check transmission fluid SATURN ASTRA 2008 Owners Manual

Before Leaving on a
Long Trip
To prepare your vehicle for a long
trip, consider having it serviced by
your dealer/retailer before departing.
Things to check on your own
include:
Windshield Washer Fluid:
Reservoir full? Windows
clean — inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:In good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:All
levels checked?
Lamps:Do they all work and are
lenses clean?
Tires:Are treads good? Are tires
inated to recommended
pressure?
Weather and Maps:Safe to
travel? Have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Always be alert and pay attention
to your surroundings while driving.
If you become tired or sleepy, nd
a safe place to park your vehicle
and rest.
Other driving tips include:
Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
Keep interior temperature cool.
Keep your eyes moving — scan
the road ahead and to the sides.
Check the rearview mirror and
vehicle instruments often.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on at or rolling terrain. Tips for
driving in these conditions include:
Keep the vehicle serviced
and in good shape.
Check all uid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
Going down steep or long hills,
shift to a lower gear.
{CAUTION
If you do not shift down, the
brakes could get so hot that
they would not work well. You
would then have poor braking
or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Shift down to
let the engine assist the brakes
on a steep downhill slope.
8-26 Driving and Operating
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Vehicle Service
and Care
Service
Service...............................9-2
Accessories and
Modications.....................9-3
California Proposition 65
Warning............................9-3
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements.....9-3
Doing Your Own
Service Work....................9-4
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle......9-4
Owner Checks
Owner Checks....................9-5
Hood Release.....................9-5
Engine Compartment
Overview...........................9-6
Engine Oil..........................9-7
Engine Oil Life System.......9-9
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. . . .9-11
Automatic Transmission
Fluid................................9-12
Manual Transmission
Fluid................................9-12
Hydraulic Clutch................9-12
Engine Coolant.................9-12
Pressure Cap....................9-15
Engine Overheating...........9-15
Cooling System.................9-16
Power Steering Fluid.........9-20
Windshield Washer Fluid. . . .9-20
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement...................9-21
Brakes..............................9-22
Battery..............................9-25
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming..............9-26
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement.............9-28
Halogen Bulbs..................9-28
Front Turn Signal Lamps. . .9-28
Taillamps
(Five-Door Hatchback).....9-29
Taillamps
(Three-Door Hatchback). . .9-30
License Plate Lamp..........9-32
Replacement Bulbs...........9-33
Electrical System
Add-On Electrical
Equipment.......................9-33
Headlamp Wiring..............9-33
Windshield Wiper Fuses. . . .9-34
Power Windows and
Other Power Options.......9-34
Fuses...............................9-34
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block......................9-34
Rear Compartment
Fuse Block......................9-36
Tires
Tires.................................9-38
Winter Tires......................9-39
Tire Sidewall Labeling.......9-40
Tire Terminology and
Denitions.......................9-43
Ination - Tire Pressure. . . .9-46
High-Speed Operation.......9-47
Tire Pressure Monitor
System............................9-48
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation........................9-50
Tire Inspection and
Rotation..........................9-51
When It Is Time for
New Tires.......................9-53
Vehicle Service and Care 9-1
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Automatic Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check
the transmission uid level.
A transmission uid leak is the only
reason for uid loss. If a leak
occurs, take your vehicle to the
dealer/retailer service department
and have it repaired as soon
as possible.
Change the uid and lter at the
intervals listed in the Maintenance
Schedule. See “Additional
Required Services” in Service
and Maintenance. Be sure to use
the transmission uid listed in
“Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in Service and
Maintenance.
Notice:Use of the incorrect
automatic transmission uid
may damage your vehicle,
and the damages may not becovered by your warranty.
See “Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants” in the Limited
Warranty, Maintenance and Owner
Assistance Information manual.
Manual Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
manual transmission uid level.
A transmission uid leak is the only
reason for uid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to the
dealer/retailer service department
and have it repaired as soon
as possible. You may also have
your uid level checked by
your dealer/retailer when you have
your oil changed. See “Part D:
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in Service and
Maintenance for the proper uid
to use.
Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch linkage in
your vehicle is self-adjusting.
This system does not have its own
reservoir. It receives uid from
the brake master cylinder reservoir.
SeeBrakes on page 9-22for more
information.
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 9-15.
9-12 Vehicle Service and Care
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Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder and, on
manual transmission vehicles,
the clutch hydraulic system use the
same reservoir. The reservoir is
lled with DOT-4 brake uid.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 9-6for the location of
the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the
brake uid level in the reservoir
might go down. The rst is that the
brake uid goes down to an
acceptable level during normal
brake lining wear. When new linings
are put in, the uid level goes
back up. The other reason is that
uid is leaking out of the brake
or clutch hydraulic system. If it is,have the brake or clutch hydraulic
system xed, since a leak means
that sooner or later the brakes
or clutch will not work well.
It is not a good idea to top off the
brake uid. Adding brake uid
will not correct a leak. If uid is
added when the linings are worn,
there will be too much uid
when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove brake uid,
as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake or clutch
hydraulic system.
{CAUTION
If your vehicle has too much
brake uid, it can spill on the
engine. The uid will burn if the
engine is hot enough. You or
others could be burned, and
your vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake uid only when work
is done on the brake and/or
clutch hydraulic system.Refer to “Scheduled Maintenance”
in the Limited Warranty,
Maintenance and Owner Assistance
Information manual to determine
when to check the brake uid.
Checking Brake Fluid
The brake uid can be checked
without taking off the cap by looking
at the brake uid reservoir.
The uid level should be above
MIN. If it is not, have your brake
hydraulic system checked to see
if there is a leak. After work is done
on the brake hydraulic system,
make sure the level is above the
MIN but not over the MAX mark.
What to Add
When you do need brake uid,
use only DOT-4 brake uid.
It is recommended that you ush
the brake hydraulic system and
rell it with new DOT-4 uid
at a regular maintenance service
every two years. See “Additional
9-22 Vehicle Service and Care
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A
Accessories and
Modications...................... 9-3
Accessory Power Outlets......4-10
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle....1-35
Additives, Fuel.....................8-36
Add-On Electrical
Equipment.......................9-33
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.......9-11
Air Conditioning..................... 7-1
Airbag
Passenger Status
Indicator.......................4-15
Readiness Light................4-14
System, Replacing Parts
After a Crash................1-36
Airbag System.....................1-23
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle........................1-35
Check.............................1-36
How Does an Airbag
Restrain?.....................1-28
Servicing Your
Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle........................1-34Airbag System (cont.)
What Makes an Airbag
Inate?........................1-28
What Will You See After
an Airbag Inates?........1-29
When Should an Airbag
Inate?........................1-27
Where Are the
Airbags?..............1-25, 1-30
Antenna, Fixed Mast............6-25
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)..................8-18
Anti-lock Brake, System
Warning Light...................4-18
Appearance Care
Chemical Paint Spotting.....9-79
Exterior Cleaning..............9-75
Finish Damage.................9-79
Interior Cleaning...............9-72
Sheet Metal Damage........9-78
Underbody Maintenance....9-79
Vehicle Care/Appearance
Materials
......................9-80
Appointments, Scheduling
Service...........................11-8Audio System........................ 6-1
Audio Steering Wheel
Controls.......................6-24
Fixed Mast Antenna..........6-25
Radio Reception...............6-25
Theft-Deterrent Feature......6-24
Audio System(s).................... 6-2
Automatic Transmission
Fluid...............................9-12
Operation.......................... 8-5
B
Battery...............................9-25
Run-Down Protection.......... 5-4
Brakes...............................9-22
System Warning Light.......4-17
Braking...............................8-17
Break-In, New Vehicle............ 8-2
Bulb Replacement................9-28
Front Turn Signal Lamps . . . 9-28
Halogen Bulbs..................9-28
Headlamp Aiming..............9-26
License Plate Lamps.........9-32
Replacement Bulbs...........9-33
Taillamps.................9-29, 9-30
Buying New Tires.................9-54
INDEX i-1
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Loading Your Vehicle............8-30
Locks
Door ................................. 2-5
Power Door ....................... 2-5
Rear Door Security Locks.... 2-6
Loss of Control....................8-23
Low Fuel Warning Light........4-25
Lumbar Seat Adjustment......... 1-3
M
Malfunction Indicator Light.....4-20
Manual Seats........................ 1-2
Manual Transmission
Fluid...............................9-12
Operation.......................... 8-9
Manual, Using.......................... ii
Message
DIC Warnings and
Messages....................4-37
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror.....2-12
Outside...........................2-12
Outside Power Mirrors.......2-12
MyGMLink.com....................11-4
N
Navigation System,
Privacy..........................11-17
New Vehicle Break-In............. 8-2
Notices and Cautions............... iii
O
Odometer...........................4-13
Odometers, Trip...................4-13
Off-Road Recovery...............8-22
Oil
Engine.............................. 9-7
Low Oil Level Light...........4-23
Pressure Light..................4-22
Oil, Engine Oil Life System..... 9-9
Older Children, Restraints......1-37
Online Owner Center............11-4
OnStar, Privacy..................11-17
OnStar
®System, see
OnStar®Manual...............4-38
Outlet Adjustment.................. 7-4
Outlets
Accessory Power..............4-10Outside
Mirrors............................2-12
Power Mirrors..................2-12
Owner Checks, Service.......... 9-5
Owners, Canadian.................... ii
P
Paint, Damage.....................9-79
Park
Shifting Into.....................8-11
Shifting Out of..................8-13
Park Brake..........................8-10
Parking
Over Things That Burn......8-13
Parking Your Vehicle............8-13
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator..........................4-15
Passing..............................8-23
Perchlorate Materials
Requirements, California...... 9-3
Power
Door Locks........................ 2-5
Electrical System..............9-34
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . 8-3
i-6 INDEX
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