octane SATURN VUE 2009 Owners Manual

The following can prevent more
serious damage to the vehicle:
Reduce vehicle speed.
Avoid hard accelerations.
Avoid steep uphill grades.
If towing a trailer, reduce the
amount of cargo being hauled
as soon as it is possible.
If the light continues to ash,
when it is safe to do so, stop
the vehicle. Find a safe place to
park the vehicle. Turn the key
off, wait at least 10 seconds, and
restart the engine. If the light is
still ashing, follow the previous
steps and see your dealer/retailer
for service as soon as possible.
Light On Steady:An emission
control system malfunction has been
detected on the vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required.An emission system malfunction
might be corrected by checking the
following items:
Make sure the fuel cap is fully
installed. SeeFilling the Tank
on page 5-8. The diagnostic
system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly
installed. A loose or missing fuel
cap allows fuel to evaporate into
the atmosphere. A few driving
trips with the cap properly
installed should turn the light off.
If the vehicle has been driven
through a deep puddle of water,
the vehicle’s electrical system
might be wet. The condition is
usually corrected when the
electrical system dries out.
A few driving trips should turn
the light off.
Make sure to fuel the vehicle
with quality fuel. Poor fuel quality
causes the engine not to run as
efficiently as designed and may
cause: stalling after start-up,
stalling when the vehicle is
changed into gear, misring,
hesitation on acceleration,
or stumbling on acceleration.
These conditions might go away
once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions
occurs, change the fuel brand
used. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn
the light off.
SeeGasoline Octane on
page 5-5.
If none of the above have made the
light turn off, your dealer/retailer can
check the vehicle. The dealer/retailer
has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to x any mechanical
or electrical problems that might
have developed.
3-36 Instrument Panel
ProCarManuals.com

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
ProCarManuals.com

Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle
Things added to the outside of the
vehicle can affect the airow
around it. This can cause wind
noise and can affect fuel economy
and windshield washer performance.
Check with your dealer/retailer
before adding equipment to
the outside of the vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel
is an important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle. To help
keep the engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, we
recommend the use of gasoline
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline.
The 8th digit of the Vehicle
Identication Number (VIN) shows
the code letter or number that
identies the vehicle’s engine.
The VIN is at the top left of the
instrument panel. SeeVehicle
Identification Number (VIN) on
page 5-79.
Gasoline Octane
If the vehicle has the 2.4L L4 engine
(VIN Code P) or the 3.5L V6 engine
(VIN Code N), use regular unleaded
gasoline with a posted octane rating
of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is
less than 87, you might notice an
audible knocking noise when you
drive, commonly referred to as spark
knock. If this occurs, use a gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher as soon
as possible. If you are using gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher and you
hear heavy knocking, the engine
needs service.
If the vehicle has the 3.6L V6 engine
(VIN Code 7), use regular unleaded
gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 87 or higher. For best
performance or trailer towing, you
could choose to use middle grade
89 octane unleaded gasoline.
Service and Appearance Care 5-5
ProCarManuals.com

If the octane rating is less than 87,
you might notice an audible knocking
noise when you drive, commonly
referred to as spark knock. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87
octane or higher as soon as possible.
If you are using gasoline rated at 87
octane or higher and you hear heavy
knocking, the engine needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should
meet ASTM specication D 4814
in the United States or CAN/
CGSB-3.5 or 3.511 in Canada.
Some gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. SeeAdditives on
page 5-6for additional information.
California Fuel
If the vehicle is certied to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California emissions
standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specications, but emission control
system performance might be
affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp could turn on and the vehicle
might fail a smog-check test. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 3-35. If this occurs, return to
your authorized dealer/retailer for
diagnosis. If it is determined that the
condition is caused by the type of
fuel used, repairs might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines
in the United States are now required
to contain additives that help prevent
engine and fuel system deposits
from forming, allowing the emission
control system to work properly.
In most cases, you should not
have to add anything to the fuel.
However, some gasolines contain
only the minimum amount of additive
required to meet U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency regulations. To
help keep fuel injectors and intake
valves clean, or if the vehicle
experiences problems due to dirty
injectors or valves, look for gasoline
that is advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline.
5-6 Service and Appearance Care
ProCarManuals.com

For customers who do not use TOP
TIER Detergent Gasoline regularly,
one bottle of GM Fuel System
Treatment PLUS, added to the fuel
tank at every engine oil change,
can help clean deposits from fuel
injectors and intake valves. GM Fuel
System Treatment PLUS is the only
gasoline additive recommended by
General Motors.
Also, your dealer/retailer has
additives that will help correct and
prevent most deposit-related
problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates,
such as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines might
be available in your area. We
recommend that you use these
gasolines, if they comply with the
specications described earlier.However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
10% ethanol must not be used in
vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.
Notice:This vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under
the vehicle warranty.
Some gasolines that are
not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the
attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT.We recommend against the use of
such gasolines. Fuels containing
MMT can reduce the life of spark
plugs and the performance of the
emission control system could be
affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp might turn on. If this occurs,
return to your dealer/retailer for
service.
Service and Appearance Care 5-7
ProCarManuals.com

Using the Maintenance
Schedule
We want to help keep this vehicle in
good working condition. But we
do not know exactly how you
will drive it. You might drive very
short distances only a few times a
week. Or you might drive long
distances all the time in very hot,
dusty weather. You might use
the vehicle in making deliveries. Or
you might drive it to work, to do
errands, or in many other ways.
Because of all the different
ways people use their vehicles,
maintenance needs vary. You might
need more frequent checks and
replacements. So please read the
following and note how you
drive. If you have any questions on
how to keep the vehicle in good
condition, see your dealer/retailer.This schedule is for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo
within recommended limits on the
Tire and Loading Information
label. SeeLoading the Vehicle on
page 4-28.
are driven on reasonable road
surfaces within legal driving
limits.
are driven off-road in the
recommended manner. See
Off-Road Driving on page 4-13.
use the recommended fuel. See
Gasoline Octane on page 5-5.
The services inScheduled
Maintenance on page 6-3should be
performed when indicated. See
Additional Required Services
on page 6-6andMaintenance
Footnotes on page 6-8for further
information.
{CAUTION
Performing maintenance work on
a vehicle can be dangerous. In
trying to do some jobs, you can
be seriously injured. Do your own
maintenance work only if you
have the required know-how and
the proper tools and equipment
for the job. If you have any doubt,
see your dealer/retailer to have a
qualied technician do the work.
SeeDoing Your Own Service
Work on page 5-4.
Some maintenance services can be
complex. So, unless you are
technically qualied and have the
necessary equipment, have your
dealer/retailer do these jobs.
When you go to your dealer/retailer
for service, trained and supported
service technicians will perform
the work using genuine parts.
6-2 Maintenance Schedule
ProCarManuals.com

F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner............5-17
Finish Damage....................5-78
Fixed Mast Antenna.............3-93
Flashers, Hazard Warning....... 3-5
Flash-to-Pass........................ 3-7
Flat Tire..............................5-63
Flat Tire, Changing...............5-64
Flat Tire, Storing..................5-70
Fluid
Automatic Transmission.....5-18
Power Steering.................5-26
Windshield Washer...........5-27
Fog Lamp
Fog ................................3-14
Fog Lamp Light...................3-38
Folding Rear Seat................. 1-9
Folding Seatback, Passenger . . . 1-8
Front Storage Area...............2-42
Fuel..................................... 5-5
Additives........................... 5-6
California Fuel................... 5-6
Economy Driving................ 4-3
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container.....................5-10Fuel (cont.)
Filling the Tank.................. 5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 5-8
Gage ..............................3-41
Gasoline Octane................ 5-5
Gasoline Specications........ 5-6
Low Fuel Warning Light.....3-41
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers......................5-80
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block...........................5-80
Underhood Fuse Block......5-82
Windshield Wiper..............5-80
GGage
Speedometer...................3-28
Tachometer......................3-28
Gages
Fuel................................3-41
Trip Odometer..................3-28
Garage Door Opener............2-37
Gasoline
Octane............................. 5-5
Specications..................... 5-6Gate Ajar Light....................3-40
Glove Box...........................2-41
GM Mobility Reimbursement
Program............................ 7-6
H
Halogen Bulbs.....................5-39
Hazard Warning Flashers........ 3-5
Head Restraints..................... 1-2
Headlamp
Aiming ............................5-36
Headlamps..........................5-39
Bulb Replacement.............5-39
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) ................3-13
Exterior Lamps.................3-12
Flash-to-Pass..................... 3-7
High/Low Beam Changer..... 3-7
Wiper Activated................3-12
Heated Seats........................ 1-5
Heater................................3-17
Engine Coolant.................2-18
Height Adjuster, Driver Seat.... 1-4
Highbeam On Light..............3-39
High-Speed Operation,
Tires...............................5-50
INDEX i-5
ProCarManuals.com