8
Battery
Contains corrosive sulfuric acid (40%)
FLAMMABLE GASES formed when car running and during charging
of battery
Always wear eye protection when working on the battery
Smoking, open flames and sparks can all cause battery to explode
See Owner’s Manual before using jump leads
Battery acid can cause SERIOUS BURNS
Keep battery upright
Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothing
If contact made with acid, flush affected area with water and seek med-
ical help
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN Brake fluid
CLEAN FILLER CAP BEFORE
REMOVING. USE ONLY DOT 4
FLUID FROM SEALED CON-
TAINER. Radiator fan
The radiator fan can cut in even
after engine has been switched
off.
WL2
IB336
Drive belt
Danger! Moving belt
WL3
A/C system
Refrigerant at high pressure.
Always drain the A/C system before undoing any connections. Failure to
follow prescribed procedures can result in injury. System to be serviced by
authorized personnel only. See Workshop Service Manual for correct pro-
cedures.
The A/C system complies with SAE J639.
Refrigerant: 875 g of R134a.
Refrigeration oil: 145 cc of PAG ND-8 oil or Saab 4319752 SK 20 oil
Warning labels
IB1081
WL35
Do not loosen or remove the A/C system fitting
before charging the A/C system. Improper
servicing methods may cause personal injury.SYSTEM TO BE SERVICED BY QUALIFIED PERSONNELONLY. for instructions consult workshop manual.
The A/C system complies with SAE J639
Ne pas desserrer les connexions du systeme A/C
avant l’evacuation du refrigerant. Une methode
de service erronee peut causes des lesions.L’ENTRETIEN DOIT ETRE FAIT PAR UN PERSONNALQUALIFIE. Consulter le manuel de service.
ca systeme eat conforme a la norme SAE J639
Manufactured by SAAB Automobile AB, Trollhatten, Sweden
4756961
Charge: 875 g R134a
Compressor oil:
145cc PAG oil ND-8 alt
SAAB oil 4319752
SK-20
Charge: 875 g R134a
Muile de compresseur
145cc PAG oil ND-8 ou
SAAB oil 4319752
SK-20
R134a
WARNING
Refrigerant under high pressure
ATTENTION
Refrigerant sous haute pression
WL36
NO SMOKING
AVOID SPARKS AND NAKED FLAMES
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
SEE OWNER’S MANUAL
WEAR EYE PROTECTION
FLAMMABLE GAS
ACID
ProCarManuals.com
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
ProCarManuals.com
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
ProCarManuals.com
175 Car care and technical information
Changing the coolant (Usually carried out as part of the Saab orig-
inal service by an authorized Saab dealer)
1 If the engine is hot, open the expan-
sion-tank filler cap carefully to release
the pressure, but do not remove it com-
pletely. Place a suitable receptacle
under the radiator and undo the drain-
cock.
2 Remove the filler cap on the expansion
tank.
3 The system takes about two minutes to
drain. Close the draincock.
4 Mix the antifreeze and water to the
required strength in a suitable container.
Use only Saab-approved coolant.
5 Add the coolant slowly to the expansion
tank. This will take about two minutes,
as the air needs time to escape.
6 Screw on the filler cap and fully tighten
the drain cook. Run the engine to normal
temperature. Top up the coolant, as nec-
essary, until the level is just below the
MAX mark on the tank.
7 Check the coolant again after a few days
and top up as necessary.
Brake and clutch fluid Checking the fluid level The combined brake and clutch-fluid reser-
voir is transparent to facilitate checking of
the fluid level.
WARNING
Brake fluid deteriorates as it becomes
old. Because it is hygroscopic, it absorbs
water from the air and, in time, could allow
vapor to form in the brake system, thus
reducing its performance. It is therefore
important that brake fluid be changed reg-
ularly, as specified in the service pro-
gram.
IB498
Radiator draincock
IB1188
Brake and clutch-fluid reservoir
ProCarManuals.com
206 Car care and technical informationFlat spottingAll tires get hot, especially on long journeys
or when the car is driven hard. After the car
has been parked with hot tires and the tires
have cooled down, a flat spot can appear in
the tire, where it is in contact with the
ground. The same can occur if the car has
not been moved for a long time.
Flat spots can give rise to vibration that can
be felt through the steering wheel, similar to
that experienced when the wheels need bal-
ancing. Flat spots of this type disappear
once the tires get hot again, usually after
10–15 miles (20–25 km) of driving at cruis-
ing speed.
Air conditioning
(A/C system)
Fault diagnosis If a fault occurs in the A/C system, there are
a number of checks you can perform your-
self. If the fault persists, however, have the
system checked by an authorized Saab
dealer.
Important!
When the A/C system is running, the intake
air is dehumidified, and the resultant con-
densation is drained off through two outlets
underneath the floor of the car in the vicinity
of the front doors. It is therefore perfectly
normal for water to be seen dripping from
these outlets when the car is parked. The
warmer the ambient air and the higher the
humidity, the greater will be the amount of
condensation formed.
Inadequate cooling:
a Make sure that the temperature and
air-distribution controls are in the
appropriate settings.
b Check that the condenser (forward of
the radiator) has not become clogged
with dirt and insects.
c Make sure that the drive belt for the com-
pressor is not slipping.
d Check the fuses for the ventilation fans
and compressor.
NOTE The A/C system is designed for use
with R134a refrigerant.
Refrigerant handling requires special
equipment and special procedures for
charging and draining the system.
All repairs and adjustments on the A/C
system must be carried out by a Saab
dealer authorized for this kind of work.
Never mix R134a and R12 refriger-
ants.
WARNING
The A/C system is pressurized. Do not
break any connections or undo A/C
system components.
Escaping gas can cause blindness or
other injury.
ProCarManuals.com
207 Car care and technical information
Maintenance The drive belt for the compressor should
be inspected under the regular service
program.
Clean dirt and insects away from the con-
denser and radiator to prevent clogging.
When washing the car, use the hose to
spray the radiator and condenser (located
forward of the radiator) from both sides
(both from the front of the car and from
inside the engine bay). Do not use a pres-
sure washer.
Caution: Do not use the hose when the
engine is hot.Other than in extremely cold weather, do not
screen the radiator, e.g. with netting, as this
will greatly diminish its cooling capacity.
Note: The A/C system will only operate
when the outdoor temperature is above the
freezing point (0°C, 32°F).
Safety beltsRegularly check the function of the safety
belts as follows:
Hold the diagonal strap and pull it sharply.
The safety belt should lock and it should
not be possible to withdraw it further.
Check the anchorage points in the floor.
They must not have suffered rust damage.
There must be no frayed threads in the web-
bing.
Safety belts must not come into contact with
substances such as polishes, oils or other
chemicals. If the straps are dirty, wash them
with warm water and a detergent or have
them replaced.
WARNING
If the car is involved in a collision, the
safety belts, belt pretensioners and other
components must be inspected by an
authorized Saab dealer.
Never make any alterations or repairs to
the safety belt yourself but visit an autho-
rized Saab dealer.
ProCarManuals.com