maintenance SATURN ION 2007 Owner's Manual

Tires
To clean the tires, use a stiff brush with tire
cleaner.
Notice:Using petroleum-based tire dressing
products on your vehicle may damage the
paint nish and/or tires. When applying a tire
dressing, always wipe off any overspray
from all painted surfaces on your vehicle.
Sheet Metal Damage
If the vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair
shop applies anti-corrosion material to parts
repaired or replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Original manufacturer replacement parts will
provide the corrosion protection while maintaining
the warranty.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in
the nish should be repaired right away. Bare
metal will corrode quickly and may develop into
major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with
touch-up materials available from your Saturn
retailer. Larger areas of nish damage can
be corrected in your Saturn retailer’s body and
paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and
dust control can collect on the underbody. If these
are not removed, corrosion and rust can develop
on the underbody parts such as fuel lines,
frame, oor pan and exhaust system even though
they have corrosion protection.
At least every spring, ush these materials from
the underbody with plain water. Clean any
areas where mud and debris can collect.
Dirt packed in close areas of the frame should be
loosened before being ushed. Your Saturn
retailer or an underbody car washing system can
do this for you.
372
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule................................ 388
Introduction............................................... 388
Maintenance Requirements........................ 388
Your Vehicle and the Environment............ 388
Using the Maintenance Schedule............... 389
Scheduled Maintenance............................. 391
Additional Required Services..................... 394
Maintenance Footnotes.............................. 395Owner Checks and Services..................... 397
At Each Fuel Fill....................................... 398
At Least Once a Month............................. 398
At Least Once a Year............................... 399
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants........ 402
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ... 404
Engine Drive Belt Routing......................... 405
Maintenance Record.................................. 406
Section 6 Maintenance Schedule
387
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule
Introduction
Important: Keep engine oil at the proper level
and change as recommended.
Maintenance Requirements
Notice:Maintenance intervals, checks,
inspections, replacement parts, and
recommended uids and lubricants as
prescribed in this manual are necessary to
keep your vehicle in good working condition.
Any damage caused by failure to follow
scheduled maintenance might not be covered
by warranty.
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep
your vehicle in good working condition, but also
helps the environment. All recommended
maintenance is important. Improper vehicle
maintenance can even affect the quality of the air
we breathe. Improper uid levels or the wrong
tire ination can increase the level of emissions
from your vehicle. To help protect our environment,
and to keep your vehicle in good condition, be
sure to maintain your vehicle properly.
388
ProCarManuals.com

Using the Maintenance Schedule
We at Saturn want to help you keep your vehicle
in good working condition. But we do not know
exactly how you will drive it. You may drive
very short distances only a few times a week.
Or you may drive long distances all the time
in very hot, dusty weather. You may use your
vehicle in making deliveries. Or you may drive it to
work, to do errands, or in many other ways.
Because of all the different ways people use their
vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may
need more frequent checks and replacements.
So please read the following and note how
you drive. If you have any questions on how to
keep your vehicle in good condition, see your
Saturn retailer.This schedule is for vehicles that:carry passengers and cargo within
recommended limits. You will nd these limits
on the Tire and Loading Information label.
SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 250.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within
legal driving limits.
use the recommended fuel. SeeGasoline
Octane on page 272.
389
ProCarManuals.com

The services inScheduled Maintenance on
page 391should be performed when indicated.
SeeAdditional Required Services on page 394and
Maintenance Footnotes on page 395for further
information.
{CAUTION:
Performing maintenance work on a
vehicle can be dangerous. In trying to do
some jobs, you can be seriously injured.
Do your own maintenance work only if
you have the required know-how and the
proper tools and equipment for the job.
If you have any doubt, see your retailer to
have a qualied technician do the work.
SeeDoing Your Own Service Work on
page 271.
Some maintenance services can be complex.
So, unless you are technically qualied and have
the necessary equipment, you should have your
Saturn retailer do these jobs.When you go to your Saturn retailer for your
service needs, you will know that Saturn-trained
and supported service technicians will perform the
work using genuine Saturn parts.
If you want to purchase service information, see
Service Publications Ordering Information on
page 425.
Owner Checks and Services on page 397tells you
what should be checked, when to check it, and
what you can easily do to help keep your vehicle in
good condition.
The proper replacement parts, uids, and
lubricants to use are listed inRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 402andNormal
Maintenance Replacement Parts on page 404.
When your vehicle is serviced, make sure these
are used. All parts should be replaced and all
necessary repairs done before you or anyone else
drives the vehicle. We recommend the use of
genuine Saturn parts.
390
ProCarManuals.com

Scheduled Maintenance
When the CHG OIL message in the message
center comes on, it means that service is required
for your vehicle. SeeChange Engine Oil
Message on page 183. Have your vehicle serviced
as soon as possible within the next 600 miles
(1 000 km). It is possible that, if you are driving
under the best conditions, the engine oil life
system may not indicate that vehicle service is
necessary for over a year. However, your engine
oil and lter must be changed at least once a
year and at this time the system must be reset.
Your Saturn retailer has Saturn-trained service
technicians who will perform this work using
genuine Saturn parts and reset the system.If the engine oil life system is ever reset
accidentally, you must service your vehicle within
3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your last service.
Remember to reset the oil life system whenever
the oil is changed. SeeEngine Oil Life System on
page 288for information on the Engine Oil Life
System and resetting the system.
When the CHG OIL message appears, certain
services, checks, and inspections are required.
Required services are described in the following
for “MaintenanceI” and “MaintenanceII.”
Generally, it is recommended that your rst service
be MaintenanceI, your second service be
MaintenanceII, and that you alternate
MaintenanceIand MaintenanceIIthereafter.
However, in some cases, MaintenanceIImay be
required more often.
391
ProCarManuals.com

MaintenanceI— Use MaintenanceIif the CHG
OIL message comes on within 10 months since
the vehicle was purchased or MaintenanceIIwas
performed.MaintenanceII— Use MaintenanceIIif the
previous service performed was MaintenanceI.
Always use MaintenanceIIwhenever the message
comes on 10 months or more since the last
service or if the message has not come on at all
for one year.
Scheduled Maintenance
Service MaintenanceIMaintenanceII
Change engine oil and lter. SeeEngine Oil on page 283. Reset oil life system.
SeeEngine Oil Life System on page 288.An Emission Control Service.••
Visually check for any leaks or damage.See footnote (j).••
Inspect engine air cleaner lter. If necessary, replace lter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 290.See footnote (l).•
Rotate tires and check ination pressures and wear. SeeTire Inspection and
Rotation on page 339and “Tire Wear Inspection” inAt Least Once a Month on
page 398.••
Inspect brake system.See footnote (a).••
392
ProCarManuals.com

Scheduled Maintenance (cont’d)
Service MaintenanceIMaintenanceII
Check engine coolant and windshield washer uid levels. If you have the
2.0L L4 supercharged engine, check intercooler uid level. Add uid as
needed.••
Perform any needed additional services. See “Additional Required Services” in
this section.••
Inspect suspension and steering components.See footnote (b).•
Inspect engine cooling system.See footnote (c).•
Inspect wiper blades.See footnote (d).•
Inspect restraint system components.See footnote (e).•
Lubricate body components.See footnote (f).•
Replace passenger compartment air lter.See footnote (k).•
Inspect throttle system.See footnote (g).•
393
ProCarManuals.com

Additional Required Services
The following services should be performed at the rst maintenance service (IorII) after the indicated
miles (kilometers) shown for each item.
Additional Required Services
Service and Miles (Kilometers)25,000
(40 000)50,000
(80 000)75,000
(120 000)100,000
(160 000)125,000
(200 000)150,000
(240 000)
Inspect fuel system for damage
or leaks.• •••••
Inspect exhaust system for loose or
damaged components.• •••••
Replace engine air cleaner lter. See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 290.•••
Change automatic transaxle uid
(severe service).See footnote (h).•••
Change automatic transaxle uid
(normal service).•
Replace spark plugs.An Emission
Control Service.•
Replace engine fuel lter.An Emission
Control Service. See footnote †.•
Engine cooling system service (or
every ve years, whichever occurs rst).
An Emission Control Service.
See footnote (i).•
394
ProCarManuals.com

Additional Required Services (cont’d)
Service and Miles (Kilometers)25,000
(40 000)50,000
(80 000)75,000
(120 000)100,000
(160 000)125,000
(200 000)150,000
(240 000)
2.0L Supercharged Engine: Intercooler
system service (or every ve years,
whichever occurs rst).See footnote (n).•
Except 2.0L L4 Supercharged engine:
Inspect engine accessory drive belt.
An Emission Control Service. See
footnote (m).•
2.0L L4 Supercharged engine only:
Inspect engine accessory drive belt.
An Emission Control Service.
See footnote (m).•••
Maintenance Footnotes
†The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or
the California Air Resources Board has determined
that the failure to perform this maintenance item
will not nullify the emission warranty or limit
recall liability prior to the completion of the
vehicle’s useful life. We, however, urge that all
recommended maintenance services be performed
at the indicated intervals and the maintenance
be recorded.(a)Visually inspect brake lines and hoses for
proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks, chang,
etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors for
surface condition. Inspect drum brake
linings/shoes for wear or cracks. Inspect other
brake parts, including drums, wheel cylinders,
calipers, parking brake, etc.
(b)Visually inspect front and rear suspension and
steering system for damaged, loose, or missing
parts or signs of wear.
395
ProCarManuals.com