9-12 SATURN ASTRA 2008 Owners Manual

Brakelight switch check
This message displays when the
brake lamp does not come on
when the brake is applied. Have
your vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer immediately.
Coolant level check
This message displays when the
engine coolant level is low. Have
the cooling system serviced by your
dealer/retailer as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Coolant on page 9-12.
Remote Control Battery
check
This message displays if the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter battery is low. Replace
the battery in the transmitter.
See “Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2-4.
Safeguard check
This message displays when there
is a problem with the theft-deterrent
system. Have the system serviced
by your dealer/retailer immediately.
Washer Fluid Level
(Base Level) or Washing
Water Level (Uplevel)
This message displays when the
vehicle’s windshield washer uid is
low. When the washer uid level is
low, the rear window washer system
is deactivated. Fill the windshield
washer uid reservoir to the proper
level as soon as possible. See
Windshield Washer Fluid on
page 9-20.
OnStar®System
OnStar uses several innovative
technologies and live advisors to
provide you with a wide range of
safety, security, information, and
convenience services. If your airbags
deploy, the system is designed to
make an automatic call to OnStar
Emergency advisors who can
request emergency services be
sent to your location. If you lock your
keys in the vehicle, call OnStar at
1-888-4-ONSTAR and they can send
a signal to unlock your doors. If you
need roadside assistance, press the
OnStar button and they can contact
Roadside Service for you.
4-38 Instruments and Controls
ProCarManuals.com

Vehicle Service
and Care
Service
Service...............................9-2
Accessories and
Modications.....................9-3
California Proposition 65
Warning............................9-3
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements.....9-3
Doing Your Own
Service Work....................9-4
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle......9-4
Owner Checks
Owner Checks....................9-5
Hood Release.....................9-5
Engine Compartment
Overview...........................9-6
Engine Oil..........................9-7
Engine Oil Life System.......9-9
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. . . .9-11
Automatic Transmission
Fluid................................9-12
Manual Transmission
Fluid................................9-12
Hydraulic Clutch................9-12
Engine Coolant.................9-12
Pressure Cap....................9-15
Engine Overheating...........9-15
Cooling System.................9-16
Power Steering Fluid.........9-20
Windshield Washer Fluid. . . .9-20
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement...................9-21
Brakes..............................9-22
Battery..............................9-25
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming..............9-26
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement.............9-28
Halogen Bulbs..................9-28
Front Turn Signal Lamps. . .9-28
Taillamps
(Five-Door Hatchback).....9-29
Taillamps
(Three-Door Hatchback). . .9-30
License Plate Lamp..........9-32
Replacement Bulbs...........9-33
Electrical System
Add-On Electrical
Equipment.......................9-33
Headlamp Wiring..............9-33
Windshield Wiper Fuses. . . .9-34
Power Windows and
Other Power Options.......9-34
Fuses...............................9-34
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block......................9-34
Rear Compartment
Fuse Block......................9-36
Tires
Tires.................................9-38
Winter Tires......................9-39
Tire Sidewall Labeling.......9-40
Tire Terminology and
Denitions.......................9-43
Ination - Tire Pressure. . . .9-46
High-Speed Operation.......9-47
Tire Pressure Monitor
System............................9-48
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation........................9-50
Tire Inspection and
Rotation..........................9-51
When It Is Time for
New Tires.......................9-53
Vehicle Service and Care 9-1
ProCarManuals.com

Automatic Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check
the transmission uid level.
A transmission uid leak is the only
reason for uid loss. If a leak
occurs, take your vehicle to the
dealer/retailer service department
and have it repaired as soon
as possible.
Change the uid and lter at the
intervals listed in the Maintenance
Schedule. See “Additional
Required Services” in Service
and Maintenance. Be sure to use
the transmission uid listed in
“Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in Service and
Maintenance.
Notice:Use of the incorrect
automatic transmission uid
may damage your vehicle,
and the damages may not becovered by your warranty.
See “Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants” in the Limited
Warranty, Maintenance and Owner
Assistance Information manual.
Manual Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
manual transmission uid level.
A transmission uid leak is the only
reason for uid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to the
dealer/retailer service department
and have it repaired as soon
as possible. You may also have
your uid level checked by
your dealer/retailer when you have
your oil changed. See “Part D:
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in Service and
Maintenance for the proper uid
to use.
Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch linkage in
your vehicle is self-adjusting.
This system does not have its own
reservoir. It receives uid from
the brake master cylinder reservoir.
SeeBrakes on page 9-22for more
information.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle
is lled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to
remain in your vehicle for ve years
or 150,000 miles (240 000 km),
whichever occurs rst, if you add
only DEX-COOL
®extended life
coolant.
The following explains your cooling
system and how to add coolant
when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating on page 9-15.
9-12 Vehicle Service and Care
ProCarManuals.com

How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Reservoir
Notice:This vehicle has a
specic coolant ll procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure
could cause the engine to
overheat and be severely
damaged.
If you have not found a problem yet,
check to see if coolant is visible
in the coolant reservoir. If coolant is
visible but the coolant level is not
at or above the KALT/COLD
mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®
coolant at the coolant reservoir,
but be sure the cooling system,
including the coolant reservoir
pressure cap, is cool before you
do it. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 9-12for more information.If no coolant is visible in the coolant
reservoir, add coolant as follows:
{CAUTION
Steam and scalding liquids
from a hot cooling system can
blow out and burn you badly.
They are under pressure,
and if you turn the coolant
reservoir pressure cap — even
a little — they can come out at
high speed. Never turn the cap
when the cooling system,
including the coolant reservoir
pressure cap, is hot. Wait for
the cooling system and coolant
reservoir pressure cap to cool
if you ever have to turn the
pressure cap.
{CAUTION
Adding only plain water to
the cooling system can be
dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as
alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will.
The vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain
water or the wrong mixture, the
engine could get too hot but
you would not get the overheat
warning. The engine could
catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50
mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Notice:In cold weather, water
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core and other
parts. Use the recommended
coolant and the proper coolant
mixture.
9-18 Vehicle Service and Care
ProCarManuals.com

A
Accessories and
Modications...................... 9-3
Accessory Power Outlets......4-10
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle....1-35
Additives, Fuel.....................8-36
Add-On Electrical
Equipment.......................9-33
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.......9-11
Air Conditioning..................... 7-1
Airbag
Passenger Status
Indicator.......................4-15
Readiness Light................4-14
System, Replacing Parts
After a Crash................1-36
Airbag System.....................1-23
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle........................1-35
Check.............................1-36
How Does an Airbag
Restrain?.....................1-28
Servicing Your
Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle........................1-34Airbag System (cont.)
What Makes an Airbag
Inate?........................1-28
What Will You See After
an Airbag Inates?........1-29
When Should an Airbag
Inate?........................1-27
Where Are the
Airbags?..............1-25, 1-30
Antenna, Fixed Mast............6-25
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)..................8-18
Anti-lock Brake, System
Warning Light...................4-18
Appearance Care
Chemical Paint Spotting.....9-79
Exterior Cleaning..............9-75
Finish Damage.................9-79
Interior Cleaning...............9-72
Sheet Metal Damage........9-78
Underbody Maintenance....9-79
Vehicle Care/Appearance
Materials
......................9-80
Appointments, Scheduling
Service...........................11-8Audio System........................ 6-1
Audio Steering Wheel
Controls.......................6-24
Fixed Mast Antenna..........6-25
Radio Reception...............6-25
Theft-Deterrent Feature......6-24
Audio System(s).................... 6-2
Automatic Transmission
Fluid...............................9-12
Operation.......................... 8-5
B
Battery...............................9-25
Run-Down Protection.......... 5-4
Brakes...............................9-22
System Warning Light.......4-17
Braking...............................8-17
Break-In, New Vehicle............ 8-2
Bulb Replacement................9-28
Front Turn Signal Lamps . . . 9-28
Halogen Bulbs..................9-28
Headlamp Aiming..............9-26
License Plate Lamps.........9-32
Replacement Bulbs...........9-33
Taillamps.................9-29, 9-30
Buying New Tires.................9-54
INDEX i-1
ProCarManuals.com

C
California Fuel.....................8-35
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements....... 9-3
California Proposition 65
Warning............................ 9-3
Canadian Owners..................... ii
Capacities and
Specications...................10-2
Carbon Monoxide.........8-14, 8-27
Care, Safety Belts................1-22
Cargo Cover......................... 3-1
Cargo Tie Downs................... 3-1
Cautions and Notices............... iii
Chains, Tire........................9-59
Charging System Light..........4-17
Check
Engine Light....................4-20
Chemical Paint Spotting........9-79
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems.....1-41
Infants and Young
Children.......................1-38
Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children.......1-45Child Restraints (cont.)
Older Children..................1-37
Securing..................1-50, 1-53
Where to Put the
Restraint......................1-43
Cleaning
Exterior...........................9-75
Interior............................9-72
Underbody Maintenance....9-79
Climate Control System.......... 7-1
Outlet Adjustment............... 7-4
Clutch, Hydraulic..................9-12
Collision Damage Repair.....11-10
Compact Spare Tire.............9-67
Content Theft-Deterrent.......... 2-9
Control of a Vehicle..............8-17
Coolant
Engine............................9-12
Engine Temperature
Warning Light...............4-19
Cooling System...................
9-16
Cruise Control....................... 4-5
Cruise Control Light..............4-24
Cupholders........................... 3-1Customer Assistance
Information
Courtesy
Transportation.......11-4, 11-8
Customer Assistance
Offices.........................11-5
Customer Satisfaction
Procedure....................11-1
GM Mobility
Reimbursement
Program.......................11-5
Reporting Safety
Defects to
Saturn........................11-14
Reporting Safety
Defects to the
Canadian
Government................11-14
Reporting Safety Defects
to the United States
Government................11-13
Roadside Assistance
Program.......................11-5
Service Publications
Ordering Information.....11-14
i-2 INDEX
ProCarManuals.com

D
Daytime Running Lamps......... 5-2
Defensive Driving.................8-16
Delayed Headlamps............... 5-2
Doing Your Own
Service Work..................... 9-4
Dome Lamps ........................ 5-3
Door
Ajar Light........................4-24
Locks............................... 2-5
Power Door Locks.............. 2-5
Rear Door Security Locks.... 2-6
Driver Information
Center (DIC)....................4-26
DIC Operation and
Displays...............4-27, 4-31
DIC Warnings and
Messages....................4-37
Driving
At Night..........................8-24
Before a Long Trip............8-26
Defensive........................8-16
Drunken..........................8-16
Highway Hypnosis............8-26Driving (cont.)
Hill and Mountain Roads....8-26
In Rain and on Wet
Roads.........................8-25
Rocking Your Vehicle to
Get it Out ....................8-30
Winter.............................8-27
Winter Mode Light............4-23
E
EDR .................................11-15
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment............9-33
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block...................9-34
Fuses.............................9-34
Headlamp Wiring..............9-33
Power Windows and
Other Power
Options........................9-34
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block...........................9-36
Windshield Wiper Fuses....9-34Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter...............9-11
Check and Service
Engine Soon
Light............................4-20
Coolant...........................9-12
Coolant Temperature
Warning Light...............4-19
Engine Compartment
Overview....................... 9-6
Exhaust...........................8-14
Oil ................................... 9-7
Oil Life System.................. 9-9
Overheating.....................9-15
Starting............................. 8-3
Engine Heater....................... 8-4
Entry Lighting........................ 5-3
Event Data Recorders.........11-16
Extender, Safety Belt............1-22
Exterior Lamps...................... 5-1
Exterior Lamps Off
Reminder........................4-24
INDEX i-3
ProCarManuals.com

F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner............9-11
Finish Damage....................9-79
Fixed Mast Antenna.............6-25
Flashers, Hazard Warning....... 4-4
Flash-to-Pass........................ 4-8
Flat Tire..............................9-60
Flat Tire, Changing...............9-60
Flat Tire, Storing..................9-66
Fluid..................................9-12
Automatic Transmission.....9-12
Power Steering.................9-20
Windshield Washer...........9-20
Fog Lamp
Fog .................................. 5-2
Fog Lamp Light...................4-23
Fuel...................................8-35
Additives.........................8-36
California Fuel..................8-35
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container.....................8-38
Filling the Tank.................8-37
Fuels in Foreign
Countries.....................8-36Fuel (cont.)
Gage ..............................4-25
Gasoline Octane...............8-35
Gasoline Specications......8-35
Low Warning Light............4-25
Fuses.................................9-34
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block...................9-34
Rear Compartment
Fuse Block...................9-36
Windshield Wiper..............9-34
G
Gage
Fuel................................4-25
Speedometer...................4-13
Tachometer......................4-13
Gasoline
Octane............................8-35
Specications...................8-35
Glove Box............................ 3-1
GM Mobility
Reimbursement
Program..........................11-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers........ 4-4
Head Restraints..................... 1-5
Headlamp
Aiming ............................9-26
Headlamp Wiring.................9-33
Headlamps
Bulb Replacement.............9-28
Daytime Running Lamps..... 5-2
Delayed............................ 5-2
Exterior Lamps................... 5-1
Flash-to-Pass..................... 4-8
Front Turn Signal Lamps . . . 9-28
Halogen Bulbs..................9-28
High/Low Beam Changer..... 4-8
Heater................................. 7-1
Engine.............................. 8-4
Height Adjuster, Seat.............. 1-2
Highbeam On Light..............4-24
High-Speed Operation,
Tires...............................9-47
Highway Hypnosis................8-26
Hill and Mountain Roads.......8-26
i-4 INDEX
ProCarManuals.com

Hood
Release............................ 9-5
Horn .................................... 4-4
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly..........................1-12
Hydraulic Clutch...................9-12
I
Ignition Positions................... 8-2
Immobilizer........................... 2-7
Immobilizer Operation............. 2-8
Infants and Young
Children, Restraints...........1-38
Ination - Tire Pressure.........9-46
Instrument Panel
Brightness......................... 5-3
Cluster............................4-12
Overview........................... 4-2
J
Jump Starting......................9-68
K
Keyless Entry System............ 2-3
Keys.................................... 2-2
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall..........9-40
Lamp
Rear Compartment............. 5-4
Lamps
Dome ............................... 5-3
Exterior, Off Reminder.......4-24
Reading............................ 5-3
Lap-Shoulder Belt................1-17
LATCH System
Child Restraints................1-45
Replacing Parts After a
Crash..........................1-50
License Plate Lamps............9-32
Liftgate
Carbon Monoxide............... 2-6
Light
Airbag Readiness.............4-14
Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS) Warning..............4-18Light (cont.)
Brake System Warning......4-17
Charging System..............4-17
Cruise Control..................4-24
Door Ajar.........................4-24
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning.....4-19
Fog Lamp ........................4-23
Highbeam On...................4-24
Low Fuel Warning.............4-25
Low Oil Level...................4-23
Malfunction Indicator.........4-20
Oil Pressure.....................4-22
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator.......................4-15
Safety Belt Reminders.......4-14
Service Vehicle Soon........4-24
StabiliTrak
®Indicator.........4-19
Tire Pressure...................4-19
Winter Driving Mode..........4-23
Lighting
Entry................................ 5-3
Lights
Exterior Lamps................... 5-1
Flash-to-Pass..................... 4-8
High/Low Beam Changer..... 4-8
INDEX i-5
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