load capacity SATURN VUE HYBRID 2009 Owners Manual

Loading the Vehicle
It is very important to know how
much weight your vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on your vehicle show
how much weight it may properly
carry, the Tire and Loading
Information label and the
Certication/Tire label.{CAUTION
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR), or
either the maximum front or
rear Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). If you do, parts on
the vehicle can break, and it
can change the way your
vehicle handles. These could
cause you to lose control and
crash. Also, overloading can
shorten the life of the vehicle.Tire and Loading Information
Label
A vehicle specic Tire and
Loading Information label is
attached to the center pillar
(B-pillar) of your vehicle. With the
driver’s door open, you will nd
the label attached below the door
lock post (striker). The tire and
loading information label shows
the number of occupant seating
positions (A), and the maximum
vehicle capacity weight (B) in
kilograms and pounds.
Example Label
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The Tire and Loading Information
label also shows the size of the
original equipment tires (C) and
the recommended cold tire
ination pressures (D). For more
information on tires and ination
seeTires on page 5-38and
Inflation - Tire Pressure on
page 5-43.
There is also important loading
information on the vehicle
Certication/Tire label. It tells
you the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR) and the
Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) for the front and rear
axle. See “Certication/Tire
Label” later in this section.Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit
1.
Locate the statement “The
combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs” on
your vehicle’s placard.
2.Determine the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight
of the driver and passengers
from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting gure equals
the available amount of
cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if
the “XXX” amount equals
1400 lbs and there will be
ve 150 lb passengers in
your vehicle, the amount
of available cargo and
luggage load capacity
is 650 lbs (1400−750
(5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5.Determine the combined
weight of luggage and
cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load
capacity calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, the load from your
trailer will be transferred to
your vehicle. Consult
this manual to determine how
this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load
capacity for your vehicle.
SeeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-26for important
information on towing a trailer,
towing safety rules, and
trailering tips.
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A.Vehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 1=1,000 lbs
(453 kg).
B.Subtract Occupant Weight
150 lbs (68 kg)×2=300 lbs
(136 kg).
C.Available Occupant and
Cargo Weight=700 lbs
(317 kg).
A.Vehicle Capacity Weight for
Example 2=1,000 lbs
(453 kg).
B.Subtract Occupant Weight
150 lbs (68 kg)×5=750 lbs
(340 kg).
C.Available Cargo
Weight=250 lbs (113 kg).
A.Vehicle Capacity Weight for
Example 3=1,000 lbs
(453 kg).
B.Subtract Occupant Weight
200 lbs
(91 kg)×5=1,000 lbs
(453 kg).
C.Available Cargo
Weight=0 lbs (0 kg).
Refer to your vehicle’s tire and
loading information label for
specic information about your
vehicle’s capacity weight and
seating positions. The combined
weight of the driver, passengers,
and cargo should never exceed
your vehicle’s capacity weight. Example 1
Example 2Example 3
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Certication/Tire Label
A vehicle specic
Certication/Tire label is
attached to the lower area of
the center pillar (B-Pillar).
The label shows the gross
weight capacity of your vehicle.
This is called the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).The GVWR includes the weight
of the vehicle, all occupants,
fuel, cargo, and trailer tongue
weight, if the vehicle is pulling a
trailer.
The Certication/Tire label also
tells you the maximum
weights for the front and rear
axles, called the Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR). To nd
out the actual loads on your
front and rear axles, you need to
go to a weigh station and
weigh your vehicle. Your
dealer/retailer can help you with
this. Be sure to spread out
your load equally on both sides
of the centerline.Never exceed the GVWR for
your vehicle or the GAWR
for either the front or rear axle.
{CAUTION
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR), or
either the maximum front or
rear Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). If you do, parts on
the vehicle can break, and it
can change the way your
vehicle handles. These could
cause you to lose control and
crash. Also, overloading can
shorten the life of the vehicle.
Notice
:Overloading your
vehicle may cause damage.
Repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Do not
overload your vehicle.
Label Example
Driving Your Vehicle 4-21
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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.
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Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is
an important weight to measure
because it affects the total gross
weight of the vehicle. The Gross
Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes the
curb weight of the vehicle, any
cargo carried in it, and the people
who will be riding in the vehicle.
If there are a lot of options,
equipment, passengers or cargo in
the vehicle, it will reduce the
tongue weight the vehicle can carry,
which will also reduce the trailer
weight the vehicle can tow. If towing
a trailer, the tongue load must be
added to the GVW because
the vehicle will be carrying that
weight, too. SeeLoading the Vehicle
on page 4-18for more information
about the vehicle’s maximum
load capacity.For a weight-carrying hitch, the
trailer tongue (A) should weigh
10 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight (B).
After loading the trailer, weigh the
trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they are not, adjustments
might be made by moving some
items around in the trailer.
Trailering may be limited by the
vehicle’s ability to carry tongue
weight. Tongue weight cannot
cause the vehicle to exceed the
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) or the RGAWR (Rear
Gross Axle Weight Rating).The effect of additional weight
may reduce the trailering capacity
more than the total of the additional
weight.
Consider the following example:
A vehicle model base weight
is 5,500 lbs (2 495 kg); 2,800 lbs
(1 270 kg) at the front axle and
2,700 lbs (1 225 kg) at the rear
axle. It has a GVWR of 7,200 lbs
(3 266 kg), a RGAWR of 4,000 lbs
(1 814 kg) and a GCWR (Gross
Combination Weight Rating)
of 14,000 lbs (6 350 kg). The
trailer rating should be:
Expect tongue weight to be at least
10 percent of trailer weight (850 lbs
(386 kg)) and because the weight
is applied well behind the rear axle,
the effect on the rear axle is greater
than just the weight itself, as
much as 1.5 times as much.
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The weight at the rear axle could be
850 lbs (386 kg) X 1.5 = 1,275 lbs
(578 kg). Since the rear axle already
weighs 2,700 lbs (1 225 kg), adding
1,275 lbs (578 kg) brings the total to
3,975 lbs (1 803 kg). This is very
close to, but within the limit for
RGAWR as well. The vehicle is set to
trailer up to 8,500 lbs (3 856 kg).
If the vehicle has many options and
there is a front seat passenger
and two rear seat passengers with
some luggage and gear in the
vehicle as well, 300 lbs (136 kg)
could be added to the front
axle weight and 400 lbs (181 kg) to
the rear axle weight. The vehicle
now weighs:
Weight is still below 7,200 lbs
(3 266 kg) and you might think 700
additional pounds (318 kg) should
be subtracted from the trailering
capacity to stay within GCWR limits.The maximum trailer would only be
7,800 lbs (3 538 kg). You may go
further and think the tongue weight
should be limited to less than
1,000 lbs (454 kg) to avoid
exceeding GVWR. But the effect on
the rear axle must still be considered.
Because the rear axle now weighs
3,100 lbs (1 406 kg), 900 lbs
(408 kg) can be put on the rear axle
without exceeding RGAWR. The
effect of tongue weight is about
1.5 times the actual weight. Dividing
the 900 lbs (408 kg) by 1.5 leaves
only 600 lbs (272 kg) of tongue
weight that can be handled. Since
tongue weight is usually at least
10 percent of total loaded trailer
weight, expect that the largest trailer
the vehicle can properly handle is
6,000 lbs (2 721 kg).
It is important that the vehicle
does not exceed any of its
ratings — GCWR, GVWR, RGAWR,
Maximum Trailer Rating or Tongue
Weight. The only way to be sure it is
not exceeding any of these ratings is
to weigh the vehicle and trailer.Total Weight on the Vehicle’s
Tires
Be sure the vehicle’s tires are
inated to the upper limit for cold
tires. These numbers can be found
on the Certication label or see
Loading the Vehicle on page 4-18
for more information. Make sure not
to go over the GVW limit for the
vehicle, or the GAWR, including the
weight of the trailer tongue.
Hitches
It is important to have the correct
hitch equipment. Crosswinds,
large trucks going by and rough
roads are a few reasons why
the right hitch is needed.
The rear bumper on the vehicle is
not intended for hitches. Do not
attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to it. Use
only a frame-mounted hitch that
does not attach to the bumper.
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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.
(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
seeUniform Tire Quality
Grading on page 5-54.
(G) Maximum Cold Ination
Load Limit
:Maximum load that
can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to
support that load.Tire Size
The following illustration
shows an example of a typical
passenger (p-metric) vehicle
tire size.
(A) Passenger (P-Metric)
Tire
:The United States version
of a metric tire sizing system. The
letter P as the rst character in
the tire size means a passenger
vehicle tire engineered to
standards set by the U. S. Tire
and Rim Association.
(B) Tire Width
:The three-digit
number indicates the tire
section width in millimeters from
sidewall to sidewall.
(C) Aspect Ratio
:A two-digit
number that indicates the tire
height-to-width measurements.For example, if the tire size
aspect ratio is 60, as shown in
item C of the illustration, it would
mean that the tire’s sidewall is
60 percent as high as it is wide.
(D) Construction Code
:A letter
code is used to indicate the type
of ply construction in the tire.
The letter R means radial ply
construction; the letter D means
diagonal or bias ply construction;
and the letter B means
belted-bias ply construction.
(E) Rim Diameter
:Diameter of
the wheel in inches.
(F) Service Description
:These
characters represent the load
range and speed rating of the
tire. The load index represents
the load carry capacity a tire is
certied to carry. The load index
can range from 1 to 279. The
speed rating is the maximum
speed a tire is certied to carry
a load. Speed ratings range
fromAtoZ.
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Tire Terminology and
Denitions
Air Pressure:The amount of
air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of
the tire. Air pressure is
expressed in pounds per square
inch (psi) or kilopascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight
:This means
the combined weight of
optional accessories. Some
examples of optional
accessories are, automatic
transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows,
power seats, and air
conditioning.
Aspect Ratio
:The relationship
of a tire’s height to its width.
Belt
:A rubber coated layer of
cords that is located between the
plies and the tread. Cords
may be made from steel or other
reinforcing materials.Bead
:The tire bead contains
steel wires wrapped by steel
cords that hold the tire onto
the rim.
Bias Ply Tire
:A pneumatic tire
in which the plies are laid at
alternate angles less than
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.
Cold Tire Pressure
:The
amount of air pressure in a tire,
measured in pounds per
square inch (psi) or kilopascals
(kPa) before a tire has built
up heat from driving. See
Inflation - Tire Pressure on
page 5-43.
Curb Weight
:The weight of a
motor vehicle with standard
and optional equipment including
the maximum capacity of fuel,
oil, and coolant, but without
passengers and cargo.DOT Markings
:A code molded
into the sidewall of a tire
signifying that the tire is in
compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
(DOT) motor vehicle safety
standards. The DOT code
includes the Tire Identication
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric
designator which can also
identify the tire manufacturer,
production plant, brand, and date
of production.
GVWR
:Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating. SeeLoading the Vehicle
on page 4-18.
GAWR FRT
:Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the front axle. See
Loading the Vehicle on
page 4-18.
GAWR RR
:Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the rear axle. See
Loading the Vehicle on
page 4-18.
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Intended Outboard
Sidewall:The side of an
asymmetrical tire, that must
always face outward when
mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa)
:The metric
unit for air pressure.
Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire
:A
tire used on light duty trucks
and some multipurpose
passenger vehicles.
Load Index
:An assigned
number ranging from 1 to 279
that corresponds to the load
carrying capacity of a tire.
Maximum Ination
Pressure
:The maximum air
pressure to which a cold tire can
be inated. The maximum air
pressure is molded onto the
sidewall.
Maximum Load Rating
:The
load rating for a tire at the
maximum permissible ination
pressure for that tire.Maximum Loaded Vehicle
Weight
:The sum of curb
weight, accessory weight,
vehicle capacity weight, and
production options weight.
Normal Occupant Weight
:The
number of occupants a vehicle
is designed to seat multiplied by
150 lbs (68 kg). SeeLoading
the Vehicle on page 4-18.
Occupant
Distribution
:Designated
seating positions.
Outward Facing Sidewall
:The
side of an asymmetrical tire
that has a particular side
that faces outward when
mounted on a vehicle. The side
of the tire that contains a
whitewall, bears white lettering,
or bears manufacturer, brand,
and/or model name molding that
is higher or deeper than the
same moldings on the
other sidewall of the tire.Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
:A
tire used on passenger cars and
some light duty trucks and
multipurpose vehicles.
Recommended Ination
Pressure
:Vehicle
manufacturer’s recommended
tire ination pressure as
shown on the tire placard. See
Inflation - Tire Pressure on
page 5-43andLoading
the Vehicle on page 4-18.
Radial Ply Tire
:A pneumatic
tire in which the ply cords
that extend to the beads are laid
at 90 degrees to the centerline
of the tread.
Rim
:A metal support for a tire
and upon which the tire
beads are seated.
Sidewall
:The portion of a tire
between the tread and the bead.
Speed Rating
:An alphanumeric
code assigned to a tire
indicating the maximum speed
at which a tire can operate.
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