brakes SATURN AURA 2007 User Guide

When the system is turned off, the TRACTION
OFF message will rst appear followed by the ESC
OFF message. The ESC OFF and TCS OFF
indicator lights will also appear to warn the driver
that both traction control and ESC are disabled.
It is recommended to leave the system on
for normal driving conditions, but it may be
necessary to turn the system off if your vehicle is
stuck in sand, mud, ice or snow, and you want
to “rock” your vehicle to attempt to free it. It may
also be necessary to turn off the system when
driving in extreme off-road conditions where high
wheel spin is required. SeeIf Your Vehicle is
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 241.
ESC may also turn off automatically if it determines
that a problem exists with the system. The ESC
OFF and SERVICE ESC messages and the
ESC OFF light will be on solid to warn the driver
that ESC is disabled and requires service. If
the problem does not clear itself after restarting
the vehicle, you should see your retailer for
service. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 182.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can
affect your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories
and Modications on page 253.Traction Control Operation
The traction control system is part of the ESC
system. Traction control limits wheel spin by
reducing engine power to the wheels (engine
speed management) and by applying brakes to
each individual wheel (brake-traction control)
as necessary.
The traction control system is enabled
automatically when you start your vehicle, and it
will activate and display the LOW TRACTION
message if it senses that any of the wheels are
spinning or beginning to lose traction while driving.
If you turn off traction control, the TCS OFF
warning light will come on and the TRACTION
OFF message will be displayed The ESC system
will remain operational unless it is turned off.
For more information on the traction active
message, seeDriver Information Center (DIC) on
page 179.
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Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more
effective than braking. For example, you come
over a hill and nd a truck stopped in your lane, or
a car suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a
child darts out from between parked cars and
stops right in front of you. You can avoid these
problems by braking — if you can stop in time. But
sometimes you cannot; there is not room. That
is the time for evasive action — steering around
the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies
like these. First apply the brakes. SeeBraking
on page 214. It is better to remove as much speed
as you can from a possible collision. Then steer
around the problem, to the left or right depending
on the space available.An emergency like this requires close attention
and a quick decision. If you are holding the
steering wheel at the recommended 9 and
3 o’clock positions, you can turn it a full
180 degrees very quickly without removing either
hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly,
and just as quickly straighten the wheel once you
have avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations are
always possible is a good reason to practice
defensive driving at all times and wear safety belts
properly.
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Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems — brakes,
steering, and acceleration — do not have enough
friction where the tires meet the road to do what the
driver has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to
steer and constantly seek an escape route or
area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and
by not overdriving those conditions. But skids
are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your
vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking skid,
the wheels are not rolling. In the steering or
cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force.
And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle
causes the driving wheels to spin.A cornering skid is best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps
avoid only the acceleration skid. If your traction
control system is off, then an acceleration
skid is also best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
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 will want to slow down and adjust
your driving to these conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance will be 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 may not realize the
surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding.
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The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even
if your windshield wiper blades are in good
shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see
road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings,
the edge of the road, and even people walking.
It is wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment
in good shape and keep your windshield washer
uid reservoir lled with washer uid. Replace your
windshield wiper inserts when they show signs
of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or
when strips of rubber start to separate from the
inserts.
{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They
may not work as well in a quick stop and
may cause pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of
water or a car wash, apply the brake pedal
lightly until the brakes work normally.Driving too fast through large water puddles or
even going through some car washes can cause
problems, too. The water may affect your
brakes. Try to avoid puddles. But if you cannot, try
to slow down before you hit them.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can
build up under your tires that they can actually ride
on the water. This can happen if the road is wet
enough and you are going fast enough. When your
vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact
with the road.
Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it can if
your tires do not have much tread or if the
pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a
lot of water is standing on the road. If you can
see reections from trees, telephone poles,
or other vehicles, and raindrops dimple the water’s
surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds.
There just is not a hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down
when it is raining.
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If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are
planning to visit there, here are some tips that
can make your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check
all uid levels and also the brakes, tires,
cooling system, and transaxle. These parts
can work hard on mountain roads.
{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.
{CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with
the ignition off is dangerous. The brakes
will have to do all the work of slowing
down. They 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. Always have the
engine running and your vehicle in gear
when you go downhill.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of
the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when
you go down a steep or long hill.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Do not swing wide
or cut across the center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your own lane.
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Service........................................................ 253
Accessories and Modications................... 253
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 254
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 254
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle................................................... 255
Fuel............................................................. 255
Gasoline Octane........................................ 255
Gasoline Specications.............................. 255
California Fuel........................................... 256
Additives................................................... 256
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 258
Filling the Tank......................................... 258
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 261
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 262
Hood Release........................................... 263
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 264
Engine Oil................................................. 265
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 268
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 270
Automatic Transaxle Fluid......................... 272
Engine Coolant.......................................... 272
Pressure Cap............................................ 275
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 275Engine Overheating................................... 275
Cooling System......................................... 278
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 282
Brakes...................................................... 284
Battery...................................................... 287
Jump Starting............................................ 289
Bulb Replacement....................................... 294
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 294
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps.............. 294
License Plate Lamp................................... 296
Replacement Bulbs................................... 296
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 297
Tires............................................................ 298
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 299
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 301
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 304
Tire Pressure Monitor System................... 305
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 310
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 311
Buying New Tires...................................... 312
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 314
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 315
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 316
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
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Service
Your Saturn retailer knows your vehicle best and
wants you to be happy with it. We hope you
will go to your retailer for all your service needs.
You will get genuine Saturn parts and
Saturn-trained and supported service people.
We hope you will want to keep your Saturn vehicle
all Saturn.
Genuine Saturn parts have one of these marks.
Accessories and Modications
When you add non-Saturn accessories to your
vehicle they can affect your vehicle’s performance
and safety, including such things as, airbags,
braking, stability, ride and handling, emissions
systems, aerodynamics, durability, and electronic
systems like anti-lock brakes, traction control,
and stability control. Some of these accessories
may even cause malfunction or damage not
covered by warranty.
Saturn accessories are designed to complement
and function with other systems on your
vehicle. Your Saturn retailer can accessorize your
vehicle using genuine Saturn accessories.
When you go to your Saturn retailer and ask for
Saturn accessories, you will know that
Saturn-trained and supported service technicians
will perform the work using genuine Saturn
accessories.
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A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 270.
B. Cooling Fans. SeeCooling System on
page 278.
C. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 265.
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 265.
E. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 272.
F. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See″Brake
Fluid″underBrakes on page 284.
G. Battery. SeeBattery on page 287
H. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 346.
I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 282.Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil every time
you get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading,
the oil must be warm and the vehicle must be
on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 264
for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several
minutes to drain back into the oil pan. If you
do not do this, the oil dipstick might not
show the actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper
towel or cloth, then push it back in all the
way. Remove it again, keeping the tip down,
and check the level.
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Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master
cylinder reservoir is
lled with DOT-3 brake
uid. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 264for the
location of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid
level in the reservoir might go down. The rst
is that the brake uid goes down to an acceptable
level during normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are put in, the uid level goes back
up. The other reason is that uid is leaking out of
the brake hydraulic system. If it is, you should
have the brake hydraulic system xed, since a leak
means that sooner or later the brakes will not
work well.So, it is not a good idea to top off the brake uid.
Adding brake uid will not correct a leak. If
you add uid when the linings are worn, there will
be too much uid when you get new brake
linings. Add or remove brake uid, as necessary,
only when work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has too much brake uid, it
can spill on the engine. The uid will burn
if the engine is hot enough. You or others
could be burned, and your vehicle could
be damaged. Add brake uid only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake uid falls to a low level, the
BRAKE FLUID message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) displays. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 182.
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What to Add
When you do need brake uid, use only DOT-3
brake uid. Use new brake uid from a sealed
container only. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 365.
Always clean the brake uid reservoir cap and the
area around the cap before removing it. This
helps keep dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in the brake
hydraulic system, the brakes might not
work well. This could cause a crash.
Always use the proper brake uid.Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage
brake hydraulic system parts. For
example, just a few drops of mineral-based
oil, such as engine oil, in the brake
hydraulic system can damage brake
hydraulic system parts so badly that they
will have to be replaced. Do not let
someone put in the wrong kind of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint nish can
be damaged. Be careful not to spill brake
uid on your vehicle. If you do, wash it
off immediately. SeeWashing Your Vehicle
on page 335.
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