spare tire SATURN VUE 2008 Owners Manual

Off-Road Driving
This off-road guide is for vehicles that have all-wheel
drive. If your vehicle does not have all-wheel drive, you
should not drive off-road unless you are on a level,
solid surface.
Many of the same design features that help make your
vehicle responsive on paved roads during poor weather
conditions — features like all-wheel drive — help make it
much better suited for off-road use. Its higher ground
clearance also helps your vehicle step over some off-road
obstacles. But your vehicle does not have features like
special underbody shielding and a transfer case low gear
range, things that are usually thought necessary for
extended or severe off-road service.
Also, seeBraking on page 4-5.
The airbag system is designed to work properly under
a wide range of conditions, including off-road usage.
Observe safe driving speeds, especially on rough
terrain. As always, wear your safety belt.
Off-road driving can be great fun. But it does have
some denite hazards. The greatest of these is
the terrain itself.“Off-roading” means you have left the North American
road system behind. Traffic lanes are not marked.
Curves are not banked. There are no road signs.
Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill, or downhill.
In short, you have gone right back to nature.
Off-road driving involves some new skills. And that is
why it is very important that you read this guide. You
will nd many driving tips and suggestions. These
will help make your off-road driving safer and more
enjoyable.
Before You Go Off-Roading
There are some things to do before you go out.
For example, be sure to have all necessary maintenance
and service work done. Is there enough fuel? Is the
spare tire fully inated? Are the uid levels up where
they should be? What are the local laws that apply
to off-roading where you will be driving? If you do not
know, you should check with law enforcement people
in the area. Will you be on someone’s private land?
If so, be sure to get the necessary permission.
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3. Reinstall the IGN SW fuse into the Instrument
Panel Fuse Block.
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF and remove the
key from the ignition.
Notice:Too much or too little uid can damage the
transmission. Be sure that the transmission uid
is at the proper level before towing with all four
wheels on the ground.
Notice:Don’t tow a vehicle with the front drive
wheels on the ground if one of the front tires is a
compact spare tire. Towing with two different
tire sizes on the front of the vehicle can cause
severe damage to the transmission.
Dolly Towing (All-Wheel-Drive Vehicles)
All-wheel-drive vehicles should not be towed with two
wheels on the ground. To properly tow these vehicles,
they should be placed on a platform trailer with all four
wheels off of the ground or dinghy towed from the front.
Dolly Towing (Front-Wheel-Drive
Vehicles)
Front-wheel-drive VUE Red Line vehicles should not
be towed with two wheels on the ground. To properly
tow these vehicles, they should be placed on a platform
trailer with all four wheels off of the ground or dinghy
towed from the front.To tow your front-wheel-drive vehicle from the front with
two wheels on the ground, do the following:
1. Put the front wheels on a dolly.
2. Move the shift lever to PARK (P).
3. Set the parking brake and then remove the key.
4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position with a clamping device designed for towing.
5. Secure the vehicle to the dolly.
6. Release the parking brake.
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Buying New Tires.........................................5-68
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-70
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-70
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-72
Wheel Replacement......................................5-73
Tire Chains..................................................5-74
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-75
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-76
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools................5-77
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire................................................5-79
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-85
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-86
Appearance Care............................................5-87
Interior Cleaning...........................................5-87
Fabric/Carpet...............................................5-88
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces..................................................5-89
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-89
Weatherstrips...............................................5-89
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-90Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................5-90
Finish Care..................................................5-90
Windshield and Wiper Blades.........................5-91
Aluminum Wheels.........................................5-92
Tires...........................................................5-92
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-93
Finish Damage.............................................5-93
Underbody Maintenance................................5-93
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-93
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................5-94
Vehicle Identication......................................5-95
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN).................5-95
Service Parts Identication Label.....................5-95
Electrical System............................................5-96
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................5-96
Windshield Wiper Fuses................................5-96
Power Windows and Other Power Options.......5-96
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................5-97
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..........................5-97
Underhood Fuse Block................................5-100
Capacities and Specications........................5-104
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
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What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant to use. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-13.
Headlamp Aiming
The visual optical headlamp aiming system has been
preset at the factory and should need no further
adjustment.
However, if the vehicle is damaged in a crash, the aim
of the headlamps may be affected and adjustment
may be necessary.
If oncoming vehicles ash their high beams at you, this
may mean the vertical aim of your headlamps needs
to be adjusted.
It is recommended that the vehicle is taken to your
dealer/retailer for service if the headlamps need to
be adjusted. It is possible however, to re-aim the
headlamps as described.The vehicle should:
Be placed so the headlamps are 25 ft. (7.6 m) from
a light colored wall.
Have all four tires on a level surface which is level
all the way to the wall.
Be placed so it is perpendicular to the wall or other
at surface.
Not have any snow, ice, or mud on it.
Be fully assembled and all other work stopped while
headlamp aiming is being performed.
Normally loaded with a full tank of fuel and one
person or 160 lbs (75 kg) sitting on the driver seat.
Have all tires properly inated.
Have the spare tire is in its proper location.
Headlamp aiming is done with the vehicle’s low-beam
headlamps. The high-beam headlamps will be correctly
aimed if the low-beam headlamps are aimed properly.
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Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire is molded into its
sidewall. The examples below show a typical
passenger vehicle tire and a compact spare tire
sidewall.(A) Tire Size
:The tire size is a combination of
letters and numbers used to dene a particular
tire’s width, height, aspect ratio, construction type,
and service description. See the “Tire Size”
illustration later in this section for more detail.
(B) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria
Specication)
:Original equipment tires designed
to GM’s specic tire performance criteria have a
TPC specication code molded onto the sidewall.
GM’s TPC specications meet or exceed all federal
safety guidelines.
(C) DOT (Department of Transportation)
:The Department of Transportation (DOT) code
indicates that the tire is in compliance with the
U.S. Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.
(D) Tire Identication Number (TIN)
:The
letters and numbers following DOT (Department
of Transportation) code is the Tire Identication
Number (TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturer
and plant code, tire size, and date the tire was
manufactured. The TIN is molded onto both sides
of the tire, although only one side may have the
date of manufacture.
(E) Tire Ply Material
:The type of cord and
number of plies in the sidewall and under the tread. Passenger (P-Metric) Tire Example
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(F) Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG):Tire
manufacturers are required to grade tires based on
three performance factors: treadwear, traction, and
temperature resistance. For more information see
Uniform Tire Quality Grading on page 5-70.
(G) Maximum Cold Ination Load
Limit
:Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.(A) Temporary Use Only
:The compact
spare tire or temporary use tire has a tread life of
approximately 3,000 miles (5 000 km) and should
not be driven at speeds over 65 mph (105 km/h).
The compact spare tire is for emergency use when
a regular road tire has lost air and gone at. If your
vehicle has a compact spare tire, seeCompact
Spare Tire on page 5-86andIf a Tire Goes Flat
on page 5-75.
(B) Tire Ply Material
:The type of cord and
number of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.
(C) Tire Identication Number (TIN)
:The letters
and numbers following the DOT (Department of
Transportation) code is the Tire Identication
Number (TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturer
and plant code, tire size, and date the tire was
manufactured. The TIN is molded onto both sides
of the tire, although only one side may have the
date of manufacture.
(D) Maximum Cold Ination Load Limit
:Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.
(E) Tire Ination
:The temporary use tire
or compact spare tire should be inated to
60 psi (420 kPa). For more information on tire
pressure and ination seeInflation - Tire Pressure
on page 5-58. Compact Spare Tire Example
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Ination - Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of air pressure to
operate effectively.
Notice:Do not let anyone tell you that
under-ination or over-ination is all right.
It is not. If your tires do not have enough air
(under-ination), you can get the following:
Too much exing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Premature or irregular wear
Poor handling
Reduced fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (over-ination),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Poor handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazardsA vehicle specic Tire and Loading Information
label is attached to your vehicle. This label shows
your vehicle’s original equipment tires and the
correct ination pressures for your tires when they
are cold. The recommended cold tire ination
pressure, shown on the label, is the minimum
amount of air pressure needed to support
your vehicle’s maximum load carrying capacity.
For additional information regarding how much
weight your vehicle can carry, and an example of
the Tire and Loading Information label, seeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 4-35. How you load your
vehicle affects vehicle handling and ride comfort.
Never load your vehicle with more weight than it
was designed to carry.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more. Do not
forget to check the compact spare tire, it should
be at 60 psi (420 kPa). For additional information
regarding the compact spare tire, seeCompact
Spare Tire on page 5-86.
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When you end this high-speed driving, return the tires to
the cold tire ination pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. SeeLoading Your Vehicle on
page 4-35andInflation - Tire Pressure on page 5-58.
Example:
You will nd the maximum load and ination pressure
molded on the tire’s sidewall, in small letters, near
the rim ange. It will read something like this: Maximum
load 690 kg (1521 lbs) 300 kPa (44 psi) Max. Press.
For this example, you would set the ination pressure for
high-speed driving at 38 psi (262 kPa).
Tire Pressure Monitor System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) uses radio
and sensor technology to check tire pressure levels.
The TPMS sensors monitor the air pressure in
your vehicle’s tires and transmit tire pressure
readings to a receiver located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be
checked monthly when cold and inated to the ination
pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
on the vehicle placard or tire ination pressure label.(If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the
size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire ination
pressure label, you should determine the proper
tire ination pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one
or more of your tires is signicantly under-inated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inate them to the proper
pressure. Driving on a signicantly under-inated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-ination also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s handling
and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-ination
has not reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
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Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) is designed
to warn the driver when a low tire pressure condition
exists. TPMS sensors are mounted onto each tire
and wheel assembly, excluding the spare tire and wheel
assembly. The TPMS sensors monitor the air pressure
in the vehicle’s tires and transmit the tire pressure
readings to a receiver located in the vehicle.
When a low tire pressure
condition is detected, the
TPMS illuminates the
low tire pressure warning
light on the instrument
panel cluster.
The low tire pressure warning light comes on at each
ignition cycle until the tires are inated to the correct
ination pressure.The low tire pressure warning light may come on in cool
weather when the vehicle is rst started, and then
turn off as you start to drive. This may be an early
indicator that the air pressure in the tire(s) are getting
low and need to be inated to the proper pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information label, attached to
your vehicle, shows the size of your vehicle’s original
equipment tires and the correct ination pressure for your
vehicle’s tires when they are cold. SeeLoading Your
Vehicle on page 4-35, for an example of the Tire and
Loading Information label and its location on your vehicle.
Also seeInflation - Tire Pressure on page 5-58.
Your vehicle’s TPMS system can warn you about a low
tire pressure condition but it does not replace normal
tire maintenance. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation
on page 5-65andTires on page 5-51.
Notice:Liquid tire sealants could damage the Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) sensors. Sensor
damage caused by using a tire sealant is not
covered by your warranty. Do not use liquid tire
sealants.
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TPMS Malfunction Light
The TPMS will not function properly if one or more of
the TPMS sensors are missing or inoperable. When the
system detects a malfunction, the low tire warning light
ashes for about one minute and then stays on for the
remainder of the ignition cycle. The TPMS malfunction
light comes on at each ignition cycle until the problem is
corrected. Some of the conditions that can cause the
malfunction light to come on are:
One of the road tires has been replaced with the
spare tire. The spare tire does not have a TPMS
sensor. The TPMS malfunction light should go off
once you re-install the road tire containing the
TPMS sensor.
The TPMS sensor matching process was started but
not completed or not completed successfully after
rotating the vehicle’s tires. The TPMS malfunction
light should go off once the TPMS sensor matching
process is performed successfully. See “TPMS
Sensor Matching Process” later in this section.
One or more TPMS sensors are missing or
damaged. The TPMS malfunction light should
go off when the TPMS sensors are installed and the
sensor matching process is performed successfully.
See your dealer/retailer for service.
Replacement tires or wheels do not match your
vehicle’s original equipment tires or wheels. Tires
and wheels other than those recommended for your
vehicle could prevent the TPMS from functioning
properly. SeeBuying New Tires on page 5-68.
Operating electronic devices or being near facilities
using radio wave frequencies similar to the TPMS
could cause the TPMS sensors to malfunction.
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