2009 SATURN VUE HYBRID service

Automatic Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
transmission uid level. A transaxle
uid leak is the only reason for
uid loss. If a leak occurs, take the
vehicle to your dealer/retailer
service department and have it
repaired as soon as possible.
Change the uid and lter at the
intervals listed inAdditional
Required Services on page 6-5, and
be sure to use the transaxle uid
listed inRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-11.
Notice:Use of the incorrect
automatic transaxle uid may
damage your vehicle, and
the damages may not be covered
by your warranty. Always use
the automatic transaxle uid
listed inRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-11.
Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the
hood, here is what you will see:
A. Coolant Surge Tank
B. Pressure Cap{CAUTION
An electric engine cooling fan
under the hood can start up even
when the engine is not running
and can cause injury. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant
surge tank is boiling, do not
do anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on
a level surface.
The coolant level should be between
the MIN and MAX lines. If it is
not, you may have a leak at the
radiator hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water pump, or somewhere
else in the cooling system.
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{CAUTION
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you do,
you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine re, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
xed before you drive the vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with
the engine on, check to see if
the electric engine cooling fan is
running. If the engine is overheating,
the fan should be running. If it is
not, your vehicle needs service.
Turn off the engine.
Notice:Engine damage from
running the engine without
coolant is not covered by the
warranty.Notice:Using coolant other than
DEX-COOL
®can cause premature
engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant could require changing
sooner, at 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free)
coolant in the vehicle.
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank
Notice:This vehicle has a
specic coolant ll procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure
could cause the engine to
overheat and be severely
damaged.
If you have not found a problem yet,
check to see if coolant is visible
in the surge tank. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level is not at
between the MIN and MAX lines,
add a 50/50 mixture of clean,drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®
coolant at the coolant surge
tank, but be sure the cooling system,
including the coolant surge tank
pressure cap, is cool before you do
it. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-20for more information.
{CAUTION
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system can blow out
and burn you badly. They are
under pressure, and if you turn
the coolant surge tank pressure
cap — even a little — they can
come out at high speed. Never
turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
coolant surge tank pressure cap
to cool if you ever have to turn
the pressure cap.
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{CAUTION
Adding only plain water to the
cooling system can be dangerous.
Plain water, or some other liquid
such as alcohol, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water
or the wrong mixture, the engine
could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning. The
engine could catch re and you or
others could be burned. Use a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.Notice:In cold weather, water
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core and other
parts. Use the recommended
coolant and the proper coolant
mixture.
{CAUTION
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.1. You can remove the coolant
surge tank pressure cap
when the cooling system,
including the coolant surge tank
pressure cap and upper
radiator hose, is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about
one-quarter of a turn. If you hear
a hiss, wait for that to stop.
This will allow any pressure still
left to be vented out the
discharge hose.
2. Then keep turning the pressure
cap slowly, and remove it.
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3. Fill the coolant surge tank with
the proper DEX-COOL®coolant
mixture, to between the MIN
and MAX lines.
4. With the coolant surge tank
pressure cap off, start the engine
and let it run until you can feel
the upper radiator hose
getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fan.By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge
tank may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper
DEX-COOL
®coolant mixture to
the coolant surge tank until
the level reaches between the
MIN and MAX lines.
5. Then replace the pressure cap.
Be sure the pressure cap is
hand-tight.
Check the level in the surge
tank when the cooling system
has cooled down. If the coolant
is not at the proper level, repeat
Steps 1 through 3 and reinstall the
pressure cap. If the coolant still
is not at the proper level when the
system cools down again, see
your dealer/retailer.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle
is lled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to
remain in your vehicle for ve years
or 150,000 miles (240 000 km),
whichever occurs rst, if you add
only DEX-COOL
®extended life
coolant.
The following explains your cooling
system and how to add coolant
when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating on page 5-23.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down
to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to
265°F (129°C).
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Protect against rust and
corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine
temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages
work as they should.
Notice:Using coolant other than
DEX-COOL
®can cause premature
engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing
sooner, at the rst maintenance
service after each 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free)
coolant in the vehicle.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean,
drinkable water and one-half
DEX-COOL
®coolant which will not
damage aluminum parts. If you
use this coolant mixture, you do not
need to add anything else.
{CAUTION
Adding only plain water to the
cooling system can be dangerous.
Plain water, or some other liquid
such as alcohol, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water
or the wrong mixture, the engine
could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning. The
engine could catch re and you or
others could be burned. Use a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.Notice:If an improper coolant
mixture is used, the engine could
overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Too much water in the mixture
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and
other parts.
If you have to add coolant more
than four times a year, have
your dealer/retailer check your
cooling system.
Notice:If extra inhibitors and/or
additives are used in the
vehicle’s cooling system, the
vehicle could be damaged. Use
only the proper mixture of
the engine coolant listed in this
manual for the cooling system.
SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-11for
more information.
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Checking Coolant
The surge tank is located on
the driver side of the engine
compartment. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-10for more information
on location.
{CAUTION
Turning the surge tank pressure
cap when the engine and radiator
are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and
burn you badly. Never turn the
surge tank pressure cap — even
a little — when the engine and
radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be on a level
surface. When your engine is cold,
the coolant level should be
between the MIN and MAX lines.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the
proper DEX-COOL
®coolant mixture
at the surge tank, but only when
the engine is cool. SeeCooling
System on page 5-17for instructions
on “How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank”.
{CAUTION
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
When replacing the pressure cap,
make sure it is hand-tight and
fully seated.
Coolant Surge Tank
Pressure Cap
Notice:If the pressure cap is not
tightly installed, coolant loss
and possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is
properly and tightly secured.
If you need to replace your coolant
surge tank pressure cap, see
your retailer.
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Engine Overheating
There is a coolant temperature
warning light on your vehicle’s
instrument panel. SeeEngine
Coolant Temperature Warning Light
on page 3-29.
If Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
{CAUTION
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away from
the vehicle until it cools down.
Wait until there is no sign of
steam or coolant before you
open the hood.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
If you keep driving when your
engine is overheated, the liquids
in it can catch re. You or others
could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if it overheats, and get
out of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.
Notice:If the engine catches re
because of being driven with
no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty.
If No Steam Is Coming From
Your Engine
If you get an engine overheat
warning, but see or hear no steam,
the problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little
too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with
no sign of steam, try this for a
minute or so:
1. If you have an air conditioner
and it is on, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at
the highest fan speed and open
the windows as necessary.
3. Try to minimize engine load.
If you are in a traffic jam,
shift to N (Neutral); otherwise,
shift to the highest gear possible
while driving.
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If you no longer have the overheat
warning, you can drive. Just to
be safe, drive slower for about
ten minutes. If the warning does
not come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues and you
have not stopped, pull over, stop,
and park your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, idle
the engine for three minutes
while you are parked. If the warning
continues, turn off the engine and
get everyone out of the vehicle until
it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood
but to get service help right away.Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield or rear
window washer uid, be sure to
read the manufacturer’s instructions
before use. If you will be operating
your vehicle in an area where
the temperature may fall below
freezing, use a uid that has
sufficient protection against freezing.
Adding Windshield Washer
Fluid
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer uid until
the tank is full. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-10for reservoir location.Notice:
When using concentrated
washer uid, follow the
manufacturer’s instructions
for adding water.
Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer uid.
Water can cause the solution
to freeze and damage your
washer uid tank and other
parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean as
well as washer uid.
Fill the washer uid tank only
three-quarters full when it is
very cold. This allows for uid
expansion if freezing occurs,
which could damage the tank if
it is completely full.
Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in your windshield
washer. It can damage the
vehicle’s windshield washer
system and paint.
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