Saturn ASTRA 2008 User manual

Seats and Restraints ......... 1-1
Front Seats .................... 1-2
Rear Seats .................... 1-7
Safety Belts ................... 1-8
Airbag System .............. 1-23
Child Restraints ............. 1-37
Keys, Doors and
Windows ............................ 2-1
Keys ............................. 2-2
Doors and Locks ............ 2-5
Theft-Deterrent Systems ... 2-7
Windows ...................... 2-10
Mirrors ......................... 2-12
Sunroof ........................ 2-13
Storage .............................. 3-1
Storage ......................... 3-1
Instruments and
Controls ............................. 4-1
Instrument Panel
Overview .................... 4-2
Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators ............ 4-11
Driver Information
Center (DIC) ............. 4-26
OnStar
®
System ............ 4-38
Lighting ............................. 5-1
Lighting ......................... 5-1
Infotainment ...................... 6-1
Audio System(s) ............. 6-1
Climate Controls ............... 7-1
Climate Controls ............. 7-1
Driving and Operating ....... 8-1
Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle ................ 8-2
Driving Your Vehicle ...... 8-16
Fuel ............................ 8-35
Vehicle Service
and Care ............................ 9-1
Service .......................... 9-2
Owner Checks ................ 9-5
Headlamp Aiming .......... 9-26
Bulb Replacement ......... 9-28
Electrical System ........... 9-33
Tires ........................... 9-38
Tire Changing ............... 9-60
Jump Starting ............... 9-68
Towing ........................ 9-72
Appearance Care .......... 9-72
Technical Data ................. 10-1
Vehicle Identification ...... 10-1
Capacities and
Specifications ............ 10-2
Customer Information ...... 11-1
Customer Information ..... 11-1
Reporting Safety
Defects ................... 11-13
Vehicle Data Recording
and Privacy ............. 11-15
Index ................................... i-1
2008 Saturn Astra Owner Manual M

SATURN and the SATURN Emblem
are registered trademarks, and
the name ASTRA is a trademark 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. Saturn reserves the right to
make changes after that time
without further notice.
This manual describes features that
may or may not be on your
specific vehicle.
Keep this manual in the vehicle for
quick reference.
Canadian Owners
A French language copy of this
manual can be obtained from your
dealer/retailer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
helminc.com
Propriétaires Canadiens
On peut obtenir un exemplaire de
ce guide en français auprès de
concessionnaire ou à l’adresse
suivante:
Helm Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
helminc.com
Using this Manual
Read this owner manual from
beginning to end to learn about the
vehicle’s features and controls.
Pictures and words work together to
explain things.
ii Preface
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 94701908 B Second Printing
©
2007 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Index
To quickly locate information about
the vehicle use 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.
Cautions and Notices
There are a number of safety
cautions in this book. A box with the
word CAUTION is used to tell
about things that could cause injury
if the warning is ignored.
{CAUTION
These mean there is something
that could hurt you or other
people.
Cautions tell what the hazard is and
what to do to avoid or reduce the
hazard. Read these cautions.
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means “Do
Not,” “Do Not do this” or “Do Not let
this happen.”
Notices are also used in this
manual.
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
the vehicle’s warranty, and it could
be costly. The notice tells what to do
to help avoid the damage.
There are also warning labels on
the vehicle which use the same
words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Other manuals may use CAUTION
and NOTICE warnings in different
colors or in different words.
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.
Preface iii

✍NOTES
iv Preface

Seats and
Restraints
Front Seats
Manual Seats .....................1-2
Seat Height Adjuster ...........1-2
Lumbar Seat Adjustment ....1-3
Reclining Seatbacks ...........1-3
Head Restraints ..................1-5
Heated Seats .....................1-6
Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation ...........1-7
Safety Belts
Safety Belts ........................1-8
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly ..........................1-12
Lap-Shoulder Belt .............1-17
Safety Belt Use During
Pregnancy .......................1-21
Safety Belt Extender .........1-22
Safety Belt Check .............1-22
Care of Safety Belts .........1-22
Replacing Safety Belt
System Parts After
a Crash ...........................1-23
Airbag System
Airbag System ..................1-23
Where Are the Airbags? ...1-25
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? ............................1-27
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? ............................1-28
How Does an Airbag
Restrain? ........................1-28
What Will You See After
an Airbag Inflates? ..........1-29
Passenger Sensing
System ............................1-30
Servicing Your
Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ............................1-34
Adding Equipment to
Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ............................1-35
Airbag System Check .......1-36
Replacing Airbag System
Parts After a Crash .........1-36
Child Restraints
Older Children ..................1-37
Infants and Young
Children ..........................1-38
Child Restraint Systems ....1-41
Where to Put the
Restraint .........................1-43
Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children
(LATCH) ..........................1-45
Replacing LATCH
System Parts After
a Crash ...........................1-50
Securing Child
Restraints (Rear Seat) .....1-50
Securing Child Restraints
(Right Front Seat) ...........1-53
Seats and Restraints 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.
To move a manual seat forward or
rearward:
1. Lift the bar to unlock the seat.
2. Slide the seat to the desired
position and release the bar.
Try to move the seat with your body
to be sure the seat is locked in place.
Seat Height Adjuster
To raise and lower the manual
seat, move the lever up or down
repeatedly until the seat is at
the desired height.
1-2 Seats and Restraints

Lumbar Seat Adjustment
On seats with this feature, turn the
knob clockwise or counterclockwise
to increase or decrease the
lumbar support.
Reclining Seatbacks
{CAUTION
You can lose control of the
vehicle if you try to adjust
the 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
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.
Seats and Restraints 1-3

To adjust a manual reclining
seatback, turn the knob. Do not lean
on the seatback while adjusting it.
Seatback Latches
(Three Door Model)
For easy entry/exit to the rear seats
on three door models:
1. Lift the lever, and tilt the seatback
forward.
2. Lower the lever and move the
entire seat completely forward.
{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.
To return the seat to the upright
position:
1. Remove any objects in front of or
behind the seat.
2. Move the entire seat rearward.
3. Lift the lever located on the
outboard side of the seat
and return the seatback to
the upright position.
4. Lower the lever then push and
pull on the seatback to be sure
it is locked in place.
1-4 Seats and Restraints

Head Restraints
The vehicle’s front seats have
adjustable head restraints.
{CAUTION
With head restraints that are
not installed and adjusted
properly, there is a greater
chance that occupants will
suffer a neck/spinal injury
in a crash. Do not drive until
the head restraints for all
occupants are installed and
adjusted properly.
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.
To adjust the head restraint, press
the button located on the side of the
head restraint. Pull up or push down
on the restraint to adjust it.
Try to move the head restraint after
the button is released to make
sure that it is locked in place.
The vehicle’s front seat head
restraints are not designed to
be removed.
Seats and Restraints 1-5

Active Head Restraint System
The vehicle has an active head
restraint system in the front seating
positions.
These automatically tilt forward to
reduce the risk of neck injury if
the vehicle is hit from behind.
Rear Seat Headrests
The vehicle has headrests in all
seating positions of the rear seats.
The headrests in the rear outboard
positions adjust like the front
seat head restraints.
To adjust the headrest in the rear
seat center position, pull up to
raise it.
To lower the headrest, press the
buttons located on the top of
the seatback and push the head
rest down.
The vehicle’s rear seat headrests
are not designed to be removed.
Heated Seats
On vehicles with heated front seats,
the controls for each seat are located
on the center of the instrument panel.
To operate the heated seats the
ignition must be on.
M(Heated Seat): Press this
button to turn on the heated seat.
The light on the button will come on
to indicate that the feature is working.
Press the button to cycle through
the temperature settings of high,
medium, and low and to turn the
heat to the seat off. The number of
indicator lights above the button will
show the level of heat selected: three
for high, two for medium, and one
for low.
1-6 Seats and Restraints

Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation
{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.
{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.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
After raising the rear seatback,
always check to be sure that
the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are
not twisted.
Folding the Seatback
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.
Before folding the seatback down,
the safety belt must be unbuckled
and not in the storage clip. The
front seat must be moved all
the way forward, and not reclined.
The headrest must be completely
lowered.
To lower the seatback:
1. Press the button located on the
top of the seatback to release it.
2. Fold the seatback forward.
Seats and Restraints 1-7

To return the seat to the sitting
position:
1. Make sure the safety belt is
through the storage clip.
2. Lift the seatback and push it
rearward until it is locked in
the sitting position.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to
make sure it is locked.
4. Remove the safety belt from the
storage clip.
The seatback must be locked or
you will not be able to pull out
and use the rear center safety
belt. Always push and pull on the
seatback to be sure it is locked.
Safety Belts
This section of the manual describes
how to use safety belts properly.
It also describes some things not
to 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 harder or be ejected
from it and 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
passenger(s) are restrained
properly too.
1-8 Seats and Restraints

{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.
This vehicle has indicators as a
reminder to buckle the safety belts.
See Safety Belt Reminders on
page 4-14.
In most states and in all Canadian
provinces, the law requires
wearing safety belts. Here is why:
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
serious 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
safety belts they could have been
badly hurt or killed.
After more than 40 years of safety
belts in vehicles, the facts are clear.
In most crashes buckling up does
matter... a lot!
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything,
you go as fast as it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose
it is just a seat on wheels.
Seats and Restraints 1-9

Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the
vehicle. The rider does not stop. The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real
vehicle, it could be the windshield...
1-10 Seats and Restraints

or the instrument panel... 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.
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle
after a crash if I am wearing a
safety belt?
A: You could be — whether you are
wearing a safety belt or not. But
your chance of being conscious
during and after an accident, so
you can unbuckle and get out, is
much greater if you are belted.
And you can unbuckle a safety
belt, even if you are upside down.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why
should I have to wear safety
belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental
systems only; so they work with
safety belts — not instead of
them. Whether or not an airbag
is provided, all occupants 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.
Seats and Restraints 1-11

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 a crash — even
one that is not your fault — you
and your passenger(s) 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 section 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 infants.
If a child will be riding in the vehicle,
see Older Children on page 1-37
or Infants and Young Children on
page 1-38. Follow those rules for
everyone’s protection.
It is very important for all occupants
to buckle up. Statistics show that
unbelted people are hurt more often
in crashes than those who are
wearing safety belts.
Occupants who are not buckled up
can be thrown out of the vehicle
in a crash. And they can strike
others in the vehicle who are
wearing safety belts.
First, before you or your
passenger(s) wear a safety belt,
there is important information
you should know.
Sit up straight and always keep
your feet on the floor in front of you.
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.
1-12 Seats and Restraints

If you slid under it, the belt would
apply force on 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 shoulder belt locks if there is a
sudden stop or crash.
Q: What is wrong with this?
A: The shoulder belt is too loose.
It will not give as much
protection this way.
{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 snugly against
your body.
Q: What is wrong with this?
A: The lap belt is too loose.
It will not give nearly as
much protection this way.
{CAUTION
You can be seriously hurt if your
lap belt is too loose. In a crash,
you could slide under the lap
belt and apply force on your
abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries.
The lap belt should be worn
low and snug on the hips, just
touching the thighs.
Seats and Restraints 1-13

Q: What is wrong with this?
A: The belt is buckled in the wrong
buckle.
{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 on
the pelvic bones. This could
cause serious internal injuries.
Always buckle your belt into
the buckle nearest you.
Q: What is wrong with this?
A: The belt is over an armrest.
1-14 Seats and Restraints

{CAUTION
You can be seriously injured if
your belt goes over an armrest
like this. The belt would be
much too high. In a crash,
you can slide under the belt.
The belt force would then be
applied on the abdomen, not on
the pelvic bones, and that could
cause serious or fatal injuries.
Be sure the belt goes under the
armrests.
Q: What is wrong with this?
A: The shoulder belt is worn under
the arm. It should be worn over
the shoulder at all times.
{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. The
shoulder belt should go over the
shoulder and across the chest.
Seats and Restraints 1-15

Q: What is wrong with this?
A: The belt is behind the body.
{CAUTION
You can be seriously injured by
not wearing the lap-shoulder
belt properly. In a crash, you
would not be restrained by the
shoulder belt. Your body could
move too far forward increasing
the chance of head and neck
injury. You might also slide
under the lap belt. The belt
force would then be applied
right on the abdomen. That
could cause serious or fatal
injuries. The shoulder belt
should go over the shoulder
and across the chest.
Q: What is wrong with this?
A: The belt is twisted across
the body.
1-16 Seats and Restraints