instrument panel SATURN ASTRA 2008 Owners Manual

Seats and Restraints......... 1-1
Front Seats
.................... 1-2
Rear Seats
.................... 1-7
Safety Belts
................... 1-8
Airbag System
..............1-23
Child Restraints
.............1-37
Keys, Doors and
Windows............................ 2-1
Keys
............................. 2-2
Doors and Locks
............ 2-5
Theft-Deterrent Systems
... 2-7
Windows
......................2-10
Mirrors
.........................2-12
Sunroof
........................2-13
Storage.............................. 3-1
Storage
......................... 3-1
Instruments and
Controls............................. 4-1
Instrument Panel
Overview
.................... 4-2
Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators
............4-11Driver Information
Center (DIC)
.............4-26
OnStar
®System
............4-38
Lighting............................. 5-1
Lighting
......................... 5-1
Infotainment...................... 6-1
Audio System(s)
............. 6-1
Climate Controls............... 7-1
Climate Controls
............. 7-1
Driving and Operating....... 8-1
Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle
................ 8-2
Driving Your Vehicle
......8-16
Fuel
............................8-35
Vehicle Service
and Care............................ 9-1
Service
.......................... 9-2
Owner Checks
................ 9-5
Headlamp Aiming
..........9-26
Bulb Replacement
.........9-28
Electrical System
...........9-33
Tires
...........................9-38Tire Changing
...............9-60
Jump Starting
...............9-68
Towing
........................9-72
Appearance Care
..........9-72
Technical Data.................10-1
Vehicle Identication
......10-1
Capacities and
Specications
............10-2
Customer Information......11-1
Customer Information
.....11-1
Reporting Safety
Defects
...................11-13
Vehicle Data Recording
and Privacy
.............11-15
Index................................... i-1
2008 Saturn Astra Owner ManualM
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Active Head Restraint System
The vehicle has an active head
restraint system in the front seating
positions.
These automatically tilt forward to
reduce the risk of neck injury if
the vehicle is hit from behind.
Rear Seat Headrests
The vehicle has headrests in all
seating positions of the rear seats.
The headrests in the rear outboard
positions adjust like the front
seat head restraints.To adjust the headrest in the rear
seat center position, pull up to
raise it.
To lower the headrest, press the
buttons located on the top of
the seatback and push the head
rest down.
The vehicle’s rear seat headrests
are not designed to be removed.
Heated Seats
On vehicles with heated front seats,
the controls for each seat are located
on the center of the instrument panel.
To operate the heated seats the
ignition must be on.
M(Heated Seat):Press this
button to turn on the heated seat.
The light on the button will come on
to indicate that the feature is working.
Press the button to cycle through
the temperature settings of high,
medium, and low and to turn the
heat to the seat off. The number of
indicator lights above the button will
show the level of heat selected: three
for high, two for medium, and one
for low.
1-6 Seats and Restraints
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or the instrument panel... or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as
the vehicle does. You get more time
to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the
forces. That is why safety belts make
such good sense.
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q:
Will I be trapped in the vehicle
after a crash if I am wearing a
safety belt?
A:Youcouldbe — whether you are
wearing a safety belt or not. But
your chance of being conscious
during and after an accident, so
youcanunbuckle and get out, is
muchgreater if you are belted.
And you can unbuckle a safety
belt, even if you are upside down.
Q:If my vehicle has airbags, why
should I have to wear safety
belts?
A:Airbags are supplemental
systems only; so they workwith
safety belts — not instead of
them. Whether or not an airbag
is provided, all occupants still
have to buckle up to get the most
protection. That is true not only in
frontal collisions, but especially in
side and other collisions.
Seats and Restraints 1-11
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For frontal airbags, the word
AIRBAG will appear on the middle
part of the steering wheel for
the driver and on the instrument
panel for the right front passenger.
With seat-mounted side impact
airbags, the word AIRBAG
will appear on the side of the
seatback closest to the door.
With roof-rail airbags, the word
AIRBAG will appear along the
headliner or trim.
Airbags are designed to supplement
the protection provided by safety
belts. Even though today’s airbags
are also designed to help reduce
the risk of injury from the force of
an inating bag, all airbags must
inate very quickly to do their job.Here are the most important things
to know about the airbag system:
{CAUTION
You can be severely injured or
killed in a crash if you are not
wearing your safety belt — even
if you have airbags. Wearing
your safety belt during a crash
helps reduce your chance of
hitting things inside the vehicle
or being ejected from it. Airbags
are “supplemental restraints” to
the safety belts. All airbags are
designed to work with safety
belts, but do not replace them.
{CAUTION
Frontal airbags are designed to
deploy in moderate to severe
frontal and near frontal crashes.
They are not designed to inate
in rollover, rear crashes, or in
many side crashes.
Seat-mounted side impact
airbags and roof-rail airbags are
designed to inate in moderate
to severe crashes where
something hits the side of your
vehicle. They are not designed
to inate in frontal, in rollover,
or in rear crashes.
Everyone in your vehicle
should wear a safety belt
properly — whether or not there
is an airbag for that person.
1-24 Seats and Restraints
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{CAUTION
Airbags inate with great force,
faster than the blink of an eye.
Anyone who is up against, or
very close to, any airbag when
it inates can be seriously
injured or killed. Do not sit
unnecessarily close to the
airbag, as you would be if you
were sitting on the edge of your
seat or leaning forward. Safety
belts help keep you in position
before and during a crash.
Always wear your safety belt,
even with airbags. The driver
should sit as far back as
possible while still maintaining
control of the vehicle.
Occupants should not lean on
or sleep against the door or side
windows in seating positions
with seat-mounted side impact
airbags and/or roof-rail airbags.
{CAUTION
Airbags plus lap-shoulder
belts offer the best protection
for adults, but not for young
children and infants. Neither
the vehicle’s safety belt system
nor its airbag system is
designed for them. Young
children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint
system can provide. Always
secure children properly in
your vehicle. To read how, see
Older Children on page 1-37or
Infants and Young Children on
page 1-38.
There is an airbag readiness light
on the instrument panel cluster,
which shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag
electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an
electrical problem. SeeAirbag
Readiness Light on page 4-14
for more information.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s frontal airbag is in the
middle of the steering wheel.
The right front passenger’s frontal
airbag is in the instrument panel on
the passenger’s side.
Seats and Restraints 1-25
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Seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags are not intended to
inate in frontal impacts, near-frontal
impacts, rollovers, or rear impacts.
A seat-mounted side impact
airbag is intended to deploy on
the side of the vehicle that is struck.
A roof-rail airbag is intended to
deploy on the side of the vehicle
that is struck.
In any particular crash, no one
can say whether an airbag should
have inated simply because of
the damage to a vehicle or because
of what the repair costs were.
For frontal airbags, ination is
determined by what the vehicle hits,
the angle of the impact, and how
quickly the vehicle slows down.
For seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags, deployment is
determined by the location and
severity of the side impact.What Makes an Airbag
Inate?
In a deployment event, the sensing
system sends an electrical signal
triggering a release of gas from the
inator. Gas from the inator lls the
airbag causing the bag to break out
of the cover and deploy. The inator,
the airbag, and related hardware are
all part of the airbag module.
Frontal airbag modules are located
inside the steering wheel and
instrument panel. For vehicles with
seat-mounted side impact airbags,
there are airbag modules in the side
of the front seatbacks closest to the
door. For vehicles with roof-rail
airbags, there are airbag modules in
the ceiling of the vehicle, near the
side windows that have occupant
seating positions.
How Does an Airbag
Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or
near frontal collisions, even belted
occupants can contact the steering
wheel or the instrument panel. In
moderate to severe side collisions,
even belted occupants can contact
the inside of the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts. Frontal
airbags distribute the force of the
impact more evenly over the
occupant’s upper body, stopping
the occupant more gradually.
Seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags distribute the force
of the impact more evenly over the
occupant’s upper body.
But airbags would not help in many
types of collisions, primarily because
the occupant’s motion is not toward
those airbags. SeeWhen Should
an Airbag Inflate? on page 1-27
for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement
to safety belts.
1-28 Seats and Restraints
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If a person of adult-size is sitting
in the right front passenger’s seat,
but the off indicator is lit, it could be
because that person is not sitting
properly in the seat. If this happens,
turn the vehicle off, remove any
additional material from the seat,
such as blankets, cushions, seat
covers, seat heaters or seat
massagers and ask the person
to place the seatback in the fully
upright position, then sit upright
in the seat, centered on the seat
cushion, with the person’s legs
comfortably extended. Restart the
vehicle and have the person remain
in this position for two to three
minutes. This will allow the system
to detect that person and then enable
the right front passenger’s frontal
airbag and seat-mounted side
impact airbag.Safety belts help keep the
passenger in position on the
seat during vehicle maneuvers
and braking, which helps the
passenger sensing system maintain
the passenger airbag status.
See “Safety Belts” and “Child
Restraints” in the Index for
additional information about
the importance of proper
restraint use.{CAUTION
If the airbag readiness light in
the instrument panel cluster
ever comes on and stays on, it
means that something may be
wrong with the airbag system.
If this ever happens, have the
vehicle serviced promptly,
because an adult-size person
sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat may not have
the protection of the airbag(s).
SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 4-14for more on this,
including important safety
information.
A thick layer of additional material,
such as a blanket or cushion, or
aftermarket equipment such as
seat covers, seat heaters, and seat
massagers can affect how well the
passenger sensing system operates.
Seats and Restraints 1-33
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We recommend that you not use
seat covers or other aftermarket
equipment other than any that GM
has approved for your specic
vehicle. SeeAdding Equipment to
Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 1-35for more information about
modications that can affect how the
system operates.
The passenger sensing system may
suppress the airbag deployment
when liquid soaks into the seat.
If this happens, the off indicator
in the passenger airbag status
indicator and the airbag readiness
light on the instrument panel will
be lit. The system should resume
normal operation after the seat is
allowed to dry. If the system operates
incorrectly after the seat has dried,
have your dealer/retailer check the
system.{CAUTION
Stowing of articles under the
passenger seat or between the
passenger seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with
the proper operation of the
passenger sensing system.
Servicing Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Airbags affect how your vehicle
should be serviced. There are
parts of the airbag system in
several places around your vehicle.
Your dealer/retailer and the service
manual have information about
servicing your vehicle and the airbag
system. To purchase a service
manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 11-14.
{CAUTION
For up to 10 seconds after the
ignition is turned off and the
battery is disconnected, an
airbag can still inate during
improper service. You can be
injured if you are close to an
airbag when it inates. Avoid
yellow connectors. They are
probably part of the airbag
system. Be sure to follow
proper service procedures,
and make sure the person
performing work for you is
qualied to do so.
1-34 Seats and Restraints
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Adding Equipment to
Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add
to or change about the vehicle
that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that
change the vehicle’s frame,
bumper system, height, front end
or side sheet metal, they may
keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or
moving any parts of the front
seats, safety belts, the airbag
sensing and diagnostic module,
steering wheel, instrument
panel, roof-rail airbag modules,
ceiling headliner or pillar
garnish trim, front sensors,
or airbag wiring can affect the
operation of the airbag system.
In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
right front passenger position,which includes sensors that are
part of the passenger’s seat.
The passenger sensing system
may not operate properly if the
original seat trim is replaced
with non-GM covers, upholstery
or trim, or with GM covers,
upholstery or trim designed for a
different vehicle. Any object, such
as an aftermarket seat heater or a
comfort enhancing pad or device,
installed under or on top of the
seat fabric, could also interfere
with the operation of the
passenger sensing system.
This could either prevent proper
deployment of the passenger
airbag(s) or prevent the
passenger sensing system
from properly turning off the
passenger airbag(s). See
Passenger Sensing System
on page 1-30.
If you have any questions about
this, you should contact Customer
Assistance before you modify
your vehicle. The phone numbersand addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of the
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
in this manual. SeeCustomer
Satisfaction Procedure on
page 11-1.
Q:Because I have a disability,
I have to get my vehicle
modied. How can I nd out
whether this will affect my
airbag system?
A:If you have questions,
call Customer Assistance.
The phone numbers and
addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two
of the Customer Satisfaction
Procedure in this manual.
SeeCustomer Satisfaction
Procedure on page 11-1.
In addition, your dealer/retailer and
the service manual have information
about the location of the airbag
sensors, sensing and diagnostic
module and airbag wiring.
Seats and Restraints 1-35
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Doors and Locks
Door Locks
{CAUTION
Unlocked doors can be
dangerous.
Passengers, especially
children, can easily open the
doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. When a door
is locked, the handle will not
open it. You increase the
chance of being thrown out
of the vehicle in a crash if
the doors are not locked. So,
wear safety belts properly
and lock the doors whenever
you drive.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Young children who get into
unlocked vehicles may be
unable to get out. A child can
be overcome by extreme heat
and can suffer permanent
injuries or even death from
heat stroke. Always lock your
vehicle whenever you leave it.
Outsiders can easily enter
through an unlocked door
when you slow down or stop
your vehicle. Locking your
doors can help prevent this
from happening.
To manually lock or unlock your
vehicle, use the key in the driver’s
door from the outside to unlock
it. When the driver door is opened
the entire vehicle is unlocked. There
are also window sill knobs that
unlock each door from the inside.
Power Door Locks
The power door lock switch is
located on the instrument panel.
T(Door Lock):Press to lock
or unlock the doors, liftgate, and the
fuel tank door.
If the driver’s door is not closed
properly, the power door lock switch
will not lock the doors.
When the vehicle has been
unlocked, the key is not in the
ignition, and no door is opened the
vehicle will automatically lock
itself again after one minute.
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-5
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