belt SATURN SKY 2007 Owner's Guide

Airbag System
Your vehicle has an airbag for the driver and an
airbag for the right front passenger.
Airbags are designed to supplement the protection
provided by safety belts. Even though today’s
airbags are also designed to help reduce the risk
of injury from the force of an inating bag, all
airbags must inate very quickly to do their job.
Here are the most important things to know about
the airbag system:
{CAUTION:
You can be severely injured or killed in a
crash if you are not wearing your safety
belt — even if you have airbags. Wearing
your safety belt during a crash helps
reduce your chance of hitting things
inside the vehicle or being ejected from it.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Airbags are “supplemental restraints” to
the safety belts. All airbags are designed
to work with safety belts, but do not
replace them.
{CAUTION:
Airbags are designed to deploy in
moderate to severe frontal and near
frontal crashes. They are not designed to
inate in rollover, rear crashes, or in many
side crashes. And, for some unrestrained
occupants, airbags may provide less
protection in frontal crashes than more
forceful airbags have provided in the past.
Everyone in your vehicle should wear a
safety belt properly — whether or not
there is an airbag for that person.
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{CAUTION:
Airbags inate with great force, faster
than the blink of an eye. If you are too
close to an inating airbag, as you would
be if you were leaning forward, it could
seriously injure you. Safety belts help
keep you in position before and during a
crash. Always wear your safety belt, even
with airbags. The driver should sit as far
back as possible while still maintaining
control of the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Anyone who is up against, or very close to,
any airbag when it inates can be seriously
injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder
belts offer the best protection for adults,
but not for young children and infants.
Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor
its airbag system is designed for them.
Young children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint system can
provide. Always secure children properly
in your vehicle. To read how, seeOlder
Children on page 28andInfants and Young
Children on page 30.
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In any particular crash, no one can say whether
an airbag should have inated simply because
of the damage to a vehicle or because of what
the repair costs were. Ination is determined
by what the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact,
and how quickly the vehicle slows down.
What Makes an Airbag Inate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag
sensing system detects that the vehicle is
in a crash. The sensing system triggers a release
of gas from the inator, which inates the
airbag. The inator, airbag, and related hardware
are all part of the airbag modules inside the
steering wheel and in the instrument panel in
front of the right front passenger.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the
steering wheel or the instrument panel. The
airbag supplements the protection provided by
safety belts. Airbags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually.But airbags 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 those airbags.
Airbags 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.
What Will You See After an
Airbag Inates?
After an airbag inates, it quickly deates, so
quickly that some people may not even realize
the airbag inated. Some components of the
airbag module — the steering wheel hub for the
driver’s airbag or the instrument panel for the
right front passenger’s airbag — may be hot for a
short time. The parts of the airbag that come
into contact with you may be warm, but not too
hot to touch. There may be some smoke and dust
coming from the vents in the deated airbags.
Airbag ination does not prevent the driver from
seeing out of the windshield or being able to
steer the vehicle, nor does it prevent people from
leaving the vehicle.
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When the passenger sensing system has turned
off the passenger’s frontal airbag, the off indicator
in the instrument panel will light and stay lit to
remind you that the airbag is off. SeePassenger
Airbag Status Indicator on page 131.
If a child restraint has been installed and the on
indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child
restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child
restraint following the child restraint manufacturer’s
directions and refer toSecuring a Child Restraint
in the Passenger Seat Position on page 38.
If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting
the vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to
make sure that the vehicle’s seatback is not
pressing the child restraint into the seat cushion.
If this happens, slightly recline the vehicle’s
seatback and adjust the seat cushion if possible.
If the on indicator is still lit, do not install a child
restraint in this vehicle and check with your retailer.
The passenger sensing system is designed to
enable (may inate) the passenger’s frontal airbag
anytime the system senses that a person of adult
size is sitting properly in the passenger’s seat.When the passenger sensing system has allowed
the airbag to be enabled, the on indicator will light
and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is active.
For some children who have outgrown child
restraints and for very small adults, the passenger
sensing system may or may not turn off the
passenger’s frontal airbag, depending upon the
person’s seating posture and body build. Everyone
in your vehicle who has outgrown child restraints
should wear a safety belt properly — whether
or not there is an airbag for that person.
If a person of adult-size is sitting in the
passenger’s seat, but the off indicator is lit, it
could be because that person is not sitting properly
in the seat. If this happens, turn the vehicle off
and ask the person to place the seatback in
the fully upright position, then sit upright in the
seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the
person’s legs comfortably extended. Restart the
vehicle and have the person remain in this position
for about two minutes. This will allow the system
to detect that person and then enable the
passenger’s airbag.
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Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to the front
of the vehicle that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your
vehicle’s frame, bumper system, height,
front end or side sheet metal, they may keep
the airbag system from working properly.
Also, the airbag system may not work properly
if you relocate any of the airbag sensors.
If you have any questions about this,
you should contact Customer Assistance
before you modify your vehicle. The phone
numbers and addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of theCustomer
Satisfaction Procedure on page 354.
Q:Because I have a disability, I have to get
my vehicle modied. How can I nd out
whether this will affect my airbag system?
A:Changing or moving any parts of the
front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing
and diagnostic module, steering wheel,
the instrument panel, or airbag wiring can
affect the operation of the airbag system.
If you have questions, call Customer
Assistance. The phone numbers and
addresses for Customer Assistance are in
Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction
Procedure in this manual. SeeCustomer
Satisfaction Procedure on page 354.
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Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder
light and all your belts, buckles, latch plates,
retractors and anchorages are working properly.
Look for any other loose or damaged safety
belt system parts. If you see anything that might
keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have
it repaired. SeeCare of Safety Belts on page 318
for more information.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in
a crash. They can rip apart under impact forces.
If a belt is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.Also look for any opened or broken airbag covers,
and have them repaired or replaced. The airbag
system does not need regular maintenance.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the
driver’s or the right front passenger’s airbag,
the airbag may not work properly. You may
have to replace the airbag module in the
steering wheel or both the airbag module
and the instrument panel for the right front
passenger’s airbag. Do not open or break
the airbag coverings.
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Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
{CAUTION:
A crash can damage the restraint systems
in your vehicle. A damaged restraint
system may not properly protect the
person using it, resulting in serious injury
or even death in a crash. To help make
sure your restraint systems are working
properly after a crash, have them inspected
and any necessary replacements made as
soon as possible.
If you have had a crash, do you need new belts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be
necessary. But if the belts were stretched, as they
would be if worn during a more severe crash,
then you need new parts.If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you will need to have
safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced. New
parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt
was not being used at the time of the collision.
If an airbag inates, you will need to replace airbag
system parts. See the part on the airbag system
earlier in this section.
If the frontal airbags inate, you will also need to
replace the driver’s and passenger’s safety belt
retractor assembly. Be sure to do so. Then the new
retractor assembly will be there to help protect you
in a collision.
After a crash you may need to replace the driver
and front passenger’s safety belt retractor
assemblies, even if the frontal airbags have not
deployed. The driver and front passenger’s safety
belt retractor assemblies contain the safety belt
pretensioners. Have your safety belt pretensioners
checked if your vehicle has been in a collision, or if
your airbag readiness light stays on after you start
your vehicle or while you are driving. SeeAirbag
Readiness Light on page 130.
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Doors and Locks
Manual Door Locks
{CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers, especially children,
can easily open the doors and fall out
of a moving vehicle. When a door is
locked, the handle will not open it.
You increase the chance of being
thrown out of the vehicle in a crash
if the doors are not locked. So, wear
safety belts properly and lock the
doors whenever you drive.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out.
A child can be overcome by extreme
heat and can suffer permanent injuries
or even death from heat stroke.
Always lock your vehicle whenever
you leave it.
Outsiders can easily enter through
an unlocked door when you slow
down or stop your vehicle. Locking
your doors can help prevent this
from happening.
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Instrument Panel Overview........................ 108
Hazard Warning Flashers.......................... 110
Other Warning Devices............................. 110
Horn.......................................................... 110
Tilt Wheel.................................................. 110
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.................. 111
Turn and Lane-Change Signals................. 112
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.......... 112
Flash-to-Pass............................................ 112
Windshield Wipers..................................... 113
Windshield Washer.................................... 114
Cruise Control........................................... 115
Headlamps................................................ 118
Headlamps on Reminder........................... 119
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)................. 119
Fog Lamps................................................ 120
Instrument Panel Brightness...................... 120
Entry/Exit Lighting...................................... 120
Mirror Reading Lamps............................... 120
Battery Run-Down Protection..................... 121
Accessory Power Outlet(s)........................ 121
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter................ 122Climate Controls......................................... 122
Climate Control System............................. 122
Outlet Adjustment...................................... 126
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators..... 127
Instrument Panel Cluster........................... 128
Speedometer and Odometer...................... 129
Tachometer............................................... 129
Safety Belt Reminder Light........................ 129
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light....... 130
Airbag Readiness Light............................. 130
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator............. 131
Charging System Light.............................. 133
Brake System Warning Light..................... 134
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light...... 135
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)/
Traction Control System (TCS) Indicator/
Warning Light (2.0L Engine Only)............. 136
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light........................................ 137
Malfunction Indicator Lamp........................ 138
Oil Pressure Light..................................... 141
Section 3 Instrument Panel
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Speedometer and Odometer
The speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
The vehicle’s odometer works together with the
Driver Information Center (DIC). A Trip A and
Trip B odometer can be set. See “Trip Information”
underDIC Operation and Displays on page 144.
The odometer mileage can be checked without the
vehicle running. Open the driver’s door and the
mileage will be displayed briey.
If your vehicle ever needs a new odometer
installed, the new one will be set to the correct
mileage total of the old odometer.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in
revolutions per minute (rpm).
Notice:If you operate the engine with the
tachometer in the shaded warning area, your
vehicle could be damaged, and the damages
would not be covered by your warranty.
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer
in the shaded warning area.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime
will be provided for several seconds to remind
people to buckle their safety belts. The driver safety
belt light will also be provided and stay on for
several seconds, then it will ash for several more.
You should buckle your seat belt.
This chime and light
will be repeated if the
driver remains
unbuckled and the
vehicle is in motion.
If the driver’s belt is buckled, neither the chime
nor the light will be provided.
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