wheel SATURN RELAY 2006 Owner's Manual

Here are some ways in which you can help avoid
distraction while driving.
While your vehicle is parked:
Familiarize yourself with all of its controls.
Familiarize yourself with its operation.
Set up your audio system by presetting your
favorite radio stations, setting the tone, and
adjusting the speakers. Then, when driving
conditions permit, you can tune to your favorite
radio stations using the presets and steering wheel
controls (if equipped).
Notice:Before adding any sound equipment to
your vehicle, such as an audio system, CD player,
CB radio, mobile telephone, or two-way radio, make
sure that it can be added by checking with your
retailer. Also, check federal rules covering mobile
radio and telephone units. If sound equipment
can be added, it is very important to do it properly.
Added sound equipment may interfere with the
operation of your vehicle’s engine, radio, or other
systems, and even damage them. Your vehicle’s
systems may interfere with the operation of sound
equipment that has been added.Your vehicle has a feature called Retained Accessory
Power (RAP). With RAP, the audio system can be
played even after the ignition is turned off. SeeRetained
Accessory Power (RAP) on page 2-34for more
information.Setting the Time
Press the H or the M button to enter clock mode. Press
and hold H until the correct hour appears on the
display. Press and hold M until the correct minute
appears on the display.
To change the time default setting from 12 hour to
24 hour, press either the H or the M button to enter
the clock mode, then press the tune knob to select
between the 12 or 24 hour display format. The clock
mode will automatically time out with the changed
display format set as the current default setting.
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X(Headphone):Press the right or the left headphone
button to enable volume control of the wired headphone
connected to the corresponding jack. Press the right and
left arrow buttons to change the volume.
rj(Parental Control):This button is located behind
the video screen, below the auxiliary jacks. Press this
button while using RSA, or when a DVD or CD is playing
to blank the video screen and to mute the audio. The
power indicator lights on the DVD player will ash.
Turning on the parental control will also disable all other
button operations from the remote control and the
DVD player, except for the eject button. Press this
button again to restore operation of the RSA, DVD
player, and remote control.
This button may also be used to turn the DVD player
power on and automatically resume play if the vehicle
is on and a disc is in the player. If no disc is in the player
then the system will power up in auxiliary mode.
Theft-Deterrent Feature
THEFTLOCK®is designed to discourage theft of your
vehicle’s radio. The feature works automatically by
learning a portion of the Vehicle Identication Number
(VIN). If the radio is moved to a different vehicle, it will
not operate and LOCKED will appear on the display.
With THEFTLOCK
®activated, the radio will not operate
if stolen.
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
If your vehicle has this feature, some audio controls can
be adjusted at the steering wheel. They include the
following:
wtux(Seek):Press the up or the down arrow
to go to the next or previous station and stay there.
To scan stations, press and hold either arrow for
two seconds until FREQUENCY SCAN appears on
the display. The radio will go to a station, play for a
few seconds, then go to the next station. Press either
arrow again to stop scanning.
The sound will mute while seeking or scanning.
The radio will only seek or scan stations with a
strong signal that are in the selected band.
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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........................................4-5
Braking.........................................................4-6
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).........................4-7
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-8
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-9
StabiliTrak
®System......................................4-10
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.......................4-12
Steering......................................................4-13
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-15
Passing.......................................................4-15
Loss of Control.............................................4-17
Driving at Night............................................4-18
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-19City Driving..................................................4-21
Freeway Driving...........................................4-22
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-24
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-25
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-25
Winter Driving..............................................4-27
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow..............................................4-32
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-32
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-33
Towing..........................................................4-38
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-38
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-38
Level Control...............................................4-40
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-40
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
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Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. ABS is an advanced
electronic braking system that will help prevent a
braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that your
brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with
the anti-lock brake system,
this warning light will
stay on. SeeAnti-Lock
Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-41.
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.
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The anti-lock system 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, your computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls braking pressure
accordingly.Remember: Anti-lock 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
your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down rmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel
a slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise,
but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock brakes, you can steer and brake at the
same time. In many emergencies, steering can help you
more than even the very best braking.
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Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle may have a traction control system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates if it senses that
one or both of the front wheels are spinning or beginning
to lose traction. When this happens, the system
brakes the spinning wheel(s) and/or reduces engine
power to limit wheel spin.
The TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVE message will come
on in the Driver Information Center (DIC) when the
traction control system is limiting wheel spin. You may
feel or hear the system working, but this is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
re-engage the cruise control.
This warning light will
come on to let you know if
there is a problem with
your traction control
system.When this warning light is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
If the SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM message in the
DIC comes on and stays on or comes on while you are
driving, there’s a problem with your traction control
system. Have the traction control system serviced by
your GM dealer as soon as possible.
When this warning message is on, the TRACTION
CONTROL OFF message in the DIC will come on to
remind you that the system will not limit wheel spin.
Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel
spin, especially in slippery road conditions, you should
always leave the system on. But you can turn the
traction control system off if you ever need to. You
should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck
in sand, mud or snow and rocking the vehicle is
required. SeeRocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on
page 4-32andIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice
or Snow on page 4-32.
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To turn the system off,
press the traction control
button located on the
center of the instrument
panel.
If the system is limiting wheel spin when you press the
button, the TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVE message
will go off, but the system will not turn off until there is no
longer a current need to limit wheel spin. The
TRACTION CONTROL OFF message will come on to
remind you the system is off. You can turn the
system back on at any time by pressing the button
again. The traction control system warning message
should go off.
Adding non-Saturn accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories and Modications on
page 5-3for more information.StabiliTrak®System
Your vehicle may be equipped with StabiliTrak®which
combines anti-lock brake, traction and stability
control systems and helps the driver maintain directional
control of the vehicle in most driving conditions.
When you rst start your vehicle and begin to drive
away, the system performs several diagnostic checks to
insure there are no problems. You may hear or feel
the system working. This is normal and does not mean
there is a problem with your vehicle.
If the system fails to turn on or activate, the SERVICE
STABILITY SYSTEM message will be displayed on
the Driver Information Center (DIC). If the vehicle has
gone through heavy acceleration or braking or multiple
turns during the rst two miles of driving after starting
your vehicle, the STABILITY CONTROL OFF message
may appear on the DIC. If this is the case, your
vehicle does not need servicing. You will need to turn
the vehicle off and then restart it to initialize StabiliTrak
®.
If either message appears on the DIC, and your
vehicle has not gone through hard acceleration, braking
or multiple turns in the rst two miles of driving, your
vehicle should be taken in for service.
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The STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVE message will
appear on the DIC only when the system is both
on and activated. It means that an advanced
computer-controlled system has come on to help your
vehicle continue to go in the direction in which you
are steering. StabiliTrak
®activates when the computer
senses that your vehicle is just starting to spin, as it
might if you hit a patch of ice or other slippery spot on
the road. When the system activates, you may hear
a noise or feel a vibration in the brake pedal. This
is normal. When the STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVE
message is on, you should continue to steer in the
direction you want to go. The system is designed to help
you in bad weather or other difficult driving situations
by making the most of whatever road conditions
will permit. For more information on the stability
messages, seeDriver Information Center (DIC) on
page 3-49.
If the StabiliTrak
®system turns off, the traction control
system warning light will illuminate, and the STABILITY
CONTROL OFF message will appear on the DIC to
warn the driver that StabiliTrak
®is no longer available
to assist you with directional control of the vehicle.
Adjust your driving accordingly.To limit wheel spin and realize the full benets of the
stability enhancement system, you should normally
leave traction control on, 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. SeeRocking Your Vehicle to Get It
Out on page 4-32andIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in
Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-32.
Traction Control Operation
The traction control system is part of the StabiliTrak®
system. Traction control limits wheel spin by reducing
engine power to the wheels (engine speed
management) and by applying brakes.
The traction control system is enabled automatically
when you start your vehicle. It will activate and display
the TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVE message in the
DIC if it senses that one or both of the front wheels are
spinning or beginning to lose traction while driving.
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If the brake traction-control system activates constantly
or if the brakes have heated up due to high-speed
braking, brake traction-control will be disabled and the
TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVE message will be
displayed. In the limited mode, the traction control
system will only use engine traction-control and is limited
in its ability to provide optimal performance since the
system will not utilize brake traction-control to control
slip on the drive wheels. The system will return to normal
operation after the brakes have cooled. This can take
up to two minutes or longer depending on brake usage.
The traction control system may activate on dry or
rough roads or under conditions such as heavy
acceleration while turning or abrupt upshifts/downshifts
of the transmission. When this happens you may
notice a reduction in acceleration, or may hear a noise
or vibration. This is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the system
activates, the STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVE message
will appear on the DIC and the cruise control will
automatically disengage. When road conditions allow
you to use cruise again, you may re-engage the cruise
control. SeeCruise Control on page 3-11.StabiliTrak®may also turn off automatically if it
determines that a problem exists with the system. If the
problem does not clear itself after restarting the
vehicle, you should see your dealer for service.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System
If your vehicle has all-wheel drive (AWD), the AWD
system operates automatically without any action
required by the driver. If the front drive wheels begin to
slip, the rear wheels will automatically begin to drive
the vehicle as required. There may be a slight
engagement noise during hard use but this is normal.
During heavy AWD applications, the engine torque may
be reduced to protect AWD system components. If
the vehicle is exposed to extended heavy AWD usage,
the AWD system will shut itself off to protect the
system from overheating. When the system cools down,
the AWD system will activate itself again automatically;
this cool-down can take up to 20 minutes depending
on outside temperature and vehicle use.
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Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves.
The traction of the tires against the road surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change its path when
you turn the front wheels. If there is no traction, inertia
will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If
you have ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you
will understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you are
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly apply the brakes. Both control
systems — steering and braking — have to do their work
where the tires meet the road.Unless you have four-wheel anti-lock brakes, adding the
hard braking can demand too much of those places.
You can lose control.
The same thing can happen if you are steering through
a sharp curve and you suddenly accelerate. Those
two control systems — steering and acceleration — can
overwhelm those places where the tires meet the
road and make you lose control. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-9andStabiliTrak®System
on page 4-10.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on
the brake or accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way
you want it to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds
are based on good weather and road conditions. Under
less favorable conditions you will want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach
a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
Adding non-Saturn accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories and Modications on
page 5-3.
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