SATURN ASTRA 2008 Owners Manual

If the airbag readiness light stays on
after you start the vehicle or comes
on when your are driving, your airbag
system may not work properly. Have
your vehicle serviced right away.
{CAUTION
If the airbag readiness light
stays on after the vehicle is
started, it means the airbag
system may not be working
properly. The airbags in the
vehicle may not inate in a
crash, or they could even
inate without a crash.
To help avoid injury, have the
vehicle serviced right away.
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system. The rearview
mirror has a passenger airbag
status indicator.
When you start the vehicle, the
passenger airbag status indicator
will light ON and OFF, or the symbol
for on and off, for several seconds
as a system check. Then, after
several more seconds, the status
indicator will light either ON or OFF,
or either the on or off symbol to let
you know the status of the right
front passenger’s frontal and
seat-mounted side impact airbags. United States
Canada
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If the word ON or the on symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the right
front passenger’s frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact airbag
are enabled (may inate).
{CAUTION
If the on indicator comes on
when you have a rear-facing
child restraint installed in the
right front passenger’s seat,
it means that the passenger
sensing system has not turned
off the passenger’s frontal
airbag and seat-mounted side
impact airbag (if equipped).
A child in a rear-facing child
restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag inates.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inating
airbag. Do not use a rear-facing
child restraint in the right front
passenger’s seat if the airbag is
turned on.
{CAUTION
Even though the passenger
sensing system is designed
to turn off the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact
airbag (if equipped) if the
system detects a rear-facing
child restraint, no system is
fail-safe, and no one can
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
guarantee that an airbag will
not deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though it is
turned off. We recommend that
rear-facing child restraints be
secured in a rear seat, even if
the airbag is or airbags are off.
If the word OFF or the off symbol
is lit on the passenger airbag
status indicator, it means that the
passenger sensing system has
turned off the right front passenger’s
frontal airbag and seat-mounted
side impact airbag. SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 1-30for
more on this, including important
safety information.
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If, after several seconds, both status
indicator lights remain on, or if there
are no lights at all, there may be
a problem with the lights or the
passenger sensing system.
See your dealer/retailer for service.
{CAUTION
If the airbag readiness light in
the instrument panel cluster
ever comes on and stays on, it
means that something may be
wrong with the airbag system.
If this ever happens, have the
vehicle serviced promptly,
because an adult-size person
sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat may not have
the protection of the airbag(s).
SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 4-14for more on this,
including important safety
information.
Charging System Light
This light comes on briey when the
ignition is turned on, but the engine is
not running, as a check to show the
light is working. It should go out
when the engine is started.
If the light stays on, or comes
on while driving, there may be a
problem with the electrical charging
system. Have it checked by your
dealer/retailer. Driving while this
light is on could drain the battery.
If a short distance must be driven
with the light on, be sure to turn off
all accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
Brake System Warning
Light
This light should come on briey
when the ignition is turned on.
If it does not come on, have it xed
so it will be ready to warn you if
there is a problem.
When the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will come on
when the parking brake is set.
The light will stay on if the parking
brake does not release fully. If it
stays on after the parking brake is
fully released, there is a brake
problem. Have your brake system
inspected immediately.
United StatesCanada
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If the light comes on while driving,
a chime will sound. Pull off the road
and stop. The pedal might be harder
to push or go closer to the oor.
It might also take longer to stop.
If the light is still on, have the vehicle
towed for service. SeeTowing Your
Vehicle on page 9-72.
{CAUTION
The 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 the vehicle has been
pulled off the road and carefully
stopped, have the vehicle
towed for service.
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
light will come on briey, as a check,
when you start your vehicle.
If it does not, have your vehicle
serviced so that the light works
properly when it needs to.
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:
1. If you are driving, pull over when
it is safe to do so. It may take
longer to stop the vehicle.
2. Place the vehicle in PARK (P).3. Turn off the ignition.
4. Then restart the engine.
If the light remains on after resetting
the system or comes on again while
driving, your vehicle needs service.
The antilock brakes are not working
properly and there might be a
problem stopping the vehicle. Pull
off the road and stop. It may take
longer to stop the vehicle. If the light
is still on, have the vehicle towed for
service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle
on page 9-72for more information.
{CAUTION
Your brake system may not be
working properly if the Antilock
Brake System (ABS) light is on.
Driving with the ABS 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.
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StabiliTrak®Indicator
Light
For vehicles with this light, it should
come on briey when the ignition
is turned on.
If the light does not come on, have
it xed so it will be ready to warn
if there is a problem.
If the light stays on, or comes on
while driving there may be a problem
with the StabiliTrak system and your
vehicle may need service. When this
light is on, the StabiliTrak system
does not assist in controlling the
vehicle. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
SeeStabiliTrak
®System on
page 8-19for more information.When the system is active, the light
will ash while the system helps
control the vehicle. You may also
feel or hear the system working.
This is normal.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning
Light
This light comes on briey when the
ignition is turned on as a system
check. If it does not, take the vehicle
to your dealer/retailer for service.
If this light comes on and stays lit,
the engine has overheated.
If this happens pull over and see
Engine Overheating on page 9-15
for more information.Notice:Driving with the engine
coolant temperature warning light
on could cause your vehicle to
overheat. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 9-15. Your vehicle could
be damaged, and it might not be
covered by your warranty. Never
drive with the engine coolant
temperature warning light on.Tire Pressure Light
This light comes on briey as a
check when the ignition is turned on.
This light comes on and stays on
when one or more of the vehicle’s
tires are signicantly underinated.
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Stop and check the tires as soon as
it is safe to do so. If underinated,
inate to the proper pressure.
SeeTires on page 9-38for more
information.
This light ashes for approximately
one minute and then stays on when
the system detects a malfunction.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor System
on page 9-48for more information.
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
A computer system called OBD II
(On-Board Diagnostics-Second
Generation) monitors operation
of the fuel, ignition, and emission
control systems. It makes sure that
emissions are at acceptable levels
for the life of the vehicle, helping to
produce a cleaner environment.This light comes on briey, as a
check to show it is working, when the
ignition is turned to ON/RUN. If the
light does not come on, see your
dealer/retailer.
If the light stays on it indicates that
there is an OBD II problem and
service is required.
Malfunctions often are indicated by
the system before any problem is
apparent. Heeding the light can
prevent more serious damage to the
vehicle. This system is also designed
to assist the service technician in
correctly diagnosing any malfunction.Notice:If the vehicle is
continually driven with this light
on, after a while, the emission
controls might not work as well,
the vehicle’s fuel economy might
not be as good, and the engine
might not run as smoothly. This
could lead to costly repairs that
might not be covered by the
warranty.
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 warranty. This
could also result in a failure
to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test.
SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 9-3.
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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 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 doing
the following:
Make sure the fuel cap is fully
installed. SeeFilling the Tank on
page 8-37. 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.
Make sure to fuel the vehicle
with quality fuel. Poor fuel quality
causes the engine not to run as
efficiently as designed and may
cause: stalling after start-up,
stalling when the vehicle is
changed into gear, misring,
hesitation on acceleration,
or stumbling on acceleration.
These conditions might go away
once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions
occurs, change the fuel brand
used. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to
turn the light off.
SeeGasoline Octane on
page 8-35.
If none of the above have made the
light turn off, have your dealer/retailer
check the vehicle. The dealer/retailer
has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to x any mechanical
or electrical problems that might
have developed.
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Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local
governments have or might begin
programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on your vehicle.
Failure to pass this inspection
could prevent getting a vehicle
registration.
Here are some things to know to
help the vehicle pass an inspection:
The vehicle will not pass this
inspection if the check engine
light is on or not working properly.
The vehicle will not pass this
inspection if the OBD (on-board
diagnostic) system determines
that critical emission control
systems have not been
completely diagnosed by the
system. The vehicle would
be considered not ready for
inspection. This can happen
if the battery has recently beenreplaced or if the battery has
run down. The diagnostic system
is designed to evaluate critical
emission control systems during
normal driving. This can take
several days of routine driving.
If this has been done and the
vehicle still does not pass the
inspection for lack of OBD system
readiness, your dealer/retailer can
prepare the vehicle for inspection.
Oil Pressure Light
{CAUTION
Do not keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. The engine can
become so hot that it catches
re. You or others could be
burned. Check the oil as soon
as possible and have the
vehicle serviced.Notice:Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance may damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always follow the maintenance
schedule in this manual for
changing engine oil.
This light comes on briey when the
ignition is turned on as a check to
be sure it works. If it does not, have
the vehicle serviced.
If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not owing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and might have
some other system problem.
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Low Oil Level Light
This light should come on briey
when the ignition is turned on as
a check to let you know that the
light is working.
If this light comes on and stays on
while the engine is running, it means
your engine is low on oil. You need
to check the oil level as soon as
possible. SeeEngine Oil on page 9-7
for further information.
Notice:Lack of proper engine
oil maintenance may damage the
engine. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule in this
manual for changing engine oil.
Winter Driving Mode
Light
This light will come on when the
winter driving mode feature is in use.
When you turn off the winter driving
mode feature, the light will go out.
If it stays on, your vehicle may need
service. See your dealer/retailer.
See “Winter Driving Mode” under
Automatic Transmission Operation
on page 8-5for more information.
Fog Lamp Light
The fog lamp light will come on
when the fog lamps are in use.
The light will go out when the fog
lamps are turned off. SeeFog
Lamps on page 5-2for more
information.
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Exterior Lamps Off
Reminder
This light comes on whenever the
exterior lights are off.
SeeExterior Lamps Controls on
page 5-1for more information.
Cruise Control Light
This light comes on whenever you
set the cruise control.
The light goes out when the cruise
control is turned off or disengaged.
SeeCruise Control on page 4-5
for more information.
Highbeam On Light
This light comes on when the
high-beam headlamps are in use.
SeeHeadlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer on page 4-8for more
information.
Door Ajar Light
This light will come on when a door
or liftgate is open. Before driving,
check that all doors are properly
closed.
Service Vehicle Soon
Light
This light should come one briey
when the ignition is turned on
as a check to let you know that
the light is working.
This light will come on if a condition
exists that may require the vehicle
to be taken in for service.
If the light comes on and stays
on, see your dealer/retailer
for service as soon as possible.
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