steering wheel SATURN L-SERIES 2004 Owners Manual

There is a air bag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows the air bag symbol.
The system checks the air bag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. SeeAir Bag Readiness Light on page 3-28
for more information.Where Are the Air Bags?
The driver’s frontal air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.
1-64
ProCarManuals.com

If your vehicle has a side impact air bag for the right
front passenger and the person seated directly behind
that passenger, it is in the ceiling above the side
windows.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
air bag, the bag might not inate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
inating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t put
anything between an occupant and an air bag,
and don’t attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering. And, because your vehicle has
side impact air bags, never secure anything to
the roof of your vehicle by routing the rope or
tiedown through any door or window opening.
If you do, the path of an inating side impact
air bag will be blocked. The path of an inating
air bag must be kept clear.
1-66
ProCarManuals.com

What Makes an Air Bag Inate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For
both frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the inator, which
inates the air bag. The inator, air bag, and related
hardware are all part of the air bag modules inside the
steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front
of the right front passenger. For vehicles with side
impact air bags, the air bag modules are located in the
ceiling of the vehicle, near the side windows.
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the
frontal air bags would not help you in many types
of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many
side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion
is not toward the air bag. Side impact air bags would not
help you in many types of collisions, including frontal
or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts,
primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward
those air bags. Air bags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and
then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal
collisions for the driver’s and right front passenger’s
frontal air bags, and only in moderate to severe
side collisions for vehicles with a driver’s and right front
passenger’s side impact air bag.
1-68
ProCarManuals.com

What Will You See After an Air Bag
Inates?
After the air bag inates, it quickly deates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag
inated. Some components of the air bag module will be
hot for a short time. These components include the
steering wheel hub for the driver’s frontal air bag and the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s frontal
air bag. For vehicles with side impact air bags, the
ceiling of your vehicle near the side windows will be hot.
The parts of the bag that come into contact with you
may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will
be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the
deated air bags. Air bag ination does not prevent
the driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle,
nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an air bag inates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe
to do so. If you have breathing problems but
can not get out of the vehicle after an air bag
inates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an air bag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock
the doors and turn the interior dome lamp on and
ash the daytime running lights on and off when the air
bags inate (if battery power is available). You can
lock the doors again and turn the interior lamps off by
using the door lock and interior lamp controls.
1-69
ProCarManuals.com

You must rst turn your ignition key to the following
ignition switch positions:
1. Turn the ignition key to the OFF position.
2. Turn the ignition key to the RUN position.
3. Turn the ignition key to the OFF position.
In many crashes severe enough to inate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
Air bags are designed to inate only once. After an
air bag inates, you will need some new parts for
your air bag system. If you do not get them, the air
bag system will not be there to help protect you
in another crash. A new system will include air bag
modules and possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace
other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information
about the air bag system. The module records
information about the readiness of the system, when
the system commands air bag ination and
driver’s safety belt usage at deployment.
Let only qualied technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air
bag system will not work properly. See your retailer
for service.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s air bag, or the side
impact air bag covering on the ceiling near the side
windows, the bag may not work properly. You
may have to replace the air bag module in the
steering wheel, both the air bag module and
the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s
air bag, or side impact air bag module and ceiling
covering for the roof-mounted side impact air
bag. Do not open or break the air bag coverings.
1-70
ProCarManuals.com

Trunk/Liftgate
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk or
liftgate open because carbon monoxide (CO)
gas can come into your vehicle. You can not
see or smell CO. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.If you must
drive with the trunk or liftgate open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections
must pass through the seal between the body
and the trunk or liftgate:
Make sure all other windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed and select the
control setting that will force outside air
into your vehicle. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-17.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 2-31.
Trunk (Sedan)
To open the trunk on your
sedan from outside of your
vehicle you may either
insert the key into the lock
cylinder and turn the
key clockwise, or press the
trunk release button.
To open the trunk on your sedan from inside your
vehicle, push the trunk release button located on the
instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel.
Your trunk release button will not function if the vehicle
is moving.
2-13
ProCarManuals.com

Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition switch, you can turn the
switch to four positions.
OFF:This position locks your steering column in a
vehicle with a manual transmission. It is a theft-deterrent
feature. You will only be able to remove your key
when the ignition is turned to OFF.Notice:If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you
can not turn it, be sure you are using the correct
key; if so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. Turn the key only with your hand. Using a
tool to force it could break the key or the ignition
switch. If none of these works, then your vehicle
needs service.
ACC (Accessory):This is the position in which you
can operate your electrical accessories. With the key in
this position, the ignition and automatic transaxle will
unlock. Use this position if your vehicle must be pushed
or towed.
RUN:This is the position for driving to which the switch
returns after you start the engine and release the
switch. The switch stays in RUN when the engine is
running. But even when the engine is not running, you
can use RUN to operate your electrical accessories
and to display some instrument panel cluster messages
and warning lights.
START:This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to RUN for normal driving.
2-20
ProCarManuals.com

Other Warning Devices
If you carry reective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind your
vehicle.
Horn
You can sound the horn by pressing the center of your
steering wheel.
Tilt Wheel
Your vehicle may have a tilt wheel which allows you to
adjust the steering wheel before you drive. You can
raise it to the highest level to give your legs more room
when you exit and enter the vehicle.
The lever that allows you to tilt the steering wheel is
located on the left side of the steering column.To tilt the wheel, hold the
wheel and pull the lever.
Then, move the wheel to a
comfortable position and
release the lever to
lock the wheel in place.
3-5
ProCarManuals.com

Cruise Control
The buttons for the cruise control are located on the
steering wheel.
IO(Cruise On/Off):Push this button to turn the
system on and off.
IS(Resume/Accelerate):Push this button to
make the vehicle resume a previously set speed or to
accelerate when cruise is already active.
–(Set/Coast):Press this button to set the speed or to
decrease the speed when cruise is already active.With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can really help on long
trips. Cruise control does not work at speeds below
about 25 mph (40 km/h).
If you apply your brakes, the cruise control will shut off.
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can not drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use your cruise control on winding roads
or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause needless wheel spinning,
and you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-9. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may turn
the cruise control back on.
3-10
ProCarManuals.com

Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness
This feature controls the brightness of the instrument
panel lights.
The thumbwheel for this
feature is located on the
instrument panel to the left
of the steering column.
Turn the thumbwheel up to brighten the lights or down
to dim them.
Entry Lighting
If the dome lamp is in the DOOR position, the lamps
inside your vehicle will come on when any door is
opened. In addition, the light will come on when the
remote keyless entry unlock button is pressed. It will stay
on for 20 seconds or until a door is opened. After the door
is opened the light will remain on and stay on for
20 seconds after the doors are closed, or until you put the
key in the ignition and turn the key to RUN. The light will
then gradually dim until it is no longer lit.
Dome Lamp
The dome lamp switch has three positions.
ON:The lamp will stay on as long as the switch is in
this position.
DOOR:The lamp will come on when a door is opened.
See “Entry Lighting” for more information.
OFF:The lamp will not come on as long as the switch
is in this position.
Map Lamps
Your vehicle may have map lamps on the rearview
mirror. Press the button next to the lamp to turn it on
and off.
3-15
ProCarManuals.com