Saturn ASTRA 2009 User manual

Seats and Restraints ......... 1-1
Front Seats .................... 1-2
Rear Seats .................... 1-7
Safety Belts ................... 1-8
Airbag System .............. 1-24
Child Restraints ............. 1-38
Keys, Doors and
Windows ............................ 2-1
Keys ............................. 2-2
Doors and Locks ............ 2-5
Theft-Deterrent Systems ... 2-8
Windows ...................... 2-10
Mirrors ......................... 2-11
Sunroof ........................ 2-12
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) ............. 4-25
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 ...... 8-15
Fuel ............................ 8-34
Vehicle Service
and Care ............................ 9-1
Service .......................... 9-2
Owner Checks ................ 9-4
Headlamp Aiming .......... 9-26
Bulb Replacement ......... 9-28
Electrical System ........... 9-34
Tires ........................... 9-40
Tire Changing ............... 9-60
Jump Starting ............... 9-69
Towing ........................ 9-73
Appearance Care .......... 9-73
Technical Data ................. 10-1
Vehicle Identification ...... 10-1
Capacities and
Specifications ............ 10-2
Service and
Maintenance ..................... 11-1
Service and
Maintenance .............. 11-1
Customer Information ...... 12-1
Customer Information ..... 12-1
Reporting Safety
Defects ................... 12-14
Vehicle Data Recording
and Privacy ............. 12-16
Index ................................... i-1
2009 Saturn ASTRA 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.
Read this manual from beginning to
end to learn about the vehicle’s
features and controls. Pictures,
symbols, and words work together
to explain vehicle operation.
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
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.
ii Preface
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 25918346 A First Printing
©
2008 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Cautions and Notices
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.”
A box with the word CAUTION is
used to tell about things that
could hurt you or others if you were
to ignore the warning.
{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 notice tells about something that
can damage the vehicle.
Notice: These mean there is
something that could damage
your 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.
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.
M:This symbol is shown when
you need to see your owner manual
for additional instructions or
information.
*:This symbol is shown when
you need to see a service manual
for additional instructions or
information.
Preface iii

Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel
Controls or OnStar
®
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.:Fuel Gage
+:Fuses
i:Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j:LATCH System Child Restraints
*:Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
F:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
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 .............1-18
Safety Belt Use During
Pregnancy .......................1-22
Safety Belt Extender .........1-22
Safety Belt Check .............1-22
Care of Safety Belts .........1-23
Replacing Safety Belt
System Parts After a
Crash ..............................1-23
Airbag System
Airbag System ..................1-24
Where Are the Airbags? ...1-26
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 ............................1-35
Adding Equipment to
Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ............................1-36
Airbag System Check .......1-37
Replacing Airbag System
Parts After a Crash .........1-37
Child Restraints
Older Children ..................1-38
Infants and Young
Children ..........................1-40
Child Restraint Systems ....1-43
Where to Put the
Restraint .........................1-44
Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children
(LATCH) ..........................1-46
Replacing LATCH System
Parts After a Crash ...........1-50
Securing Child Restraints
(Rear Seat) .....................1-51
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
the vehicle is in motion can be
dangerous. Even if when buckled
up, the safety belts cannot do
their job when 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 the
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 either 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
seatbacks to be sure they are
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 either 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
seatbacks to be sure they are
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.
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 a
safety belt cannot be worn
properly. In a crash, if you or your
passenger(s) are not wearing
safety belts, the injuries can be
much worse. You can hit things
inside the vehicle harder or be
ejected from the vehicle. You and
your passenger(s) 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 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 4-13 for additional information.
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.
Seats and Restraints 1-11

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.
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 1-38 or Infants and Young
Children on page 1-40. 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.
1-12 Seats and Restraints

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.
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.
Seats and Restraints 1-13

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.
Q: What is wrong with this?
A: The belt is buckled in the wrong
buckle.
1-14 Seats and Restraints

{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.
{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.
Seats and Restraints 1-15

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.
Q: What is wrong with this?
A: The belt is behind the body.
1-16 Seats and Restraints