mirror SATURN L-SERIES 2005 User Guide

Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One
reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired — by
alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
•Drive defensively.
•Do not drink and drive.
•Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
•Since you cannot see as well, you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you
and other vehicles.
•Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlamps can light up only so much road ahead.
•In remote areas, watch for animals.
•If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime.
But as we get older these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your
night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your
eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you
are driving, do not wear sunglasses at night. They
may cut down on glare from headlamps, but they also
make a lot of things invisible.
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At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to the
freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you
drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to check
traffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend with
the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the
prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check your
mirrors, and glance over your shoulder as often as
necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it is slower.
Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there is not another vehicle in
your blind spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance.
Expect to move slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do
not, under any circumstances, stop and back up.
Drive on to the next exit.The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed
according to your speedometer, not to your sense
of motion. After driving for any distance at higher
speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower
than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you are ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you are not fresh — such as after
a day’s work — do not plan to make too many miles that
first part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing
and shoes you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it is ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course, you
will find experienced and able service experts at
Saturn retailers all across North America. They will be
ready and willing to help if you need it.
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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 inflated 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.
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Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads are
a few reasons why you will need the right hitch. Here
are some rules to follow:
•The rear bumper on your vehicle is not intended for
hitches. Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to it. Use only a frame-mounted
hitch that does not attach to the bumper.
•Will you have to make any holes in the body of your
vehicle when you install a trailer hitch? If you do, then
be sure to seal the holes later when you remove the
hitch. If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) from your exhaust can get into your
vehicle. SeeEngine Exhaust on page 2-25. Dirt and
water can, too.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer so that the tongue will not drop to the road if
it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions about
safety chains may be provided by the hitch manufacturer
or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s
recommendation for attaching safety chains and do not
attach them to the bumper. Always leave just enough
slack so you can turn with your rig. And, never allow
safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Because your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, do not try to
tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system. If you
do, both brake systems will not work well, or at all.
Be sure to read and follow the instructions for the trailer
brakes so you’ll be able to install, adjust and maintain
them properly.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you will want to
get to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer.
And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be
sure the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
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Floor Console Fuse Block
The driver’s side instrument panel is located under the
instrument panel on the driver’s left side.
Use a key or a coin to remove the fuse panel door and
access the fuses and relays.
Fuses Usage
DIMMER Dimmer Switch
IGN 3Left Heated Seat Switch
(If Equipped), Right Heated
Seat Switch (If Equipped), Air
Conditioning, Rear Defogger Relay
DEFOG LED Rear Defog LED
RR COMP Trunk Compartment Lamp
WIPERWindshield Washers and
Wipers (Front)
BTSI/BCM/
MIRRORBrake Transaxle Shift Interlock,
Body Control Module, Power Mirror
RADIOAudio, OnStar
®, Rear Seat DVD
(Option)
Relays Usage
IGN 3 Ignition Switch
REAR DEFOG Rear Defogger
HEADLAMP Headlamps
PARKLAMP Park Lamps
Misc. Usage
FUSE PULLER Fuse Puller
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The passenger’s side fuse block is located under the
instrument panel on the passenger’s right side.
Use a key or a coin to remove the fuse panel door and
access the fuses and relays.
Fuses Usage
LOCKS Power Door Locks
HTD SEAT Heated Seats (If Equipped)
BODYPower Door Locks, Heated Mirror
Relay, Liftgate Latch
POWER SEAT Power Seat
PREM AMP Premium Sound System Amplifier
FOG LAMP Fog Lamps
RR WIPER/
SUNROOFRear Wiper/Washer (Wagon),
Sunroof
Relays Usage
DR UNLOCK Driver Door Unlock
UNLOCK Door Unlock
LOCK Door Lock
MIRROR Power Mirrors
FOG LAMP Fog Lamps
WINDOW Power Windows, Power Sunroof
Misc. Usage
FUSE PULLER Fuse Puller
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Maintenance Schedule (cont.)
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.............6-13
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-4
Using Your................................................... 6-2
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-31
Manual Lumbar Controls.................................... 1-3
Manual Passenger Seat.................................... 1-2
Manual Windows............................................2-12
Map Lamps....................................................3-16
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror................................2-27
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-28
Outside Heated Mirrors................................2-28
Outside Power Mirrors..................................2-27
Outside Remote Control Mirror......................2-27
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-4
N
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-15
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts............6-14
O
Odometer......................................................3-24
Odometer, Trip...............................................3-24
Off-Road Recovery..........................................4-13Oil
Change Engine Oil Light...............................3-34
Engine.......................................................5-13
Pressure Light.............................................3-33
Older Children, Restraints................................1-26
Online Owner Center........................................ 7-4
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-6
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-20
Outside
Convex Mirror.............................................2-28
Heated Mirrors............................................2-28
Power Mirrors.............................................2-27
Remote Control Mirror..................................2-27
Owner Checks and Services.............................. 6-9
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
P
Park (P)
Shifting Into................................................2-23
Shifting Out of............................................2-24
Parking
Brake........................................................2-22
Over Things That Burn.................................2-25
Passenger Compartment Air Filter.....................3-21
Passing.........................................................4-13
Passlock
®......................................................2-14
Power............................................................. 1-2
Accessory Outlets........................................3-16
Door Locks.................................................. 2-8
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Power (cont.)
Electrical System.........................................5-83
Reduced Engine Light..................................3-35
Steering Fluid.............................................5-31
Windows....................................................2-13
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.................. 2-8
Q
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts.........1-11
R
Radios..........................................................3-38
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-61
Care of Your CD and DVD Player..................3-62
Care of Your CDs and DVDs........................3-62
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-43
Radio with CD............................................3-39
Setting the Time..........................................3-38
Theft-Deterrent............................................3-58
Understanding Reception..............................3-61
Rear Door Security Locks.................................. 2-9
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides......................1-24
Rear Seat Entertainment System.......................3-52
Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts..................1-21
Rearview Mirrors.............................................2-27Reclining Seatbacks.......................................... 1-3
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.................6-13
Recovery Hook...............................................4-31
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................4-37
Reduced Engine Power Light............................3-35
Remote Keyless Entry System............................ 2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation............ 2-4
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire.............................................5-65
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...................5-64
Replacement Bulbs.........................................5-46
Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government................................... 7-8
Saturn......................................................... 7-8
United States Government.............................. 7-8
Restraint System Check
Checking Your Restraint Systems...................1-55
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash..........................................1-56
Restraint Systems
Checking....................................................1-55
Replacing Parts...........................................1-56
Right Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts......1-20
Roadside
Assistance Program....................................... 7-5
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out....................4-31
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked.......2-26
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