check engine SATURN SKY 2007 Owner's Manual

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 your engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, Saturn recommends
the use of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
Use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 91 or higher. You may also
use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane
or higher, but your vehicle’s acceleration may
be slightly reduced, and you may notice a slight
audible knocking noise, commonly referred to
as spark knock. If the octane is less than 87,
you may notice a heavy knocking noise when
you drive. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated
at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible.
Otherwise, you might damage your engine.
If you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane
or higher and you hear heavy knocking, your
engine needs service.
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Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specication D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines may
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT). Saturn recommends against the use
of gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives
on page 236for additional information.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California
Emissions Standards, it is designed to operate
on fuels that meet California specications.
See the underhood emission control label.
If this fuel is not available in states adopting
California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specications, but emission control
system performance may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp may turn on
and your vehicle may fail a smog-check test.SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp on page 138.
If this occurs, return to your authorized Saturn
retailer for diagnosis. If it is determined that
the condition is caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs may not be covered by your warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the
United States are now required to contain additives
that will help prevent engine and fuel system
deposits from forming, allowing your emission
control system to work properly. In most cases,
you should not have to add anything to your
fuel. However, some gasolines contain only the
minimum amount of additive required to meet
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
To help keep fuel injectors and intake valves
clean, or if your vehicle experiences problems due
to dirty injectors or valves, look for gasoline that
is advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
Also, your retailer has additives that will help
correct and prevent most deposit-related problems.
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Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while it is
in your vehicle. Static electricity discharge
from the container can ignite the gasoline
vapor. You can be badly burned and your
vehicle damaged if this occurs. To help
avoid injury to you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
Do not ll a container while it is inside
a vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup
bed, or on any surface other than the
ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact with
the inside of the ll opening before
operating the nozzle. Contact should
be maintained until the lling is
complete.
Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine
parts and start a re. These include
liquids like fuel, oil, coolant, brake uid,
windshield washer and other uids, and
plastic or rubber. You or others could be
burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.
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A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 267.
B. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeCooling System on page 260.
C. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See
“Brake Fluid” underBrakes on page 268
andHydraulic Clutch on page 254.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See
“Checking Engine Oil” underEngine Oil
on page 245.
E. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine
Air Cleaner/Filter on page 252.F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on page 245.
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See
Power Steering Fluid on page 266.
H. Remote Negative (−) Ground (Out of View).
SeeJump Starting on page 272.
I. Battery (Out of View). SeeBattery on page 271.
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump
Starting on page 272.
K. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood
Fuse Block on page 328.
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A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 267.
B. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeCooling System on page 260.
C. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See
“Brake Fluid” underBrakes on page 268
andHydraulic Clutch on page 254.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 245.
E. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine
Air Cleaner/Filter on page 252.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on page 245.
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See
Power Steering Fluid on page 266.
H. Remote Negative (−) Ground (Out of View).
SeeJump Starting on page 272.
I. Battery (Out of View). SeeBattery on page 271.
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump
Starting on page 272.
K. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood
Fuse Block on page 328.Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil every time
you get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading,
the oil must be warm and the vehicle must be
on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 242
for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several
minutes to drain back into the oil pan. If you
do not do this, the oil dipstick might not
show the actual level.
2. Pull the dipstick and clean it with a paper
towel or cloth, then push it back in all the
way. Remove it again, keeping the tip down
and check the level.
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Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
Your vehicle has the Engine Oil Life System,
a computer system that lets you know when to
change the engine oil and lter. This is based
on engine revolutions and engine temperature, and
not on mileage. Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change will be indicated
can vary considerably. For the oil life system
to work properly, you must reset the system every
time the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life has
been diminished, it will indicate that an oil change
is necessary. A CHANGE OIL SOON message
will come on. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 147. Change the oil 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 oil life system may not indicate that an oil
change is necessary for over a year. However, the
engine oil and lter must be changed at least once
a year and at this time the system must be reset.Your retailer has trained service people who will
perform this work using genuine Saturn parts and
reset the system. It is also important to check your
oil regularly and keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change the oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since
the last oil change. Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
The Engine Oil Life System calculates when
to change your engine oil and lter based
on vehicle use. Anytime your oil is changed, reset
the system so it can calculate when the next oil
change is required. If a situation occurs where you
change your oil prior to a CHANGE OIL SOON
message being turned on, reset the system.
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What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water
and one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will
not damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant
mixture, you do not 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.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning system is
set for the proper coolant mixture. With
plain water or the wrong mixture, your
engine could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could
be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.Notice:If you use an improper coolant
mixture, your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost would not be
covered by your warranty. Too much water
in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times
a year, have your retailer check your cooling
system.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or
additives in your vehicle’s cooling system,
you could damage your vehicle. Use only
the proper mixture of the engine coolant
listed in this manual for the cooling system.
SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 345for more information.
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Checking Coolant
The coolant surge tank is located in the engine
compartment on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 242
for more information on location.
{CAUTION:
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when
the engine and radiator are hot can allow
steam and scalding liquids to blow out
and burn you badly. Never turn the surge
tank pressure cap — even a little — when
the engine and radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When
your engine is cold, the coolant level should be
at the COLD FILL line.
Do not overll the surge tank. Too much coolant
can result in an overow condition when the
uid is hot.
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The coolant level should be at the COLD FILL line.
If it is not, you may have a leak at the pressure cap
or in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator,
water pump, or somewhere 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.
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 fan
are running. If the engine is overheating, the fan
should be running. If they are not, your vehicle
needs service.
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 could 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.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
Notice:Your engine has a specic cooling
system drain and ll procedure. Failure
to follow this procedure could cause your
engine to overheat and be severely damaged.
If your engine’s cooling system needs to
be drained and re-lled, please see your dealer.
If you have not found a problem yet, check to
see if coolant is visible in the coolant surge tank.
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3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper
mixture, to the COLD FILL line. Wait about
ve minutes, then check to see if the level
is below the COLD FILL line. If the level
is below the line, add additional coolant to
bring the level up to the line. Repeat this
procedure until the level remains constant at
the COLD FILL line for at least ve minutes.4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off,
start the engine and let it run until you can
feel the upper radiator hose getting hot.
Watch out for the engine cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower
than the COLD FILL line, add more of the
proper mixture to the coolant surge tank until
the level reaches the COLD FILL line.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the
pressure cap is hand-tight and fully seated.
See your retailer, if necessary.
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