
165 Car care and technical information
Car care and
technical
information
Hood release handle ....... 166
Engine compartment,
4-cyl. engine ................... 167
Engine compartment,
6-cyl. engine ................... 168
Emission control systems 169
Engine............................... 170
Engine oil ......................... 171
Transmission fluid........... 173
Coolant ............................. 174
Brake and clutch fluid ..... 175
Power steering fluid ........ 176
Battery .............................. 177 Drive belts ........................ 179
Wipers and washers ....... 180
Changing bulbs ............... 182
Fuses ................................ 192
Wheels .............................. 198
Compact spare wheel ..... 202
Flat spotting..................... 206
Air conditioning (A/C
system) ........................... 206
Safety belts ...................... 207
Upholstery and trim ........ 208
Textile carpeting.............. 208
Washing the car .............. 209 Waxing and polishing ...... 209
Engine compartment ....... 210
Touching up the paint ..... 210
Anticorrosion treatment .. 211
For long trips .................... 213
Recovery and/or recycling
of automotive materials. 213
Headlamp aiming ............. 214
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199 Car care and technical information
Rotating tiresBecause the car has front-wheel drive, the
front tires tend to wear faster than the rear
ones. New tires should always be fitted in
pairs, so that tires on the same axle have the
same amount of tread.
If swapping the complete set, e.g. winter
tires for summer tires, mark the tires
removed to ensure that they go back in the
same position (e.g. FL for front left, RL rear
left, etc.).
Store wheels lying flat or hanging – never
standing upright.
Tire markingsAn example of the meaning of the different
markings in a tire size is given below for a
tire size of:
205/65 R15 94 V
Winter tiresWinter (snow) tires are recommended for
winter climates where the majority of your
driving will be done on snow and ice. Winter
tires should be fitted to all four wheels to
maintain a proper balance. Your Saab
dealer can advise you as to the correct size
tire for your car (if different from the original
size) and also supply Saab approved winter
tires.Tire quality grading (cars sold in
U.S.)New tires must be graded and labeled in
accordance with new Federal regulations.
Standard tests are conducted to measure
performance in the areas of traction and
temperature resistance. Refer to the tire
sidewall for the specific quality grades of the
tires provided on your new Saab. Compact
spare tires are exempt.
DOT QUALITY GRADES
Treadwear
Traction AA, A, B, C
Temperature A, B, C
All passenger car tires must conform to Fed-
eral safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
WARNING
When fitting just one new pair of tires,
these should be fitted to the rear wheels,
as these are more critical to the direc-
tional stability of the car (e.g. on braking
or in a skid). The existing rear wheels
should therefore be moved to the front.
Always move left rear to left front and right
rear to right front, so that the direction of
rotation remains the same.
205 Tire section width, mm
65 Aspect ratio, i.e. the section height
is 65% of the section width
R Radial ply
15 Wheel rim diameter 15 in at bead
seats
94 Tire load code
V Speed marking
Speed ratings S Tire approved for speeds up to
100 mph (180 km/h)
T Tire approved for speeds up to
118 mph (190 km/h)
H Tire approved for speeds up to
130 mph (210 km/h)
V Tire approved for speeds up to
150 mph (240 km/h)
W Tire approved for speeds up to
167 mph (270 km/h)
Y Tire approved for speeds up to
186 mph (300 km/h)
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202 Car care and technical informationCompact spare wheelThe compact spare is light and easy to
handle when changing the tire. Its use is
only permitted when a standard tire has sus-
tained a puncture. The maximum life of the
tire is only 2000 miles (3,500 km).
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) with the
compact spare fitted.
The compact spare should be inflated to
60 psi (420 kPa). Carry the punctured tire in
the spare-wheel well under the luggage-
compartment floor.
Have the standard tire repaired and refitted
as soon as possible (see also page 154).The spare wheel, together with the jack and
jack handle, front towrope attachment eye
and toolkit, is stowed away underneath a
panel in the luggage-compartment floor.
If you need to change a wheel, remove the
tool kit first and then the spare wheel.
The panel over the spare wheel can be held
open by hooking the handle onto the rubber
seal.
In the Saab 9-5 Sedan, there is a holder for
a warning triangle (accessory) in the lug-
gage compartment trim. In the Saab 9-5
Wagon, there is space for a warning triangle
underneath the panel in the luggage com-
partment floor.
NOTETo avoid damaging a punctured alloy
wheel it can be placed outside up in the
spare-wheel well but only while driving to
the closest workshop.
A general rule is that all heavy loads must
be well secured in the luggage compart-
ment, see page 118 and 121.
IB534
Panel hooked back, 9-5 Sedan
IB1232
Hanging up the cover and spare wheel
compartments mats, 9-5 Wagon
IB1186
Spare wheel (under panel in luggage
compartment)
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213 Car care and technical information
For long tripsBefore setting off on a long journey, it is
advisable to have your car checked over by
your Saab dealer.
Obtain a few important items to take along
on your journey such as spare bulbs, wiper
blades, fuses, a Poly-Vee-belt and the like.
You can check some points yourself before-
hand:
Make sure that the engine is in good con-
dition.
Check that no oil or gasoline leaks out of
the engine or gearbox/transmission.
Inspect the Poly-Vee-belt and replace it if
it shows any signs of hard wear.
Check the battery charge.
Check the tires for tread pattern and air
pressure, including the compact spare
wheel.
Check the brakes.
Check all bulbs.
Check for the presence of the tool kit and
the jack in the car.
Recovery and/or
recycling of automotive
materialsA typical car consists of metals (65–75%),
plastics (10–14%), rubber (5%) and small
quantities of glass, wood, paper and tex-
tiles.
Some of these materials can be recycled,
while others can be recovered in chemical
processes for reuse in new products or as a
source of energy.
While the Saab 9-5 was still at the draw-
ing-board stage, Saab engineers were
giving serious consideration to how the
maximum quantity of materials could be
reclaimed from the car on its eventual
scrapping. To facilitate sorting, plastic parts,
for instance, have been marked to identify
the precise nature of the plastic.
Approximately 90% of the materials in the
car can be recycled or recovered, where
facilities exist.
Before the car is scrapped, all the oils and
other fluids that could pollute the environ-
ment should be recovered from the car. It
may be of interest in this context to learn that
the refrigerant used in the Saab 9-5’s A/C
and ACC systems (R134a) contains neither
CFCs nor any other chlorine compounds.
1 A-pillar trim: PP, PP/EPDM
2 Windshield trim: PP, PP/EPDM
3 Seals: EPDM
4 C-pillar trim: PP
5 Rear light cluster: PMMA
6 Corner infill panel: PPO/PA
7 Rear bumper, cellular core: expanded PP;
sheathing: PP/EPDM
8 Side-window casing: PP/EPDM
9 Fuel tank: PE
10 Side trim: PVC
11 A-pillar upholstery trim: PC/ABS, textile
12 Rearview mirror: ABS
13 Sill scuff plate: PP/EPDM
14 Wheel-arch liner: PP
15 Wheel cover: PA
16 Direction-indicator lamp lens: PMMA
17 Washer-fluid reservoir: PE
18 Front spoiler: PP/EPDM
19 Front bumper, cellular core: expanded PP;
sheathing: PP/EPDM
20 Fan shroud: PP
21 Radiator grille: ABS
22 Scuttle panel finisher: PC/ASA
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226 SpecificationsGeneral Overall length, including bumpers:
9-5 Sedan _______________________ 189.2 in (4805 mm)
9-5 Wagon ______________________ 189.3 in (4808 mm)
Overall width, including door mirrors ____ 80.4 in (2042 mm)
Maximum height:
9-5 Sedan _______________________ 57.0 in (1449 mm)
9-5 Wagon ______________________ 58.9 in (1497 mm)
Wheelbase _______________________ 106.4 in (2703 mm)
Ground clearance __________________ approx. 6.6 in
(167 mm)
Tr a c k :
Front __________________________ 59.9 in (1522 mm) *)
Rear ___________________________ 59.9 in (1522 mm) *)
Turning circle (curb to curb) ___________ 35.4 ft (10.8 m)
Turning circle (measured at vehicle extrem-
ities) ___________________________ 37.4 ft (11.4 m)
Number of seats (incl. driver) _________ 5
*) Specified track applies to wheel sizes:
6 x 15 & 6.5 x 16
Gross vehicle weight
(GVW)
Maximum train
weight
(GVW + max. trailer
weight)
Maximum axle load,
front
Maximum axle load,
rear Permissible load (in addition to driver) = GVW minus curb weight
The maximum permissible axle load, front or rear, must not be exceeded.
The maximum permissible axle load, front or rear, must not be exceeded. Chassis number in engine bay Weight ready for driving (i.e. with full fuel
tank, washer-fluid reservoir, standard
tools and spare wheel) ______________ 3470–3820 lbs.
(1575–1735 kg)
Gross vehicle weight (GVW) ___________ 4480–4750 lbs.
(2030–2155 kg)
Maximum axle load:
Front ___________________________ 2500 lbs. (1135 kg)
Rear, 9-5 Sedan ___________________ 2310 lbs. (1050 kg)
Rear, 9-5 Wagon __________________ 2480 lbs. (1125 kg)
Weight distribution:
Curb weight, front/rear ______________ 60/40%
GVW, front/rear ___________________ 50/50%
Maximum roof load __________________ 220 lbs (100 kg)
IB541
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233 Specifications
Brake system Wheels and tiresFootbrake (ABS) ___________________ Hydraulic disc
brakes with vacuum
servo unit. Diago-
nally split circuits;
ventilated discs on
front wheels. EBD
function, see page
146.
Handbrake _______________________ Acts on rear wheels
Brake fluid ________________________ DOT 4
Brake-fluid capacity _________________ 0.925 qts (900 ml)
Disc diameter:
Front __________________________ 11.34 in (288 mm)
Front, 9-5 2.3 Turbo Aero ___________ 12.05 in (306 mm)
Rear ___________________________ 11.26 in (286 mm)
Total friction area of brake pads:
Front __________________________ 36.3 in
2 (234 cm
2)
Rear ___________________________ 15.5 in
2 (100 cm
2)Wheel size ________________________ 6.5 x 16 or 7 x 17
9-5 2.3 Turbo Aero ___________________ Use 6.5 x 16 or
7 x 17 only
Tire size (summer tires):
6.5 x 16 wheels ___________________ 215/55 R16
7 x 17 wheels _____________________ 225/45 R17
Tire size (winter tires):
6 x 15 wheels (not 9-5 2.3 Turbo Aero) __ 195/65 R15 M+S
6.5 x 16 wheels ___________________ 205/55 R16 M+S
Recommended wheels for snow chains _ 6 x 15 (not 9-5 2.3
Turbo Aero) or
6.5 x 16
Compact spare:
Wheel ___________________________ 4 x 16
Tire _____________________________ T115/70 R16
Pressure_________________________ 60 psi (420 kPa)
Maximum life _____________________ 2,200 miles
(3500 km)
Maximum speed __________________ 50 mph (80 km/h)
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241 Index
IndexAA/C system, fault diagnosis ________ 206
A/C system, maintenance _________ 206
ABS brakes ____________________ 146
ACC ___________________________ 67
ACC functions ___________________ 70
ACC, automatic climate control ______ 67
ACC, calibration _________________ 75
ACC, condensation _______________ 76
ACC, programming _______________ 73
ACC, useful tips _________________ 75
Adjusting the steering wheel _______ 107
Adjustment, seats _______________ 102
Afterheater, V6-engine cars _______ 239
Air conditioning (A/C),
fault diagnosis and maintenance __ 206
Air distribution, ACC ______________ 72
Airbag _________________________ 23
Alarm __________________________ 38
Alarm functions __________________ 41
Alarm signals _________________ 38, 41
Alternator ______________________ 179
Alternator drive belt __________ 179, 231
Alternator rating _________________ 230
Anticorrosion treatment ___________ 211
Antidazzle rear-view mirror ________ 109
Ashtrays ______________________ 112
Audio System ___________________ 77Audio System, quick guide _________ 79
Autochecking of lights on starting ____ 52
Automatic climate control (ACC) _____ 67
Automatic transmission,
technical data _________________ 232
BBattery ________________________ 177
Battery charging/replacing _________ 178
Battery, boost starting ____________ 160
Belt guide ______________________ 12
Boost starting using jump leads ____ 160
Booster cushion __________________ 21
Brake and clutch fluid ____________ 175
Brake-fluid reservoir _____________ 175
Brakes, technical data ____________ 233
Bulbs, changing _________________ 182
Bulbs, table of __________________ 191CCD changer _____________________ 89
CD player ______________________ 87
CHECK messages _______________ 58
CHECKING _____________________ 58
Calibration, ACC _________________ 75
Cancelling the programmed settings __ 73
Car alarm _______________________ 38
Car care _______________________ 165
Car phone, installation _____________ 98
Cargo net, 9-5 Wagon ____________ 123Carpeting, care of _______________ 208
Cassette player __________________ 84
Catalytic converter,
important considerations _________ 133
Central locking ___________________ 32
Change language in SID ___________ 60
Change of address notification _____ 220
Changing a wheel _______________ 203
Changing bulbs _________________ 182
Changing the coolant _____________ 175
Changing the wheels round ________ 199
Changing wiper blades ___________ 180
Chassis number _________________ 235
Chassis number, key to ___________ 236
Child safety _____________________ 18
Child safety locks, rear doors _______ 35
Child seat, integral ________________ 21
Cleaning, engine bay _____________ 210
Clock _______________________ 59, 60
Colour code, body _______________ 235
Colour code, trim ________________ 235
Compact spare wheel ____________ 202
Condensation, ACC _______________ 76
Coolant _______________________ 174
Coolant, changing _______________ 175
Cruise control __________________ 145
Cup holder _____________________ 115
DDICE/TWICE ___________________ 193
Dampers ______________________ 232
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243 Index
Light horn ______________________ 61
Light switches ___________________ 61
Luggage-compartment lighting ______ 64MMain instrument panel _____________ 46
Main/dipped beam ________________ 61
Maintenance schedule ___________ 218
Manual gearbox, technical data ____ 231
Maxi fuses _____________________ 193
Milometer ______________________ 52
Motoring abroad ________________ 213NNight Panel _____________________ 59OOil capacity, engine ______________ 228
Oil change, engine ______________ 172
Oil specification _________________ 228
OnStar ________________________ 100
Outdoor temperature ______________ 54
Owner assistance _______________ 219PPaintwork, touching-in ____________ 210
Parking lights ____________________ 61Plates and labels ________________ 235
Poly-V-belt _____________________ 179
Power steering _________________ 176
Power-steering fluid ______________ 176
Programming I, ACC ______________ 73
Programming II, ACC _____________ 74
Programming the ACC ____________ 73
QQuestions on function of airbag ______ 26
Quick guide, Audio System _________ 79RRadio __________________________ 82
Rear fog light ____________________ 62
Rear seat, 9-5 Sedan, folding ______ 116
Rear seat, 9-5 Wagon, folding ______ 119
Rear-seat head restraints _________ 105
Rear-view mirror, antidazzle _______ 109
Rearview mirrors ________________ 108
Reclamation ___________________ 213
Refuelling _____________________ 134
Relay panel ____________________ 195
Remote control __________________ 32
Remote-control battery, changing ____ 35
Reporting safety defects __________ 220
Reprogramming of systems _______ 237
Reservoir, power-steering fluid _____ 176
Rev counter _____________________ 52
Reversing lights __________________ 63Roof load ______________________ 155
Running-in _____________________ 149
SSID ____________________________ 54
SRS (airbag) ____________________ 23
SRS, supplementary restraint system _ 23
Saab 9-5 Audio System ____________ 77
Saab Information Display (SID) ______ 54
Safety belts _____________________ 12
Safety belts, care of ______________ 207
Safety-belt pretensioners ___________ 12
Safety-belt reminder ______________ 12
Seats _________________________ 102
Securing a load __________________ 36
Selector lever indication,
automatic transmission ___________ 54
Service costs ___________________ 219
Service information ______________ 220
Service intervals ________________ 218
Service record retention __________ 219
Settings, seats __________________ 102
Side airbags _____________________ 28
Signalling, horn _________________ 107
Sliding floor, 9-5 Wagon __________ 124
Snow chains ___________________ 150
Spare wheel ____________________ 202
Spare wheel and tools ____________ 126
Spark plugs ____________________ 230
Speed rating ___________________ 198
Speedometer _________________ 52, 53
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