trailer SATURN VUE HYBRID 2009 Owners Manual

Starting and
Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:The vehicle does
not need an elaborate break-in.
But it will perform better in
the long run if you follow these
guidelines:
Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not make full-throttle
starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops for
the rst 200 miles (322 km)
or so. During this time the
new brake linings are not yet
broken in. Hard stops with new
linings can mean premature
wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in
guideline every time you
get new brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. SeeTowing a
Trailer on page 4-26for the
trailer towing capabilities
of your vehicle and more
information.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has four different
positions.To shift out of P (Park), turn the
ignition to ON/RUN and apply
the regular brake pedal.
Notice:Using a tool to force the
key to turn in the ignition could
cause damage to the switch
or break the key. Use the correct
key, make sure it is all the
way in, and turn it only with
your hand. If the key cannot be
turned by hand, see your
dealer/retailer.
LOCK/OFF:This position locks the
ignition. It also locks the steering
wheel and the transmission. The key
can only be removed in LOCK/OFF.
The shift lever must be in P (Park) to
turn the ignition switch to LOCK/OFF.
The steering can bind with the
wheels turned off center. If this
happens, move the steering wheel
from right to left while turning the key
to ACC/ACCESSORY. If this doesn’t
work, the vehicle needs service.
2-14 Features and Controls
ProCarManuals.com

Automatic Transmission
Operation
The shift lever is located on the
console between the seats.
There are several different positions
for the automatic transmission.
P (Park):This position locks the
front wheels. It is the best position
to use when you start the engine
because the vehicle cannot
move easily.
{CAUTION
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
rmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you have
to. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, always set the
parking brake and move the shift
lever to P (Park). SeeShifting Into
Park on page 2-23. If you are
pulling a trailer, seeTowing a
Trailer on page 4-26.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the engine.
The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control
system. You have to fully apply the
regular brakes rst and then pressthe shift lever button before you can
shift from P (Park) when the ignition
key is in RUN. If you cannot shift out
of P (Park), ease pressure on the
shift lever and push the shift lever all
the way into P (Park) as you maintain
brake application. Then press the
shift lever button and move the shift
lever into another gear. SeeShifting
Out of Park on page 2-25.
R (Reverse):Use this gear to
back up.
Notice:Shifting to R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving
forward could damage the
transmission. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse)
only after the vehicle is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and
forth to get out of snow, ice or sand
without damaging the transmission,
seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in
Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on
page 4-17.
2-20 Features and Controls
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To release the parking brake, hold
the brake pedal down. Pull the
parking brake lever up until you can
press the release button. Hold
the release button in as you move
the brake lever all the way down.
Release the parking brake
before driving the vehicle.
Notice:Driving with the parking
brake on can overheat the
brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to
brake system parts. Make
sure that the parking brake is
fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.Regenerative Braking
Regenerative braking takes some of
the energy from the moving
vehicle and turns it back into
electrical energy. This energy is
then stored back into the vehicle’s
hybrid battery system, contributing
to increased fuel efficiency.
The system works whenever you
take your foot off the accelerator
pedal while the vehicle is moving in a
forward gear. This causes the
vehicle to slow down more quickly. It
may feel like the brake pedal is being
pressed, even when it is not.
Shifting Into Park
{CAUTION
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake rmly set. The vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow. If you are pulling a
trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-26.
1. Hold the brake pedal down and
set the parking brake. See
Parking Brake on page 2-22for
more information.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park)
by pressing the button on the
shift lever and pushing the lever
all the way toward the front of
the vehicle.
Features and Controls 2-23
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{CAUTION
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed
area with poor ventilation is
dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust
contains Carbon Monoxide (CO)
which cannot be seen or smelled.
It can cause unconsciousness
and even death. Never run the
engine in an enclosed area that
has no fresh air ventilation. For
more information, seeEngine
Exhaust on page 2-26.
Follow the proper steps to be sure
the vehicle will not move. See
Shifting Into Park on page 2-23.
If parking on a hill and pulling
a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-26.
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
The vehicle has a manual rearview
mirror. It can be adjusted by
holding the mirror in the center to
move it for a clearer view behind
your vehicle. Reduce the glare
of headlamps from behind by
pushing the lever forward or pulling
it back for daytime/nighttime use.
Automatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror
The vehicle has an automatic
dimming rearview mirror.
Vehicles with OnStar
®have
three additional control buttons
for the OnStar
®system. See your
dealer/retailer for more informationabout OnStar
®and how to subscribe
to it. SeeOnStar®System on
page 2-29for more information
about the services OnStar
®
provides.
O(On/Off):Press to turn the
dimming feature on or off.
Automatic Dimming Mirror
Operation
The automatic dimming mirror
reduces the glare from the
headlamps of the vehicle behind
you. The dimming feature comes on
and the indicator light illuminates
each time the ignition is turned
to start.
Features and Controls 2-27
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on the Driver Information Center
(DIC), you may see the voltage move
up or down. This is normal. If there is
a problem, an alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at
idle if the electrical loads are
very high. This is true for all
vehicles. This is because the
generator (alternator) may not be
spinning fast enough at idle to
produce all the power that is needed
for very high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on, such
as: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger,
climate control fan at high speed,
heated seats, engine cooling fans,
trailer loads, and loads plugged into
accessory power outlets.EPM works to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery. It does this
by balancing the generator’s output
and the vehicle’s electrical needs. It
can increase engine idle speed to
generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce
the power demands of some
accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in
steps or levels, without being
noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action,
this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a Driver Information
Center (DIC) message might be
displayed, such as BATTERY
SAVER ACTIVE, BATTERY
VOLTAGE LOW, or LOW BATTERY.
If this message is displayed, it is
recommended that the driver reduce
the electrical loads as much as
possible. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-42.Battery Run-Down
Protection
The battery saver feature is
designed to protect the vehicle’s
battery.
If any interior or exterior lamp is left
on and the ignition is turned off, the
battery rundown protection system
automatically turns the lamp off after
10 minutes.
Instrument Panel 3-15
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Notice:Modications made to
the engine, transmission, exhaust,
intake, or fuel system of the
vehicle or the replacement of the
original tires with other than those
of the same Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) can affect the
vehicle’s emission controls and
can cause this light to come on.
Modications to these systems
could lead to costly repairs not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
This could also result in a failure
to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test. See
Accessories and Modifications on
page 5-3.
This light comes on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing:A misre condition
has been detected. A misre
increases vehicle emissions and
could damage the emission control
system on the vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required.The following can prevent more
serious damage to the vehicle:
Reduce vehicle speed.
Avoid hard accelerations.
Avoid steep uphill grades.
If towing a trailer, reduce the
amount of cargo being hauled
as soon as it is possible.
If the light continues to ash, when
it is safe to do so, stop the
vehicle. Find a safe place to park
the vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at
least 10 seconds, and restart the
engine. If the light is still ashing,
follow the previous steps and
see your dealer/retailer for service
as soon as possible.
Light On Steady:An emission
control system malfunction has been
detected on the vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required.An emission system malfunction
might be corrected by:
Make sure the fuel cap is fully
installed. SeeFilling the Tank
on page 5-7. The diagnostic
system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or
improperly installed. A loose or
missing fuel cap allows fuel
to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap
properly installed should turn
the light off.
If the vehicle has been driven
through a deep puddle of
water, the vehicle’s electrical
system might be wet. The
condition is usually corrected
when the electrical system dries
out. A few driving trips should
turn the light off.
Instrument Panel 3-31
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Driving Your
Vehicle
Your Driving, the Road,
and the Vehicle
Driving Your Vehicle...........4-1
Driver Behavior...................4-2
Driving Environment............4-2
Vehicle Design...................4-2
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy...........................4-3
Defensive Driving................4-3
Drunk Driving.....................4-4
Control of a Vehicle............4-4
Braking...............................4-5
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)...................4-6
Braking in Emergencies......4-6
StabiliTrak®System............4-7
Traction Control
System (TCS)...................4-8
Steering..............................4-9
Off-Road Recovery............4-10
Passing.............................4-11
Loss of Control.................4-11
Driving at Night.................4-12
Driving in Rain and on
Wet Roads......................4-13
Before Leaving on a
Long Trip........................4-14
Highway Hypnosis.............4-14
Hill and Mountain
Roads.............................4-14
Winter Driving...................4-15
If Your Vehicle is Stuck
in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow
...........................4-17
Rocking Your Vehicle to
Get It Out.......................4-17
Loading the Vehicle..........4-18
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle.........4-22
Recreational Vehicle
Towing............................4-23
Towing a Trailer................4-26
Your Driving, the
Road, and the Vehicle
Driving Your Vehicle
Whenever we drive, we are taking
on an important responsibility.
This is true for any motor
vehicle — passenger car, van,
truck, sport utility. Driver behavior,
the driving environment, and
the vehicle’s design all affect how
well a vehicle performs. But
statistics show that the most
important factor, by far, is how
we drive.
Knowing how these three factors
work together can help you
understand how your vehicle
handles and what you can do to
avoid many types of crashes,
including a rollover crash.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-1
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It is recommended to leave the
system on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn the system off if the
vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, ice or
snow, and you want to “rock” the
vehicle to attempt to free it.
StabiliTrak may also turn off
automatically if it determines that a
problem exists with the system. The
TCS/StabiliTrak warning light will be
on solid to warn the driver that
StabiliTrak is disabled and requires
service. If the problem does not clear
itself after restarting the vehicle, see
your dealer/retailer for service.
If cruise control is being used when
StabiliTrak activates, the cruise
control automatically disengages.
The cruise control can be
re-engaged when road conditions
allow. SeeCruise Control on
page 3-9.Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
The vehicle has a Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) feature as part of the
StabiliTrak system. If the vehicle is
towing a trailer and the system
detects that the trailer is swaying, the
vehicle’s brakes are applied without
the driver pressing the brake pedal.
The TCS/StabiliTrak warning light
will ash on the instrument panel
cluster to notify the driver to reduce
speed. If the trailer continues to
sway, StabiliTrak will reduce engine
torque to help slow the vehicle.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories can affect the vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 5-3for
more information.
Traction Control System
(TCS)
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) that limits wheel spin.
This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system
operates only if it senses that one or
both of the front wheels are spinning
or beginning to lose traction. When
this happens, TCS applies the
brakes to limit wheel spin and also
reduces engine power. The system
may be heard or felt while it is
working, but this is normal.
This light will ash when TCS is
limiting wheel spin.
It is recommended to leave the
system on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn the system off if the vehicle is
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow, and
you want to “rock” the vehicle to
4-8 Driving Your Vehicle
ProCarManuals.com

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.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-19
ProCarManuals.com

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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