maintenance SATURN ION 2007 User Guide

Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when
you are pulling a trailer. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 391for 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 are 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 297.
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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Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 327
Tires............................................................ 328
Winter Tires (Red Line)............................. 329
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 330
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 334
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 337
High-Speed Operation............................... 338
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 339
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 341
Buying New Tires...................................... 341
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 343
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 344
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 346
Wheel Replacement.................................. 346
Tire Chains............................................... 348
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 349
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 350
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 351
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire....................................... 356
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...... 362
Compact Spare Tire.................................. 365Appearance Care........................................ 366
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 366
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 367
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 368
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 369
Weatherstrips............................................ 369
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 369
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 370
Finish Care............................................... 370
Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 370
Aluminum Wheels...................................... 371
Tires......................................................... 372
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 372
Finish Damage.......................................... 372
Underbody Maintenance............................ 372
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 373
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 373
Vehicle Identication.................................. 374
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)........... 374
Service Parts Identication Label............... 374
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
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California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Engine exhaust, many parts and
systems (including some inside the vehicle), many
uids, and some component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these chemicals.
Doing Your Own Service Work
{CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could
be damaged if you try to do service work
on a vehicle without knowing enough
about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement
parts, and tools before you attempt any
vehicle maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts,
and other fasteners. English and metric
fasteners can be easily confused. If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later
break or fall off. You could be hurt.
If you want to do some of your own service work,
you should use the proper service manual. It
tells you much more about how to service your
vehicle than this manual can. To order the proper
service manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 425.
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Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work, see
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 82.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of any service
work you perform. SeeMaintenance Record
on page 406.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your
vehicle can affect the airow around it. This may
cause wind noise and affect windshield washer
performance. Check with your retailer before
adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part
of the proper maintenance of your vehicle.
To help keep the engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, Saturn recommends
the use of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline.
The 8th digit of the Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN) shows the code letter or number
that identies your vehicle’s engine. The VIN is at
the top left of the instrument panel. SeeVehicle
Identication Number (VIN) on page 374.
Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 2.2L L4 engine (VIN Code F),
use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is less
than 87, you may notice an audible knocking noise
when you drive, commonly referred to as spark
knock. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher as soon as possible. If you are
using gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher and you
hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
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When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/lter at the MaintenanceII
intervals and replace it at the rst oil change
after each 50,000 mile (83 000 km) interval. See
Scheduled Maintenance on page 391for more
information. If you are driving in dusty/dirty
conditions, inspect the lter at each engine oil
change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/lter remove the lter
from the vehicle and lightly shake the lter to
release loose dust and dirt. If the lter remains
caked with dirt, a new lter is required.To inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/lter,
do the following:
1. Loosen the hose clamp that is on the inlet
duct on the cover and pull off the hose.
2. For vehicles that have the 2.2L L4 or 2.4L L4
engine, release the two clips and turn the cover
upward to unhook the hinges. For vehicles that
have the 2.0L L4 Supercharged engine,
remove the three screws on the cover.
3. Pull the air cleaner/lter box cover out and
remove the air lter element from the air lter
box. If the element is dirty, you should replace
it. If the element is only dusty, it may be
cleaned by blowing compressed air through it
from the clean side. Make sure you are away
from your engine compartment when cleaning
the air lter with compressed air.
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Manual Transaxle Fluid
It is not necessary to check the transaxle uid level.
A transaxle uid leak is the only reason for uid
loss. If a leak occurs, take the vehicle to your
retailer’s service department and have it repaired
as soon as possible. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 402for 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 308for 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, seeEngine
Overheating on page 297.
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 the
rst maintenance service after each
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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Brake Pedal Travel
See your retailer if the brake pedal does not return
to normal height, or if there is a rapid increase
in pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake
trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a moderate brake stop, your
brakes adjust for wear. If you rarely make a
moderate or heavier stop, then your brakes might
not adjust correctly. If you drive in that way,
then — very carefully — make a few moderate
brake stops about every 1,000 miles (1 600 km),
so your brakes will adjust properly.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have to be of top quality and work
well together if the vehicle is to have really
good braking. Your vehicle was designed and
tested with top-quality brake parts. When
you replace parts of your braking system — for
example, when your brake linings wear down and
you need new ones put in — be sure you get
new approved Saturn replacement parts. If you do
not, your brakes may no longer work properly.For example, if someone puts in brake linings that
are wrong for your vehicle, the balance between
your front and rear brakes can change — for
the worse. The braking performance you have
come to expect can change in many other ways if
someone puts in the wrong replacement brake
parts.
Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery.
When it is time for a new battery, get one that has
the replacement number shown on the original
battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco
®
replacement battery.
Your vehicle’s battery is located in the trunk next
to the compact spare tire. To access the
battery, use the trunk’s oor carpet latch to lift the
cover up.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.
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Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for
wear and cracking. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 391for more information.
Replacement blades come in different types and
are removed in different ways. For proper type and
length, seeNormal Maintenance Replacement
Parts on page 404.
To replace the windshield wiper blade assembly
do the following:
1. Lift the wiper arm away from the windshield.2. Push the release lever (B) to disengage the
hook and push the wiper arm (A) out of the
blade (C).
3. Push the new wiper blade securely on the
wiper arm until you hear the release lever
click into place.
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The low-prole performance tires, size
215/45ZR17, require tire ination pressure
adjustment when driving your vehicle at speeds of
100 mph (160 km/h) or higher. Set the cold tire
ination pressure to 33 psi (227 kPa) for the front
and rear tires when operating your vehicle at
high-speed conditions.
When you end high-speed driving, return the tires
to the cold ination pressure shown on the Tire
and Loading Information Label. SeeLoading Your
Vehicle on page 250andInation - Tire Pressure
on page 337.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your
tires as soon as possible and check wheel
alignment. Also check for damaged tires or wheels.
SeeWhen It Is Time for New Tires on page 341
andWheel Replacement on page 346for
more information.The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The
rst rotation is the most important. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 391.
When rotating non-directional tires, always use the
correct rotation pattern shown here.Non-Directional Tires
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If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your vehicle’s
tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is
much more likely to leak out slowly. But if you
should ever have a blowout, here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag
that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel rmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, and then gently brake to a stop well out
of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much
like a skid and may require the same correction
you would use in a skid. In any rear blowout
remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
Get the vehicle under control by steering the way
you want the vehicle to go. It may be very
bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop, well off the road if possible.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. The jack provided with your
vehicle is designed only for changing a
at tire. If it is used for anything else, you
or others could be badly injured or killed
if the vehicle slips off the jack. Use the
jack provided with your vehicle only for
changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to use the
jacking equipment to change a at tire safely.
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