mirror SATURN ASTRA 2008 User Guide

If your vehicle starts to slide, ease
your foot off the accelerator pedal
and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering
quickly enough, your vehicle may
straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is on the road. For safety,
you want to slow down and
adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow
down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance is longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with
reduced traction, try your best to
avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing
vehicle speed by shifting to a lower
gear. Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You
might not realize the surface isslippery until your vehicle is
skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues — such as enough water,
ice, or packed snow on the road to
make a mirrored surface — and
slow down when you have any
doubt.
Remember: Any Antilock Brake
System (ABS) helps avoid only the
braking skid.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous
than day driving because some
drivers are likely to be impaired — by
alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems, or by fatigue.
Night driving tips include:
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Reduce headlamp glare by
adjusting the inside rearview
mirror.
Slow down and keep more space
between you and other vehicles
because headlamps can only
light up so much road ahead.
Watch for animals.
When tired, pull off the road.
Do not wear sunglasses.
Avoid staring directly into
approaching headlamps.
Keep the windshield and all glass
on your vehicle clean — inside
and out.
Keep your eyes moving,
especially during turns or curves.
No one can see as well at night as
in the daytime. But, as we get
older, these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver might need
at least twice as much light to see
the same thing at night as a
20-year-old.
8-24 Driving and Operating
ProCarManuals.com

Before Leaving on a
Long Trip
To prepare your vehicle for a long
trip, consider having it serviced by
your dealer/retailer before departing.
Things to check on your own
include:
Windshield Washer Fluid:
Reservoir full? Windows
clean — inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:In good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:All
levels checked?
Lamps:Do they all work and are
lenses clean?
Tires:Are treads good? Are tires
inated to recommended
pressure?
Weather and Maps:Safe to
travel? Have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Always be alert and pay attention
to your surroundings while driving.
If you become tired or sleepy, nd
a safe place to park your vehicle
and rest.
Other driving tips include:
Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
Keep interior temperature cool.
Keep your eyes moving — scan
the road ahead and to the sides.
Check the rearview mirror and
vehicle instruments often.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on at or rolling terrain. Tips for
driving in these conditions include:
Keep the vehicle serviced
and in good shape.
Check all uid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
Going down steep or long hills,
shift to a lower gear.
{CAUTION
If you do not shift down, the
brakes could get so hot that
they would not work well. You
would then have poor braking
or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Shift down to
let the engine assist the brakes
on a steep downhill slope.
8-26 Driving and Operating
ProCarManuals.com

Fuses Usage
16Front Passenger Seat
Detection Sensor
17Tire Pressure
Monitoring
System (TPMS)/
Rain Sensor/Inside
Rearview Mirror
18 Interior Lights
21 Outside Mirror Heating
22 Sunroof
23 Rear Power Window
24Diagnostic Link
Connector
29Accessory Power
Outlet (APO)
34 Sunroof
38 Door Locks
39 Seat Heating Driver
40Seat Heating Front
PassengerTires
Your new vehicle comes with
high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer.
If you ever have questions about
the tire warranty and where to
obtain service, see the “Limited
Warranty, Maintenance and
Owner Assistance Information”
manual for details.
{CAUTION
Poorly maintained and
improperly used tires are
dangerous.
Overloading your tires can
cause overheating as a
result of too much exing.
You could have an air-out
and a serious accident.
SeeLoading the Vehicle
on page 8-30.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Underinated tires pose
the same danger as
overloaded tires.
The resulting accident
could cause serious
injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the
recommended pressure.
Tire pressure should be
checked when your tires
are cold. SeeInflation - Tire
Pressure on page 9-46.
Overinated tires are more
likely to be cut, punctured,
or broken by a sudden
impact — such as when
you hit a pothole. Keep
tires at the recommended
pressure.
(Continued)
9-38 Vehicle Service and Care
ProCarManuals.com

Loading Your Vehicle............8-30
Locks
Door ................................. 2-5
Power Door ....................... 2-5
Rear Door Security Locks.... 2-6
Loss of Control....................8-23
Low Fuel Warning Light........4-25
Lumbar Seat Adjustment......... 1-3
M
Malfunction Indicator Light.....4-20
Manual Seats........................ 1-2
Manual Transmission
Fluid...............................9-12
Operation.......................... 8-9
Manual, Using.......................... ii
Message
DIC Warnings and
Messages....................4-37
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror.....2-12
Outside...........................2-12
Outside Power Mirrors.......2-12
MyGMLink.com....................11-4
N
Navigation System,
Privacy..........................11-17
New Vehicle Break-In............. 8-2
Notices and Cautions............... iii
O
Odometer...........................4-13
Odometers, Trip...................4-13
Off-Road Recovery...............8-22
Oil
Engine.............................. 9-7
Low Oil Level Light...........4-23
Pressure Light..................4-22
Oil, Engine Oil Life System..... 9-9
Older Children, Restraints......1-37
Online Owner Center............11-4
OnStar, Privacy..................11-17
OnStar
®System, see
OnStar®Manual...............4-38
Outlet Adjustment.................. 7-4
Outlets
Accessory Power..............4-10Outside
Mirrors............................2-12
Power Mirrors..................2-12
Owner Checks, Service.......... 9-5
Owners, Canadian.................... ii
P
Paint, Damage.....................9-79
Park
Shifting Into.....................8-11
Shifting Out of..................8-13
Park Brake..........................8-10
Parking
Over Things That Burn......8-13
Parking Your Vehicle............8-13
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator..........................4-15
Passing..............................8-23
Perchlorate Materials
Requirements, California...... 9-3
Power
Door Locks........................ 2-5
Electrical System..............9-34
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . 8-3
i-6 INDEX
ProCarManuals.com

Power (cont.)
Steering Fluid...................9-20
Windows.........................2-10
Pressure Cap......................9-15
Privacy.............................11-15
Event Data Recorders.....11-16
Navigation System..........11-17
OnStar ..........................11-17
Radio Frequency
Identication................11-17
R
Radio Frequency
Identication (RFID),
Privacy..........................11-17
Radio(s)............................... 6-2
Radios
Reception........................6-25
Theft-Deterrent.................6-24
Reading Lamps..................... 5-3
Rear Compartment Lamp........ 5-4
Rear Door Security Locks....... 2-6Rear Heated Seats................ 1-6
Rear Seat Operation.............. 1-7
Rear Windshield Washer/
Wiper..............................4-10
Rearview Mirrors..................2-12
Reclining Seatbacks............... 1-3
Recreational Vehicle
Towing ............................9-72
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System.................... 2-3
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System,
Operation.......................... 2-4
Removing the Flat Tire
and Installing the
Spare Tire.......................9-62
Removing the Spare Tire
and Tools........................9-61
Replacement Bulbs..............9-33
Replacing LATCH
System Parts After
a Crash...........................1-50Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government.....11-14
Saturn...........................11-14
United States
Government................11-13
Restraint System Check
Replacing Airbag System
Parts After a Crash........1-36
Replacing Safety Belt
System Parts After
a Crash.......................1-23
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) ..................... 8-3
Roadside
Assistance Program..........11-5
Rocking Your Vehicle
to Get it Out ....................8-30
Running the Vehicle
While Parked...................8-14
INDEX i-7
ProCarManuals.com