We recommend that you contact Saturn's Emergency Roadside Assistance (U.S. Customers) or either the Saturn Customer Communication Centre or the Saturn Roadside Assistance Program (Canadian Customers) if your vehicle should require towing. Refer to the Warranty and Owner Assistance Information Booklet for the appropriate phone numbers.
If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle for recreational purposes, see Recreational Vehicle Towing .
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it was factory-new by adding after market items like fog lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these illustrations may not be correct.
Before you do anything, turn on the hazard warning flashers (if they have not been damaged).
When you call, tell the towing service:
| • | That your Saturn can only be towed with a vehicle carrier or wheel lift tow truck. |
| • | That your vehicle has front-wheel drive. |
| • | The make, model, and year of your vehicle. |
| • | Whether you can still move the shifter lever. |
| • | If there was an accident, what was damaged. |
When the towing service arrives, let the towing operator know that this Owner's Manual contains detailed towing illustration and instructions. The operator may want to see them.
Rear End Towing with a Retrieval Hook
If your Saturn is disabled off the road, a retrieval hook is provided to position the vehicle for towing pick-up. See Retrieval Hook in If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow .
In the case of a rear end collision where rear end towing is impossible, your Saturn can be towed with the front drive wheel on the ground.
When your vehicle is being towed backward, have the ignition turned to the "ACC" (Accessory) position, and all of the accessories turned off to avoid battery drain. The steering wheel should be clamped in a straight-ahead position, with a clamping device designed for towing service. Do not use the vehicle's steering column lock for this. The transaxle should be in Neutral (N) and the parking brake released.
Automatic Transaxles
Notice: Too much or too little fluid can damage the transmission. Be sure that the transmission fluid is at the proper level before towing with all four wheels on the ground.
To prevent damage to the automatic transaxle when towing a Saturn vehicle on all four wheels, make sure the transaxle fluid is at the correct towing level.
The fluid, when checked at normal operating temperatures of 190°F -- 200°F (88°C - 93°C), should be in the cross-hatched area on the dipstick. The fluid level should be no higher than the "FULL" marking and no lower than the "ADD" line. Towing speeds should not exceed the legally posted speed limit or 65 mph (105 km/h) maximum.
Manual Transaxles
Notice: Do not tow a vehicle with the front drive wheels on the ground if one of the front tires is a compact spare tire. Towing with two different tire sizes on the front of the vehicle can cause severe damage to the transmission.
Make sure the transaxle fluid never exceeds the top of the cross hatched area on the dipstick.
