Page 54 of 256

54 Instruments and controlsCheck fuse 15 (radiator fan) in the fuse
panel under the hood, see page 196.
If the needle repeatedly enters the red zone,
stop the car as soon as it is safe to do so and
check the coolant level by looking at the
level visible through the plastic tank - do not
remove the cap.
If the coolant level falls below the MIN mark,
the SID will display the message ”FILL
COOLANT FLUID”.
Selector lever indication
(Automatic transmission) The position of the selector lever is indi-
cated on the main instrument panel.
Trip computer SID (Saab Information Display (SID) The SID displays CHECK messages and
has eight trip-computer functions (Saab Car
Computer, SCC)
The SID display is also used by the Audio
System.
NOTEIf the needle, despite the above action,
enters the red zone, stop the car immedi-
ately, let the engine idle.
If the needle stays in the red zone, stop
the engine.
WARNING
Never open the cap of the expansion tank
completely when the engine is hot, open
with care. The over-pressure in the cool-
ing-system can cause hot coolant and
steam to be released.
WARNING
It is strongly recommended that the SID
settings be changed only when the car is
stationary. The driver’s attention can oth-
erwise easily be distracted from the road.
IB1280
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Page 165 of 256

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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Page 166 of 256
166 Car care and technical informationHood release handleThe hood release handle is located under-
neath the instrument panel. To open the
hood:
1 Pull the release handle.
2 The front of the hood will now spring up,
providing access to the secondary
safety catch.
3 Push the catch upwards, lifting the hood
at the same time. The hood can now be
lifted right up.
To close the hood, release it from a height
of about 8 in (20 cm). Do not press down on
it.
In cold weather, when the mechanism is
stiff, the hood might need to be released
from twice the height to lock properly.
Check that the hood is now closed securely.
WARNING
Make sure not to hold your fingers
between the hood and the hood safety
catch if you lay the hood down but not
closing it.
IB487
IB486
Hood release handle Hood secondary safety catch
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Page 174 of 256

174 Car care and technical informationCoolant The expansion tank is transparent to facili-
tate checking of the coolant level.
When the engine is cold, the coolant must
not lie over the KALT/COLD mark on the
expansion tank.
If the message “FILL COOLANT FLUID” is
displayed on the SID, check the level of fluid
in the expansion tank.
Top up, as necessary, with equal parts of
clean water and Saab-approved coolant.
If the expansion tank is empty when coolant
is added, run the engine to normal temper-
ature and top up again, as necessary.
Coolant The cooling system is charged at the factory
with coolant containing a 50% concentra-
tion of a combined antifreeze and corrosion
inhibitor. A weaker mixture will result in
reduced anticorrosion protection. For pro-
tection against freezing in very cold
weather, a stronger concentration will be
needed.
A 60% concentration of antifreeze will pro-
vide protection at temperatures down to
-58 F (-50°C).The corrosion-inhibiting properties of the
coolant deteriorate over time, but
Saab-approved coolant can be used for
year-round protection. Change the coolant
as specified in the service program and use
only Saab-approved coolant – other makes
may need changing more frequently and
may damage the system.
WARNING
Proceed with caution if the radiator is
boiling when you open the hood.
Never remove the expansion-tank
filler cap when the radiator is boiling.
Loosen the cap carefully, and let the
engine cool before removing the cap.
The cooling system is pressurized –
hot coolant and vapor can escape
when the filler cap is released.
NOTEAlways mix the antifreeze with the
appropriate volume of water before
adding it to the cooling system.
If pure antifreeze is added, the engine
could still freeze and be damaged. This is
because the antifreeze will not mix
properly with the coolant before the
thermostat has opened to allow full
circulation.
IB1338
Coolant expansion tank
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