brakes SATURN VUE 2006 Owners Manual

Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transaxle shift lock control system. You have to
fully apply your regular brakes 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 — push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P)
and also release the shift lever button as you maintain
brake application. Then move the shift lever into the
gear you wish. Press the shift lever button before
moving the shift lever. SeeShifting Out of Park (P)
on page 2-26.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transaxle. The
repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Shift
to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of
snow, ice or sand without damaging your transaxle,
seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or
Snow on page 4-42.
NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart when you are
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is rmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
while the engine is running at high speed may
damage the transaxle. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speeds when shifting your vehicle.
Notice:Shifting to a drive gear from NEUTRAL (N)
while the vehicle is moving could damage the
transaxle. Make sure the vehicle is stopped before
shifting from NEUTRAL (N) into a drive gear.
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AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D):This position is for
normal driving with the automatic transaxle. If you
need more power for passing, and you are:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push
your accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator all the way down.
INTERMEDIATE (I):This position is also used for
normal driving. However, it offers braking from
the engine for slight downgrades where the vehicle
would otherwise accelerate due to steepness of
grade. If repetitive shifts occur between third and
fourth gears on steep uphills, this position can be
used to prevent repetitive shifting. Fuel economy
will be lower than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D).
Here are some times you might choose
INTERMEDIATE (I) instead of AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D):
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When towing a trailer, so there is less
shifting between gears.LOW (L):This position gives you even more power
but lower fuel economy than INTERMEDIATE (I).
You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or
mud. If the shift lever is put in LOW (L), the transaxle
will not shift into LOW (L) 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
transaxle 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) (Automatic Transaxle) on page 2-25.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out
of PARK (P)beforeyou 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, then
you will be able to pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when
the ignition is in RUN. SeeAutomatic Transaxle
Operation on page 2-19.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure
on the shift lever — press the shift lever button
and push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P),
as you maintain brake application. Then move the
shift lever into the gear you wish.
Shift Interlock By-Pass
Use the following steps, if for some reason the shifter is
not released when you apply the brake, or if service
or towing requires the car to be shifted out of PARK (P)
without running the engine.
1. Apply and maintain the regular brakes.
2. Turn the ignition to the ACC (Accessory) position.
SeeAutomatic Transaxle Operation on page 2-19
for more information.
3. Then, move the shift lever into NEUTRAL (N).
The vehicle can now be started normally.
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transaxle)
Before leaving your vehicle, fully press the clutch pedal
in, move the shift lever into REVERSE (R), and rmly
apply the parking brake. Once the shift lever has
been placed in REVERSE (R) with the clutch pedal
pressed in, you can turn the ignition key to LOCK,
remove the key and release the clutch.
SeeManual Transaxle Operation on page 2-22.
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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.
The cruise control
buttons are located
on the steering wheel.
J(On/Off):Press this button to turn the cruise
control system on and off. There is a indicator light
on the button that will come on when cruise control
is active.
RES+ (Resume):Press this button to resume a set
speed and to accelerate the speed.
SET−(Set):Press this button to set a speed and to
decrease the speed.
[(Cancel):Press this button to cancel cruise control.
To set a speed do the following:
1. Press the on/off symbol to turn cruise control on.
The indicator light on the button will come on.
2. Get to the speed you want.
3. Press the SET−button and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
When the brakes are applied, the cruise control
shuts off.
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Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brakes. This will disengage
the cruise control. The indicator light on the cruise
control button will go out when the cruise is no longer
engaged. To return to the previously set speed,
press the RES+ button briey when the vehicle has
reached a speed of about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more.
This will take you back up to your previously selected
speed and stay there.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed.
Disengage the cruise control, but do not turn it off.
If the cruise control system is already engaged,
press the RES+ button. Hold it there until you
get up to the speed you want, and then release the
button. To increase your speed in very small
amounts, press the RES+ button briey and then
release it. Each time you do this, the vehicle will
go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is already engaged,
Push and hold the SET−button until you reach
the lower speed you want, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, push the
SET−button briey. Each time you do this, you
will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, the vehicle will
slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load, and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you may have to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle’s speed.
When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift
to a lower gear to keep the vehicle’s speed down.
Of course, applying the brakes ends cruise control.
Many drivers nd this to be too much trouble and do
not use cruise control on steep hills.
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Up-Shift Light
Your vehicle may have an up-shift light. When this light
comes on, you should shift to the next higher gear if
weather, road, and traffic conditions allow you to.
This light is located in
your instrument panel
cluster under your
temperature gage.
SeeManual Transaxle Operation on page 2-22for
more information.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part is not working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the brake system warning light comes on, a condition
may exist with your brakes. Have your brake system
inspected right away.
The BRAKE light
is located in the
instrument
panel cluster.
This light should come on briey when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
When the ignition is on, the BRAKE light will come on
when you set your parking brake. The light will stay on
if your parking brake does not release fully. A chime
will also sound if the parking brake is not fully released
and the vehicle is moving. If it stays on after your
parking brake is fully released, it means a condition
exists with your brakes. United States Only
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The BRAKE light will also come on to indicate a
low brake uid level. SeeBrakes on page 5-38for
more information.
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. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-48.
{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
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, the anti-lock brake
system (ABS) warning light will come on briey, as
a check, when you start your vehicle. If it doesn’t, have
your vehicle serviced so that the light works properly
when it needs to.
The ABS light is located
in the instrument panel
cluster, to the left of
the engine coolant
temperature gage.
If the light stays on longer than a few seconds after you
start your engine, or comes on and stays on while
you are driving, try resetting the system. To reset the
system, do the following:
1. If you are driving, pull over when it is safe to do so.
2. Be sure the vehicle is in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the ignition.
4. Then restart the engine.
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If the light remains on after resetting the system or
comes on again while driving, your vehicle needs
service. If the ABS light is on, but the regular brake
system warning light is not on, you do not have anti-lock
brakes, but you still have regular brakes. Have your
vehicle serviced right away. If both brake lights are
on, you do not have anti-lock brakes, and there’s
a problem with your regular brakes as well. Have your
vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle
on page 4-48.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briey 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.Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
Your vehicle may have a
traction control system
warning light. The traction
control system warning
light may come on for the
following reasons:
For vehicles equipped with the 2.2L L4 engine, turn
the system off by pressing the traction control button
located on the instrument panel above the audio
system. The warning light will come on and stay on.
To turn the system back on, press the button again.
The warning light should go off. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-10for more information.
For vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine,
the traction control system will be turned off when
the shift lever is in REVERSE (R) or LOW (L).
The traction control system warning light will be
displayed on the instrument panel. The traction
control system can be activated again by selecting
DRIVE (D) or INTERMEDIATE (I).
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There is something else about drinking and driving
that many people do not know. Medical research
shows that alcohol in a person’s system can make
crash injuries worse, especially injuries to the brain,
spinal cord, or heart. This means that when anyone
who has been drinking — driver or passenger — is
in a crash, that person’s chance of being killed or
permanently disabled is higher than if the person
had not been drinking.
{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.
Your reexes, perceptions, attentiveness,
and judgment can be affected by even a
small amount of alcohol. You can have a
serious — or even fatal — collision if you drive
after drinking. Please do not drink and drive
or ride with a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are with a group,
designate a driver who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go
where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the
steering, and the accelerator. All three systems have
to do their work at the places where the tires meet
the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or ice,
it is easy to ask more of those control systems than
the tires and road can provide. That means you can
lose control of your vehicle. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-10.
Adding non-Saturn accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 5-3.
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Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-32.
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That is perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or
more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness,
coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol,
drugs, and frustration. But even in three-fourths of a
second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between
your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement
or gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is
wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the condition of your brakes;
the weight of the vehicle; and the amount of brake
force applied.Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic.
This is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time
to cool between hard stops. Your brakes will wear
out much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking.
If you keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic
following distances, you will eliminate a lot of
unnecessary braking. That means better braking
and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you are driving, brake
normally but do not pump your brakes. If you do,
the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist.
But you will use it when you brake. Once the power
assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and
the brake pedal will be harder to push.
Adding non-Saturn accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 5-3.
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