fuel SATURN VUE HYBRID 2009 Owner's Guide

Recreational Vehicle
Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle – such as behind a
motorhome. The two most common
types of recreational vehicle towing
are known as dinghy towing and
dolly towing. Dinghy towing is towing
the vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground. Dolly towing is towing the
vehicle with two wheels on the
ground and two wheels up on a
device known as a dolly.
Here are some important things to
consider before recreational
vehicle towing:
What is the towing capacity of
the towing vehicle? Be sure to
read the tow vehicle
manufacturer’s
recommendations.
What is the distance that will be
travelled? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and
how long they can tow.
Is the proper towing equipment
going to be used? See your
dealer/retailer or trailering
professional for additional advice
and equipment
recommendations.
Is the vehicle ready to be towed?
Just as preparing the vehicle for
a long trip, make sure the
vehicle is prepared to be towed.
SeeBefore Leaving on a
Long Trip on page 4-14.
Dinghy Towing
This vehicle may be dinghy towed
from the front. This vehicle may also
be towed by putting the front
wheels on a dolly. See “Dolly
Towing” later in this section.
For vehicles being dinghy towed,
the vehicle should be run at the
beginning of each day and at each
RV fuel stop for about ve minutes.
This will ensure proper lubrication of
transmission components.To tow the vehicle from the front
with all four wheels on the ground:
1. Position the vehicle that will
be towed and secure it to
the towing vehicle.
2. Turn the ignition key to
ACC/ACCESSORY.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-23
ProCarManuals.com

Towing a Trailer
{CAUTION
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly. For
example, if the trailer is too heavy,
the brakes may not work well — or
even at all. The driver and
passengers could be seriously
injured. The vehicle may also be
damaged; the resulting repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer only
if all the steps in this section have
been followed. Ask your dealer/
retailer for advice and information
about towing a trailer with the
vehicle.Notice:Pulling a trailer
improperly can damage the
vehicle and result in costly
repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To pull a trailer
correctly, follow the advice in
this section and see your
dealer/retailer for important
information about towing a trailer
with the vehicle.
The vehicle can tow a trailer if it is
equipped with the proper trailer
towing equipment.
To identify the trailering capacity of
the vehicle, read the information
in “Weight of the Trailer” that
appears later in this section.
Trailering is different than just
driving the vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in
handling, acceleration, braking,
durability and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes
correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.The following information has many
time-tested, important trailering
tips and safety rules. Many of these
are important for your safety and
that of your passengers. So please
read this section carefully before
pulling a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as
the engine, transmission, rear
axle, wheel assemblies and tires are
forced to work harder against the
drag of the added weight. The
engine is required to operate
at relatively higher speeds and
under greater loads, generating
extra heat. The trailer also
adds considerably to wind
resistance, increasing the pulling
requirements.
The vehicle has Trailer Sway
Control (TSC). See “Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)” inStabiliTrak
®
System on page 4-7for more
information.
4-26 Driving Your Vehicle
ProCarManuals.com

Service and
Appearance Care
Service
Service...............................5-3
Accessories and
Modications.....................5-3
California Proposition 65
Warning............................5-3
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements.....5-4
Doing Your Own
Service Work....................5-4
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle......5-4
Fuel
Fuel....................................5-5
Gasoline Octane.................5-5
Gasoline Specications.......5-5
California Fuel....................5-5
Additives.............................5-5
Fuels in Foreign
Countries..........................5-6
Filling the Tank...................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container..........................5-8
Checking Things Under
the Hood
Checking Things Under
the Hood..........................5-9
Hood Release.....................5-9
Engine Compartment
Overview.........................5-10
Engine Oil.........................5-11
Engine Oil Life System.....5-14
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. . .5-15
Automatic Transmission
Fluid................................5-17
Cooling System.................5-17
Engine Coolant.................5-20
Coolant Surge Tank
Pressure Cap..................5-22
Engine Overheating...........5-23
Windshield Washer
Fluid................................5-24
Brakes..............................5-25
Battery..............................5-27
Jump Starting...................5-28
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming..............5-33
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement.............5-35
Halogen Bulbs..................5-35
Headlamps........................5-35
Front Turn Signal and
Parking Lamps................5-36
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps and Back-up
Lamps
.............................5-36
License Plate Lamp..........5-37
Replacement Bulbs...........5-37
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement...................5-38
Service and Appearance Care 5-1
ProCarManuals.com

California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
remote keyless transmitters,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{CAUTION
Never try to do your own service
on hybrid components. You can
be injured and the vehicle can be
damaged if you try to do your own
service work. Service and repair
of these hybrid components
should only be performed by a
trained service technician with the
proper knowledge and tools.
{CAUTION
You can be injured and the
vehicle could be damaged if you
try to do service work on a vehicle
without knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have sufficient
knowledge, experience, the
proper replacement parts, and
tools before attempting any
vehicle maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper
nuts, bolts, and other
fasteners. English and
metric fasteners can be
easily confused. If the wrong
fasteners are used, parts can
later break or fall off. You
could be hurt.
If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service manual.
It tells you much more about how to
service the vehicle than this manual
can. To order the proper service
manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 7-13.This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your
own service work, seeServicing
Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
on page 1-54.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date
of any service work performed. See
Maintenance Record on page 6-14.
Adding Equipment to
the Outside of the
Vehicle
Things added to the outside of the
vehicle can affect the airow
around it. This can cause wind
noise and can affect fuel economy
and windshield washer performance.
Check with your dealer/retailer
before adding equipment to
the outside of the vehicle.
5-4 Service and Appearance Care
ProCarManuals.com

Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an
important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle. To help
keep the engine clean and
maintain optimum vehicle
performance, we recommend the
use of gasoline advertised as
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with
a posted octane rating of 87 or
higher. If the octane rating is less
than 87, you might notice an audible
knocking noise when you drive,
commonly referred to as spark
knock. If this occurs, use a gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher as
soon as possible. If you are using
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher
and you hear heavy knocking, the
engine needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should
meet ASTM specication D 4814 in
the United States or CAN/CGSB-3.5
or 3.511 in Canada. Some
gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. SeeAdditives on
page 5-5for additional information.
California Fuel
If the 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, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specications, but emission control
system performance might be
affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp could turn on and the vehiclemight fail a smog-check test. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 3-30. If this occurs, return to
your authorized dealer/retailer for
diagnosis. If it is determined that the
condition is caused by the type of
fuel used, repairs might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines
in the United States are now
required to contain additives that
help prevent engine and fuel system
deposits from forming, allowing
the emission control system to work
properly. In most cases, you
should not have to add anything to
the 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 the vehicle experiences problems
due to dirty injectors or valves,
look for gasoline that is advertised
as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
Service and Appearance Care 5-5
ProCarManuals.com

For customers who do not use TOP
TIER Detergent Gasoline regularly,
one bottle of GM Fuel System
Treatment PLUS, added to the fuel
tank at every engine oil change,
can help clean deposits from
fuel injectors and intake valves. GM
Fuel System Treatment PLUS is
the only gasoline additive
recommended by General Motors.
Also, your dealer/retailer has
additives that will help correct and
prevent most deposit-related
problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates,
such as ethers and ethanol,
and reformulated gasolines might be
available in your area. We
recommend that you use these
gasolines, if they comply with the
specications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more
than 10% ethanol must not be used
in vehicles that were not designed
for those fuels.Notice:This vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under
the vehicle warranty.
Some gasolines that are not
reformulated for low emissions
can contain an octane-enhancing
additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the
attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. We
recommend against the use of
such gasolines. Fuels containing
MMT can reduce the life of
spark plugs and the performance of
the emission control system
could be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp might turn on. If
this occurs, return to your
dealer/retailer for service.Fuels in Foreign
Countries
If you plan on driving in another
country outside the United States or
Canada, the proper fuel might be
hard to nd. Never use leaded
gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text
on fuel. Costly repairs caused
by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by the vehicle warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask
an auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in
the country where you will be
driving.
5-6 Service and Appearance Care
ProCarManuals.com

Filling the Tank
{CAUTION
Fuel vapor burns violently and a
fuel re can cause bad injuries.
To help avoid injuries to you and
others, read and follow all the
instructions on the pump island.
Turn off the engine when you are
refueling. Do not smoke if you are
near fuel or refueling the vehicle.
Do not use cellular phones. Keep
sparks, ames, and smoking
materials away from fuel. Do not
leave the fuel pump unattended
when refueling the vehicle. This is
against the law in some places.
Do not re-enter the vehicle while
pumping fuel. Keep children away
from the fuel pump; never let
children pump fuel.Unlock the gas cap door by pressing
the door lock switch located on
the driver door trim.
The tethered fuel cap is located
behind a hinged fuel door on
the driver side of the vehicle.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it
slowly counterclockwise. The fuel
cap has a spring in it; if the cap
is released too soon, it will spring
back to the right. To avoid fuel
contact on the painted surface of
the vehicle when lling the fuel tank,
place the tethered cap on the fuel
ller door.
{CAUTION
Fuel can spray out on you if you
open the fuel cap too quickly. If
you spill fuel and then something
ignites it, you could be badly
burned. This spray can happen if
the tank is nearly full, and is more
likely in hot weather. Open the
fuel cap slowly and wait for any
hiss noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not
top off or overll the tank and wait a
few seconds after you have
nished pumping before removing
the nozzle. Clean fuel from
painted surfaces as soon as
possible. SeeWashing Your Vehicle
on page 5-69.
When replacing the fuel cap, turn
it clockwise until it clicks. Make
sure the cap is fully installed.
The diagnostic system can
determine if the fuel cap has been
left off or improperly installed.
Service and Appearance Care 5-7
ProCarManuals.com

This would allow fuel to evaporate
into the atmosphere. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 3-30.
{CAUTION
If a re starts while you are
refueling, do not remove the
nozzle. Shut off the ow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by
notifying the station attendant.
Leave the area immediately.
Notice:If you need a new fuel
cap, be sure to get the right type.
Your dealer/ retailer can get one
for you. If you get the wrong type,
it might not t properly. This can
cause the malfunction indicator
lamp to light and can damage the
fuel tank and emissions system.
SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 3-30.
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container
{CAUTION
Never ll a portable fuel container
while it is in the vehicle. Static
electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the fuel vapor.
You can be badly burned and the
vehicle damaged if this occurs. To
help avoid injury to you and others:
Dispense fuel 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.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
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 fuel.
Do not use a cellular phone
while pumping fuel.
5-8 Service and Appearance Care
ProCarManuals.com

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.
Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:
1. Pull the handle with this symbol
on it. It is located under the
instrument panel on the driver
side of the vehicle.
2. Then go to the front of the
vehicle and lift up on the
secondary hood release lever.
3. Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure
all the ller caps are on properly.
Then pull the hood down and close
it rmly.
Service and Appearance Care 5-9
ProCarManuals.com

A. SeeEngine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 5-15.
B. Remote Negative (−) Terminal.
SeeJump Starting on page 5-28.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. SeeEngine
Oil on page 5-11.
D. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. See
Cooling System on page 5-17.
E. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
Protection Cap. SeeCoolant
Surge Tank Pressure Cap
on page 5-22.
F. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block on
page 5-77.
G. Remote Positive (+) Terminal.
SeeJump Starting on page 5-28.H. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-24.
I. Engine Oil Dipstick (out of view).
SeeEngine Oil on page 5-11.
Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the
engine oil level at each fuel ll. 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 5-10for 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 this is not
done, 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.
Service and Appearance Care 5-11
ProCarManuals.com