instrument panel SATURN ASTRA 2009 Owner's Manual

Page 87 of 314

Speedometer and
Odometer
The speedometer shows the
vehicle’s speed in both miles per
hour (mph) or kilometers per
hour (km/h).
The odometer shows how far the
vehicle has been driven, in either
miles or kilometers.
If a new odometer is installed, the
new one is set to the mileage total
of the old odometer. If it cannot,
it will be set at zero and a label
must be put on the driver’s door to
show the old mileage reading
when the new odometer was
installed. If the mileage is unknown,
the label should then indicate
“previous mileage unknown.”
Trip Odometer(s)
The trip odometer, located at the
center of the instrument panel
cluster, tells how far the vehicle has
been driven since the trip odometer
was set to zero.To reset the trip odometer, hold the
reset stem, located to the right of
the speedometer, for approximately
one second while the trip odometer
is displayed. The engine must be
turned on.
Service Display
The vehicle may have a display
above the odometer that shows when
service is needed. The number that
displays with “INSP” is the remaining
distance that can be driven until
service is required. SeeEngine Oil
Life System on page 9-9and the
index of the Saturn Astra Limited
Warranty, Maintenance and Owner
Assistance Information Manual.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine
speed in revolutions per minute.
Safety Belt Reminders
Driver Safety Belt Reminder
Light
There is a Driver Safety Belt
Reminder Light on the instrument
panel cluster.
When the engine is started this light
and chime come on and stay on
for several seconds to remind
drivers to fasten their safety belts.
The light also begins to ash.
This cycle repeats if the driver
remains unbuckled and the vehicle
is moving.
If the driver safety belt is already
buckled, neither the light nor chime
come on.
Instruments and Controls 4-13
ProCarManuals.com

Page 115 of 314

Lighting
Lighting
Exterior Lamps Controls.....5-1
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)....................5-2
Delayed Headlamps............5-2
Fog Lamps.........................5-2
Instrument Panel
Brightness.........................5-3
Dome Lamp(s)....................5-3
Entry Lighting.....................5-3
Reading Lamps..................5-3
Trunk Lamp........................5-4
Battery Run-Down
Protection.........................5-4
Lighting
Exterior Lamps Controls
The exterior lamp control is
located on the instrument panel to
the left of the steering wheel.
Turn the exterior lamp control to the
following positions:
T(Off):Turns off the exterior lamps.AUTO (Automatic):Turns the
exterior lamps on and off
automatically, depending upon
outside lighting.
;(Parking Lamps):Turns on the
parking lamps together with the
following:
Taillamps
Sidemarkers
License Plate Lamps
2(Headlamps):Turns on the
headlamps, together with the
previously listed lamps.
After 15 minutes with the ignition
switched off and the low-beam
headlamps on, the parking lamps
turn on.
Lighting 5-1
ProCarManuals.com

Page 116 of 314

Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can
make it easier for others to see
the front of your vehicle during the
day. DRL can be helpful in many
different driving conditions, but they
can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before
sunset. Fully functional daytime
running lamps are required on all
vehicles rst sold in Canada.
The DRL system makes the
low-beam headlamps turn on at a
reduced brightness when the
following conditions are met:
The engine is running.
The light sensor determines it is
night and the exterior lamps
control is in the off position.
The light sensor determines it is
daytime.
The taillamps and other lamps will
be off.The DRL turns off when the engine
is not running.
The regular headlamps or parking
lamps should be used when needed.
Delayed Headlamps
Vehicles with headlamp exit delay,
keep the headlamps and taillamps
on for 30 seconds.
To activate:
1. Turn the ignition off and remove
the key from the ignition.
2. Open the driver door.
3. Pull the multifunction lever
toward the steering wheel.
To deactivate, do either of the
following:
Insert the key into the ignition.
Pull the multifunction lever toward
the steering wheel again while
the driver door is open.
Fog Lamps
For vehicles with fog lamps, the
button is located on the instrument
panel, to the left of the steering
wheel.
The ignition and headlamps or
parking lamps must be on to use
the fog lamps. The fog lamps will not
turn on if the high beam headlamps
or ash to pass are active.
#:Press to turn the fog lamps on
or off. An indicator light on the
instrument panel cluster comes on
when the fog lamps are on.
Some localities have laws that
require the headlamps to be
on along with the fog lamps.
5-2 Lighting
ProCarManuals.com

Page 117 of 314

Instrument Panel
Brightness
D
(Instrument Panel
Brightness):The knob with this
symbol on it is located next to
the exterior lamps control to the left
of the steering wheel. Push the
knob in all the way until it extends
out and then turn the knob clockwise
or counterclockwise to brighten or
dim the lights. Push the knob
back in when nished.
Dome Lamp(s)
There are two dome lamps. The rear
dome lamp turns on automatically
with the front dome lamp.
+(On/Off):Press to turn the front
dome lamp on or off while the
doors are closed.
Entry Lighting
With entry lighting, the interior of the
vehicle is illuminated while entering
the vehicle. The interior lamps
turn on briey when the door
is unlocked using the key or the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter and the ignition is in
LOCK/OFF. After a few seconds
have passed, the interior lamps will
slowly fade out.
Reading Lamps
Front Reading Lamps
The front reading lamps, located on
the headliner, can be controlled
separately by the buttons located
near each lamp.
\(On/Off):Press to turn the lamp
on or off.
Lighting 5-3
ProCarManuals.com

Page 144 of 314

Air Delivery Mode Control:
Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to adjust the
airow direction inside the vehicle.
To change the current air delivery
mode, select one of the following:
)(Bi-Level):Air is directed to
the instrument panel and oor
outlets. Cooler air is directed to the
upper outlets and warmer air to
the oor outlets.
Y(Vent):Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
X(Defog):Air is directed to the
windshield and front door windows.
To reduce fogging, press
#to
turn on the air conditioner. The fan
must also be on.
W(Defog/Floor):Air is directed to
the windshield, front door windows,
and oor outlets. To reduce
fogging, press
#to turn on the air
conditioner. The fan must also
be on.
[(Floor):Air is directed to the
oor outlets.
Temperature Control:Turn the
knob clockwise or counterclockwise
to increase or decrease the
temperature inside the vehicle.
Fan Control:Turn the knob
clockwise or counterclockwise to
increase or decrease the fan speed.
The speed settings can be adjusted
between 1 (Low) and 4 (High).
Turn the knob to
Ato turn the fan
off. When the fan is off, the air
conditioning compressor is also off.
There will be some airow from the
outlets when driving, even with the
fan in the off position.
Air Conditioning
For vehicles with air conditioning.
#(Air Conditioning):Press
to turn the air conditioning system
on or off. An indicator light comes on
when the air conditioning is on.
The air conditioning can only
be operated if the engine is on and
the fan is running.
When the air conditioning is on the
air is cooled and dehumidied. If
cooling or dehumidication is
not desired, turn off the air
conditioning to save fuel.
On hot days, open the windows
briey to let the hot inside air
escape, then close them. This helps
to reduce the time it takes for the
vehicle to cool down.
7-2 Climate Controls
ProCarManuals.com

Page 152 of 314

Automatic Transmission
Operation
If the vehicle has an automatic
transmission, the shift lever
is located on the console between
the seats.
The vehicle may also have an
electronic shift position indicator that
displays the position of the shift
lever. This indicator is located above
the trip odometer on the instrument
panel cluster.P (Park):This position locks the
front wheels. It is the best position to
use when the engine is started
because the vehicle cannot move
easily.
{CAUTION
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
rmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you have
to. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, always set the
parking brake and move the shift
lever to P (Park). SeeShifting Into
Park on page 8-11.Make sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the
engine. The vehicle has an
automatic transmission shift lock
control system. The regular brakes
must be applied before you can
shift from P (Park) when the ignition
key is in ON/RUN. If you cannot
shift out of P (Park) while holding the
brake pedal down, seeShifting
Out of Park on page 8-12.
R (Reverse):Use this gear to
back up.
Notice:Shifting to R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving
forward could damage the
transmission. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse)
only after the vehicle is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and
forth to get out of snow, ice, or sand
without damaging the transmission,
seeRocking Your Vehicle to Get
It Out on page 8-29.
8-6 Driving and Operating
ProCarManuals.com

Page 157 of 314

A warning chime will sound and a
brake warning light located on the
instrument panel cluster will come
on, if the parking brake is set, the
ignition is on and the vehicle speed is
greater than 5 mph (8 km/h).
Notice:Driving with the parking
brake on can overheat the
brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to
brake system parts. Make
sure that the parking brake is
fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.Shifting Into Park
{CAUTION
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake rmly set. The vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow.
1. Hold the brake pedal down and
set the parking brake. See
Parking Brake on page 8-10for
more information.2. Move the shift lever into P (Park)
by holding in the button on the
shift lever and pushing the
shift lever all the way toward the
front of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to
LOCK/OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with
you. If you can leave the vehicle
with the ignition key in your
hand, the vehicle is in P (Park).
Driving and Operating 8-11
ProCarManuals.com

Page 165 of 314

Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows the driver to steer and
brake at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
StabiliTrak®System
The vehicle may have StabiliTrak
which combines antilock brake,
traction and stability control systems
and helps the driver maintain
directional control of the vehicle
in most driving conditions.
When the vehicle is rst started and
driven away, the system performs
several diagnostic checks to ensure
there are no problems. The system
may be heard or felt while it is
working. This is normal and does not
mean there is a problem with the
vehicle. The system should initialize
before the vehicle reaches 20 mph
(32 km/h).The system monitors vehicle
movements, and helps the driver
maintain control of the vehicle in
most driving situations. When the
vehicle’s stability is affected the
engine output is reduced, and the
brakes are applied to individual
wheels.
This light on the instrument panel
cluster will come on briey when the
ignition is turned on.
StabiliTrak is automatically enabled
whenever the vehicle is started. To
assist the driver with vehicle
directional control, especially in
slippery road conditions, the system
should always be left on. The system
can be turned off if needed.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. It may also be
necessary to turn off the system
when driving in extreme off-road
conditions where high wheel spin is
required. SeeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck
in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on
page 8-29.
StabiliTrak may also turn off
automatically if it determines that a
problem exists with the system.
The light on the instrument panel
cluster will be on solid to warn
the driver that StabiliTrak is disabled
and requires service. If the problem
does not clear after restarting
the vehicle, see your dealer/retailer
for service.
Driving and Operating 8-19
ProCarManuals.com

Page 166 of 314

Thegswitch is located on the
instrument panel below the Driver
Information Center (DIC).
To turn off StabiliTrak, press and
hold the
gswitch until the light in the
switch illuminates.
To turn StabiliTrak on again, press
the
gswitch again or restart the
vehicle.
A light in the switch should come on
briey when the ignition key is
turned to ON/RUN as a check that
the light is working.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories can affect the vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 9-3for
more information.
Steering
If the engine stalls while driving, the
power steering assist system
should continue to operate until you
are able to stop the vehicle. If
power steering assist is lost because
the power steering system is not
functioning, the vehicle can be
steered but it will take more effort.
If you turn the steering wheel in
either direction several times until it
stops, or hold the steering wheel
in the stopped position for an
extended amount of time, you may
notice a reduced amount of
power steering assist. The normal
amount of power steering assist
should return shortly after a
few normal steering movements.
The power steering system does not
require regular maintenance. If you
suspect steering system problems
and/or the Service Vehicle Soon light
comes on, contact your dealer/
retailer for service repairs.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a
reasonable speed.
Traction in a curve depends on the
condition of the tires and the
road surface, the angle at which the
curve is banked, and vehicle
speed. While in a curve, speed is
the one factor that can be controlled.
If there is a need to reduce speed,
do it before entering the curve,
while the front wheels are straight.
Try to adjust the speed so you
can drive through the curve.
Maintain a reasonable, steady
speed. Wait to accelerate until out
of the curve, and then accelerate
gently into the straightaway.
8-20 Driving and Operating
ProCarManuals.com

Page 174 of 314

Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be in a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use theRoadside
Assistance Program on page 12-6.
To get help and keep everyone
in the vehicle safe:
Turn on theHazard Warning
Flashers on page 4-4.
Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{CAUTION
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may cause
exhaust gases to get inside.
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
If the vehicle is stuck in the snow:
Clear away snow from
around the base of your
vehicle, especially any that is
blocking the exhaust pipe.
Check again from time to
time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
Open a window about two
inches (5 cm) on the side of
the vehicle that is away from
the wind to bring in fresh air.
Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
Adjust the Climate Control
system to a setting that
circulates the air inside the
vehicle and set the fan speed
to the highest setting. See
Climate Control System in the
Index.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
For more information about
carbon monoxide, seeEngine
Exhaust on page 8-14.
Snow can trap exhaust gases
under your vehicle. This can
cause deadly CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside.
CO could overcome you and kill
you. You cannot see it or smell it,
so you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is blocking the
exhaust.
Run the engine for short periods
only as needed to keep warm,
but be careful.
To save fuel, run the engine for
only short periods as needed
to warm the vehicle and then shut
the engine off and close the window
most of the way to save heat.
8-28 Driving and Operating
ProCarManuals.com

Page:   < prev 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 next >