window SATURN ION 2006 Owner's Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: SATURN, Model Year: 2006, Model line: ION, Model: SATURN ION 2006Pages: 392, PDF Size: 2.8 MB
Page 138 of 392

Climate Control System
(With Air Conditioning)
With this system you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation for your vehicle.
Operation
To change the current mode, select one of the following:
H(Vent):This mode directs air to the instrument
panel outlets.
)(Bi-Level):This mode directs approximately half of
the air to the instrument panel outlets, and then directs
the remaining air to the oor outlets. Cooler air is directed
to the upper outlets and warmer air to the oor outlets.
6(Floor):This mode directs most of the air to the
oor outlets with some air directed to the windshield.
The left knob can also be used to select defog or defrost
mode. Information on defogging and defrosting can
be found later in this section.
A(Fan):Turn the center knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the fan speed.
In any setting other than off, the fan will run continuously
with the ignition on. The fan must be turned on to run
the air conditioning compressor.
9(Off):To turn the fan off, turn the knob all the way
counterclockwise to the off position.
Temperature Control:Turn the right knob clockwise
or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature inside your vehicle.
>(Recirculate):This mode keeps outside air from
coming in the vehicle. It can be used to prevent outside
air and odors from entering your vehicle or to help heat or
cool the air inside your vehicle more quickly. An indicator
light will come on in this mode. The air-conditioning
compressor also comes on. Operation in this mode
during periods of high humidity and cool outside
temperatures may result in increased window fogging. If
window fogging is experienced, select the defrost mode.
3-20
ProCarManuals.com
Page 139 of 392

#(Air Conditioning):Press this button to turn the
air-conditioning system on or off. When this button is
pressed, an indicator light above the button will come
on to let you know the air conditioning is activated.
On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside air
escape; then close them. This helps to reduce the time
it takes for your vehicle to cool down. It also helps the
system to operate more efficiently.
For quick cool down on hot days:
1. Select the recirculation mode.
2. Select air conditioning.
3. Select the coolest temperature.
4. Select the highest fan speed.
Using these settings together for long periods of time may
cause the air inside of your vehicle to become too dry. To
prevent this from happening, after the air in your vehicle
has cooled, turn off the recirculation by pressing the
button again.
The air-conditioning system removes moisture from the
air, so you may sometimes notice a small amount of
water dripping underneath your vehicle while idling
or after turning off the engine. This is normal.Defogging and Defrosting
Fog on the inside of windows is a result of high humidity
(moisture) condensing on the cool window glass. This
can be minimized if the climate control system is used
properly. There are two modes to clear fog or frost from
your windshield and side windows. Use the defog mode
to clear the windows of fog or moisture and warm the
passengers. Use the defrost mode to remove fog or frost
from the windshield more quickly. For best results, clear
all snow and ice from the windshield before defrosting.
Turn the left knob to select the defog or defrost mode.
-(Defog):This mode directs half of the air to the
windshield and the side window outlets and half to the
oor outlets. When you select this mode the system runs
the air-conditioning compressor. To defog the windows
faster, turn the temperature control knob clockwise
to the warmest setting.
0(Defrost):This mode directs most of the air to the
windshield, with some air directed to the side window
outlets and the oor outlets. When you select this mode
the system runs the air-conditioning compressor.
3-21
ProCarManuals.com
Page 140 of 392

Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
The rear window defogger will only work when the
ignition is in RUN.
<(Rear):Press the button to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. Be sure to clear as much snow from
the rear window as possible. An indicator light above the
button will come on to let you know that the rear window
defogger is activated.
The rear window defogger will turn off approximately
15 minutes after the button is pressed. If turned on again,
the defogger will only run for approximately ve minutes
before turning off. The defogger can also be turned off by
pressing the button again or by turning off the engine.
Notice:Do not use anything sharp on the inside of
the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage
the warming grid, and the repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Do not attach a temporary
vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything similar to
the defogger grid.
Outlet Adjustment
Use the louvers located on the air outlets to change the
direction of the air ow.
Operation Tips
Clear away any ice, snow, or leaves from the air
inlets at the base of the vehicle that may block
the ow of air into your vehicle.
Use of non-GM approved hood de ectors may
adversely affect the performance of the system.
Keep the path under the front seats clear of objects
to help circulate the air inside of your vehicle more
effectively.
3-22
ProCarManuals.com
Page 213 of 392

Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir full?
Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all in ated to
the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as highway hypnosis?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on
the road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of
the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy.
Do not let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle
can leave the road in less than a second, and you
could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead
and to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors
and your instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service, or parking area and take a nap, get some
exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
4-23
ProCarManuals.com
Page 219 of 392

You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
{CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your
vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
overcome you and kill you. You cannot see it
or smell it, so you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from around the
base of your vehicle, especially any that is
blocking your exhaust pipe. And check around
again from time to time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the wind. This will
help keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little
faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and
it keeps the battery charged. You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly
for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
4-29
ProCarManuals.com
Page 220 of 392

Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine
again and repeat this only when you feel really
uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as
possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help
keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle and do
some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so until
help comes.
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you will
need to spin the wheels, but you do not want to
spin your wheels too fast. The method known as rocking
can help you get out when you are stuck, but you
must use caution.
If your vehicle has the Enhanced Traction System (ETS),
the ETS can often help to free a stuck vehicle. See
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4-9.Ifthe
stuck condition is too severe for the ETS to free the
vehicle, turn the ETS off and use the rocking method.
{CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they
can explode, and you or others could be
injured. And, the transaxle or other parts of the
vehicle can overheat. That could cause an
engine compartment re or other damage.
When you are stuck, spin the wheels as little
as possible. Do not spin the wheels above
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown on the
speedometer.
Notice:Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of
your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the
wheels too fast while shifting your transaxle back
and forth, you can destroy your transaxle. See
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 4-31.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
seeTire Chains on page 5-74.
4-30
ProCarManuals.com
Page 238 of 392

Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-70
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-70
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-72
Wheel Replacement......................................5-72
Tire Chains..................................................5-74
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-75
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-76
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools................5-77
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire..........................................5-82
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-87
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-90
Appearance Care............................................5-90
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.................5-90
Fabric/Carpet...............................................5-92
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces........................................5-93
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-93
Weatherstrips...............................................5-93
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-94
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................5-94Finish Care..................................................5-94
Windshield and Wiper Blades.........................5-95
Aluminum Wheels.........................................5-95
Tires...........................................................5-96
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-96
Finish Damage.............................................5-96
Underbody Maintenance................................5-97
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-97
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................5-98
Vehicle Identi cation......................................5-99
Vehicle Identi cation Number (VIN).................5-99
Service Parts Identi cation Label.....................5-99
Electrical System............................................5-99
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................5-99
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-100
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-100
Fuses and Circuit Breakers..........................5-100
Floor Console Fuse Block............................5-100
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-102
Capacities and Speci cations........................5-109
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2
ProCarManuals.com
Page 266 of 392

If No Steam Is Coming From
Your Engine
If you get an engine overheat warning with no warning
messages, but see or hear no steam, the problem
may not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get
a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. If you have an air conditioner and it is on, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the windows as necessary.
3. Try to minimize engine load. If you are in a traffic
jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N); otherwise, shift to the
highest gear possible while driving.If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning does not come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues and you have not stopped, pull
over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for three minutes while you are parked. If you still
have the warning, turn off the engine and get everyone
out of the vehicle until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-30
ProCarManuals.com