2006 Saturn ION Owners Manual

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GM vehicle warranty. Insurance pays the bill for the repair, but you must live with the repair. Depending on your policy limits, your insurance company may initially value the repair using aftermarket parts. Discuss this with your repair professional, and insist on Genuine GM parts. Remember if your vehicle is leased you may be obligated to have the vehicle repaired with Genuine GM parts, even if your insurance coverage does not pay the full cost. (cid:127) Gather the important information you will need from the other driver. Things like name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, vehicle license plate, vehicle make, model and model year, Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number (VIN), insurance company and policy number, and a general description of the damage to the other vehicle. (cid:127) If possible, call your insurance company from the scene of the accident. They will walk you through the information they will need. If they ask for a police report, phone or go to the police department headquarters the next day and you can get a copy of the report for a nominal fee. In some states with “no fault” insurance laws, a report may not be necessary. This is especially true if there are no injuries and both vehicles are driveable. (cid:127) Choose a reputable collision repair facility for your vehicle. Whether you select a Saturn retailer or a private collision repair facility to ﬁx the damage, make sure you are comfortable with them. Remember, you will have to feel comfortable with their work for a long time. (cid:127) Once you have an estimate, read it carefully and make sure you understand what work will be performed on your vehicle. If you have a question, ask for an explanation. Reputable shops welcome this opportunity. 7-10 If another party’s insurance company is paying for the repairs, you are not obligated to accept a repair valuation based on that insurance company’s collision policy repair limits, as you have no contractual limits with that company. In such cases, you can have control of the repair and parts choices as long as cost stays within reasonable limits. Reporting Safety Defects Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in addition to notifying Saturn Corporation. If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it ﬁnds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you, your retailer or Saturn Corporation. To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to http://www.safercar.gov; or write to: Administrator, NHTSA 400 Seventh Street, SW. Washington, D.C. 20590 You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov. Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle has a safety defect, you should immediately notify Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General Motors of Canada Limited. You may call them at 1-800-333-0510 or write to: Transport Canada Place de Ville Tower C 330 Sparks Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5 7-11 Reporting Safety Defects to Saturn In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in a situation like this, we certainly hope you’ll notify us. U.S. customers can call the Saturn Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-553-6000, or write: Saturn Corporation 100 Saturn Parkway Mail Drop 371-999-S24 Spring Hill, TN 37174-1500 In Canada, please call us at 1-800-263–1999. Or, write to: Saturn Customer Communication Centre General Motors of Canada Limited 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7 Service Publications Ordering Information Service Manuals A variety of publications are available to you. Saturn service manuals are written for trained technicians, and in some cases, specialized tools and equipment are necessary to complete certain repairs. However, the manuals are available to owners who either have the training, or wish to gain a greater understanding of the technical aspect of their Saturn. For additional publications information or to order publications, call toll free 1-800-2-SATURN or visit win.wallace.com/saturn to order on-line. In Canada, Saturn service manuals are available by calling toll free 1-800-551-4123. 7-12 Owner Publications Information on how to obtain product bulletins and as described below is applicable only in the ﬁfty U.S. states and the District of Columbia, and only for cars and light trucks with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) less than 10,000 pounds (4 536 kg). Copies of individual bulletins are also at your participating Saturn retailer. You can ask to see them. In Canada, information relating to product service bulletins can be obtained by contacting your Saturn retailer. Service Bulletins Saturn regularly sends its retailers useful service bulletins about Saturn products. Saturn monitors product performance in the ﬁeld. We then prepare bulletins for servicing our products better. You can get these bulletins, too. Bulletins cover various subjects. Some pertain to the proper use and care of your vehicle. Some describe costly repairs. Others describe inexpensive repairs which, if done on time with the latest parts, may avoid future costly repairs. Some bulletins tell a technician how to repair a new or unexpected condition. Others describe a quicker way to ﬁx your vehicle. They can help a technician service your vehicle better. Most bulletins apply to conditions affecting a small number of vehicles. Your Saturn retailer or a qualiﬁed technician may have to determine if a speciﬁc bulletin applies to your vehicle. To order Saturn bulletins, call Saturn Publications at 1-800-2-SATURN or visit win.wallace.com/saturn to order online. 7-13 ✍ NOTES 7-14 A Accessories and Modiﬁcations ............................ 5-3 Accessory Power Outlet(s) ............................... 3-16 Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ....................................................... 1-67 Additives, Fuel ................................................. 5-6 Add-On Electrical Equipment ............................ 5-99 Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine ................................. 5-22 Air Conditioning ...................................... 3-18, 3-20 Airbag Passenger Status Indicator ........................... 3-31 Readiness Light .......................................... 3-30 Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM) ...... 7-7 Airbag System ................................................ 1-54 Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ................................................... 1-67 How Does an Airbag Restrain? ...................... 1-60 Passenger Sensing System ........................... 1-62 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .......... 1-66 What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? ...................... 1-60 What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? ........ 1-61 When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? .................... 1-59 Where Are the Airbags? ............................... 1-56 Antenna, Fixed Mast ....................................... 3-72 Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System ...................................................... 3-72 Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........................... 4-7 Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light .............. 3-35 Appearance Care Aluminum Wheels ........................................ 5-95 Care of Safety Belts .................................... 5-93 Chemical Paint Spotting ............................... 5-97 Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses .................... 5-94 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle ................ 5-90 Fabric/Carpet .............................................. 5-92 Finish Care ................................................. 5-94 Finish Damage ............................................ 5-96 Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic Surfaces ....................................... 5-93 Sheet Metal Damage ................................... 5-96 Tires .......................................................... 5-96 Underbody Maintenance ............................... 5-97 Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials ................ 5-98 Washing Your Vehicle ................................... 5-94 Weatherstrips .............................................. 5-93 Windshield and Wiper Blades ........................ 5-95 Ashtray(s) ...................................................... 3-17 Audio System(s) ............................................. 3-48 Care of Your CD Player ............................... 3-71 Care of Your CDs ........................................ 3-71 Fixed Mast Antenna ..................................... 3-72 Radio with CD .................................... 3-50, 3-55 Setting the Time .................................. 3-49, 3-50 Understanding Radio Reception ..................... 3-70 XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System ............ 3-72 Automatic Headlamp System ............................ 3-14 Automatic Transaxle Fluid .......................................................... 5-24 Operation ................................................... 2-22 Battery .......................................................... 5-42 Run-Down Protection ................................... 3-16 Battery Warning Light ...................................... 3-33 Before Leaving on a Long Trip ......................... 4-22 Boost Gage ................................................... 3-43 Brake Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........................ 4-7 Emergencies ................................................ 4-9 Parking ...................................................... 2-27 System Warning Light .................................. 3-34 Brakes .......................................................... 5-39 Braking ........................................................... 4-6 Braking in Emergencies ..................................... 4-9 Break-In, New Vehicle ..................................... 2-17 Bulb Replacement ........................................... 5-48 Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) ......... 5-54 Front Turn Signal, Parking and Daytime Running Lamps ................................ 5-52, 5-53 Halogen Bulbs ............................................ 5-48 Headlamp Aiming ........................................ 5-48 Headlamps ......................................... 5-49, 5-50 Replacement Bulbs ...................................... 5-55 Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps ........................................ 5-54 Buying New Tires ........................................... 5-68 Calibration ............................................. 2-32, 2-35 California Fuel .................................................. 5-5 California Proposition 65 Warning ....................... 5-3 Canadian Owners ................................................ ii Capacities and Speciﬁcations .......................... 5-109 Carbon Monoxide ................... 2-11, 2-30, 4-26, 4-39 Care of Safety Belts ................................................ 5-93 Your CD Player ........................................... 3-71 Your CDs ................................................... 3-71 Center Console Storage Area ........................... 2-40 Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) ........... 5-54 Chains, Tire ................................................... 5-74 Change Engine Oil Message ............................ 3-45 Check Engine Light ............................................... 3-36 Check Gage Message ..................................... 3-45 Check Gas Cap Message ................................ 3-46 Checking Things Under the Hood ...................... 5-10 Chemical Paint Spotting ................................... 5-97 Child Restraints Child Restraint Systems ............................... 1-38 Infants and Young Children ........................... 1-34 Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children .......... 1-43 Older Children ............................................. 1-32 Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position ................................... 1-49 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position .......................... 1-51 Where to Put the Restraint ........................... 1-42 Cigarette Lighter ............................................. 3-17 Cleaning Aluminum Wheels ........................................ 5-95 Exterior Lamps/Lenses ................................. 5-94 Fabric/Carpet .............................................. 5-92 Finish Care ................................................. 5-94 Inside of Your Vehicle .................................. 5-90 Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic Surfaces ....................................... 5-93 Tires .......................................................... 5-96 Underbody Maintenance ............................... 5-97 Washing Your Vehicle ................................... 5-94 Weatherstrips .............................................. 5-93 Windshield and Wiper Blades ........................ 5-95 Climate Control System ........................... 3-18, 3-20 Air Filter, Passenger Compartment ................. 3-23 Outlet Adjustment ........................................ 3-22 Clutch, Hydraulic ............................................. 5-25 Collision Damage Repair ................................... 7-8 Comfort Guides, Rear Safety Belt ..................... 1-28 Compact Spare Tire ........................................ 5-90 Compass ............................................... 2-32, 2-35 Competitive Driving, Racing or Other ................. 4-16 Content Theft-Deterrent .................................... 2-16 Control of a Vehicle .......................................... 4-5 Convenience Net ............................................ 2-41 Coolant Engine Temperature Gage ............................ 3-36 Surge Tank Pressure Cap ............................. 5-29 Cooling System .............................................. 5-31 Cruise Control ................................................ 3-10 Cruise Control Message ................................... 3-44 Cupholder(s) .................................................. 2-40 Customer Assistance Information Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users ............................... 7-4 Customer Satisfaction Procedure ..................... 7-2 GM Mobility Reimbursement Program ............... 7-5 Reporting Safety Defects to Saturn ................ 7-12 Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government .............................. 7-11 Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government ......................... 7-11 Roadside Assistance Program ......................... 7-5 Service Publications Ordering Information ........ 7-12 Daytime Running Lamps .................................. 3-14 Defensive Driving ............................................. 4-2 Delayed Locking ............................................... 2-8 Differential, Limited-Slip .................................... 4-10 Doing Your Own Service Work ........................... 5-4 Dome Lamp ................................................... 3-16 Door Delayed Locking ........................................... 2-8 Locks .......................................................... 2-7 Power Door Locks ......................................... 2-8 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ............... 2-8 Rear Door Security Locks ............................... 2-9 Rear Doors ................................................. 2-10 Driver Driving Position, Safety Belt ..................................... 1-16 Seat Height Adjuster ...................................... 1-3 At Night ..................................................... 4-17 City ........................................................... 4-20 Defensive ..................................................... 4-2 Drunken ....................................................... 4-3 Freeway ..................................................... 4-21 Hill and Mountain Roads .............................. 4-24 In Rain and on Wet Roads ........................... 4-18 Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out ................. 4-31 Winter ........................................................ 4-26 E Electrical System Add-On Equipment ...................................... 5-99 Engine Compartment Fuse Block ................. 5-102 Floor Console Fuse Block ........................... 5-100 Fuses and Circuit Breakers ......................... 5-100 Power Windows and Other Power Options ....... 5-100 Windshield Wiper Fuses ............................. 5-100 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter ......................................... 5-22 Battery ....................................................... 5-42 Change Oil Message ................................... 3-45 Check and Service Engine Soon Light ............ 3-36 Coolant ...................................................... 5-25 Coolant Temperature Gage ........................... 3-36 Engine Compartment Overview ...................... 5-12 Exhaust ..................................................... 2-30 Oil ............................................................. 5-15 Oil Life System ........................................... 5-20 Overheating ................................................ 5-29 Reduced Power Light ................................... 3-41 Starting ...................................................... 2-20 Enhanced Traction System (ETS) ........................ 4-9 Entry Lighting ................................................. 3-16 Error Message ................................................ 3-47 Event Data Recorders (EDR) ............................. 7-7 Extender, Safety Belt ....................................... 1-31 Filter Engine Air Cleaner ...................................... 5-22 Finish Damage ............................................... 5-96 Fixed Mast Antenna ........................................ 3-72 Flashers, Hazard Warning .................................. 3-6 Flash-to-Pass ................................................... 3-8 Flat Tire ........................................................ 5-75 Flat Tire, Changing ......................................... 5-76 Flat Tire, Storing ............................................. 5-87 Fluid Automatic Transaxle ..................................... 5-24 Manual Transaxle ........................................ 5-24 Windshield Washer ...................................... 5-38 Fog Lamps .................................................... 3-15 Folding Rear Seat ............................................ 1-9 Folding Seatback, Passenger ............................. 1-7 Front Turn Signal, Parking and Daytime Fuel Running Lamps ................................... 5-52, 5-53 ............................................................... 5-4 Additives ...................................................... 5-6 California Fuel .............................................. 5-5 Filling a Portable Fuel Container ..................... 5-9 Filling Your Tank ........................................... 5-7 Fuels in Foreign Countries .............................. 5-6 Gage ......................................................... 3-42 Gasoline Octane ........................................... 5-5 Fuel (cont.) Fuses Gasoline Speciﬁcations .................................. 5-5 Low Warning Message ................................. 3-46 Engine Compartment Fuse Block ................. 5-102 Floor Console Fuse Block ........................... 5-100 Fuses and Circuit Breakers ......................... 5-100 Windshield Wiper ....................................... 5-100 Gage Boost ......................................................... 3-43 Engine Coolant Temperature ......................... 3-36 Fuel .......................................................... 3-42 Speedometer .............................................. 3-27 Tachometer ................................................. 3-28 Gas, Check Cap Message ............................... 3-46 Gasoline Octane ........................................................ 5-5 Speciﬁcations ............................................... 5-5 Glove Box ..................................................... 2-40 GM Mobility Reimbursement Program .................. 7-5 Hazard Warning Flashers ................................... 3-6 Head Restraints ............................................... 1-6 Headlamp Aiming ....................................................... 5-48 Headlamps .................................... 3-13, 5-49, 5-50 Automatic Headlamp System ......................... 3-14 Bulb Replacement ....................................... 5-48 Daytime Running Lamps ............................... 3-14 Flash-to-Pass ............................................... 3-8 Halogen Bulbs ............................................ 5-48 High/Low Beam Changer ................................ 3-8 Heater ................................................... 3-18, 3-20 Height Adjuster, Driver Seat ............................... 1-3 Highbeam On Light ......................................... 3-41 Highway Hypnosis ........................................... 4-23 Hill and Mountain Roads .................................. 4-24 Hood Checking Things Under ................................ 5-10 Release ..................................................... 5-10 Horn ............................................................... 3-6 How to Use This Manual ...................................... ii How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................... 1-16 Hydraulic Clutch ............................................. 5-25 I Ignition Positions ............................................. 2-18 Infants and Young Children, Restraints ............... 1-34 Inﬂation - Tire Pressure ................................... 5-64 Instrument Panel Overview ..................................................... 3-4 Instrument Panel (I/P) Labeling, Tire Sidewall ..................................... 5-59 Lamps Battery Run-Down Protection ......................... 3-16 Dome ........................................................ 3-16 Fog ........................................................... 3-15 Map .......................................................... 3-16 Brightness .................................................. 3-15 Cluster ....................................................... 3-26 LATCH System Child Restraints ........................................... 1-43 Jump Starting ................................................. 5-43 Keyless Entry System ....................................... 2-3 Keys ............................................................... 2-2 Light Airbag Readiness ........................................ 3-30 Anti-Lock Brake System Warning ................... 3-35 Battery Warning .......................................... 3-33 Brake System Warning ................................. 3-34 Highbeam On ............................................. 3-41 Malfunction Indicator .................................... 3-36 Oil Pressure ............................................... 3-40 Passenger Airbag Status Indicator .................. 3-31 Passenger Safety Belt Reminder .................... 3-29 Passlock® Warning ....................................... 3-40 Reduced Engine Power ................................ 3-41 Safety Belt Reminder ................................... 3-29 ..................................................... 3-33 Up-Shift Lighting Entry ......................................................... 3-16 Limited-Slip Differential .................................... 4-10 Loading Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-31 Lockout Protection .......................................... 2-10 Locks Delayed Locking ........................................... 2-8 Door ........................................................... 2-7 Lockout Protection ....................................... 2-10 Power Door .................................................. 2-8 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ............... 2-8 Rear Door Security Locks ............................... 2-9 Loss of Control ............................................... 4-15 Low Fuel Warning Message ............................. 3-46 Lumbar Manual Controls ............................................ 1-3 Maintenance Schedule Additional Required Services ........................... 6-6 At Each Fuel Fill ........................................... 6-9 At Least Once a Month ................................ 6-10 At Least Once a Year .................................. 6-10 Introduction .................................................. 6-2 Maintenance Footnotes .................................. 6-8 Maintenance Record .................................... 6-16 Maintenance Requirements ............................. 6-2 Maintenance Schedule (cont.) Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ......... 6-15 Owner Checks and Services ........................... 6-9 Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ............. 6-13 Scheduled Maintenance ................................. 6-4 Using .......................................................... 6-2 Your Vehicle and the Environment ................... 6-2 Malfunction Indicator Light ................................ 3-36 Manual Lumbar Controls .................................... 1-3 Manual Seats ................................................... 1-2 Manual Transaxle Fluid .......................................................... 5-24 Operation ................................................... 2-25 Manual Windows ............................................ 2-13 Map Lamps .................................................... 3-16 Message Center ....................................................... 3-43 Change Engine Oil ...................................... 3-45 Check Gage ............................................... 3-45 Check Gas Cap .......................................... 3-46 Cruise Control ............................................. 3-44 Error .......................................................... 3-47 Low Fuel Warning ....................................... 3-46 Low Traction ............................................... 3-44 Power Steering ........................................... 3-46 Service Vehicle ........................................... 3-47 Traction Off ................................................ 3-44 Transaxle Fluid Hot ...................................... 3-45 Trunk Ajar Warning ...................................... 3-46 Mirrors Automatic Dimming Rearview with Compass and Temperature Display ............................ 2-35 Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar®, Compass and Temperature Display .............. 2-32 Manual Rearview Mirror ................................ 2-32 Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar® ............. 2-32 Outside Convex Mirror ................................. 2-38 Outside Power Mirrors .................................. 2-37 Outside Remote Control Mirror ...................... 2-37 MyGMLink.com ................................................ 7-4 New Vehicle Break-In ...................................... 2-17 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ............ 6-15 Odometer ...................................................... 3-27 Odometer, Trip ............................................... 3-27 Off-Road Recovery .......................................... 4-13 Oil Engine ....................................................... 5-15 Pressure Light ............................................. 3-40 Oil, Engine Oil Life System .............................. 5-20 Older Children, Restraints ................................ 1-32 Online Owner Center ........................................ 7-4 OnStar® System, see OnStar® Manual ............... 2-38 Other Warning Devices ...................................... 3-6 Outlet Adjustment ............................................ 3-22 Outlet(s), Accessory Power ............................... 3-16 Outside Convex Mirror ............................................. 2-38 Power Mirrors ............................................. 2-37 Remote Control Mirror .................................. 2-37 Owner Checks and Services .............................. 6-9 Owners, Canadian ............................................... ii Paint, Damage ............................................... 5-96 Park (P) Shifting Into ................................................ 2-28 ............................................ 2-29 Shifting Out of Parking Brake ........................................................ 2-27 Over Things That Burn ................................. 2-30 Parking Your Vehicle ....................................... 2-29 Passenger Airbag Status Indicator ..................... 3-31 Passenger Compartment Air Filter ..................... 3-23 Passenger Sensing System .............................. 1-62 Passing ......................................................... 4-14 Passlock® ...................................................... 2-17 Power Accessory Outlet(s) ...................................... 3-16 Door Locks .................................................. 2-8 Electrical System ....................................... 5-100 Reduced Engine Light .................................. 3-41 Retained Accessory (RAP) ............................ 2-20 Steering Message ........................................ 3-46 Windows .................................................... 2-14 Pretensioners, Safety Belt ................................ 1-31 Programmable Automatic Door Locks .................. 2-8 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......... 1-15 Racing or Other Competitive Driving .................. 4-16 Radios .......................................................... 3-48 Care of Your CD Player ............................... 3-71 Care of Your CDs ........................................ 3-71 Radio with CD .................................... 3-50, 3-55 Setting the Time .................................. 3-49, 3-50 Understanding Reception .............................. 3-70 Rear Door Security Locks .................................. 2-9 10 Rear Doors .................................................... 2-10 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides ...................... 1-28 Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts .................. 1-24 Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with Compass and Temperature Display ................ 2-35 Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with OnStar®, Compass and Temperature Display ..... 2-32 Rearview Mirror with OnStar® ........................... 2-32 Rearview Mirrors ............................................. 2-32 Reclining Seatbacks .......................................... 1-4 Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ................. 6-13 Recreational Vehicle Towing ............................. 4-36 Reduced Engine Power Light ............................ 3-41 Remote Keyless Entry System ............................ 2-3 Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation ............ 2-4 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire ............................................. 5-82 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools ................... 5-77 Replacement Bulbs ......................................... 5-55 Reporting Safety Defects Canadian Government .................................. 7-11 Saturn ....................................................... 7-12 United States Government ............................ 7-11 Restraint System Check Checking the Restraint Systems .................... 1-68 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash .......................................... 1-69 Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ...................... 2-20 Right Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts ...... 1-24 Roadside Assistance Program ....................................... 7-5 Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out .................... 4-31 Roof Rack System .......................................... 2-40 Running the Engine While Parked ..................... 2-31 Safety Belt Safety Belts Passenger Reminder Light ............................ 3-29 Pretensioners .............................................. 1-31 Reminder Light ............................................ 3-29 Care of ...................................................... 5-93 Driver Position ............................................ 1-16 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................ 1-16 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ..... 1-15 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides ................... 1-28 Rear Seat Passengers ................................. 1-24 Right Front Passenger Position ...................... 1-24 Safety Belt Extender .................................... 1-31 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ................. 1-24 Safety Belts Are for Everyone ....................... 1-11 Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster ........................ 1-23 Safety Warnings and Symbols .............................. iii Scheduled Maintenance ..................................... 6-4 Seatback, Folding Passenger ............................. 1-7 Seats Driver Seat Height Adjuster ............................. 1-3 Head Restraints ............................................ 1-6 Manual ........................................................ 1-2 Manual Lumbar ............................................. 1-3 Passenger Folding Seatback ........................... 1-7 Reclining Seatbacks ...................................... 1-4 Split Folding Rear Seat .................................. 1-9 Securing a Child Restraint Rear Seat Position ...................................... 1-49 Right Front Seat Position .............................. 1-51 Service ........................................................... 5-3 Accessories and Modiﬁcations ......................... 5-3 Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle .......................................... 5-4 California Proposition 65 Warning .................... 5-3 Doing Your Own Work ................................... 5-4 Engine Soon Light ....................................... 3-36 Publications Ordering Information ................... 7-12 Vehicle Message ......................................... 3-47 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .............. 1-66 Setting the Time ..................................... 3-49, 3-50 Sheet Metal Damage ....................................... 5-96 Shifting Into Park (P) ....................................... 2-28 11 Shifting Out of Park (P) ................................... 2-29 Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster ........................... 1-23 Signals, Turn and Lane-Change .......................... 3-8 Spare Tire Compact .................................................... 5-90 Installing .................................................... 5-82 Removing ................................................... 5-77 Storing ....................................................... 5-87 Speciﬁcations, Capacities ............................... 5-109 Speedometer .................................................. 3-27 Split Folding Rear Seat ..................................... 1-9 Starting Your Engine ....................................... 2-20 Steering ........................................................ 4-11 Steering Wheel, Tilt Wheel ................................. 3-7 Storage Areas Center Console Storage Area ........................ 2-40 Convenience Net ......................................... 2-41 Cupholder(s) ............................................... 2-40 Glove Box .................................................. 2-40 Roof Rack System ....................................... 2-40 Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow ..................... 4-30 Sun Visors ..................................................... 2-15 Sunroof ......................................................... 2-41 Tachometer .................................................... 3-28 Taillamps Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps ...... 5-54 Theft-Deterrent Systems ................................... 2-16 Content Theft-Deterrent ................................ 2-16 Passlock® ................................................... 2-17 Tilt Wheel ........................................................ 3-7 Tires ............................................................. 5-57 Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning .......................... 5-95 Buying New Tires ........................................ 5-68 Chains ....................................................... 5-74 Changing a Flat Tire .................................... 5-76 Cleaning .................................................... 5-96 Compact Spare Tire ..................................... 5-90 Different Size .............................................. 5-70 If a Tire Goes Flat ....................................... 5-75 Inﬂation - Tire Pressure ................................ 5-64 Inspection and Rotation ................................ 5-66 Installing the Spare Tire ................................ 5-82 Removing the Flat Tire ................................. 5-82 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools ............... 5-77 Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools ............ 5-87 Tire Sidewall Labeling .................................. 5-59 Tire Terminology and Deﬁnitions .................... 5-62 Uniform Tire Quality Grading ......................... 5-70 12 Tires (cont.) Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance ................. 5-72 Wheel Replacement ..................................... 5-72 When It Is Time for New Tires ...................... 5-68 Recreational Vehicle ..................................... 4-36 Towing a Trailer .......................................... 4-39 Your Vehicle ............................................... 4-36 Towing Traction Enhanced Traction System (ETS) .................... 4-9 Limited-Slip Differential ................................. 4-10 Low Message ............................................. 3-44 Off Message ............................................... 3-44 Transaxle Fluid, Automatic ........................................... 5-24 Fluid Hot Message ...................................... 3-45 Fluid, Manual .............................................. 5-24 Transaxle Operation, Automatic ......................... 2-22 Transaxle Operation, Manual ............................ 2-25 Transmission Up-Shift Light .............................................. 3-33 Trip Odometer ................................................ 3-27 Trunk ............................................................ 2-11 Trunk Ajar Warning Message ............................ 3-46 Turn and Lane-Change Signals .......................... 3-8 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever ........................... 3-7 Understanding Radio Reception ........................ 3-70 Uniform Tire Quality Grading ............................ 5-70 Up-Shift Light ................................................. 3-33 Vehicle Control ........................................................ 4-5 Damage Warnings ........................................... iv Loading ...................................................... 4-31 Parking Your ............................................... 2-29 Symbols ......................................................... iv Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Recorders .................................................... 7-7 Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number (VIN) ............................................. 5-99 Service Parts Identiﬁcation Label ................... 5-99 Ventilation Adjustment ...................................... 3-22 Visors ........................................................... 2-15 13 W Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ................ 3-25 Warnings Hazard Warning Flashers ............................... 3-6 Other Warning Devices .................................. 3-6 Safety and Symbols ......................................... iii Vehicle Damage .............................................. iv Wheels Alignment and Tire Balance .......................... 5-72 Different Size .............................................. 5-70 Replacement ............................................... 5-72 Where to Put the Restraint ............................... 1-42 Windows ....................................................... 2-13 Manual ...................................................... 2-13 Power ........................................................ 2-14 Windshield Washer ........................................................ 3-9 Washer Fluid .............................................. 5-38 Windshield (cont.) Wiper Blade Replacement ............................. 5-56 Wiper Blades, Cleaning ................................ 5-95 Wiper Fuses ............................................. 5-100 Wiper Lever ................................................. 3-9 Winter Driving ................................................ 4-26 XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System ................ 3-72 Your Vehicle and the Environment ....................... 6-2 14 2006 Saturn ION Owner Manual M Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1 Front Seats ............................................... 1-2 Rear Seats ............................................... 1-9 Safety Belts ............................................. 1-11 Child Restraints ....................................... 1-32 Airbag System ......................................... 1-54 Restraint System Check ............................ 1-68 Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1 ........................................................ 2-2 ....................................... 2-7 ................................................. 2-13 ............................ 2-16 ........... 2-17 .................................................... 2-32 ...................................... 2-38 ......................................... 2-40 .................................................. 2-41 Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1 .......................... 3-4 ...................................... 3-18 ........ 3-25 ....................................... 3-43 ....................................... 3-48 Keys Doors and Locks Windows Theft-Deterrent Systems Starting and Operating Your Vehicle Mirrors OnStar® System Storage Areas Sunroof Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators Message Center Audio System(s) Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle Towing Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1 ..... 4-2 ................................................... 4-36 Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1 Service ..................................................... 5-3 Fuel ......................................................... 5-4 Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10 Headlamp Aiming ..................................... 5-48 Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-48 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-56 Tires ...................................................... 5-57 Appearance Care ..................................... 5-90 Vehicle Identiﬁcation ................................. 5-99 Electrical System ...................................... 5-99 Capacities and Speciﬁcations ................... 5-109 Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1 ................................ 6-2 Customer Assistance and Information .............. 7-1 ........... 7-2 ........................... 7-11 Index ................................................................ 1 Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects Maintenance Schedule SATURN, the SATURN Emblem, and the name ION are registered trademarks of Saturn Corporation. GENERAL MOTORS and GM are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without further notice. Keep this manual in the vehicle, so it will be there if it is needed while you are on the road. If the vehicle is sold, leave this manual in the vehicle. Canadian Owners A French language copy of this manual can be obtained from your dealer or from: Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 How to Use This Manual Many people read the owner manual from beginning to end when they ﬁrst receive their new vehicle. If this is done, it can help you learn about the features and controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words work together in the owner manual to explain things. Index A good place to quickly locate information about the vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the page number where it can be found. Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 06ION B Second Printing ©2005 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved. ii Safety Warnings and Symbols There are a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning. {CAUTION: These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people. In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you do not, you or others could be hurt. You will also ﬁnd a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means “Do Not,” “Do Not do this” or “Do Not let this happen.” iii Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this manual you will ﬁnd these notices: Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. A notice tells about something that can damage the vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. Vehicle Symbols The vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a speciﬁc component, control, message, gage, or indicator. If you need help ﬁguring out a speciﬁc name of a component, gage, or indicator, reference the following topics: (cid:127) Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1 (cid:127) Features and Controls in Section 2 (cid:127) Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3 (cid:127) Climate Controls in Section 3 (cid:127) Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Section 3 (cid:127) Audio System(s) in Section 3 (cid:127) Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5 iv These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle: ✍ NOTES vi Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Front Seats ......................................................1-2 Manual Seats ................................................1-2 Driver Seat Height Adjuster ..............................1-3 Manual Lumbar ..............................................1-3 Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-4 Head Restraints .............................................1-6 Passenger Folding Seatback ............................1-7 Rear Seats .......................................................1-9 Split Folding Rear Seat ...................................1-9 Safety Belts ...................................................1-11 Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-11 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-15 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-16 Driver Position ..............................................1-16 Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment (Sedan) .........1-23 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-24 Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-24 Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-24 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides ....................1-28 Safety Belt Pretensioners ...............................1-31 Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-31 Child Restraints .............................................1-32 Older Children ..............................................1-32 Infants and Young Children ............................1-34 Child Restraint Systems .................................1-38 Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-42 Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) ..................................................1-43 Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position ....................................1-49 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position ............................................1-51 Airbag System ...............................................1-54 Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-56 When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? .....................1-59 What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? .......................1-60 How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-60 What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? .........................................1-61 Passenger Sensing System ............................1-62 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-66 Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ....................................................1-67 Restraint System Check ..................................1-68 Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-68 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash ............................................1-69 1-1 Front Seats Manual Seats {CAUTION: You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving. 1-2 Lift the bar located under the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar. Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat is locked in place. Driver Seat Height Adjuster Manual Lumbar The driver’s seat height adjuster is located on the outboard side of the seat. To raise the seat, move the lever upward repeatedly until the seat is at the desired height. To lower the seat, move the lever downward repeatedly until the seat is at the desired height. If your vehicle has this feature, the knob is located on the front of the driver seat lower cushion on the inboard side. Turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the lumbar support. 1-3 Reclining Seatbacks {CAUTION: You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving. {CAUTION: If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked. Your seats have manual reclining seatbacks. The lever used to operate them is located on the outboard side of the seats. 1-4 To recline the seatback, do the following: 1. Lift the recline lever. 2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then release the lever to lock the seatback in place. 3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked. To return the seatback to an upright position, do the following: 1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the seatback and the seatback will return to the upright position. 2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked. {CAUTION: Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their job when you are reclined like this. The shoulder belt cannot do its job because it will not be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash, you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash, the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly. Do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. 1-5 Head Restraints Pull the head restraint up to raise it. To lower the head restraint, press the button, located on the top of the seatback, and push the restraint down. Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the restraint is at the same height as the top of the occupant’s head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash. 1-6 Passenger Folding Seatback Your vehicle may have a passenger seat that folds ﬂat. To fold the seatback, do the following: {CAUTION: {CAUTION: If you fold the seatback forward to carry longer objects, such as skis, be sure any such cargo is not near an airbag. In a crash, an inﬂating airbag might force that object toward a person. This could cause severe injury or even death. Secure objects away from the area in which an airbag would inﬂate. For more information, see Where Are the Airbags? on page 1-56 and Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-31. Things you put on this seatback can strike and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or in a crash. Remove or secure all items before driving. To fold the seatback ﬂat, do the following: 1. Lift the bar under the seat to unlock it. 2. Slide the seat as far back as it will go and release the bar. Try to move the seat with your body to make sure it is locked into place. 1-7 3. Lift the recliner lever, located on the outboard side of the seat, fully and fold the seat forward until the seatback disengages. 4. Continue to fold the seat forward until it locks in the folded position. Pull up on the seatback to be sure it is locked. 1-8 Rear Seats Split Folding Rear Seat You can fold either side of the rear seatback down for more cargo space. To lower the rear seatback, follow these steps: To raise the seatback to an upright position, do the following: 1. Lift the recliner lever, located on the outboard side of the seat, fully and lift the seatback. 2. Push the seatback until it re-engages. {CAUTION: If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked. 3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked in place. 1. Open the trunk and pull one or both of the small handles located in the center of the trunk. 1-9 Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat. 2. Once the handle is pulled, the seatback can be pushed open through the trunk, or pulled open from the inside of the vehicle. 1-10 {CAUTION: If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always pull forward on the top of the seatback at the area of the latch to be sure it is locked. {CAUTION: A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted will not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After raising the rear seatback, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted. To raise the rear seatback, lift it up and rearward until you hear a click. Push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked into place. Safety Belts Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts. {CAUTION: Do not let anyone ride where he or she cannot wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you are not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be, if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts are fastened properly too. {CAUTION: It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly. Your vehicle has indicators to remind you and your passengers to buckle your safety belts. See Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 3-29 and Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 3-29. 1-11 Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here is why: They work. You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you do not know if it will be a bad one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a person would not survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter...a lot! Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on wheels. 1-12 Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider does not stop. 1-13 The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield... or the instrument panel... 1-14 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I am wearing a safety belt? A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to wear safety belts? A: Airbags are in many vehicles today and will be in most of them in the future. But they are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts — not instead of them. Every airbag system ever offered for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even if you are in a vehicle that has airbags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions. 1-15 or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why safety belts make such good sense. Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far from home, why should I wear safety belts? A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in an accident — even one that is not your fault — you and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver does not protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone. How to Wear Safety Belts Properly This part is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 1-32 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-34. Follow those rules for everyone’s protection. First, you will want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has. We will start with the driver position. Driver Position Lap-Shoulder Belt The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here is how to wear it properly. 1. Close and lock the door. 2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the Index. 1-16 3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted. The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. 4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. If the belt stops before it reaches the buckle, let it go back all the way and start again. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-31. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 5. If your vehicle is a sedan, move the shoulder belt height adjuster to the height that is right for you. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash. See Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment (Sedan) on page 1-23. 1-17 6. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt. 1-18 The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor. Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should ﬁt against your body. A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give nearly as much protection this way. 1-19 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you. A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place. 1-20 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which are not as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen. A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should be worn over the shoulder at all times. 1-21 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you would not have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your retailer to ﬁx it. A: The belt is twisted across the body. 1-22 To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way. Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle. Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment (Sedan) Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt height adjuster to the height that is right for you. Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should be away from your face and neck, but not falling off your shoulder. Incorrect positioning of the shoulder belt can reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt. To move it up or down, press the square button (A) in the center of the height adjuster knob and move the height adjuster to the desired position. After you move the height adjuster to where you want it, try to move it up and down without touching the square button to make sure it has locked into position. 1-23 Right Front Passenger Position To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety belt properly, see Driver Position on page 1-16. The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s safety belt — except for one thing. If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again. Rear Seat Passengers It is very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts. Rear passengers who are not safety belted can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts. Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they do not wear safety belts. A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy. The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it is more likely that the fetus will not be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly. 1-24 Lap-Shoulder Belt All rear seat positions have lap-shoulder belts. Here is how to wear one properly. 2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. If your vehicle has a center passenger position, be sure to use the correct buckle when buckling your lap-shoulder belt. If you ﬁnd that the latch plate will not go fully into the buckle, see if you are using the buckle for the center passenger position. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way, it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and start again. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted. The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. 1-25 3. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder part. 1-26 The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or a crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor. {CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should ﬁt against your body. To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle. 1-27 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides Rear shoulder belt comfort guides may provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for some adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide positions the belt away from the neck and head. There is one guide available for each outside passenger position in the rear seat. Here is how to install a comfort guide and use the safety belt: 1. Fold down the rear seatback of the desired seating position. See Split Folding Rear Seat on page 1-9 for instructions about how to fold the rear seatback. 1-28 2. Remove the guide located on the trim behind the seatback from its storage clip. Pull the guide around the rear seatback. {CAUTION: If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked. 3. Return the rear seatback to its upright position and make sure it is latched into place. 4. Slide the guide under and past the belt. The elastic cord must be under the belt. Then, place the guide over the belt, and insert the two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide. 1-29 5. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies ﬂat. The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top. {CAUTION: A safety belt that is not properly worn may not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. 1-30 Safety Belt Extender If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it. But if a safety belt is not long enough, your retailer will order you an extender. It is free. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. To help avoid personal injury, do not let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to ﬁt. The extender has been designed for adults. Never use it for securing child seats. To wear it, just attach it to the regular safety belt. For more information see the instruction sheet that comes with the extender. 6. Buckle, position, and release the safety belt as described in Rear Seat Passengers on page 1-24. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder. To remove and store the comfort guides, squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out of the guides. Fold down the rear seatbacks. Store the guides on their storage clips. Lift the rear seatbacks to their original seating positions. Safety Belt Pretensioners Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for the driver and right front passenger. Although you cannot see them, they are located on the retractor part of the safety belts. They help the safety belts reduce a person’s forward movement in a moderate to severe frontal or near frontal crash. Pretensioners work only once. If they activate in a crash, you will need to get new ones, and probably other new parts for your safety belt system. See Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash on page 1-69. 1-31 Child Restraints Older Children Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts? A: An older child should wear a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder belt should not cross the face or neck. The lap belt should ﬁt snugly below the hips, just touching the top of the thighs. It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash. Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear seat. In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety belts properly. Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s safety belts. 1-32 Q: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt, but the child is so small that the shoulder belt is very close to the child’s face or neck? A: If the child is sitting in a seat next to a window, move the child toward the center of the vehicle. Also see Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides on page 1-28. If the child is sitting in the center rear seat passenger position, move the child toward the safety belt buckle. In either case, be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder, so that in a crash the child’s upper body would have the restraint the belts provide. 1-33 {CAUTION: Never do this. Here two children are wearing the same belt. The belt can not properly spread the impact forces. In a crash, the two children can be crushed together and seriously injured. A belt must be used by only one person at a time. Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash. Infants and Young Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle. {CAUTION: Never do this. Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind the child. If the child wears the belt in this way, in a crash the child might slide under the belt. The belt’s force would then be applied right on the child’s abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries. 1-34 {CAUTION: Children can be seriously injured or strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck and the safety belt continues to tighten. Never leave children unattended in a vehicle and never allow children to play with the safety belts. Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate restraints. Young children should not use the vehicle’s adult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice. Instead, they need to use a child restraint. {CAUTION: People should never hold a baby in their arms while riding in a vehicle. A baby does not weigh much — until a crash. During a crash a baby will become so heavy it is not possible to hold it. For example, in a crash at only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12 lb (5.5 kg) baby will suddenly become a 240 lb (110 kg) force on a person’s arms. A baby should be secured in an appropriate restraint. 1-35 {CAUTION: Children who are up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inﬂates can be seriously injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer protection for adults and older children, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide. Q: What are the different types of add-on child restraints? A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic types. Selection of a particular restraint should take into consideration not only the child’s weight, height and age but also whether or not the restraint will be compatible with the motor vehicle in which it will be used. 1-36 {CAUTION: The body structure of a young child is quite unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom the safety belts are designed. A young child’s hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s regular safety belt may not remain low on the hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply force on a body area that is unprotected by any bony structure. This alone could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young children always should be secured in appropriate child restraints. For most basic types of child restraints, there are many different models available. When purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that come with the restraint, state the weight and height limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition, there are many kinds of restraints available for children with special needs. {CAUTION: Newborn infants need complete support, including support for the head and neck. This is necessary because a newborn infant’s neck is weak and its head weighs so much compared with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing seat settles into the restraint, so the crash forces can be distributed across the strongest part of an infant’s body, the back and shoulders. Infants always should be secured in appropriate infant restraints. 1-37 Child Restraint Systems An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed to restrain or position a child on a continuous ﬂat surface. Make sure that the infant’s head rests toward the center of the vehicle. A rear-facing infant seat (B) provides restraint with the seating surface against the back of the infant. The harness system holds the infant in place and, in a crash, acts to keep the infant positioned in the restraint. 1-38 A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint for the child’s body with the harness and also sometimes with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields. A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to improve the ﬁt of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Some booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and some high-back booster seats have a ﬁve-point harness. A booster seat can also help a child to see out the window. 1-39 Q: How Should I Use a Child Restraint? A: A child restraint system is any device designed for use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position children. A built-in child restraint system is a permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on child restraint system is a portable one, which is purchased by the vehicle’s owner. To help reduce injuries, an add-on child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. With built-in or add-on child restraints, the child has to be secured within the child restraint. When choosing an add-on child restraint, be sure the child restraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, it will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. Then follow the instructions for the restraint. You may ﬁnd these instructions on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both. Securing an Add-on Child Restraint in the Vehicle {CAUTION: A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. Make sure the child restraint is properly installed in the vehicle using the vehicle’s safety belt or LATCH system, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. To help reduce the chance of injury, the child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. Child restraint systems must be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt, or by the LATCH system. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-43 for more information. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. 1-40 {CAUTION: A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. Make sure the child is properly secured, following the instructions that came with that restraint. Because there are different systems, it is important to refer to the instructions that come with the restraint. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. When securing an add-on child restraint, refer to the instructions that come with the restraint which may be on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, and to this manual. The child restraint instructions are important, so if they are not available, obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer. Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle — even when no child is in it. Securing the Child Within the Child Restraint There are several systems for securing the child within the child restraint. One system, the three-point harness, has straps that come down over each of the infant’s shoulders and buckle together at the crotch. The ﬁve-point harness system has two shoulder straps, two hip straps, and a crotch strap. A shield may take the place of hip straps. A T-shaped shield has shoulder straps that are attached to a ﬂat pad which rests low against the child’s body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield has straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-like shield that swings up or to the side. 1-41 Where to Put the Restraint Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We recommend that child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat. Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys. {CAUTION: A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s airbag inﬂates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inﬂating air bag. CAUTION: (Continued) 1-42 CAUTION: (Continued) Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off. We recommend that rear-facing child restraints be secured in the rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat. Wherever you install a child restraint, be sure to secure the child restraint properly. Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle — even when no child is in it. Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) Your vehicle has the LATCH system. The LATCH system holds a child restraint during driving or in a crash. This system is designed to make installation of a child restraint easier. The LATCH system uses anchors in the vehicle and attachments on the child restraint that are made for use with the LATCH system. Make sure that a LATCH-compatible child restraint is properly installed using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. When installing a child restraint with a top tether, you must also use either the lower anchors or the safety belts to properly secure the child restraint. A child restraint must never be installed using only the top tether and anchor. In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle, you need a child restraint equipped with LATCH attachments. The child restraint manufacturer will provide you with instructions on how to use the child restraint and its attachments. The following explains how to attach a child restraint with these attachments in your vehicle. Your vehicle has lower anchors and top tether anchors. Your child restraint may have lower attachments and a top tether. Not all vehicle seating positions or child restraints have lower anchors and attachments or top tether anchors and attachments. Lower Anchors Lower anchors (A) are metal bars built into the vehicle. There are two lower anchors for each LATCH seating position that will accommodate a child restraint with lower attachments (B). 1-43 Top Tether Anchor A top tether (A, C) anchors the top of the child restraint to the vehicle. A top tether anchor is built into the vehicle. The top tether attachment (B) on the child restraint connects to the top tether anchor in the vehicle in order to reduce the forward movement and rotation of the child restraint during driving or in a crash. Your child restraint may have a single tether (A) or a dual tether (C). Either will have a single attachment (B) to secure the top tether to the anchor. 1-44 Some top tether-equipped child restraints are designed for use with or without the top tether being attached. Others require the top tether always to be attached. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached. In the United States, some child restraints also have a top tether. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for your child restraint. If the child restraint does not have a top tether, one can be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints. Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit is available. Lower Anchor and Top Tether Anchor Locations i (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors. j (Lower Anchor): Seating positions with two lower anchors. Rear Seat — Sedan i (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors. j (Lower Anchor): Seating positions with two lower anchors. For sedan models, the top tether anchors are located under the trim covers on the rear window trim panel. Be sure to use an anchor located on the same side of the vehicle as the seating position where the child restraint will be placed. Rear Seat — Coupe For sedan models, each rear seating position has exposed metal lower anchors in the crease between the seatback and the seat cushion. For coupe models, each rear outboard seating position has exposed metal lower anchors in the crease between the seatback and the seat cushion. Sedan For coupe models, the top tether anchors are located under trim covers on the ﬁller panel. Be sure to use an anchor located on the same side of the vehicle as the seating position where the child restraint will be placed. To assist you in locating the top tether anchors, the top tether anchor symbol is located on the trim cover. Coupe 1-45 {CAUTION: Each top tether anchor and lower anchor in the vehicle is designed to hold only one child restraint. Attaching more than one child restraint to a single anchor could cause the anchor or attachment to come loose or even break during a crash. A child or others could be injured if this happens. To help prevent injury to people and damage to your vehicle, attach only one child restraint per anchor. Do not secure a child restraint in the right front passenger’s position if a national or local law requires that the top tether be attached, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top tether must be attached. There is no place to attach the top tether in this position. Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. See Where to Put the Restraint on page 1-42 for additional information. Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System {CAUTION: If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached to anchors, the restraint will not be able to protect the child correctly. In a crash, the child could be seriously injured or killed. Make sure that a LATCH-type child restraint is properly installed using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. 1-46 {CAUTION:

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2006 Saturn ION Owners Manual