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2004 Saturn Ion Owner's Manual - Page 61

2004 Saturn Ion Manual

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When Should an Air Bag Inflate? The driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflate only if the impact speed is above the system's designed "threshold level." In addition, your vehicle has "dual stage" frontal air bags, which adjust the amount of restraint according to crash severity. For moderate frontal impacts, these air bags inflate at a level less than full deployment. For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs. If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that does not move or deform, the threshold level for the reduced deployment is about 16 to 20 mph (26 to 32 km/h), and the threshold level for a full deployment is 25 to 30 mph (40 to 48 hm/h). The threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level with be higher. The driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags are not designed to inflate in rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts because inflation would not help the occupant. The side impact air bags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe side crashes. A side impact air bag will inflate if the crash severity is above the system's designed "threshold level." The threshold level can vary with specific vehicle design. Side impact air bags are not designed to inflate in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear impacts, because inflation would not help the occupant. A side impact air bag will only deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck. It is possible that, in a crash involving the front of your vehicle, only one of the two frontal air bags in your vehicle will deploy. This is rare, but it can happen in a crash just severe enough to make a frontal air bag inflate. In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air bag should have inflated simply because of the damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were. For frontal air bags, inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side impact air bags, inflation is determined by the location and severity of the impact. 1-55

Section	Page
2004 Saturn ION Book TOC	1
Seats and Restraint Systems	7
Front Seats	8
Manual Seats	8
Driver Seat Height Adjuster	9
Reclining Seatbacks	9
Head Restraints	11
Passenger Folding Seatback	12
Rear Seats	13
Split Folding Rear Seat	13
Safety Belts	14
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone	14
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts	19
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	20
Driver Position	20
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	27
Right Front Passenger Position	28
Rear Seat Passengers	28
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults	32
Safety Belt Pretensioners	34
Safety Belt Extender	34
Child Restraints	35
Older Children	35
Infants and Young Children	38
Child Restraint Systems	41
Where to Put the Restraint	44
Top Strap	45
Top Strap Anchor Location	47
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System)	48
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System	50
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position	50
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position	53
Air Bag Systems	56
Where Are the Air Bags?	58
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?	61
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?	62
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?	62
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates?	62
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle	64
Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle	64
Restraint System Check	65
Checking Your Restraint Systems	65
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash	65
Features and Controls	67
Keys	69
Remote Keyless Entry System	70
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation	71
Doors and Locks	75
Door Locks	75
Power Door Locks	76
Delayed Locking	76
Programmable Automatic Door Locks	76
Rear Door Security Locks	77
Lockout Protection	77
Leaving Your Vehicle	77
Rear Doors (Coupe)	78
Trunk	78
Windows	80
Manual Windows	81
Power Windows	81
Sun Visors	82
Theft-Deterrent Systems	83
Passlock®	83
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle	84
New Vehicle Break-In	84
Ignition Positions	84
Starting Your Engine	86
Engine Coolant Heater	88
Automatic Transaxle Operation	89
Manual Transaxle Operation	94
Parking Brake	96
Shifting Into Park (P) (Automatic Transaxle)	97
Shifting Out of Park (P) (Automatic Transaxle)	99
Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transaxle)	99
Parking Over Things That Burn	100
Engine Exhaust	100
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked	101
Mirrors	102
Manual Rearview Mirror	102
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar®	102
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with OnStar®, Compass and Temperature Display	103
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with Compass and Temperature Display	106
Outside Remote Control Mirror	108
Outside Power Mirrors	108
Outside Convex Mirror	108
OnStar® System	109
Storage Areas	110
Glove Box	110
Cupholder(s)	110
Center Console Storage Area	110
Roof Rack System	111
Convenience Net	111
Sunroof	111
Instrument Panel	113
Instrument Panel Overview	116
Hazard Warning Flashers	118
Other Warning Devices	119
Horn	119
Tilt Wheel	119
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever	120
Windshield Wiper Lever	123
Cruise Control	124
Exterior Lamps	127
Interior Lamps	129
Accessory Power Outlets	130
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter	131
Climate Controls	131
Climate Control System (Without Air Conditioning)	131
Climate Control System (With Air Conditioning)	134
Outlet Adjustment	136
Passenger Compartment Air Filter	137
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators	139
Instrument Panel Cluster	140
Speedometer and Odometer	141
Tachometer	141
Safety Belt Reminder Light	142
Air Bag Readiness Light	142
Battery Warning Light	143
Up-Shift Light	144
Brake System Warning Light	144
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light	146
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage	147
Malfunction Indicator Lamp	148
Oil Pressure Light	151
Passlock® Warning Light	152
Fuel Gage	152
Message Center	153
Low Traction Message	154
Traction Off Message	154
Cruise Control Message	154
Transaxle Fluid Hot Message	154
Transaxle Fluid Cold Message	155
Low Coolant Level Warning Message	155
Change Engine Oil Message	155
Check Gage Message	156
Power Steering Message	156
Trunk Ajar Warning Message	156
Low Fuel Warning Message	157
Service Vehicle Message	157
Error Message	157
Audio System(s)	158
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio Data Systems (RDS)	158
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio Data Systems (RDS)	159
AM-FM Radio	159
Radio with CD (Base Level)	162
Radio with CD (MP3)	166
Theft-Deterrent Feature	180
Radio Reception	182
Care of Your CDs	183
Care of Your CD Player	183
Fixed Mast Antenna	183
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System	183
Driving Your Vehicle	185
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle	186
Defensive Driving	186
Drunken Driving	186
Control of a Vehicle	189
Braking	190
Traction Control System (TCS)	192
Steering	193
Off-Road Recovery	196
Passing	196
Loss of Control	198
Driving at Night	199
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	201
City Driving	204
Freeway Driving	205
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	206
Highway Hypnosis	207
Hill and Mountain Roads	208
Winter Driving	210
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	214
Towing	215
Towing Your Vehicle	215
Recreational Vehicle Towing	215
Loading Your Vehicle	217
Towing a Trailer	223
Service and Appearance Care	231
Service	233
Doing Your Own Service Work	234
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle	234
Fuel	235
Gasoline Octane	235
Gasoline Specifications	235
California Fuel	236
Additives	236
Fuels in Foreign Countries	237
Filling Your Tank	238
Filling a Portable Fuel Container	239
Checking Things Under the Hood	240
Hood Release	240
Engine Compartment Overview	242
Engine Oil	245
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter	252
Automatic Transaxle Fluid	254
Manual Transaxle Fluid	255
Hydraulic Clutch	255
Engine Coolant	256
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap	259
Engine Overheating	259
Cooling System	262
Windshield Washer Fluid	267
Brakes	268
Battery	271
Jump Starting	272
Headlamp Aiming	277
Bulb Replacement	278
Halogen Bulbs	278
Headlamps (Sedan)	278
Headlamps (Coupe)	280
Front Turn Signal Lamps (Sedan)	281
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps (Coupe)	283
Fog Lamps	283
Sidemarker Lamps (Coupe)	284
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)	285
Taillamps, Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps	285
Replacement Bulbs	286
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	287
Tires	288
Inflation - Tire Pressure	296
Tire Inspection and Rotation	298
When It Is Time for New Tires	299
Buying New Tires	300
Uniform Tire Quality Grading	301
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance	302
Wheel Replacement	302
Tire Chains	304
If a Tire Goes Flat	305
Changing a Flat Tire	306
Compact Spare Tire	316
Appearance Care	317
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle	317
Care of Safety Belts	319
Weatherstrips	320
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle	320
Sheet Metal Damage	322
Finish Damage	322
Underbody Maintenance	322
Chemical Paint Spotting	322
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials	323
Vehicle Identification	324
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	324
Service Parts Identification Label	324
Electrical System	325
Add-On Electrical Equipment	325
Windshield Wiper Fuses	325
Power Windows and Other Power Options	325
Fuses and Circuit Breakers	325
Capacities and Specifications	332
Maintenance Schedule	335
Maintenance Schedule	336
Introduction	336
Maintenance Requirements	336
Your Vehicle and the Environment	336
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	336
Scheduled Maintenance	338
Additional Required Services	340
Maintenance Footnotes	342
Owner Checks and Services	343
At Each Fuel Fill	344
At Least Once a Month	344
At Least Once a Year	345
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	348
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts	350
Engine Drive Belt Routing	351
Maintenance Record	352
Customer Assistance and Information	355
Customer Assistance and Information	356
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	356
Online Owner Center	358
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	358
GM Mobility Program for Persons with Disabilities	359
Roadside Assistance Program	359
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Recorders	361
Reporting Safety Defects	363
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government	363
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government	363
Reporting Safety Defects to Saturn	363
Service Publications Ordering Information	364

Match case Limit results 1 per page

When Should an Air Bag Inflate?

The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags

are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal

or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to

inflate only if the impact speed is above the system’s

designed “threshold level.”

In addition, your vehicle has “dual stage” frontal air

bags, which adjust the amount of restraint according to

crash severity. For moderate frontal impacts, these

air bags inflate at a level less than full deployment.

For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs.

If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall

that does not move or deform, the threshold level

for the reduced deployment is about 16 to 20 mph

(26 to 32 km/h), and the threshold level for a full

deployment is 25 to 30 mph (40 to 48 hm/h).

The threshold level can vary, however, with specific

vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above

or below this range. If your vehicle strikes something

that will move or deform, such as a parked car, the

threshold level with be higher.

The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags

are not designed to inflate in rollovers, rear impacts,

or in many side impacts because inflation would not help

the occupant.

The side impact air bags are designed to inflate in

moderate to severe side crashes. A side impact air bag

will inflate if the crash severity is above the system’s

designed “threshold level.” The threshold level can vary

with specific vehicle design. Side impact air bags are

not designed to inflate in frontal or near-frontal impacts,

rollovers or rear impacts, because inflation would not

help the occupant. A side impact air bag will only deploy

on the side of the vehicle that is struck.

It is possible that, in a crash involving the front of your

vehicle, only one of the two frontal air bags in your vehicle

will deploy. This is rare, but it can happen in a crash just

severe enough to make a frontal air bag inflate.

In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air

bag should have inflated simply because of the damage

to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.

For frontal air bags, inflation is determined by the angle

of the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down

in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side impact

air bags, inflation is determined by the location

and severity of the impact.

1-55