Motor SATURN ASTRA 2008 User Guide

See your dealer/retailer for details
regarding winter tire availability
and proper tire selection. Also, see
Buying New Tires on page 9-54.
If you choose to use winter tires:
Use tires of the same brand and
tread type on all four wheel
positions.
Use only radial ply tires of the
same size, load range, and
speed rating as your original
equipment tires.
Winter tires with the same speed
rating as the original equipment tires
may not be available for H, V, W,
Y and ZR speed rated tires.
If you choose winter tires with a
lower speed rating, never exceed
the tire’s maximum speed capability.
Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a
tire is molded into its sidewall.
The examples below show
a typical passenger vehicle
tire and a compact spare
tire sidewall.(A) Tire Size
:The tire size is
a combination of letters and
numbers used to dene a
particular tire’s width, height,
aspect ratio, construction
type, and service description.
See the “Tire Size” illustration
later in this section for more
detail.
(B) TPC Spec (Tire
Performance Criteria
Specication)
:Original
equipment tires designed to
GM’s specic tire performance
criteria have a TPC specication
code molded onto the sidewall.
GM’s TPC specications meet
or exceed all federal safety
guidelines.
(C) DOT (Department of
Transportation)
:The
Department of Transportation
(DOT) code indicates that the tire
is in compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
Example
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(D) Construction Code:A letter code is used to indicate
the type of ply construction in
the tire. The letter R means
radial ply construction; the
letter D means diagonal or
bias ply construction; and the
letter B means belted-bias
ply construction.
(E) Rim Diameter
:Diameter of
the wheel in inches.
(F) Service Description
:These characters represent the
load range and speed rating
of the tire. The load index
represents the load carry
capacity a tire is certied to
carry. The load index can range
from 1 to 279. The speed
rating is the maximum speed a
tire is certied to carry a load.
Speed ratings range from A to Z.
Tire Terminology and
Denitions
Air Pressure:The amount of
air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch
of the tire. Air pressure is
expressed in pounds per square
inch (psi) or kilopascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight
:This means
the combined weight of optional
accessories. Some examples
of optional accessories are,
automatic transmission, power
steering, power brakes, power
windows, power seats, and air
conditioning.
Aspect Ratio
:The relationship
of a tire’s height to its width.
Belt
:A rubber coated layer of
cords that is located between the
plies and the tread. Cords may
be made from steel or other
reinforcing materials.Bead
:The tire bead contains
steel wires wrapped by steel
cords that hold the tire onto
the rim.
Bias Ply Tire
:A pneumatic tire
in which the plies are laid at
alternate angles less than
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.
Cold Tire Pressure
:The
amount of air pressure in a
tire, measured in pounds
per square inch (psi) or
kilopascals (kPa) before a tire
has built up heat from driving.
SeeInflation - Tire Pressure on
page 9-46.
Curb Weight
:The weight of a
motor vehicle with standard
and optional equipment including
the maximum capacity of fuel,
oil, and coolant, but without
passengers and cargo.
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DOT Markings:A code molded
into the sidewall of a tire
signifying that the tire is in
compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
(DOT) motor vehicle safety
standards. The DOT code
includes the Tire Identication
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric
designator which can also
identify the tire manufacturer,
production plant, brand, and date
of production.
GVWR
:Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating. SeeLoading the Vehicle
on page 8-30.
GAWR FRT
:Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the front axle.
SeeLoading the Vehicle on
page 8-30.
GAWR RR
:Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the rear axle.
SeeLoading the Vehicle on
page 8-30.Intended Outboard Sidewall
:The side of an asymmetrical tire,
that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa)
:The metric
unit for air pressure.
Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire
:A tire used on light duty trucks
and some multipurpose
passenger vehicles.
Load Index
:An assigned
number ranging from 1 to 279
that corresponds to the load
carrying capacity of a tire.
Maximum Ination
Pressure
:The maximum air
pressure to which a cold tire
can be inated. The maximum
air pressure is molded onto
the sidewall.
Maximum Load Rating
:The load rating for a tire at the
maximum permissible ination
pressure for that tire.Maximum Loaded Vehicle
Weight
:The sum of curb
weight, accessory weight,
vehicle capacity weight, and
production options weight.
Normal Occupant Weight
:The
number of occupants a vehicle
is designed to seat multiplied by
150 lbs (68 kg). SeeLoading
the Vehicle on page 8-30.
Occupant Distribution
:Designated seating positions.
Outward Facing Sidewall
:The side of an asymmetrical tire
that has a particular side that
faces outward when mounted on
a vehicle. The side of the tire
that contains a whitewall,
bears white lettering, or bears
manufacturer, brand, and/or
model name molding that
is higher or deeper than the
same moldings on the
other sidewall of the tire.
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Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched
specic tires for your vehicle.
The original equipment tires installed
on your vehicle, when it was new,
were designed to meet General
Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specication (TPC Spec) system
rating. If you need replacement
tires, GM strongly recommends
that you get tires with the same
TPC Spec rating. This way,
your vehicle will continue to have
tires that are designed to give
the same performance and vehicle
safety, during normal use, as
the original tires.
GM’s exclusive TPC Spec system
considers over a dozen critical
specications that impact the
overall performance of your vehicle,
including brake system performance,
ride and handling, traction control,and tire pressure monitoring
performance. GM’s TPC Spec
number is molded onto the tire’s
sidewall near the tire size. If the tires
have an all-season tread design,
the TPC Spec number will be
followed by an MS for mud and
snow. SeeTire Sidewall Labeling on
page 9-40for additional information.
GM recommends replacing tires
in sets of four. This is because
uniform tread depth on all tires will
help keep your vehicle performing
most like it did when the tires were
new. Replacing less than a full
set of tires can affect the braking
and handling performance of
your vehicle. SeeTire Inspection
and Rotation on page 9-51for
information on proper tire rotation.{CAUTION
Mixing tires could cause you
to lose control while driving.
If you mix tires of different
sizes, brands, or types
(radial and bias-belted tires),
the vehicle may not handle
properly, and you could
have a crash. Using tires
of different sizes, brands,
or types may also cause
damage to the vehicle.
Be sure to use the correct
size, brand, and type of tires
on all wheels. It is all right
to drive with the compact
spare temporarily, as it was
developed for use on the
vehicle. SeeCompact Spare
Tire on page 9-67.
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Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire
sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width.
For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates
to the system developed by
the United States National
Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), which
grades tires by treadwear,
traction, and temperature
performance. This applies only
to vehicles sold in the United
States. The grades are moldedon the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform
Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep
tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver, or temporary
use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or
to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on
General Motors passenger cars
and light trucks may vary
with respect to these grades,
they must also conform to
federal safety requirements and
additional General Motors
Tire Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on
a specied government test
course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the
government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may
depart signicantly from the
norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices,
and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
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Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest
to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the
tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on
specied government test
surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
{WARNING
The traction grade assigned
to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not
include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are
A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance
to the generation of heat and
its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled
conditions on a specied indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause
the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life,
and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to
a level of performance which
all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal MotorVehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
{WARNING
The temperature grade
for this tire is established
for a tire that is properly
inated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed,
underination, or excessive
loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible
tire failure.
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Contact the BBB Auto Line Program
by using the toll-free telephone
number or by writing them at the
following address:
BBB Auto Line Program
Council of Better Business
Bureaus, Inc.
4200 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203-1838
Telephone: 1-800-955-5100
dr.bbb.org/goauto
This program is available in
all 50 states and the District of
Columbia. Eligibility is limited by
vehicle age, mileage and other
factors. Saturn Corporation reserves
the right to change eligibility
limitations and/or discontinue its
participation in this program.STEP THREE (Canadian Owners):
General Motors Participation in
the Mediation/Arbitration Program
In the event that you do not feel
your concerns have been addressed
after following the procedure outlined
in Steps 1 and 2, General Motors of
Canada Limited has committed to
binding arbitration of owner disputes
involving factory-related vehicle
service claims. The program
provides for the review of the facts
involved by an impartial third party
arbiter, and may include an informal
hearing before the arbiter. The
program is designed so that the
entire dispute settlement process,
from the time you le your complaint
to the nal decision, should be
completed in approximately 70 days.
We believe our impartial program
offers advantages over courts in
most jurisdictions because it is
informal, quick, and free of charge.For further information concerning
eligibility in the Canadian Motor
Vehicle Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP),
call toll-free 1-800-207-0685.
Alternatively, you may call the
Saturn Customer Communication
Centre, 1-800-263-1999, or you
may write to:
Mediation/Arbitration Program
c/o Customer Communication
Centre
General Motors of Canada Limited
Mail Code: CA1-163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Telephone: 1-800-955-5100
Your inquiry should be accompanied
by the Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN).
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Customer Assistance
Offices
Saturn encourages customers
to call the toll-free number for
assistance. If a customer wishes to
write to Saturn, the letter should
be addressed to:
Saturn Customer Assistance Center
100 Saturn Parkway
Mail Code 371-999-S24
Spring Hill, TN 37174-1500
1-800-553-6000
1-800-833-6000 (For Text
Telephone devices (TTYs))
Roadside Assistance:
1-800-553-6000
In Canada, write to:
Saturn Customer Communication
Centre
General Motors of Canada Ltd.
CA1-163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7gmcanada.com
1-800-263-1999
1-800-263-3830 (For Text
Telephone devices (TTYs))
Roadside Assistance:
1-800-268-6800
GM Mobility
Reimbursement Program
This program, available to qualied
applicants, can reimburse you up to
$1,000 toward eligible aftermarket
driver or passenger adaptive
equipment you may require for
your vehicle such as hand controls,
wheelchair/scooter lifts, etc.
The offer is available for a limited
period of time from the date of
vehicle purchase/lease.For more details, or to determine
your vehicle’s eligibility, visit
your Saturn retailer or call the
Saturn Customer Assistance Center
at 1-800-553-6000. Text telephone
(TTY) users, call 1-800-833-6000.
In Canada, customers may call the
Saturn Customer Communication
Centre at 1-800-263-1999.
TTY users in Canada may call
1-800-263-3830.
Roadside Assistance
Program
For vehicles purchased in the
U.S., call1-800-553-6000; (Text
Telephone (TTY): 1-800-889-2438).
For vehicles purchased in Canada,
call1-800-268-6800.
Service is available 24 hours a day,
365 days a year.
As the owner of a new Saturn
vehicle, you are automatically
enrolled in the Saturn Roadside
Assistance Program.
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Trip Interruption Benets and
Assistance (Canada Only):In
the event of a warranty related
vehicle disablement, while en
route and over 250 kilometres
from the original point of
departure, you might qualify
for trip interruption expense
assistance. This assistance
covers reasonable reimbursement
of up to a maximum of $500
(Canadian) for (A) meals
(maximum of $50/day), (B)
lodging (maximum of $100/night),
and (C) alternate ground
transportation (maximum of
$40/day). This benet is to assist
you with some of the unplanned
expense you may incur while
waiting for your vehicle to be
repaired.
Pre-authorization, original
detailed receipts, and a copy of
the repair order are required.Once authorization has been
given, your advisor will help
you make any necessary
arrangements and explain how
to claim for trip interruption
expense assistance.
Alternative Service (Canada
Only):There could be times
when Roadside Assistance
cannot provide timely assistance.
Your advisor may authorize
you to secure local emergency
road service, and you will be
reimbursed up to $100 upon
submission of the original receipt
to Roadside Assistance.
In many instances, mechanical
failures may be covered. However,
any cost for parts and labor for
non-warranty repairs are the
responsibility of the driver.
Saturn and General Motors of
Canada Limited reserve the right to
limit services or reimbursement to anowner or driver when, in their sole
discretion, the claims become
excessive in frequency or type of
occurrence.
Calling for Assistance
For prompt and efficient assistance
when calling, please provide the
following to the Roadside Assistance
Representatives:
Your name, home address, and
home telephone number
Telephone number of your
location
Location of the vehicle
Model, year, color, and license
plate number of the vehicle
Odometer reading, Vehicle
Identication Number (VIN) and
delivery date of the vehicle
Description of the problem
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Towing and Road Service
Exclusions
Specically excluded from Roadside
Assistance coverage are towing
or services for vehicles operated on
a non-public roadway or highway,
nes, impound towing caused
by a violation of local, Municipal,
State, Provincial or Federal law, and
mounting, dismounting or changing
of snow tires, chains, or other
traction devices.
Roadside Assistance is not part
of or included in the coverage
provided by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty. Saturn and General
Motors of Canada Limited reserve
the right to make any changes or
discontinue the Roadside Assistance
program at any time without
notication.
Scheduling Service
Appointments
When your vehicle requires warranty
service, contact your dealer/retailer
and request an appointment. By
scheduling a service appointment
and advising your service consultant
of your transportation needs, your
dealer/retailer can help minimize
your inconvenience.
If your vehicle cannot be scheduled
into the service department
immediately, keep driving it until
it can be scheduled for service,
unless, of course, the problem is
safety-related. If it is, please call your
dealership/retailer, let them know
this, and ask for instructions.
If the dealer/retailer requests you to
bring the vehicle for service, you
are urged to do so as early in
the work day as possible to allow
for the same day repair.
Courtesy Transportation
To enhance your ownership
experience, we and our participating
retailers are proud to offer Courtesy
Transportation, a customer support
program for vehicles with the Bumper
to Bumper (Base Warranty Coverage
period in Canada) and extended
powertrain warranty in both the U.S.
and Canada.
Several courtesy transportation
options are available to assist
in reducing your inconvenience
when warranty repairs are required.
Courtesy Transportation is not a
part of the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty. A separate booklet
entitled “Warranty and Owner
Assistance Information” furnished
with each new vehicle provides
detailed warranty coverage
information.
11-8 Customer Information
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