engine SATURN RELAY 2007 Owner's Guide

Charging System Light
The charging system
light will come on briey
when you turn on the
ignition, but the
engine is not running,
as a check to show you
it is working.
It should go out once the engine is running. If it
stays on, or comes on while you are driving,
you may have a problem with the charging system.
It could indicate that you have problems with a
generator drive belt, or another electrical problem.
Have it checked right away. Driving while this
light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on,
be certain to turn off all your accessories, such
as the radio and air conditioner.
Brake System Warning Light
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will come on when you set your parking
brake. The light will stay on if your parking brake
doesn’t release fully. If it stays on after your
parking brake is fully released, it means you have
a brake problem.
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If one part isn’t 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 could be a
brake problem. Have your brake system inspected
right away.
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This light should come on briey when you turn
the ignition key to RUN. If it doesn’t come on then,
have it xed so it will be ready to warn you if
there’s a problem.
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 oor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle
towed for service. SeeAnti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light on page 227andTowing Your
Vehicle on page 396.
{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
Your vehicle has an
Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS) warning light.
This light should come on for a few seconds when
you turn the ignition key to RUN. 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 this light stays on longer than normal after you
have started your engine, turn the ignition off. If the
light comes on and stays on when you are
driving, stop as soon as possible and turn the
ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset the
system. If the light still stays on, or comes on
again while you are driving, the ABS needs service
and you do not have anti-lock brakes.
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Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
Your vehicle is equipped
with a traction control
system warning light.
The traction control system warning light may
come on for the following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the
traction control button. To turn the system
back on, press the button again. The warning
light should go off. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 365for more
information.
If there’s a brake system problem that is
specically related to traction control, the
traction control system will turn off and
the warning light will come on. If your brakes
begin to overheat, the traction control
system will turn off and the warning light will
come on until your brakes cool down.
If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will turn
off and the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes
on and stays on for an extended period of
time when the system is turned on, your vehicle
needs service.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If
the red gage lamp turns on, your engine is too hot!
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It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under
normal driving conditions, you should pull off the
road, stop your vehicle and turn off the engine
as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 435.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
Your vehicle has a
computer which
monitors operation of
the fuel, ignition,
and emission control
systems.
This system is called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended
to assure that emissions are at acceptable
levels for the life of the vehicle, helping to produce
a cleaner environment. The check engine light
comes on to indicate that there is a problem and
service is required.Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system
before any problem is apparent. This may
prevent more serious damage to your vehicle.
This system is also designed to assist your service
technician in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:If you keep driving your vehicle
with this light on, after awhile, your emission
controls may not work as well, your fuel
economy may not be as good, and your engine
may not run as smoothly. This could lead to
costly repairs that may not be covered by your
warranty.
Notice:Modications made to the engine,
transaxle, exhaust, intake, or fuel system
of your vehicle or the replacement of the
original tires with other than those of the same
Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) can affect
your vehicle’s emission controls and may
cause this light to come on. Modications to
these systems could lead to costly repairs not
covered by your warranty. This may also
result in a failure to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 412.
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This light should come on, as a check to show
you it is working, when the ignition is on and the
engine is not running. If the light does not
come on, have it repaired. This light will also
come on during a malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing— A misre condition has
been detected. A misre increases vehicle
emissions and may damage the emission
control system on your vehicle. Diagnosis and
service may be required.
Light On Steady— An emission control
system malfunction has been detected on your
vehicle. Diagnosis and service may be
required.
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
possibleIf the light stops ashing and remains on steady,
see “If the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to ash, 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 ashing, 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 the Tank on page 417.
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.
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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.
SeeGasoline Octane on page 414. 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, misring, 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.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at
least one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the
light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light
turn off, your retailer can check the vehicle. Your
retailer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to x any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have
or may begin programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass
this inspection could prevent you from getting a
vehicle registration.
Here are some things you need to know in order
to help your vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the
check engine light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if
the OBD (on-board diagnostic) system determines
that critical emission control systems have not
been completely diagnosed by the system.
The vehicle would be considered not ready for
inspection. This can happen if you have recently
replaced your battery or if your battery has
run down. The diagnostic system is designed to
evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several days
of routine driving. If you have done this and
your vehicle still does not pass the inspection for
lack of OBD system readiness, your retailer
can prepare the vehicle for inspection.
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Oil Pressure Light
If you have low engine
oil pressure, this light
will stay on after
you start your engine, or
come on when you
are driving.
This indicates that your engine is not receiving
enough oil. The engine could be low on oil,
or could have some other oil problem. Have it
xed immediately by your GM retailer.
The oil light could also come on in three other
situations:
When the ignition is on but the engine is not
running, the light will come on as a test to show
you it is working. The light will go out when you
turn the ignition on. If it does not come on with
the ignition on, you may have a problem with
the fuse or bulb. Have it xed right away.
If you are idling at a stop sign, the light may
blink on and then off.
If you make a hard stop, the light may come on
for a moment. This is normal.
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is
low. If you do, your engine can become so
hot that it catches re. You or others could
be burned. Check your oil as soon as
possible and have your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
may damage the engine. The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Always follow
the maintenance schedule in this manual for
changing engine oil.
Security Light
For information
regarding this light, see
Theft-Deterrent
Systems on page 133.
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Here are four things some owners ask about.
All these things are normal and do not indicate that
anything is wrong with the fuel gage.
At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off
before the gage reads full.
It takes a little more (or less) fuel to ll up
than the gage reads. For example, the
gage read half full, but it took more (or less)
than half of the tank’s capacity to ll it.
The gage pointer may move while cornering,
braking or speeding up.
The gage may not indicate empty when the
ignition is turned off.
Low Fuel Warning Light
The light next to the fuel gage will come on briey
when you are starting the engine.
This light comes on when the fuel tank is low on
fuel. To turn it off, add fuel to the fuel tank.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
Your vehicle has a Driver Information Center (DIC).
All messages will appear in the DIC display
located in the instrument panel cluster, below the
tachometer. The DIC buttons are located on
the center of the instrument panel, below the
center outlets.
The DIC comes on when the ignition is on. After a
short delay, the DIC will display WELCOME
DRIVER (1 or 2) if a personalized key 1 or 2 is
used, and then the information that was last
displayed before the engine was turned off. The
driver number also corresponds to the numbers,
1 or 2, on the back of the remote keyless entry
transmitters.
The DIC displays the odometer, trip odometers,
fuel economy, trip computer, vehicle system
information, and compass display, if equipped.
It also displays warning messages if a system
problem is detected. In addition, the DIC displays
phone numbers that are called using the
OnStar
®system, if equipped. SeeOnStar®
System on page 154.
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Average Fuel Economy
Press the information button until AVG ECONOMY
displays. This mode shows the approximate
average miles per gallon (mpg) or liters per
100 kilometers (L/100 km). This number is
calculated based on the number of mpg (L/100 km)
recorded since the last time this menu item was
reset. To reset AVG ECONOMY, press and hold
the set/reset button. The display will return to zero.
Battery
Press the information button until BATTERY
displays. This mode shows the current battery
voltage.
Your vehicle’s charging system regulates voltage
based on the state of the battery. The battery
voltage may uctuate when viewing this
information on the DIC. This is normal.
If there is a problem with the battery charging
system, a DIC message will display. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 241for
more information.
Oil Life
Press the information button until OIL LIFE
displays. This mode shows an estimate of the oil’s
remaining useful life. If you see OIL LIFE 99%
on the display, that means 99% of the current oil
life remains. The engine oil life system will
alert you to change your oil on a schedule
consistent with your driving conditions.
When the remaining oil life is low, the CHANGE
OIL SOON message will appear on the display.
You should change your oil as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Oil on page 423. In addition to the
engine oil life system monitoring the oil life,
additional maintenance is recommended in the
Maintenance Schedule in this manual. See
Scheduled Maintenance on page 522for more
information.
Remember, you must reset the OIL LIFE yourself
after each oil change. It will not reset itself.
Also, be careful not to reset the OIL LIFE
accidentally at any time other than when the oil
has just been changed. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil change. To reset the
engine oil life system, seeEngine Oil Life
System on page 426. The display will show 100%
when the system is reset.
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Some messages may not require immediate
action, but you can press any of the DIC buttons
to acknowledge that you received the message
and clear it from the DIC display.
Some messages cannot be cleared from the DIC
display because they are more urgent. These
messages require action before they can be
cleared.
If there are any active warning messages when the
vehicle is turned off, two chimes sound and the DIC
goes into a reminder mode. The reminder mode
displays any active message. If there are multiple
messages, the DIC displays each message for
ve seconds. After each active message is
displayed once, the reminder mode turns off.
You should take any messages that appear on
the display seriously and remember that clearing
the messages will only make the messages
disappear, not correct the problem.
The following are the possible messages that can
be displayed and some information about them.A/C OFF FOR ENGINE PROTECTION
This message displays when the engine coolant
becomes hotter than the normal operating
temperature. SeeEngine Coolant Temperature
Gage on page 228. To avoid added strain on a hot
engine, the air conditioning compressor is
automatically turned off. When the coolant
temperature returns to normal, the air conditioning
compressor turns back on. You can continue to
drive your vehicle.
This message comes on while the ignition is in
RUN. Press any of the DIC buttons to acknowledge
this warning message and to clear it from the
screen.
This message continues to display for two seconds
if it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It also re-displays for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the
condition still exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message re-appears
when the engine is turned on. If this message
continues to appear, have the system repaired by
your retailer as soon as possible to avoid
damage to the engine.
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