SATURN ASTRA 2009 Owners Manual

For customers who do not use
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline
regularly, one bottle of GM Fuel
System Treatment PLUS, added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help clean deposits
from fuel injectors and intake valves.
GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS is
the only gasoline additive
recommended by General Motors.
Also, your dealer/retailer has
additives that will help correct and
prevent most deposit-related
problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates,
such as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines might be
available in your area. We
recommend that you use these
gasolines, if they comply with the
specications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
10% ethanol must not be used in
vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.Notice:This vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under
the vehicle warranty.
Some gasolines that are
not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant
where you buy gasoline whether the
fuel contains MMT. We recommend
against the use of such gasolines.
Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the
performance of the emission control
system could be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp might
turn on. If this occurs, return to your
dealer/retailer for service.Fuels in Foreign
Countries
If you plan on driving in another
country outside the United States or
Canada, the proper fuel might be
hard to nd. Never use leaded
gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text
on fuel. Costly repairs caused
by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by the vehicle warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask
an auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in
the country where you will be
driving.
Driving and Operating 8-35
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Filling the Tank
{CAUTION
Fuel vapor burns violently and a
fuel re can cause bad injuries.
To help avoid injuries to you and
others, read and follow all the
instructions on the pump island.
Turn off the engine when you are
refueling. Do not smoke if you are
near fuel or refueling the vehicle.
Do not use cellular phones. Keep
sparks, ames, and smoking
materials away from fuel. Do not
leave the fuel pump unattended
when refueling the vehicle. This is
against the law in some places.
Do not re-enter the vehicle while
pumping fuel. Keep children away
from the fuel pump; never let
children pump fuel.The fuel cap is located behind a
hinged fuel door on the passenger
side of the vehicle.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it
slowly counterclockwise.
The fuel cap has a spring in it, if the
cap is released too soon it will
spring back.
{CAUTION
Fuel can spray out on you if you
open the fuel cap too quickly. If
you spill fuel and then something
ignites it, you could be badly
burned. This spray can happen if
the tank is nearly full, and is more
likely in hot weather. Open the
fuel cap slowly and wait for any
hiss noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not top
off or overll the tank and wait a few
seconds after you have nished
pumping before removing the nozzle.
Clean fuel from painted surfaces as
soon as possible. SeeExterior
Cleaning on page 9-76.
When replacing the fuel cap, turn
it clockwise until it clicks. Make
sure the cap is fully installed.
The diagnostic system can
determine if the fuel cap has been
left off or improperly installed.
8-36 Driving and Operating
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This would allow fuel to evaporate
into the atmosphere. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 4-18.
{CAUTION
If a re starts while you are
refueling, do not remove the
nozzle. Shut off the ow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by
notifying the station attendant.
Leave the area immediately.
Notice:If you need a new fuel
cap, be sure to get the right type.
Your dealer/retailer can get one for
you. If you get the wrong type, it
may not t properly. This may
cause the malfunction indicator
lamp to light and may damage the
fuel tank and emissions system.
SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 4-18.
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container
{CAUTION
Never ll a portable fuel container
while it is in the vehicle. Static
electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the fuel
vapor. You can be badly burned
and the vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to
you and others:
Dispense fuel only into
approved containers.
Do not ll a container while it
is inside a vehicle, in a
vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed, or
on any surface other than the
ground.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Bring the ll nozzle in contact
with the inside of the ll
opening before operating the
nozzle. Contact should be
maintained until the lling is
complete.
Do not smoke while
pumping fuel.
Do not use a cellular phone
while pumping fuel.
Driving and Operating 8-37
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✍NOTES
8-38 Driving and Operating
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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....................9-4
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
Cooling System.................9-12
Engine Coolant.................9-16
Pressure Cap....................9-18
Engine Overheating...........9-18
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
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL).........9-29
Taillamps (Five-Door
Hatchback)......................9-30
Taillamps (Three-Door
Hatchback)......................9-32
License Plate Lamp..........9-33
Replacement Bulbs...........9-34
Electrical System
Add-On Electrical
Equipment.......................9-34
Headlamp Wiring..............9-34
Fuses...............................9-35
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block......................9-35
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block...............................9-37
Tires
Tires.................................9-40
Winter Tires......................9-41
Tire Sidewall Labeling.......9-42
Tire Terminology and
Denitions.......................9-44
Ination - Tire Pressure. . . .9-47
High-Speed Operation.......9-48
Tire Pressure Monitor
System............................9-49
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation........................9-51
Tire Inspection and
Rotation..........................9-52
Vehicle Service and Care 9-1
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When It Is Time for
New Tires.......................9-54
Buying New Tires.............9-54
Different Size Tires and
Wheels............................9-56
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading...........................9-57
Wheel Alignment and
Tire Balance....................9-58
Wheel Replacement..........9-59
Tire Chains.......................9-60
Tire ChangingIf a Tire Goes Flat............9-60
Changing a Flat Tire.........9-61
Removing the Spare Tire
and Tools........................9-62
Removing the Flat Tire
and Installing the
Spare Tire
.......................9-63
Storing a Flat or Spare
Tire and Tools.................9-66
Compact Spare Tire..........9-68
Jump Starting
Jump Starting...................9-69
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle.........9-73
Recreational Vehicle
Towing............................9-73
Towing a Trailer................9-73
Appearance Care
Interior Cleaning................9-73
Exterior Cleaning..............9-76
Sheet Metal Damage........9-79
Finish Damage..................9-79
Underbody Maintenance. . . .9-80
Chemical Paint Spotting. . . .9-80
Service
For service and parts needs,
visit your dealer/retailer. You will
receive genuine Saturn parts
and Saturn-trained and supported
service people.
Genuine Saturn parts have one of
these marks.
9-2 Vehicle Service and Care
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Accessories and
Modications
When non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories are added to the
vehicle, they can affect vehicle
performance and safety, including
such things as airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling,
emissions systems, aerodynamics,
durability, and electronic systems
like antilock brakes, traction control,
and stability control. Some of
these accessories could even cause
malfunction or damage not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components
resulting from the installation or use
of non-GM certied parts, including
control module modications,
are not covered under the terms of
the vehicle warranty and may
affect remaining warranty coverage
for affected parts.GM Accessories are designed to
complement and function with other
systems on the vehicle. Your GM
dealer/retailer can accessorize
the vehicle using genuine GM
Accessories. When you go to your
GM dealer/retailer and ask for
GM Accessories, you will know that
GM-trained and supported service
technicians will perform the work
using genuine GM Accessories.
Also, seeAdding Equipment to
Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 1-36.
California Proposition 65
Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects
or other reproductive harm.Engine exhaust, many parts and
systems (including some inside the
vehicle), many uids, and some
component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these chemicals.
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained
in remote keyless transmitters,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-3
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Doing Your Own
Service Work
{CAUTION
You can be injured and the vehicle
could be damaged if you try to do
service work on a vehicle without
knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have sufficient
knowledge, experience, the
proper replacement parts, and
tools before attempting any
vehicle maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper
nuts, bolts, and other
fasteners. English and metric
fasteners can be easily
confused. If the wrong
fasteners are used, parts
can later break or fall off.
You could be hurt.
If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service
manual. It tells you much moreabout how to service the vehicle
than this manual can. To order the
proper service manual, see
Service Publications Ordering
Information on page 12-15.
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your
own service work, seeAirbag
System Check on page 1-37.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date
of any service work performed. See
Maintenance Record on page 11-16.Adding Equipment to
the Outside of the
Vehicle
Things added to the outside of the
vehicle can affect the airow
around it. This can cause wind
noise and can affect fuel economy
and windshield washer performance.
Check with your dealer/retailer
before adding equipment to
the outside of the vehicle.
Owner Checks
{CAUTION
An electric fan under the hood can
start up and injure you even when
the engine is not running. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION
Things that burn can get on hot
engine parts and start a re.
These include liquids like fuel, oil,
coolant, brake uid, windshield
washer and other uids, and
plastic or rubber. You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to
drop or spill things that will burn
onto a hot engine.
9-4 Vehicle Service and Care
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Hood Release
To open the hood:
1. Pull the handle that is located
under the instrument panel.2. Push the secondary hood
release lever upward.
3. Lift the hood.After the hood is slightly lifted,
it will continue to open to the
full position.
Before closing the hood, be sure
all the ller caps are on properly.
Then lift the hood to relieve
pressure. Pull the hood down,
close it rmly.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-5
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Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood, this is what you will see:
9-6 Vehicle Service and Care
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