brakes SATURN RELAY 2007 Owners Manual

Automatic Transaxle Operation
Maximum engine speed is limited when you are in
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), to protect driveline
components from improper operation.
There are several different positions for your
shift lever.
PARK (P):This gear position locks your front
wheels. It is the best position to use when you start
your engine because your vehicle cannot move
easily.
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 must fully apply your regular brakes rst and
then press the shift lever button before you can shift
from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in RUN.If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure
on the shift lever and psh the shift lever all the way
info PARK (P) as you maintain brake application.
Then press the shift lever button and move the shift
lever into another gear. SeeShifting Out of Park (P)
on page 149.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle
can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle will not
move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, always set your parking brake
and move the shift lever to PARK (P). See
Shifting Into Park (P) on page 148.Ifyou
are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer
on page 398.
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DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving.
It provides the best fuel economy for your vehicle.
If you need more power for passing, and you are:
Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push
the accelerator all the way down.
The vehicle will shift down to the next gear and
have more power.
Downshifting the transaxle in slippery road
conditions could result in skidding, see Skidding
underLoss of Control on page 374
Notice:If your vehicle seems to start up
rather slowly or not shift gears when you go
faster, and you continue to drive your vehicle
that way, you could damage the transaxle.
Have your vehicle serviced right away. You can
drive in SECOND (2) when you are driving
less than 35 mph (55 km/h) and DRIVE (D) for
higher speeds until then.
Warm-Up Shift
Your vehicle has a computer controlled transaxle
designed to warm up the engine faster when
the outside temperature is 35°F (2°C) or colder.
You may notice that the transaxle will shift at
a higher vehicle speed until the engine is warmed
up. This is a normal condition designed to
provide heat to the passenger compartment and
defrost the windows more quickly. SeeClimate
Control System on page 205andDual Climate
Control System on page 209for more information.
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal
driving. It reduces vehicle speed more than
DRIVE (D) without using your brakes. You might
choose THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D) when
driving on hilly, winding roads, when towing
a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears
and when going down a steep hill.
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SECOND (2):This position reduces vehicle speed
more than DRIVE (D) without using your brakes.
You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help
control your speed as you go down steep mountain
roads, but then you would also want to use your
brakes off and on.
Notice:Driving in SECOND (2) for more than
25 miles (40 km) or at speeds over 55 mph
(90 km/h) may damage the transaxle. Also,
shifting into SECOND (2) at speeds above
65 mph (105 km/h) can cause damage. Drive in
THIRD (3) or DRIVE (D) instead of SECOND (2).
Notice:If your vehicle seems to start up
rather slowly, or if it seems not to shift gears
as you go faster, something may be wrong with
a transaxle system sensor. If you drive very
far that way, your vehicle can be damaged.
So, if this happens, have your vehicle serviced
right away. Until then, you can use SECOND (2)
when you are driving less than 35 mph
(55 km/h) and THIRD (3) for higher speeds.FIRST (1):This position reduces vehicle speed
even more than SECOND (2) without using
your brakes. You can use it on very steep hills, or
in deep snow or mud. If the shift lever is put in
FIRST (1) while the vehicle is moving forward, the
transaxle will not shift into rst gear until the
vehicle is going slowly enough.
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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Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift
your vehicle into PARK (P) properly, the weight
of the vehicle may put too much force on the
parking pawl in the transaxle. You may nd
it difficult to pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
This is called torque lock. To prevent torque
lock, set the parking brake and then shift into
PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver’s
seat. To nd out how, seeShifting Into Park (P)
on page 148.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift
lever out of PARK (P) before you release the
parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have
another vehicle push yours a little uphill to
take some of the pressure from the parking pawl
in the transaxle, so you can pull the shift lever
out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system which locks the shift lever in
PARK (P) when the ignition is in the LOCK
position. In addition, you must fully apply your
regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P)
when the ignition is in RUN. SeeAutomatic
Transaxle Operation on page 143.
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Cruise control allows a speed of approximately
25 mph (40 km/h) or more to be maintained
without keeping your foot on the accelerator. This
is helpful on long trips. Cruise control does not
work at speeds below about 25 mph (40 km/h).
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 will automatically
disengage. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on
page 365. When road conditions allow, the
cruise control can be used again.
Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when
you are not using cruise, you might hit a
button and go into cruise when you do not
want to. You could be startled and even
lose control. Keep the cruise control switch
off until you want to use cruise control.1. Push the button at the end of the cruise
control lever to turn the cruise control on.
2. Accelerate to the desired speed.
3. Push down on the cruise control lever and
release it. This will set the speed in cruise
control.
4. Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
This symbol will appear
on the instrument panel
cluster when the
cruise control is set.
This symbol will disappear when the brakes are
applied or the cruise control is cancelled. It will
reappear when the set cruise speed is resumed.
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Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a desired speed and
then the brakes are applied, the cruise control shuts
off. But the cruise control does not need to be reset.
Once the vehicle is traveling approximately
25 mph (40 km/h) or more, the cruise control
lever can be pushed upward toward the plus
(resume/accelerate) position to return to the preset
cruise speed.
The vehicle will return to and stay at the preset
cruise speed. If the cruise control lever is pushed
up and held toward the plus (resume/accelerate)
position, the vehicle speed will increase until
the lever is released or the brakes are applied.
Do not continue to hold the lever in the plus
(resume/accelerate) position, unless a faster speed
is desired.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher
speed. Push up on the cruise control lever
toward the plus (resume/accelerate) position,
then release the lever and take your foot
off the accelerator pedal. The vehicle will now
cruise at the higher speed.
Push up and hold the cruise control lever
toward the plus (resume/accelerate) position
until the vehicle reaches the desired speed.
Then release the cruise control lever. To
increase the vehicle’s speed in very small
amounts, push up briey on the cruise control
lever and release it. Each time this is done,
the vehicle will speed up approximately
one mph (1.6 km/h).
The acceleration feature will only work after the
cruise control speed has been set by pushing the
cruise control lever down to the set position.
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Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce the vehicle’s speed
while using cruise control:
Push the cruise control lever downward
toward the minus (set/coast/decelerate)
position until a lower speed is reached, then
release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, push the
cruise control lever downward toward the
minus (set/coast/decelerate) position briey.
Each time this is done, the vehicle will
slow down approximately one mph (1.6 km/h).
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 will slow down to the cruise control
speed set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work on hills
depends upon the vehicle’s speed, its load, and
the steepness of the hills. When going up
steep hills, the accelerator pedal might have to be
used in order to maintain the vehicle’s speed.
When going downhill, the brakes might have to be
applied, or the transaxle might have to be
shifted to a lower gear to keep the vehicle’s speed
down. Doing either of these things will take the
vehicle out of cruise. It may be better not to
use the cruise control if the brakes constantly have
to be applied, or the vehicle continuously needs
to be shifted to a lower gear.
Cancelling Cruise Control
To cancel a cruise control session, pull the cruise
control lever forward, or step lightly on the
brake pedal.
Doing either of these things will only end the
current cruise control session, but the set speed
will be retained in memory.
Push the button at the end of the cruise control
lever to turn the system off.
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How the System Works
Unless disabled, the URPA will turn on
automatically when the shift lever is moved into
REVERSE (R). When the system turns on,
the three lights on the display will illuminate for
one and a half seconds to let you know that
the system is working. If your vehicle is moving in
REVERSE (R) at a speed greater than 3 mph
(5 km/h), the red light will ash to remind you that
the system does not work at speed greater
than 3 mph (5 km/h).
If an object is detected at a REVERSE (R) speed
of less than 3 mph (5 km/h), one of the following
will occur:
Description English Metric
amber light 5 ft 1.5 m
amber/amber lights 40 in 1.0 m
amber/amber/red lights &
continuous chime20 in 0.5 m
amber/amber/red lights
ashing & continuous
chime1 ft 0.3 m
A chime will sound the rst time an object is
detected between 20 inches (0.5 m) and 5 feet
(1.5 m) away.URPA cannot detect objects that are above liftgate
level. In order for the rear sensors to recognize
an object, it must be within detection range behind
the vehicle.
When the System Does Not Seem to Work
Properly
The light may ash red when the vehicle is in
REVERSE (R) if the ultrasonic sensors are not kept
clean. So be sure to keep your rear bumper free of
mud, dirt, snow, ice and slush. Other conditions that
may affect system performance include things like
the vibrations from a jackhammer or the
compression of air brakes on a very large truck. If
after cleaning the rear bumper and then driving
forward at least 15 mph (25 km/h), the display
continues to ash red, see your retailer.
If a trailer was attached to your vehicle, or a
bicycle or an object was on the back of, or hanging
out of your liftgate during your last drive cycle,
the light may also ash red. The light will continue
to ash whenever in REVERSE (R) until your
vehicle is driven forward at least 15 mph (25 km/h)
without any obstructions behind the vehicle.
For cleaning instructions, seeWashing Your
Vehicle on page 505.
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This light should come on briey when you turn
the ignition key to RUN. If it doesn’t come on then,
have it xed so it will be ready to warn you if
there’s a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. You may notice
that the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal
may go closer to the oor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle
towed for service. SeeAnti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light on page 227andTowing Your
Vehicle on page 396.
{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.
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
Your vehicle has an
Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS) warning light.
This light should come on for a few seconds when
you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the light
does not come on then, have it xed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If this light stays on longer than normal after you
have started your engine, turn the ignition off. If the
light comes on and stays on 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, the ABS needs service
and you do not have anti-lock brakes.
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Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
Your vehicle is equipped
with a traction control
system warning light.
The traction control system warning light may
come on for the following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the
traction control button. To turn the system
back on, press the button again. The warning
light should go off. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 365for more
information.
If there’s a brake system problem that is
specically related to traction control, the
traction control system will turn off and
the warning light will come on. If your brakes
begin to overheat, the traction control
system will turn off and the warning light will
come on until your brakes cool down.
If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will turn
off and the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes
on and stays on for an extended period of
time when the system is turned on, your vehicle
needs service.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If
the red gage lamp turns on, your engine is too hot!
United StatesCanada
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