overheating SATURN ION 2004 Owners Manual

Certain electrical accessories may not be compatible
with the accessory power outlet and could result
in blown vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a
problem, see your dealer for additional information
on the accessory power outlet.
Notice:Adding any electrical equipment to your
vehicle may damage it or keep other components
from working as they should. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Check with your
dealer before adding electrical equipment.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow the
installation instructions included with the equipment.
Notice:Improper use of the power outlet can cause
damage not covered by your warranty. Do not
hang any type of accessory or accessory bracket
from the plug because the power outlets are
designed for accessory power plugs only.Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
Your vehicle may have an ashtray and cigarette lighter.
To use the lighter, just push it in all the way and let
go. When it’s ready, it will pop back out by itself.
Notice:Holding a cigarette lighter in while it is
heating will not allow the lighter to back away from
the heating element when it is hot. Damage from
overheating may occur to the lighter or heating
element, or a fuse could be blown. Do not hold a
cigarette lighter in while it is heating.
To remove the ashtray, lift it straight up. To reinstall it,
press the ashtray down rmly until it is fully seated.
Notice:If you put papers or other ammable items
in the ashtray, hot cigarettes or other smoking
materials could ignite them and possibly damage
your vehicle. Never put ammable items in the
ashtray.
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Low Traction Message
If your vehicle has a
traction control system
(TCS), this LOW TRAC
message will be displayed
when the system is
limiting wheel spin.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-8for
more information.
Traction Off Message
If your vehicle has a
traction control system
(TCS), this TRAC OFF
message will be displayed
briey when the system has
been turned off.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-8for
more information.
Cruise Control Message
The CRUISE message is
displayed briey when your
cruise control system
has been activated, or set
to a desired speed.
Transaxle Fluid Hot Message
If the TRANS HOT
message is displayed, the
automatic transaxle
uid may be overheating.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-29for more
information.
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Check Gage Message
If the CHK GAGE message
is displayed, the engine
coolant may be
overheated. A chime will
also sound to alert
you to this message.
If this message is displayed, check your engine coolant
temperature gage. If the needle is in the red area,
your engine may be overheating. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-35andEngine
Overheating on page 5-29for more information.
Notice:Driving with either the CHK GAGE message
or the COOLANT message displayed in the
message center and the Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage on your instrument panel in the
red zone could cause your vehicle to overheat.
See “Engine Overheating” underEngine Coolant on
page 5-26. Your vehicle could be damaged and
the damages might not be covered by your warranty.
Power Steering Message
If the PWR STR message
is displayed, a problem
has been detected with the
electric power steering.
If you suspect electric power steering problems and/or
the PWR STR message is on, see your retailer for
service and repair.
Trunk Ajar Warning Message
When the TRUNK
message is displayed,
it means the trunk lid is not
fully closed.
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Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal asher and/or extra wiring. See your
retailer if you need information. The arrows on your
instrument panel will ash whenever you signal a turn or
lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps
will also ash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving on Grades
Notice:Do not tow on steep continuous grades
exceeding 6 miles (9.6 km). Extended, higher
than normal engine and transaxle temperatures may
result and damage your vehicle. Frequent stops
are very important to allow the engine and transaxle
to cool.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility of the engine and the transmission
overheating. If your engine does overheat, seeEngine
Overheating on page 5-29.
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Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. SeeScheduled Maintenance on
page 6-4for more information. Things that are especially
important in trailer operation are automatic transaxle
uid (don’t overll), engine oil, axle lubricant, drive belt,
cooling system and brake system. Each of these is
covered in this manual, and the Index will help you nd
them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to
review this information before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-29.
Changing a Tire When Trailer Towing
If you get a at tire while towing a trailer, be sure
to secure the trailer and disconnect it from the vehicle
before changing the tire.
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Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling Your Tank............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-15
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-22
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-24
Manual Transaxle Fluid..................................5-25
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-25
Engine Coolant.............................................5-26Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-29
Engine Overheating.......................................5-29
Cooling System............................................5-32
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-37
Brakes........................................................5-38
Battery........................................................5-41
Jump Starting...............................................5-42
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-47
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-48
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-48
Headlamps (Sedan)......................................5-48
Headlamps (Coupe)......................................5-50
Front Turn Signal Lamps (Sedan)...................5-51
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps
(Coupe)...................................................5-53
Fog Lamps..................................................5-53
Sidemarker Lamps (Coupe)............................5-54
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-55
Taillamps, Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps........5-55
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-56
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
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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 5 years or 100,000 miles
(166 000 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, seeEngine Overheating on
page 5-29.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-halfclean, drinkable waterand
one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which won’t damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will.
CAUTION: (Continued)
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Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL®
coolant mixtureat the surge tank, but only when the
engine is cool. SeeCooling System on page 5-32
for instructions on how to add coolant to the coolant
surge tank.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is
hand-tight.
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
Notice:If the pressure cap is not tightly installed,
coolant loss and possible engine damage may occur.
Be sure the cap is properly and tightly secured.
If you replace your coolant surge tank pressure cap,
a Saturn cap is required.
Engine Overheating
You will nd a coolant temperature gage and a low
coolant level warning message on your vehicle’s
instrument panel. SeeEngine Coolant Temperature
Gage on page 3-35andLow Coolant Level Warning
Message on page 3-43. You also have a check
gage message and a transaxle uid hot message.
SeeCheck Gage Message on page 3-44andTransaxle
Fluid Hot Message on page 3-42.
Notice:Driving with either the CHK GAGE message
or the COOLANT message displayed in the
message center and the Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage on your instrument panel in the
red zone could cause your vehicle to overheat.
See “Engine Overheating” underEngine Coolant on
page 5-26. Your vehicle could be damaged and
the damages might not be covered by your warranty.
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The coolant level should be at the cold ll line. If it isn’t,
you may have a leak at the radiator hoses, heater
hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else in the
cooling system.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them.
If you do, you can be burned.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine re, and you could be
burned. Get any leak xed before you drive the
vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check
to see if the electric engine cooling fans are running.
If the engine is overheating, both fan should be running.
If it isn’t, your vehicle needs service. Turn off the
engine.
Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by your warranty.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
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Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where to obtain service,
see your GM Warranty booklet for details. For additional
information refer to the tire manufacturer’s booklet
included with your vehicle’s Owner’s Manual.
{CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and a
serious accident. See “Loading Your
Vehicle” in the Index.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

Underinated tires pose the same danger
as overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
Overinated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured or broken by a sudden
impact — such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents.
If your tread is badly worn, or if your tires
have been damaged, replace them.
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