickly enough, the vehicle may
straighten out. Always be ready for
a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is on the road. For safety,
slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important to
slow down on slippery surfaces
because stopping distance will be
longer and vehicle control more
limited.
While driving on a surface with
reduced traction, try your best to
avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing vehicle
speed by shifting to a lower gear.
Any sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide. You may not realize
the surface is slippery until thevehicle is skidding. Learn to
recognize warning clues — such as
enough water, ice, or packed snow
on the road to make a mirrored
surface — and slow down when
you have any doubt.
Remember: Any Antilock Brake
System (ABS) helps avoid only
the braking skid.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than
day driving because some drivers
are likely to be impaired — by alcohol
or drugs, with night vision problems,
or by fatigue.
Night driving tips include:
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Reduce headlamp glare
by adjusting the inside
rearview mirror.
Slow down and keep more space
between you and other vehicles
because headlamps can only
light up so much road ahead.
Watch for animals.
When tired, pull off the road.
Do not wear sunglasses.
Avoid staring directly into
approaching headlamps.
Keep the windshield and all glass
on your vehicle clean — inside
and out.
Keep your eyes moving,
especially during turns or curves.
No one can see as well at night as
in the daytime. But, as we get
older, these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver might need
at least twice as much light to see
the same thing at night as a
20-year-old.
4-12 Driving Your Vehicle
ProCarManuals.com

Driving in Rain and on
Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep-standing or owing water.
{CAUTION
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
owing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through owing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under your vehicle’s
tires so they actually ride on
the water. This can happen if theroad is wet enough and you are
going fast enough. When your
vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little
or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is
to slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
Allow extra following distance.
Pass with caution.
Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
Keep the windshield washer uid
reservoir lled.
Have good tires with proper tread
depth. SeeTires on page 5-38.
Turn off cruise control.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-13
ProCarManuals.com

Repeat this until help arrives but only
when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. Moving about to keep
warm also helps.
If it takes some time for help to
arrive, now and then when you run
the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs
faster than the idle speed. This
keeps the battery charged to restart
the vehicle and to signal for help with
the headlamps. Do this as little as
possible to save fuel.
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in
Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
SeeRocking Your Vehicle to
Get It Out on page 4-17.If the vehicle has a traction system, it
can often help to free a stuck vehicle.
Refer to the vehicle’s traction system
in the Index. If stuck too severely for
the traction system to free the
vehicle, turn the traction system off
and use the rocking method.
{CAUTION
If you let your vehicle’s tires spin at
high speed, they can explode, and
you or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment re or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going above
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown on the
speedometer.
For information about using tire
chains on the vehicle, seeTire
Chains on page 5-57.
Rocking Your Vehicle to
Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around
the front wheels. Turn off any
traction system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until
the wheels stop spinning before
shifting gears. Release the
accelerator pedal while shifting, and
press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in
gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that
could free the vehicle. If that does
not get the vehicle out after a
few tries, it might need to be towed
out. If the vehicle does need to
be towed out, seeTowing Your
Vehicle on page 4-22.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-17
ProCarManuals.com

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.
5-8 Service and Appearance Care
ProCarManuals.com

Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer system
that indicates when to change the
engine oil and lter. This is based on
engine revolutions and engine
temperature, and not on mileage.
Based on driving conditions,
the mileage at which an oil change
is indicated can vary considerably.
For the oil life system to work
properly, the system must be reset
every time the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated that
oil life has been diminished, it
indicates that an oil change is
necessary. A change engine oil light
comes on. SeeChange Engine Oil
Light on page 3-33. Change the oil
as soon as possible within the next600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible
that, if driving under the best
conditions, the oil life system might
not indicate that an oil change is
necessary for over a year. However,
the engine oil and lter must be
changed at least once a year and at
this time the system must be reset.
Your dealer/retailer has trained
service people who will perform this
work using genuine parts and reset
the system. It is also important to
check the oil regularly and keep it at
the proper level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be changed
at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since the
last oil change. Remember to reset
the oil life system whenever the oil is
changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
The Engine Oil Life System
calculates when to change the
engine oil and lter based on vehicle
use. Whenever the oil is changed,
reset the system so it can calculate
when the next oil change is
required. If a situation occurs where
the oil is changed prior to a
change engine oil light being turned
on, reset the system.
After changing the engine oil, reset
the system:
1. Turn the ignition key to ON/RUN
with the engine off.
2. Fully press and release the
accelerator pedal three times
within ve seconds.
If the change engine oil light is
not on, the system is reset.
If the light comes on again and
stays on for 30 seconds at the next
ignition cycle, it did not reset.
The system needs to be reset again.
5-14 Service and Appearance Care
ProCarManuals.com