automatic transmission SATURN ASTRA 2009 Owners Manual

Setting Cruise Control
For safety reasons the cruise control
cannot be turned on until the brake
has been applied once.
With automatic transmission, only
use cruise control in D (Drive).
Press the On/Off button to turn on
the cruise control. A message briey
appears on the instrument panel
cluster at the odometer display when
the cruise control has been turned on.
{CAUTION
If you leave your cruise control on
when you are not using cruise,
you might hit a button and go into
cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even
lose control. Keep the cruise
control switch off until you want to
use cruise control.1. Press
Jand the current speed
is stored and maintained.
2. Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal. The
Jindicator light on
the instrument panel cluster turns
on after the cruise control has
been set to the desired speed.
The cruise control automatically
disengages under the following
conditions:
The vehicle speed drops below
25 mph (40 km/h).
The brake is applied.
The clutch pedal is applied
(for manual transmission
vehicles).
The automatic transmission is
in N (Neutral).
The On/Off button is pressed.
CC On Message
CC Off Message
4-6 Instruments and Controls
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Resuming a Set Speed
Once the vehicle speed reaches
about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more and
the cruise control is on, press
W.
The vehicle returns to the previous
speed selected before the cruise
was disengaged.
The stored speed is deleted if the
ignition is turned off.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control

Press and holdJuntil the
desired speed is reached,
then release it.
To increase vehicle speed in
small increments, briey
press
Jrepeatedly. Each time
this is done, the vehicle speed
increase by about 1 mph
(1.6 km/h) without using the
accelerator pedal.
When the
Jbutton is released
the current speed is stored
and maintained.
Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control

Press and holdWuntil the
desired lower speed is reached,
then release it.
To reduce vehicle speed in small
increments, briey press
W
repeatedly. Each time this is
done, the vehicle speed
decreases by about 1 mph
(1.6 km/h).
When the
Wbutton is released
the current speed is stored
and maintained.
Passing Another Vehicle
While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase the vehicle speed.
When the accelerator pedal is
released, the vehicle will return to
the previously set cruise speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will
work on hills depends upon
the vehicle speed, load, and the
steepness of the hills. While going
up steep hills, you might have
to step on the accelerator pedal to
maintain the vehicle’s speed.
While going downhill, you might
have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep the vehicle’s speed down.
Of course, applying the brake
turns off the cruise control.
Ending Cruise Control
There are several ways to end
cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake or
clutch pedal.
The automatic transmission is
placed in N (Neutral).
Press the9button.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory
is erased when the cruise control or
the ignition is turned off.
Instruments and Controls 4-7
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Instrument Panel Cluster
The instrument cluster is designed to show at a glance how the vehicle is running. It shows how fast the vehicle is
going, about how much fuel has been used, and many other things needed to drive safely and economically.United States Base Automatic Transmission version shown, Canada, Manual Transmission and Uplevel similar
4-12 Instruments and Controls
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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 9-7for further information.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can 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” underAutomatic
Transmission Operation on page 8-6
for more information.
Fog Lamp Light
The fog lamp light comes on when
the fog lamps are in use.
The light goes out when the fog
lamps are turned off. SeeFog
Lamps on page 5-2for more
information.
4-22 Instruments and Controls
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Driving and
Operating
Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In.........8-2
Ignition Positions................8-2
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP).....................8-3
Starting the Engine.............8-3
Engine Heater....................8-5
Automatic Transmission
Operation..........................8-6
Manual Transmission
Operation..........................8-9
Parking Brake...................8-10
Shifting Into Park..............8-11
Shifting Out of Park..........8-12
Parking the Vehicle...........8-13
Parking Over Things
That Burn........................8-13
Engine Exhaust.................8-14
Running the Vehicle
While Parked..................8-14
Driving Your Vehicle
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy.........................8-15
Defensive Driving..............8-16
Drunk Driving....................8-16
Control of a Vehicle..........8-17
Braking.............................8-17
Antilock Brake
System (ABS).................8-18
StabiliTrak®System..........8-19
Steering............................8-20
Off-Road Recovery............8-21
Passing.............................8-22
Loss of Control.................8-22
Driving at Night.................8-23
Driving in Rain and on
Wet Roads......................8-24
Before Leaving on a
Long Trip........................8-25
Highway Hypnosis.............8-25
Hill and Mountain
Roads.............................8-26
Winter Driving...................8-27
If Your Vehicle is Stuck
in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow
..........................8-29
Rocking Your Vehicle to
Get It Out.......................8-29
Loading the Vehicle..........8-30
Fuel
Fuel..................................8-34
Gasoline Octane...............8-34
Gasoline Specications.....8-34
California Fuel..................8-34
Additives...........................8-34
Fuels in Foreign
Countries........................8-35
Filling the Tank.................8-36
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container........................8-37
Driving and Operating 8-1
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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.Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions
Use the key to turn the ignition
switch to four different positions.
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.To shift out of P (Park), the ignition
must be in the ON/RUN position
and the regular brake pedal must be
applied.
A (LOCK/OFF):This is the only
position from which you can remove
the key. This locks the steering
wheel, ignition and automatic
transmission.
On vehicles with an automatic
transmission, the shift lever must be
in P (Park) to turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK/OFF position.
The ignition switch can bind in the
LOCK/OFF position with your wheels
turned off center. If this happens,
move the steering wheel from right
to left while turning the key to
STEERING UNLOCK/IGNITION
OFF. If this doesn’t work, then the
vehicle needs service.
B (STEERING UNLOCKED/
IGNITION OFF):This position
unlocks the steering wheel.
8-2 Driving and Operating
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C (ON/RUN):The ignition switch
stays in this position when the
engine is running. This position can
be used to operate the electrical
accessories, as well as to display
some warning and indicator lights.
The battery could be drained if you
leave the key in the ON/RUN position
with the engine off. You may not be
able to start the vehicle if the battery
is allowed to drain for an extended
period of time.
D (START):This position starts the
engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch
will return to ON/RUN for normal
driving. A warning tone will
sound when the driver door is
opened and the key is in the ignition.Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
The power windows and mirrors
may be used for up to ve minutes
after the key is turned to
LOCK/OFF.
The power windows and mirrors will
not operate after any of the front
doors are opened.
The radio may be used for up to
sixty minutes after the key is turned
to LOCK/OFF.
Starting the Engine
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Notice:Do not try to shift to
P (Park) if the vehicle is moving.
If you do, you could damage
the transmission. Shift to P (Park)
only when the vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The shift lever should be in
N (Neutral) and the parking brake
engaged. Hold the clutch pedal
to the oor and start the engine. The
vehicle will not start if the clutch
pedal is not all the way down.
Driving and Operating 8-3
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Automatic Transmission
Operation
If the vehicle has an automatic
transmission, the shift lever
is located on the console between
the seats.
The vehicle may also have an
electronic shift position indicator that
displays the position of the shift
lever. This indicator is located above
the trip odometer on the instrument
panel cluster.P (Park):This position locks the
front wheels. It is the best position to
use when the engine is started
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 8-11.Make sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the
engine. The vehicle has an
automatic transmission shift lock
control system. The regular brakes
must be applied before you can
shift from P (Park) when the ignition
key is in ON/RUN. If you cannot
shift out of P (Park) while holding the
brake pedal down, seeShifting
Out of Park on page 8-12.
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,
seeRocking Your Vehicle to Get
It Out on page 8-29.
8-6 Driving and Operating
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Winter Driving Mode
This feature helps you accelerate in
slippery driving conditions by using
3 (Third) gear when you begin to
accelerate from a stopped position.
The winter driving mode button is
located on the center console.
Press once to turn on the winter
driving mode feature. The vehicle
will be in 3 (Third) gear when
the vehicle begins to move. Once
the vehicle is moving, the vehicle will
upshift normally.The Winter Driving Mode is turned
off by one of the following:Pressing the winter driving mode
button again.
Manually shifting to 2 (Second)
or 1 (First) gear.
Turning off the ignition.
To protect the transmission, the
winter program turns off
automatically at high transmission
oil temperatures.
Automatic Neutral Idle
The Automatic Neutral Idle shift
function automatically sets the
transmission to N (Neutral) to
reduce fuel consumption when the
vehicle is not moving.Automatic neutral is activated when
ALL of the following occurs:
The selector lever is in D (Drive),
3 (Third), 2 (Second) or
1 (First) gear.
The foot brake is pressed.
The vehicle is stopped.
The accelerator pedal is not
pressed.
The transmission uid
temperature is greater than
0° C (32° F).
The road is not steeper than 15°.
When you release the brake with
the transmission in gear, you
may feel the transmission shift from
N (Neutral) to D (Drive)
automatically. You may also feel the
transmission shift from D (Drive)
to N (Neutral) when the brake
is applied. This is normal operation
of the automatic transmission.
8-8 Driving and Operating
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Downhill Grade Assist
When traveling down steep grades
the transmission may automatically
downshift into a lower gear when the
brake is applied. You may feel this
downshift. This performance feature
of the automatic transmission assists
with engine braking to reduce wear
on your brake system. This is normal
operation of the automatic
transmission.
Performance On Demand
This feature allows the driver to
automatically force a downshift,
when traveling at speeds less than
approximately 70 mph (112 km/h),
by fully pressing the accelerator
pedal.
Manual Transmission
Operation
Five-Speed
This is the shift pattern.
Here is how to operate the manual
transmission:
1 (First):Press the clutch pedal
and shift into 1 (First). Then, slowly
let up on the clutch pedal as you
press the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into 1 (First) when
you are going less than 20 mph
(32 km/h). If you have come to a
complete stop and it is hard to shift
into 1 (First), put the shift lever in
N (Neutral) and let up on the clutch.
Press the clutch pedal back down.
Then shift into 1 (First).2 (Second):Press the clutch pedal
as you let up on the accelerator
pedal and shift into 2 (Second).
Then, slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as you press the accelerator
pedal.
3 (Third), 4 (Fourth) and 5 (Fifth):
Shift into 3 (Third), 4 (Fourth)
and 5 (Fifth), the same way you do
for 2 (Second). Slowly let up on
the clutch pedal as you press
the accelerator pedal.
To stop, let up on the accelerator
pedal and press the brake
pedal. Just before the vehicle stops,
press the clutch pedal and the
brake pedal, and shift to N (Neutral).
N (Neutral):Use this position
when you start or idle the engine.
Driving and Operating 8-9
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