brakes SATURN AURA 2007 Owners Manual

Automatic Engine Start/Stop
{CAUTION:
Exiting your vehicle, without rst shifting
into PARK (P), may cause the vehicle to
move, you or others may be injured.
Because your vehicle has the Automatic
Engine Start/Stop feature, your vehicle’s
engine might seem to be shut off,
however, once the brake pedal is
released, the engine could start up again.
Shift to PARK (P) and turn the ignition to
OFF, before exiting the vehicle.Your vehicle has an automatic engine start/stop
feature. After the engine is started and has
reached operating temperature, the AUTO STOP
feature may cause the engine to turn off when
you apply the brakes and come to a complete
stop. When you take your foot off the brake pedal
or press the accelerator pedal, the engine will
start. The engine will continue to run until the next
AUTO STOP.
The AUTO STOP symbol on the tachometer
signies that the engine is in AUTO STOP mode.
SeeAuto Stop Mode on page 178for more
information. When the vehicle is turned off, the
tachometer will move to OFF. If the driver’s door is
opened while in AUTO STOP mode, a chime
will sound.
To restart the engine during the AUTO STOP,
release the brake pedal or press the accelerator
pedal. The engine starts immediately. The
vehicle continues to run until the next stop.
There are several conditions which may prevent
an AUTO STOP or cause an AUTO START.
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Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P)
before starting the engine. Your vehicle has an
automatic transaxle shift lock control system. You
have to fully apply the regular brakes rst and
then press the shift lever button before shifting
from PARK (P) while the ignition key is in RUN. If
you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure
on the shift lever and push the shift lever all
the way into PARK (P) while maintaining brake
application. Then press the shift lever button and
move the shift lever into another gear. See
Shifting Out of PARK (P) on page 122.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving forward could damage
the transaxle. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of
snow, ice or sand without damaging your
transaxle, seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 241.NEUTRAL (N):In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To restart the engine
while your vehicle is already moving, use
NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use NEUTRAL (N) when
your vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed is dangerous.
Unless your foot is rmly on the brake
pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift into a drive
gear while your engine is running at high
speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while the engine is running at
high speed may damage the transaxle.
The repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at
high speeds when shifting your vehicle.
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DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving with
the automatic transaxle. It provides the best fuel
economy for your vehicle. If you need more power
for passing, and you are:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push
the accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going above 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator all the way down.
Downshifting the transaxle in slippery road
conditions could result in skidding, see “Skidding”
underLoss of Control on page 226.
INTERMEDIATE (I):This position is also used for
normal driving. However, it reduces vehicle
speed without using your brakes for slight
downgrades where the vehicle would otherwise
accelerate due to the steepness of the grade.
If constant upshifting or downshifting occurs while
driving up steep hills, this position can be used
to prevent repetitive types of shifts. You might
choose INTERMEDIATE (I) instead of DRIVE (D)
when driving on hilly, winding roads, so that
there is less shifting between gears.The engine will not Auto Stop when the shifter is
in INTERMEDIATE (I). SeeStarting the Engine
(Automatic Engine Start/Stop) on page 110
for more information.
LOW (L):This position reduces vehicle speed
more than INTERMEDIATE (I) without actually
using the brakes. It can be used on very
steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the shift
lever is put in LOW (L), the transaxle will not shift
into LOW (L) until the vehicle is going slowly
enough.
The engine will not Auto Stop when the shifter is
in LOW (L). SeeStarting the Engine (Automatic
Engine Start/Stop) on page 110for more
information.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage the transaxle. If
you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When
stopping on a hill, use the brakes, or parking
brake to hold the vehicle in place.
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RES+ (Resume):Press RES+ to resume a set
speed and to accelerate the speed.
SET−(Set):Press SET– to set a speed and to
decrease the speed.
To set a speed do the following:
1. Press
Ito turn cruise control on. The
indicator light on the button comes on.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press the SET−and release it. The cruise
symbol displays in the instrument panel
cluster to show the system is engaged.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
When the brakes are applied, the cruise control
shuts off.
If the vehicle is in cruise control and the Traction
Control System (TCS) begins to limit wheel
spin, the cruise control automatically disengages.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 217.
When road conditions allow, the cruise control
can be used again.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set the cruise control at a desired
speed and then apply the brakes. This disengages
the cruise control. The cruise symbol in the
instrument panel cluster also goes out indicating
cruise is no longer engaged. To return to the
previously set speed, you do not need to
go through the set process again. Once the
vehicle is at a speed of about 25 mph (40 km/h) or
more, you can briey press the RES+.
This takes the vehicle back up to the previously
chosen speed and stays there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed.
If the cruise control system is already
engaged, press the RES+. Hold it there until
you reach the desired speed, and then release
the button.
To increase the vehicle’s speed in very small
amounts, briey press the RES+ and then
release it. Each time this is done, the vehicle
goes about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
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Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
If the cruise control system is already engaged:
Push and hold the SET−until the desired
lower speed is reached, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, briey
push the SET−. Each time this is done, the
vehicle goes about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the vehicle’s
speed. When you take your foot off the pedal,
the vehicle slows down to the previous cruise
control speed that was set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control works on hills
depends upon the vehicle’s speed, load, and the
steepness of the hills. When going up steep
hills, you might have to step on the accelerator
pedal to maintain the vehicle’s speed. When going
downhill, you might have to brake or shift to a
lower gear to keep the vehicle at a lower speed.When the brakes are applied this turns off the
cruise control. Many drivers nd this to be
too much trouble and do not use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to disengage the cruise
control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal; when cruise
control disengages, the cruise symbol in the
instrument panel cluster goes out.
Press the on/off button, to turn off the cruise
control system.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory is erased,
when the cruise control or the ignition is turned off.
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{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light
is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after you have pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
Antilock Brake System Warning
Light
Your vehicle may have
the Antilock Brake
System (ABS).
This light will come on when your engine is started
and may stay on for several seconds. This is
normal.If the light stays on, turn the ignition to off. If the
light comes on and the chime sounds when
you are driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition off. Then start the engine again to
reset the system. If the light still stays on,
or comes on again while you are driving, your
vehicle needs service. If the regular brake system
warning light is not on, you still have brakes,
but you do not have antilock brakes. If the regular
brake system warning light is also on, you do
not have antilock brakes and there is a problem
with your regular brakes. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 168earlier in this section.
The ABS warning light will come on briey
when you turn the ignition key to ON. This is
normal. If the light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a
problem.
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Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle
go where you want it to go. They are the brakes,
the steering, and the accelerator. All three
systems have to do their work at the places where
the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or
ice, it is easy to ask more of those control systems
than the tires and road can provide. That means
you can lose control of your vehicle. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 217and
Electronic Stability Control on page 219.
Adding non-Saturn accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 253.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 168.
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to
bring up your foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as two or three seconds
or more with another. Age, physical condition,
alertness, coordination, and eyesight all play a part.
So do alcohol, drugs, and frustration. But even in
three-fourths of a second, a vehicle moving at
60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That
could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and
others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary
greatly with the surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of the road,
whether it is wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the
condition of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
and the amount of brake force applied.
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Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by
heavy braking — rather than keeping pace with
traffic. This is a mistake. The brakes may not have
time to cool between hard stops. The brakes
will wear out much faster if you do a lot of heavy
braking. If you keep pace with the traffic and
allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are
driving, brake normally but do not pump the
brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to
push down. If the engine stops, you will still have
some power brake assist. But you will use it
when you brake. Once the power assist is used
up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Adding non-Saturn accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 253.Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Antilock Brake System (ABS),
an advanced electronic braking system that will
help prevent a braking skid.
When you start the engine and begin to drive
away, ABS will check itself. You might hear
a momentary motor or clicking noise while this test
is going on, and you might even notice that the
brake pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem
with ABS, this warning
light will stay on.
SeeAntilock Brake
System Warning Light
on page 169.
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Let us say the road is wet and you are driving
safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of
you. You slam on the brakes and continue braking.
Here is what happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the brakes at each
wheel.ABS can change the brake pressure faster than
any driver could. The computer is programmed to
make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the
obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, the computer keeps receiving
updates on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
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Remember: ABS does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal
or always decrease stopping distance. If you get
too close to the vehicle in front of you, you will not
have time to apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough
room up ahead to stop, even though you
have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down rmly and let antilock work for you.
You might hear the antilock pump or motor
operate, and feel the brake pedal pulsate, but this
is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With ABS, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you
more than even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle may have 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 one or
both of the front wheels are spinning or beginning
to lose traction. When this happens, the system
reduces engine power and may also upshift
the transmission to limit wheel spin. You may feel
or hear the system working, but this is normal.
Also, the traction control system activates
the appropriate corner brakes to gain even quicker
control to limit wheel spin. The LOW TRACTION
message will appear on the Driver Information
Center (DIC) when the traction control system is
limiting wheel spin.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin,
the cruise control will automatically disengage.
When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, you may re-engage the cruise control.
SeeCruise Control on page 145.
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