2009 SATURN VUE towing

If it stays on after the parking brake
is fully released, there is a brake
problem. Have the brake system
inspected immediately.
{CAUTION
The brake system might not be
working properly if the brake
system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning
light on can lead to a crash. If the
light is still on after the vehicle
has been pulled off the road and
carefully stopped, have the
vehicle towed for service.
If the light comes on while driving,
a chime sounds. Pull off the road and
stop. The pedal might be harder to
push or go closer to the oor. It might
also take longer to stop. If the light is
still on, have the vehicle towed for
service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle
on page 4-32.
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
For vehicles with the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), this light should come
on briey as the engine is started. If it
does not come on have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer/retailer.
If the ABS light stays on longer than
a few seconds after engine is started,
or comes on and stays on while
driving, try resetting the system.
To reset the system:
1. While driving, pull over when it is
safe to do so.
2. Place the vehicle in P (PARK).
3. Turn off the ignition.
4. Then restart the engine.If the ABS light remains on after
resetting the system or comes on
again while driving, the vehicle
needs service. If the ABS light is on,
but the regular brake system warning
light is not on, the antilock brakes are
not working properly, but the regular
brakes are still functioning. Have the
vehicle serviced right away. If both
brake lights are on, the vehicle does
not have antilock brakes, and there
is a problem with the regular brakes
as well. Have the vehicle towed for
service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle
on page 4-32.
3-32 Instrument Panel
ProCarManuals.com

The following can prevent more
serious damage to the vehicle:
Reduce vehicle speed.
Avoid hard accelerations.
Avoid steep uphill grades.
If towing a trailer, reduce the
amount of cargo being hauled
as soon as it is possible.
If the light continues to ash,
when it is safe to do so, stop
the vehicle. Find a safe place to
park the vehicle. Turn the key
off, wait at least 10 seconds, and
restart the engine. If the light is
still ashing, follow the previous
steps and see your dealer/retailer
for service as soon as possible.
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 checking the
following items:
Make sure the fuel cap is fully
installed. SeeFilling the Tank
on page 5-8. 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 5-5.
If none of the above have made the
light turn off, your dealer/retailer can
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.
3-36 Instrument Panel
ProCarManuals.com

Driving Your
Vehicle
Your Driving, the Road,
and the Vehicle
Driving Your Vehicle..............4-1
Driver Behavior.....................4-2
Driving Environment...............4-2
Vehicle Design......................4-2
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy............................4-3
Defensive Driving..................4-3
Drunk Driving.......................4-4
Control of a Vehicle...............4-4
Braking................................4-5
Antilock Brake
System (ABS).....................4-6
Braking in Emergencies..........4-6
StabiliTrak
®System...............4-7
Traction Control
System (TCS).....................4-8
All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
System..............................4-9
Steering...............................4-9Off-Road Recovery..............4-11
Passing..............................4-11
Loss of Control...................4-12
Off-Road Driving..................4-13
Driving at Night...................4-22
Driving in Rain and
on Wet Roads...................4-23
Before Leaving on
a Long Trip.......................4-24
Highway Hypnosis...............4-24
Hill and Mountain Roads......4-24
Winter Driving.....................4-25
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in
Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow......4-27
Rocking Your Vehicle
toGetItOut.....................4-27
Loading the Vehicle.............4-28
TowingTowing Your Vehicle............4-32
Recreational Vehicle Towing. . .4-32
Towing a Trailer..................4-35
Your Driving, the
Road, and the Vehicle
Driving Your Vehicle
Whenever we drive, we are taking
on an important responsibility.
This is true for any motor
vehicle — passenger car, van,
truck, sport utility. Driver behavior,
the driving environment, and the
vehicle’s design all affect how well a
vehicle performs. But statistics show
that the most important factor, by far,
is how we drive.
Knowing how these three factors
work together can help you
understand how your vehicle
handles and what you can do to
avoid many types of crashes,
including a rollover crash.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-1
ProCarManuals.com

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 any
of the drive 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
attempt to free it. SeeRocking Your
Vehicle to Get It Out on page 4-27
andIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 4-27for
more information.
The TCS/StabiliTrak
®button is
located on the instrument panel.
4-8 Driving Your Vehicle
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 4-27.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 5-62.
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 or
stability system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a forward
gear, or with a manual transmission,
between 1 (First) or 2 (Second) and
R (Reverse), 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, see
Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-32.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-27
ProCarManuals.com

Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit
1.
Locate the statement “The
combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs”
on your vehicle’s placard.
2.Determine the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight
of the driver and passengers
from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting gure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For
example, if the “XXX” amount
equals 1400 lbs and there will
be ve 150 lb passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs
(1400−750 (5 x 150) =
650 lbs).
5.Determine the combined
weight of luggage and
cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load
capacity calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, the load from your
trailer will be transferred
to your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how
this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load
capacity for your vehicle.
SeeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-35for important
information on towing a trailer,
towing safety rules, and
trailering tips.
A.Vehicle Capacity Weight for
Example 1=1,000 lbs
(453 kg).
B.Subtract Occupant Weight
150 lbs (68 kg)×2=300 lbs
(136 kg).
C.Available Occupant and
Cargo Weight=700 lbs
(317 kg).Example 1
Driving Your Vehicle 4-29
ProCarManuals.com

Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
To avoid damage, the disabled
vehicle should be towed with all four
wheels off the ground. Consult your
dealer/retailer or a professional
towing service if the disabled vehicle
must be towed. SeeRoadside
Assistance Program on page 7-6.
To tow the vehicle behind another
vehicle for recreational purposes,
such as behind a motorhome,
see “Recreational Vehicle Towing”
following.
Recreational Vehicle
Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle – such as behind a
motorhome. The two most common
types of recreational vehicle towing
are known as dinghy towing anddolly towing. Dinghy towing is towing
the vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground. Dolly towing is towing the
vehicle with two wheels on the
ground and two wheels up on a
device known as a dolly.
Here are some important things to
consider before recreational
vehicle towing:
What is the towing capacity of the
towing vehicle? Be sure to read
the tow vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendations.
What is the distance that will be
travelled? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how
long they can tow.
Is the proper towing equipment
going to be used? See your
dealer/retailer or trailering
professional for additional advice
and equipment recommendations.
Is the vehicle ready to be towed?
Just as preparing the vehicle for a
long trip, make sure the vehicle is
prepared to be towed. SeeBefore
Leaving on a Long Trip on
page 4-24.
Dinghy Towing
Front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive
vehicles may be dinghy towed from
the front. These vehicles can also be
towed by placing them on a platform
trailer with all four wheels off of the
ground. For other towing options,
see “Dolly Towing” following in this
section.
For vehicles being dinghy towed,
the vehicle should be run at the
beginning of each day and at each
RV fuel stop for about ve minutes.
This will ensure proper lubrication of
transmission components.
4-32 Driving Your Vehicle
ProCarManuals.com

To tow the vehicle from the front
with all four wheels on the ground:
1. Position the vehicle that will
be towed and secure it to
the towing vehicle.
2. Turn the ignition key to
ACC/ACCESSORY.
3. Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
4. Turn fog lamps and all
accessories off.5. To prevent the battery from
draining while the vehicle is
being towed, remove the 2 amp
IGN SW fuse from the instrument
panel fuse block and store it in a
safe location. SeeInstrument
Panel Fuse Block on page 5-80
Notice:If the vehicle is towed
without performing each of the
steps listed under “Dinghy
Towing,” the automatic
transmission could be damaged.
Be sure to follow all steps of the
dinghy towing procedure prior to
and after towing the vehicle.
Notice:If the vehicle has
a four-speed automatic
transmission, it can be dinghy
towed from the front for unlimited
miles at 65 mph (105 km/h).
The vehicle could be damaged If
65 mph (105 km/h) is exceeded
while towing the vehicle. The
repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Never
exceed 65 mph (105 km/h) while
towing the vehicle.Once the destination has been
reached:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Shift the transmission to
P (Park).
3. Reinstall the 2 amp IGN SW fuse
to the instrument panel fuse
block.
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/
OFF and remove the key from
the ignition.
Notice:Too much or too
little uid can damage the
transmission. Be sure that the
transmission uid is at the proper
level before towing with all four
wheels on the ground.
Notice:Do not tow a vehicle
with the front drive wheels on the
ground if one of the front tires is a
compact spare tire. Towing with
two different tire sizes on the front
of the vehicle can cause severe
damage to the transmission.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-33
ProCarManuals.com