maintenance SATURN SKY 2007 User Guide

Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your
vehicle can affect the airow around it. This may
cause wind noise and affect windshield washer
performance. Check with your retailer before
adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important
part of the proper maintenance of your vehicle.
To help keep your engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, Saturn recommends
the use of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
Use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 91 or higher. You may also
use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane
or higher, but your vehicle’s acceleration may
be slightly reduced, and you may notice a slight
audible knocking noise, commonly referred to
as spark knock. If the octane is less than 87,
you may notice a heavy knocking noise when
you drive. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated
at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible.
Otherwise, you might damage your engine.
If you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane
or higher and you hear heavy knocking, your
engine needs service.
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When to Inspect the Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/lter element at each
scheduled MaintenanceIIservice interval and
replace the air cleaner/lter element at the
rst oil change after 50,000 miles (85 000 km).
If you are driving in dusty/dirty conditions,
inspect the lter at each engine oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/lter remove the lter
from the vehicle and lightly shake the lter to
release loose dust and dirt. If the lter remains
caked with dirt, a new lter is required.
To inspect or replace the lter, open the clamps
that hold the cover on and lift off the cover.
Be sure to reinstall the cover tightly.
{CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/lter off can cause you or others
to be burned. The air cleaner not only
cleans the air; it helps to stop ames if
the engine backres. If it is not there
and the engine backres, you could be
burned. Do not drive with it off, and be
careful working on the engine with the
air cleaner/lter off.
Notice:If the air cleaner/lter is off, a backre
can cause a damaging engine re. And, dirt
can easily get into your engine, which will
damage it. Always have the air cleaner/lter
in place when you are driving.
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Automatic Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check the transmission uid
level. A transmission uid leak is the only
reason for uid loss. If a leak occurs, take your
vehicle to a Saturn retailer and have it repaired as
soon as possible.
Change the uid and lter at the intervals listed in
the Maintenance Schedule. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 336. Be sure to use the
transmission uid listed inRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 345.
Notice:Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission uid may damage your vehicle,
and the damages may not be covered by
your warranty. Always use the automatic
transmission uid listed inRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 345.
Manual Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check the manual
transmission uid level. A transmission uid leak is
the only reason for uid loss. If a leak occurs,
take the vehicle to a Saturn retailer for service.
Have it repaired as soon as possible. You
may also have your uid level checked by your
Saturn retailer when you have your oil changed.
SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 345for the proper uid to use.
Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch linkage in your vehicle is
self-adjusting. This system does not have its own
reservoir. It receives uid from the brake master
cylinder reservoir.
SeeBrakes on page 268for more information.
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Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is
designed to remain in your vehicle for ve years
or 150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever
occurs rst, if you add only DEX-COOL
®extended
life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and
how to add coolant when it is low. If you have
a problem with engine overheating, seeEngine
Overheating on page 258.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at
the rst maintenance service after each
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
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Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have to be of top quality and work
well together if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. Your vehicle was designed and tested
with top-quality Saturn brake parts. When you
replace parts of your braking system — for
example, when your brake linings wear down
and you need new ones put in — be sure you
get new approved Saturn replacement parts.
If you do not, your brakes may no longer work
properly. For example, if someone puts in
brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle,
the balance between your front and rear brakes
can change — for the worse. The braking
performance you have come to expect can
change in many other ways if someone puts in
the wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery.
When it is time for a new battery, get one that has
the replacement number shown on the original
battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco
®
replacement battery. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 242for battery location.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.
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Rear Axle
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check rear axle
uid unless you suspect there is a leak or you hear
an unusual noise. A uid loss could indicate a
problem. Have it inspected and repaired.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be
on a level surface.If the level is below the bottom of the ller plug
hole, located on the rear axle, you’ll need to add
some lubricant. Add enough lubricant to raise
the level to the bottom of the ller plug hole.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
what kind of lubricant to use. SeeRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 345.
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp aim has been preset at the factory and
should need no further adjustment.
If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the
headlamp aim may be affected. Aim adjustment to
the low-beam headlamps may be necessary if it
is difficult to see the lane markers (for horizontal
aim), or if oncoming drivers ash their high-beam
headlamps at you (for vertical aim). If you
believe your headlamps need to be re-aimed, we
recommend that you take your vehicle to your
retailer for service.
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Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb Number
Back-Up, Stoplamp,
Taillamp and Turn Signal3157K
Fog Lamp H11
Front Parking Lamp
(In Headlamp Assembly)W5W-B50X2
Front Parking/Turn Signal Lamp
(Below Headlamp Assembly)5702KA
Front and Rear Sidemarker Lamp 194
License Plate Lamp 168
Headlamps
High-Beam H9
Low-Beam H11
For replacement bulbs not listed here, contact
your retailer.
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for
wear and cracking. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 336for more information.
Replacement blades come in different types and
are removed in different ways. For proper type and
length, seeNormal Maintenance Replacement
Parts on page 347.
To replace the windshield wiper blade assembly
do the following:
1. Lift the wiper arm away from the windshield.
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Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your
tires as soon as possible and check wheel
alignment. Also check for damaged tires or wheels.
SeeWhen It Is Time for New Tires on page 296
andWheel Replacement on page 300for
more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve
more uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle.
The rst rotation is the most important. See
Scheduled Maintenance on page 336.When rotating Goodyear Eagle RSA P245/45R18
non-directional tires, always use the correct
rotation pattern shown here.
Non-Directional Tires
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Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches
in the nish should be repaired right away.
Bare metal will corrode quickly and may develop
into major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired
with touch-up materials available from your
Saturn retailer. Larger areas of nish damage
can be corrected in your Saturn retailer’s body
and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and
dust control can collect on the underbody.
If these are not removed, corrosion and rust
can develop on the underbody parts such as
fuel lines, frame, oor pan and exhaust system
even though they have corrosion protection.At least every spring, ush these materials from
the underbody with plain water. Clean any areas
where mud and debris can collect. Dirt packed in
close areas of the frame should be loosened before
being ushed. Your Saturn retailer or an underbody
car washing system can do this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can
create a chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can
fall upon and attack painted surfaces on your
vehicle. This damage can take two forms: blotchy,
ring-shaped discolorations, and small, irregular
dark spots etched into the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this,
Saturn will repair, at no charge to the owner,
the surfaces of new vehicles damaged by
this fallout condition within 12 months or
12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever occurs rst.
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Maintenance Schedule................................ 334
Introduction............................................... 334
Maintenance Requirements........................ 334
Your Vehicle and the Environment............ 334
Using the Maintenance Schedule............... 334
Scheduled Maintenance............................. 336
Additional Required Services..................... 338
Maintenance Footnotes.............................. 339Owner Checks and Services..................... 340
At Each Fuel Fill....................................... 341
At Least Once a Month............................. 341
At Least Once a Year............................... 342
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants........ 345
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts..... 347
Engine Drive Belt Routing......................... 348
Maintenance Record.................................. 349
Section 6 Maintenance Schedule
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