app SATURN VUE 2009 Manual Online

While backing down the hill, put
your left hand on the steering
wheel at the 12 o’clock position
so you can tell if the wheels are
straight and can maneuver as you
back down. It is best to back down
the hill with the wheels straight
rather than in the left or right
direction. Turning the wheel too
far to the left or right will increase
the possibility of a rollover.
Things not to do if the vehicle stalls,
or is about to stall, when going
up a hill:
Never attempt to prevent a stall
by shifting into N (Neutral) to
rev-up the engine and regain
forward momentum. This will
not work. The vehicle can
roll backward very quickly and
could go out of control.
Never try to turn around if about to
stall when going up a hill. If the hill
is steep enough to stall the
vehicle, it is steep enough to
cause it to roll over. If you cannot
make it up the hill, back straight
down the hill.If, after stalling, you try to back
down the hill and decide you just
cannot do it, set the parking brake,
put your transmission in P (Park),
and turn off the engine. Leave
the vehicle and go get some help.
Exit on the uphill side and stay clear
of the path the vehicle would take
if it rolled downhill.
Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you
downhill, consider:
How steep is the downhill? Will I
be able to maintain vehicle
control?
What is the surface like? Smooth?
Rough? Slippery? Hard-packed
dirt? Gravel?
Are there hidden surface
obstacles? Ruts? Logs?
Boulders?
What is at the bottom of the hill?
Is there a hidden creek bank or
even a river bottom with large
rocks?If you decide you can go down a hill
safely, try to keep the vehicle headed
straight down. Use a low gear so
engine drag can help the brakes so
they do not have to do all the work.
Descend slowly, keeping the vehicle
under control at all times.
{CAUTION
Heavy braking when going down
a hill can cause your brakes to
overheat and fade. This could
cause loss of control and a
serious accident. Apply the brakes
lightly when descending a hill and
use a low gear to keep vehicle
speed under control.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-19
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Things not to do when driving down
a hill:
When driving downhill, avoid turns
that take you across the incline of
the hill. A hill that is not too steep
to drive down might be too steep
to drive across. The vehicle could
roll over.
Never go downhill with the
transmission in N (Neutral), called
free-wheeling. The brakes will
have to do all the work and could
overheat and fade.
Vehicles are much more likely to
stall when going uphill, but if it
happens when going downhill:
1. Stop the vehicle by applying the
regular brakes and apply the
parking brake.
2. Shift to P (Park) and, while still
braking, restart the engine.
3. Shift back to a low gear, release
the parking brake, and drive
straight down.
4. If the engine will not start, get
out and get help.
Driving Across an Incline
An off-road trail will probably go
across the incline of a hill. To decide
whether to try to drive across the
incline, consider the following:
{CAUTION
Driving across an incline that is
too steep will make your vehicle
roll over. You could be seriously
injured or killed. If you have any
doubt about the steepness of the
incline, do not drive across it. Find
another route instead.
A hill that can be driven straight
up or down might be too steep to
drive across. When going straight
up or down a hill, the length of the
wheel base — the distance from
the front wheels to the rear
wheels — reduces the likelihood
the vehicle will tumble end over
end. But when driving across
an incline, the narrower track
width — the distance between theleft and right wheels — might not
prevent the vehicle from tilting
and rolling over. Driving across an
incline puts more weight on the
downhill wheels which could
cause a downhill slide or a
rollover.
Surface conditions can be a
problem. Loose gravel, muddy
spots, or even wet grass can
cause the tires to slip sideways,
downhill. If the vehicle slips
sideways, it can hit something
that will trip it — a rock, a rut,
etc. — and roll over.
Hidden obstacles can make the
steepness of the incline even
worse. If you drive across a rock
with the uphill wheels, or if the
downhill wheels drop into a rut or
depression, the vehicle can tilt
even more.
For these reasons, carefully consider
whether to try to drive across an
incline. Just because the trail goes
across the incline does not mean you
have to drive it. The last vehicle to try
it might have rolled over.
4-20 Driving Your Vehicle
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Avoid staring directly into
approaching headlamps.
Keep the windshield and all glass
on your vehicle clean — inside
and out.
Keep your eyes moving,
especially during turns or curves.
No one can see as well at night as
in the daytime. But, as we get
older, these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver might need
at least twice as much light to
see the same thing at night as
a 20-year-old.
Driving in Rain and on
Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep-standing or owing water.
{CAUTION
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
owing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through owing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under your vehicle’s
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When your vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is
to slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
Allow extra following distance.
Pass with caution.
Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
Keep the windshield washer uid
reservoir lled.
Have good tires with proper tread
depth. SeeTires on page 5-43.
Turn off cruise control.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-23
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{CAUTION
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. The brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing down
and they could get so hot that
they would not work well. You
would then have poor braking
or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle in
gear when going downhill.
Stay in your own lane. Do not
swing wide or cut across the
center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your
own lane.
Top of hills: Be alert — something
could be in your lane (stalled car,
accident).
Pay attention to special road
signs (falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow
or ice between the tires and the
road, creating less traction or grip.
Wet ice can occur at about 32°F
(0°C) when freezing rain begins to
fall, resulting in even less traction.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in
freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the
condition. Accelerate gently so
traction is not lost. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick, so there is even less
traction.
Try not to break the fragile traction.
If you accelerate too fast, the drive
wheels will spin and polish the
surface under the tires even more.TheAntilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 4-6improves vehicle
stability during hard stops on a
slippery roads, but apply the brakes
sooner than when on dry pavement.
Allow greater following distance
on any slippery road and watch for
slippery spots. Icy patches can
occur on otherwise clear roads in
shaded areas. The surface of
a curve or an overpass can remain
icy when the surrounding roads
are clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while on ice.
Turn off cruise control, if equipped,
on slippery surfaces.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-25
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Notice:Towing the vehicle from
the rear could damage it. Also,
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Never have
the vehicle towed from the rear.
Towing a Trailer
{CAUTION
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly.
For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work
well — or even at all. The driver
and passengers could be
seriously injured. The vehicle may
also be damaged; the resulting
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer
only if all the steps in this section
have been followed. Ask your
dealer/retailer for advice and
information about towing a trailer
with the vehicle.Notice:Pulling a trailer
improperly can damage the
vehicle and result in costly
repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To pull a trailer
correctly, follow the advice in this
section and see your dealer/
retailer for important information
about towing a trailer with the
vehicle.
The vehicle can tow a trailer if it is
equipped with the proper trailer
towing equipment.
To identify the trailering capacity of
the vehicle, read the information
in “Weight of the Trailer” that
appears later in this section.
Trailering is different than just driving
the vehicle by itself. Trailering means
changes in handling, acceleration,
braking, durability and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes
correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-35
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Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is
an important weight to measure
because it affects the total gross
weight of the vehicle. The Gross
Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes
the curb weight of the vehicle, any
cargo carried in it, and the people
who will be riding in the vehicle. If
there are a lot of options, equipment,
passengers or cargo in the vehicle,
it will reduce the tongue weight the
vehicle can carry, which will also
reduce the trailer weight the vehicle
can tow. If towing a trailer, the
tongue load must be added to the
GVW because the vehicle will be
carrying that weight, too. See
Loading the Vehicle on page 4-28for
more information about the vehicle’s
maximum load capacity.For a weight-carrying hitch, the
trailer tongue (A) should weigh
10 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight (B).
After loading the trailer, weigh
the trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they are not, adjustments
might be made by moving some
items around in the trailer.
Trailering may be limited by the
vehicle’s ability to carry tongue
weight. Tongue weight cannot cause
the vehicle to exceed the GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) or the
RGAWR (Rear Gross Axle Weight
Rating). The effect of additionalweight may reduce the trailering
capacity more than the total of the
additional weight.
Consider the following example:
A vehicle model base weight is
5,500 lbs (2 495 kg); 2,800 lbs
(1 270 kg) at the front axle and
2,700 lbs (1 225 kg) at the rear
axle. It has a GVWR of 7,200 lbs
(3 266 kg), a RGAWR of 4,000 lbs
(1 814 kg) and a GCWR (Gross
Combination Weight Rating) of
14,000 lbs (6 350 kg). The trailer
rating should be:
Expect tongue weight to be at
least 10 percent of trailer weight
(850 lbs (386 kg)) and because the
weight is applied well behind the rear
axle, the effect on the rear axle is
greater than just the weight itself,
as much as 1.5 times as much.
4-38 Driving Your Vehicle
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CAUTION (Continued)
To maximize safety when towing
a trailer:
Have the exhaust system
inspected for leaks and make
necessary repairs before
starting a trip.
Never drive with the liftgate,
trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window open.
Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
Adjust the Climate Control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air and
set the fan speed to the
highest setting. See Climate
Control System in the Index.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, seeEngine
Exhaust on page 2-28.Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. Get to know
the rig before setting out for the open
road. Get acquainted with the feel of
handling and braking with the added
weight of the trailer. And always keep
in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now longer and not as
responsive as the vehicle is by itself.
Before starting, check all trailer
hitch parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires and mirror adjustments. If the
trailer has electric brakes, start the
vehicle and trailer moving and then
apply the trailer brake controller by
hand to be sure the brakes are
working. This checks the electrical
connection at the same time.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure,
and that the lamps and any
trailer brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid situations that
require heavy braking and sudden
turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. Because the
rig is longer, it is necessary to go
much farther beyond the passed
vehicle before returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel
with one hand. Then, to move the
trailer to the left, move that hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and, if
possible, have someone guide you.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-41
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Parking on Hills
{CAUTION
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a at surface.
If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do
not shift into P (Park) yet.
Turn the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic
if facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks
under the trailer wheels.3. When the wheel chocks are
in place, release the regular
brakes until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then
apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal
while you:
Start the engine
Shift into a gear
Release the parking brake
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is
clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up
and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See
Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-3
for more information. Things that
are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission
uid, engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system and brake system.
It is a good idea to inspect these
before and during the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 5-25.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-43
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Service and
Appearance Care
ServiceService................................5-3
Accessories and
Modications.......................5-3
California Proposition 65
Warning.............................5-4
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements........5-4
Doing Your Own
Service Work......................5-4
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle...........5-5
FuelFuel....................................5-5
Gasoline Octane...................5-5
Gasoline Specications..........5-6
California Fuel......................5-6
Additives..............................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries......5-8
Filling the Tank.....................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container..........................5-10
Checking Things Under
the Hood
Checking Things Under
the Hood..........................5-10
Hood Release.....................5-11
Engine Compartment
Overview..........................5-12
Engine Oil..........................5-14
Engine Oil Life System.........5-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.......5-17
Automatic Transmission
Fluid................................5-18
Cooling System...................5-19
Engine Coolant...................5-22
Coolant Surge Tank
Pressure Cap....................5-25
Engine Overheating.............5-25
Power Steering Fluid............5-26
Windshield Washer Fluid......5-27
Brakes...............................5-28
Battery...............................5-30
Jump Starting.....................5-31
All-Wheel DriveAll-Wheel Drive...................5-35
Headlamp AimingHeadlamp Aiming................5-36
Bulb ReplacementBulb Replacement...............5-39
Halogen Bulbs....................5-39
Headlamps.........................5-39
Front Turn Signal and
Parking Lamps..................5-40
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps and Back-up
Lamps..............................5-40
License Plate Lamp.............5-41
Replacement Bulbs..............5-41
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement.....................5-42
TiresTires..................................5-43
Tire Sidewall Labeling..........5-44
Tire Terminology and
Denitions.........................5-46
Ination - Tire Pressure........5-49
High-Speed Operation..........5-50
Tire Pressure Monitor
System.............................5-51
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation..........................5-53
Service and Appearance Care 5-1
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Tire Inspection and
Rotation............................5-56
When It Is Time for
New Tires.........................5-57
Buying New Tires................5-58
Different Size Tires and
Wheels.............................5-59
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading............................5-60
Wheel Alignment and
Tire Balance.....................5-61
Wheel Replacement.............5-62
Tire Chains.........................5-62
If a Tire Goes Flat...............5-63
Changing a Flat Tire............5-64
Removing the Spare
Tire and Tools...................5-65
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire.......5-66
Storing a Flat or Spare
Tire and Tools...................5-70
Compact Spare Tire.............5-71Appearance CareInterior Cleaning..................5-72
Fabric/Carpet......................5-73
Leather..............................5-74
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and
Other Plastic Surfaces.........5-74
Care of Safety Belts............5-74
Weatherstrips......................5-75
Washing Your Vehicle..........5-75
Cleaning Exterior
Lamps/Lenses...................5-75
Finish Care.........................5-76
Windshield and Wiper
Blades..............................5-76
Aluminum Wheels................5-77
Tires..................................5-77
Sheet Metal Damage...........5-78
Finish Damage....................5-78
Underbody Maintenance.......5-78
Chemical Paint Spotting........5-78Vehicle IdenticationVehicle Identication
Number (VIN)....................5-79
Service Parts Identication
Label...............................5-79
Electrical SystemAdd-On Electrical
Equipment........................5-79
Windshield Wiper Fuses.......5-80
Power Windows and
Other Power Options..........5-80
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers...........................5-80
Instrument Panel
Fuse Block.......................5-80
Underhood Fuse Block.........5-82
Capacities and
Specications
Capacities and
Specications....................5-86
5-2 Service and Appearance Care
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