brakes SATURN OUTLOOK 2008 Owners Manual

Tow/Haul Mode
Your vehicle may have a Tow/Haul mode.
The button to turn it on or
off is located on instrument
panel under the climate
controls.
Push the button to turn it on, push it again to deactivate
the system. You can use this feature to assist when
towing or hauling a heavy load.
When Tow/Haul is activated the Tow/Haul symbol will
come on the instrument panel cluster. SeeTow/Haul
ModeunderTowing a Trailer on page 4-31for
more information.
Automatic Engine Grade Braking
Automatic Engine Grade Braking assists when driving
on a downhill grade. It maintains the vehicle’s speed by
automatically implementing a shift schedule that uses
the engine and the transmission to slow the vehicle.
This reduces wear on the brakes system and increases
control of the vehicle. The system constantly monitors
the vehicle’s speed, acceleration, throttle position,
and whether the brake pedal is being pressed, and
determines when to keep the current vehicle speed or to
slow down. The system will then automatically command
downshifts that reduces the vehicle’s speed, until the
brake pedal is no longer being pressed. This indicates
the desired vehicle speed has been reached.
While in the Electronic Range Select (ERS) mode,
grade braking is deactivated, allowing the driver to
select a range and limiting the highest gear available.
Grade braking is available for normal driving and in
Tow/Haul mode.
SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation on page 2-30.
2-33
ProCarManuals.com

When the System Does Not Seem to
Work Properly
If the URPA system will not activate due to a temporary
condition, the message PARKING ASSIST OFF will
be displayed on the DIC and a red light will be shown on
the rear URPA display when the shift lever is moved
into R (Reverse). This occurs under the following
conditions:
The driver disables the system.
The parking brake pedal is depressed.
The ultrasonic sensors are not clean. Keep the
vehicle’s rear bumper free of mud, dirt, snow,
ice and slush. For cleaning instructions, see
Washing Your Vehicle on page 5-104.
A trailer was attached to the vehicle, or a bicycle or
an object was hanging out of the liftgate during the
last drive cycle, the red light may illuminate in
the rear display. Once the attached object is
removed, URPA will return to normal operation.
A tow bar is attached to the vehicle.
The vehicle’s bumper is damaged. Take the vehicle
to your dealer/retailer to repair the system.
Other conditions may affect system performance,
such as vibrations from a jackhammer or the
compression of air brakes on a very large truck.
If the system is still disabled, after driving forward at
least 15 mph (25 km/h), take the vehicle to your
dealer/retailer.
Rear Vision Camera (RVC)
The vehicle may have a Rear Vision Camera system.
Read the entire section before using the system.
The rear vision camera system is designed to help the
driver when backing up. See “Rear Vision Camera”
in the Index of the navigation manual.
2-46
ProCarManuals.com

Cruise Control
With cruise control, a speed of about 25 mph (40 km/h)
or more can be maintained without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can really help on long
trips. Cruise control does not work at speeds below
about 25 mph (40 km/h).
When the brakes are applied, cruise control is
turned off.
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use your cruise control on winding roads
or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.The cruise control buttons
are located on left side of
the steering wheel.T(On/Off):Press to turn cruise control on and off.
The indicator comes on when cruise control is on.
+ RES (Resume/Accelerate):Press to make the
vehicle accelerate or resume to a previously set speed.
SET–:Press to set the speed or make the vehicle
decelerate.
[(Cancel):Press to cancel cruise control.
3-12
ProCarManuals.com

Setting Cruise Control
Cruise control will not work if the parking brake is set, or
if the master cylinder brake uid level is low.
The cruise control light on the instrument panel cluster
comes on after the cruise control has been set to
the desired speed.
{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 the
Ibutton.
2. Get up to the speed desired.
3. Press and release the SET– button located on the
steering wheel.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a desired speed and then
the brakes are applied, the cruise control shuts off. But it
does not need to be reset.
Once the vehicle speed is 25 mph (40 km/h) or
greater, press the +RES button on the steering wheel.
The vehicle returns to the previously set speed and
stays there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to increase the vehicle speed while
using cruise control:
Press and hold the +RES button on the steering
wheel until the desired speed is reached, then
release it.
To increase vehicle speed in small increments,
press the +RES button briey. Each time this is
done, the vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h)
faster.
3-13
ProCarManuals.com

Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce the vehicle speed while
using cruise control:
Press and hold the SET– button on the steering
wheel until the lower speed desired is reached,
then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, press the
SET– button briey. Each time this is done,
the vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h)
slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase vehicle speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, the vehicle
will slow down 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. When going up steep hills, you might have to
step on the accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle
speed. When going downhill, you might have to brake or
shift to a lower gear to keep the vehicle speed down.
When the brakes are applied the cruise control is
turned off.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Press the[button.
Press theTbutton.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory is erased when
the cruise control or the ignition is turned off.
3-14
ProCarManuals.com

Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part is not working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briey when you turn the
ignition key to ON. If it does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a
problem.
This light may also come on due to low brake uid.
SeeBrakes on page 5-34for more information.When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake.
The light will stay on if your parking brake does
not release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake
is fully released, it means you have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. Make sure the parking brake
is fully released. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push or, the pedal may go closer to the oor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have
the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle
on page 4-27.
{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. United StatesCanada
3-45
ProCarManuals.com

Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
For vehicles with the
Antilock Brake System
(ABS), this light comes on
briey when the engine
is started.
That is normal. If the light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the light
comes on while driving, stop as soon as it is safely
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the ABS light stays on,
or comes on again while driving, the vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light is
not on, the vehicle still has brakes, but not antilock
brakes. If the regular brake system warning light is
also on, the vehicle does not have antilock brakes
and there is a problem with the regular brakes.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-45.
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC),
seeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-64for all
brake related DIC messages.
StabiliTrak®Indicator Light
This warning light should
come on briey when the
engine is started.
If the warning light does not come on then, have it xed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If it stays on, or comes on when you are driving, there
may be a problem with your StabiliTrak
®system
and your vehicle may need service. When this warning
light is on, the system is off and will not limit wheel
spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
This light will also ash when the StabiliTrak
®system
is active.
If the StabiliTrak
®system warning light comes on and
stays on for an extended period of time when the system
is turned on, your vehicle needs service. SeeStabiliTrak
®
System on page 4-6for more information.
3-46
ProCarManuals.com

Police records show that almost 40 percent of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking
and driving. In recent years, more than 17,000 annual
motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with
the use of alcohol, with about 250,000 people injured.
For persons under 21, it is against the law in every
U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical,
psychological, and developmental reasons for
these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway
safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol
and then drive.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s
system can make crash injuries worse, especially
injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or heart. This means
that when anyone who has been drinking — driver
or passenger — is in a crash, that person’s chance of
being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the
person had not been drinking.Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems help to control your vehicle
while driving — brakes, steering, and accelerator.
At times, as when driving on snow or ice, it is easy to
ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. Meaning, you can lose control of
your vehicle. SeeStabiliTrak
®System on page 4-6.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 5-3.
4-3
ProCarManuals.com

Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-45.
Braking action involves perception time and reaction
time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to bring
up your foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or
more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness,
coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol,
drugs, and frustration. But even in three-fourths of a
second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between
your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement or
gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is wet, dry, or
icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes; the weight of
the vehicle; and the amount of brake force applied.Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is
a mistake. The brakes might not have time to cool
between hard stops. The brakes will wear out much
faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace
with the traffic and allow realistic following distances,
you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking.
That means better braking and longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are driving,
brake normally but do not pump the brakes. If you do,
the pedal could get harder to push down. If the
engine stops, you will still have some power brake
assist. But you will use it when you brake. Once the
power assist is used up, it can take longer to stop and
the brake pedal will be harder to push.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 5-3.
4-4
ProCarManuals.com

Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Antilock Brake System (ABS), an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start the engine and begin to drive away,
ABS will check itself. You might hear a momentary
motor or clicking noise while this test is going on, and
you might even notice that the brake pedal moves
a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with
ABS, this warning light will
stay on. SeeAntilock Brake
System (ABS) Warning
Light on page 3-46.
Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each wheel.ABS can change the brake pressure faster than any
driver could. The computer is programmed to make the
most of available tire and road conditions. This can
help you steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, the computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls braking pressure
accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change the time you need to
get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle
in front of you, you will not have time to apply the brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you
have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down rmly and let antilock work for you. You might hear
the antilock pump or motor operate, and feel the
brake pedal pulsate, but this is normal.
4-5
ProCarManuals.com