tow SATURN L-SERIES 2005 User Guide

Running Your Engine While You
Are Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if
you ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier caution under
Engine Exhaust on page 2-25.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the climate control fan is at the highest setting.
One place this can happen is a garage.
Exhaust — with CO — can come in easily.
NEVER park in a garage with the engine
running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
SeeWinter Driving on page 4-26.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. Do not leave your 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 your vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will not
move. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on page 2-23.
If you are parking on a hill and if you are pulling a
trailer, also seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-40.
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Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high or
high beam to low, pull the turn signal lever all the way
towards you. Then release it.
When the high beams are
on, this light on the
instrument panel cluster
will also be on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you until the high-beam headlamps come on, then
release the lever to turn them off.
Windshield Washer
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
Pull the windshield wiper lever toward you to operate
the windshield wipers. Washer fluid will squirt onto
the windshield and the wipers will run for a few cycles
to clear the windshield. For more wash cycles, pull
the lever toward you and hold it there.
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Climate Controls
Climate Control System
With this system you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation for your vehicle.
Operation
To change the current mode, turn the right knob to
select one of the following:
H(Vent):This mode directs air to the instrument
panel outlets.
)(Bi-Level):This mode directs half of the air to the
instrument panel outlets, and then directs most of
the remaining air to the floor outlets. Some air may be
directed toward the side windows.
6(Floor):This mode directs most of the air to the
floor outlets with some air directed to the side window
outlets.
The right knob can also be used to select defog or
defrost modes. Information on defogging and defrosting
can be found later in this section.
A(Fan):Turn the knob in the center of the system
clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease
the fan speed. The fan must be on to run the
air-conditioning compressor.
Temperature Control:Turn the left knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature inside your vehicle.
?(Recirculation):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 cool the air inside your vehicle more quickly.
Press this button to turn the recirculation mode on or off.
When the button is pressed, an indicator light above
the button will come on to let you know that it is
activated. The air-conditioning compressor comes on.
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If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the
floor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-37.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you
have pulled off the road and stopped carefully,
have the vehicle towed for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, the anti-lock brake
system (ABS) warning light will come on briefly, as
a check, when you start your vehicle. If it does not, have
your vehicle serviced so that the light works properly
when it needs to.The ABS light is located
in the instrument panel
cluster, to the left of
the engine coolant
temperature gage.
If the light stays on longer than a few seconds after you
start your engine, or comes on and stays on while
you are driving, try resetting the system. To reset the
system, do the following:
1. If you are driving, pull over when it is safe to do so.
2. Be sure the vehicle is in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the ignition.
4. Then restart the engine.
If the light remains on after resetting the system or
comes on again while driving, your vehicle needs
service. If the ABS light is on, but the regular brake
system warning light is not on, you do not have anti-lock
brakes, but you still have regular brakes. Have your
vehicle serviced right away. If both brake lights are on,
you do not have anti-lock brakes, and there’s a
problem with your regular brakes as well. Have your
vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle
on page 4-37.
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If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
•Reducing vehicle speed
•Avoiding hard accelerations
•Avoiding steep uphill grades
•If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see
“If the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your
vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds
and restart the engine. If the light remains on steady,
see “If the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is
still flashing, follow the previous steps, and see
your retailer for service as soon as possible.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. SeeFilling Your Tank on page 5-8. The
diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has
been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing
fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly installed
should turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See
Gasoline Octane on page 5-5. Poor fuel quality will
cause your engine not to run as efficiently as designed.
You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling
when you put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation
on acceleration, or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the
light to turn on.
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Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
MODE:To adjust the balance between the right and
the left speakers, press this button until BAL appears on
the display. Press the plus or minus buttons to move
the sound toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, press this button until FAD appears on the
display. Press the plus or minus buttons to move
the sound toward the front or the rear speakers.
Playing a CD
Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The
player will pull it in and the CD should begin playing.
You can insert a CD with the ignition off.
If the ignition or radio is turned off with a CD in the
player, it will stay in the player. When the ignition
or radio is turned on, the CD will start playing where it
stopped, if it was the last selected audio source.
When the CD is inserted, the CD symbol will appear on
the display. As each new track starts to play, the
track number will appear on the display.
The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm) single
CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the
smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner.If playing a CD-R the sound quality may be reduced
due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the quality
of the music that has been recorded, and the way the
CD-R has been handled. There may be an increase
in skipping, difficulty in finding tracks, and/or difficulty in
loading and ejecting. If these problems occur try a
known good CD.
Do not add paper labels to CDs, they could get caught
in the CD player.
If an error appears on the display, see “CD Messages”
later in this section.
1 PRV (Previous):Press this pushbutton to go to the
start of the current track if more than eight seconds have
played. If this pushbutton is held or pressed more
than once, the player will continue moving backward
through the CD.
2 NXT (Next):Press this pushbutton to go to the next
track. If this pushbutton is held or pressed more
than once, the player will continue moving forward
through the CD.
3 REV (Reverse):Press and hold this pushbutton to
reverse quickly within a track. Release this pushbutton
to play the track. The elapsed time of the track will
appear on the display.
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Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
BASS/TREB (Treble):Press and release this knob
until BASS or TREB appears on the display. Turn the
knob to increase or to decrease. The display will
show the bass or the treble level. If a station is weak or
noisy, decrease the treble.
RAUTO TONEQ(Automatic Tone):Press either
arrow to select customized equalization settings
designed for country/western, jazz, news, pop, rock, and
classical. There is also a flat setting that has been
factory tuned for the best overall performance.
To return the bass and treble to the manual mode,
press either arrow until CSTM appears on the display.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
FADE/BAL (Balance):To adjust the balance between
the right and the left speakers, press and release
this knob until BAL appears on the display. Turn the
knob to move the sound toward the right or the
left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, press and release this knob until FADE
appears on the display. Turn the knob to move
the sound toward the front or the rear speakers.
Playing a Cassette Tape
The tape player is built to work best with tapes that
are up to 30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tapes
longer than that are so thin they may not work well
in this player. The longer side with the tape visible
should face to the right. If you hear nothing or hear a
garbled sound, the tape may not be in squarely.
Press EJ to remove the tape and start over.
If the ignition and radio are off, press the eject button or
the RCL knob to insert and to begin play of a tape. If
the ignition is on and the radio is off, the tape can
be inserted and will begin playing.
While the tape is playing, use the VOL, BASS/TREB/
FADE/BAL, and AUTO TONE controls just as you do for
the radio. The tape symbol will appear on the display
and an arrow showing which side of the tape is playing.
Cassette tape adapter kits for portable CD players
will work in the cassette tape player. See “CD Adapter
Kits” later for more information.
The tape bias is set automatically when a metal or
chrome tape is inserted.
If an error appears on the display, see “Cassette Tape
Messages” later in this section.
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To use the video screen, do the following:
1. Push forward on the release button and the screen
will fold down.
2. Pull the screen toward you and adjust its position
as desired.
When the video screen is not in use, push it up into its
locked position.
If a DVD is playing and the screen is raised to its
locked position, the screen will shut off, but the DVD
will continue to play through the previously selected
audio source.
Notice:Directly touching the video screen may
damage it. Do not touch the screen. See “Cleaning
the Video Screen” later in this section for more
information.DVD Player
The DVD player is located in the center console
between the front seats.
The DVD player can be controlled by the buttons on
the DVD player and the remote control. See “Remote
Control” later in this section for more information.
The DVD player works while the ignition is in RUN
or ACC.
The RSE system is only compatible with DVDs
authorized for use in the United States and Canada
(Region Code 1). The DVD region code is printed on
the jacket of most DVDs. Regular audio CDs, CD-R,
CD-RW, and MP3s can also be played by the
DVD player.
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Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-3
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-6
Braking.........................................................4-6
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).........................4-7
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-8
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-9
Steering......................................................4-10
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-13
Passing.......................................................4-13
Loss of Control.............................................4-15
Driving at Night............................................4-16
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-17
City Driving..................................................4-20Freeway Driving...........................................4-21
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-22
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-24
Winter Driving..............................................4-26
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow..............................................4-30
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-31
Recovery Hook.............................................4-31
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-32
Towing..........................................................4-37
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-37
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-37
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-40
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
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Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will clear
the area around your front wheels. You should turn your
traction control system off. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-9. Then shift back and forth between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal while
you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal when
the transaxle is in gear. By slowly spinning your wheels in
the forward and reverse directions, you will cause a
rocking motion that may free your vehicle. If that does not
get you out after a few tries, you may need to be towed
out. Or, you can use your recovery hook. If you do need
to be towed out, seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-37.
Recovery Hook
Your vehicle is equipped with a recovery hook. The
recovery hook is provided at the rear of your vehicle.
It can only be used for pulling your vehicle out.
{CAUTION:
The recovery hook, when used, is under a lot
of force. Always pull the vehicle straight out.
Never pull on the hook at a sideways angle.
The hook could break off and you or others
could be injured from the chain or cable
snapping back.
Notice:Never use the recovery hook to tow the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged and it would
not be covered by warranty.
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