2000 SAAB 9-5 towing

4Exterior
IB580
Roof-rack load _______________ 155
Mounting holes for roof rack ____ 155
Maximum loads ______________ 226
Rearview mirrors _____________ 108
Hood ______________________ 166
Engine compartment: washing __ 210
Central lock ____________ 32
Interior locking buttons ____ 34
Child safety lock catch ____ 35
Trunk/tailgate lid lock _____ 36
Car alarm (anti-theft alarm) 38Front lights _____________ 61
Headlight switch _________ 61
High/low beam
control stalk ____________ 61
Direction indicators _______ 62
Headlamp wipers ________ 65
Changing bulbs ________ 182
Fuel gauge __________________ 53
Fuel filler flap ________________ 134
Refueling ___________________ 134
Fuel economy _______________ 149
Fuel grade __________________ 228
Brakes and braking ___________ 146
Winter driving ________________ 150
Wheels and tires _____________ 198
Wheel changing ______________ 203
Spare wheel _________________ 154
Wheel and tire specifications ____ 233
Luggage compartment _________ 116
Folding down the rear seat,
9-5 Sedan ___________________ 116
Folding down the rear seat,
9-5 Wagon __________________ 119
Trunk _______________________ 116
Tool kit ______________________ 126
Spare wheel _____________ 126, 154
Jack ________________________ 203Driving with a trailer ______ 152
Towing ________________ 158
Towrope attachment eyes _ 158Light switches ___________ 61
Changing bulbs _________ 182
 Tail lights _____________ 185
 Stop lights ____________ 185Sunroof _______________ 111
Washing the car ________ 209
Waxing and polishing ____ 209
Touching-up of paintwork _ 211
Anticorrosion treatment ___ 211
Service program_________ 221
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109 Interior equipment and trunk
Cars equipped with a programmable
driver’s seat also have a facility for angling
the nearside mirror down on reversing, e.g.
for a better view of the curb.
After selecting reverse, press the tiny button
adjacent to the door-mirror switch to tilt the
mirror. The mirror will be reset automatically
when reverse gear is deselected.
Rear-view mirror with auto dimming
function (option)The interior rear-view mirror has two sen-
sors, one forward-facing and one rear-fac-
ing.
The system is activated when the for-
ward-facing sensor detects that it is dark
outside.
The rear-facing sensor detects, for exam-
ple, if the car following has not dimmed its
headlights. The rear-view mirror is then
darkened to prevent the strong light source
from dazzling the driver. This darkening is
stepless.
The mirror returns to its normal state when
the strong light source diminishes.
The auto dimming function can be turned
OFF with the switch on the lower edge of the
rear-view mirror.
The system is turned off when reverse gear
is engaged or selected.
Towing a trailer can cause the system to
malfunction, as the rear-facing sensor may
then be directed at the trailer.
IB568
Button for angling nearside mirror down
on reversing
IB1284
1
23
1 Forward-facing sensor
2 ON/OFF switch, auto dimming function
3 Rear-facing sensor
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129 Starting and driving
Starting and driving
IB597
Ignition switch ................. 130
Starting the engine .......... 131
Important considerations
for driving ....................... 132
Refueling .......................... 134
Engine Break-In Period ... 137
Gear changing ................. 137
Cruise control .................. 145
Braking ............................. 146
Traction Control System . 147
Economical motoring ...... 149
Driving in winter .............. 150 Driving in hot weather .... 151
Towing a trailer ................ 152
Driving considerations
with compact spare
wheel/tire fitted .............. 154
Driving with the trunk
lid/tailgate open ............. 154
Driving with a roof rack
load ................................. 155
Driving with a load .......... 157
Towing the car ................. 158
Jump starting .................. 160 Parking brake ................... 162
Parking .............................. 162
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137 Starting and driving
Engine Break-In PeriodPistons, bores and bearings need time to
obtain uniform, wear-resistant surfaces.
If a new engine is driven too hard, this grad-
ual process of bedding-in will not be possi-
ble and the life of the engine will be short-
ened.
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km), do
not exceed 5,000 rpm.
In addition, refrain from driving the car at full
throttle, other than for brief instances,
during the first 1,800 miles (3,000 km). Wearing in new brake padsNew brake pads take time to bed in, about
90 miles (150 km) if the car is driven largely
under stop-and-go conditions or about
300 miles (500 km) of highway driving.
To extend the useful life of the pads, avoid
hard braking as much as possible during
this period.Brake-pad wear indicatorsThe outer brake pads on the front wheels
have acoustic wear-indicators. When 3 mm
remains on the pad, a scraping or screech-
ing noise is heard during braking. The brake
pads should be changed as soon as possi-
ble.
Brake pads should only be replaced by
an authorized Saab dealer.
Gear changingManual gearboxTo start the engine the clutch pedal must
be fully depressed.
The gear positions are marked on the gear
lever. Before reverse (R) can be engaged,
you must lift the ring underneath the
gear-lever knob.
To change gear, fully depress the clutch
pedal and then release it smoothly. It is
inadvisable to drive with your hand resting
on the gear lever, as this can increase the
wear on the gearbox.
When changing down from 5th to 4th gear,
ease the gear lever straight back, without
applying any lateral pressure. This will pre-
vent 2nd gear being engaged by mistake,
which can result in overreving and possible
damage to the engine.
Before engaging reverse, wait till the car is
at a standstill, release the accelerator and
fully depress the clutch. From neutral, press
the gear lever firmly to the right before
easing it back into reverse.
Shift-up indicator for improved fuel
economy (U.S. models only)Cars equipped with a manual transmission
have a "Shift-up" light on the instrument
panel. The light begins to work after the
vehicle is warmed up and provides you with
a good indication when to shift to a higher
gear.
It is not necessary or recommended to
follow the shift-up recommendations in all
driving conditions, for example, when driv-
ing in heavy urban traffic or steep downhill
grades.
However, shifting with the light should result
in improved fuel economy. Therefore, for
reduced fuel consumption and better
energy conservation, you should make a
habit of shifting before or when the shift-up
light comes on.Towing Towing of cars with manual gearbox, see
page 158.
IB471
13
25
R
4
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141 Starting and driving
Overheated transmission fluid If the automatic-transmission fluid should
overheat, the following message will appear
on the SID:
”TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING”. If this
happens, stop the car and wait for the mes-
sage to be extinguished. Continue driving in
a locked gear that produces an engine
speed of about 3,000 rpm.
Overheating of the automatic-transmission
fluid can occur when the car is towing a
heavy load, such as a camping trailer in hilly
country, with the wrong gear selected,
resulting in abnormally frequent gear
changing. Try selecting position 1, 2 or 3.
High ambient temperatures can also
increase the temperature of the transmis-
sion fluid or the oil cooler may be faulty.
Contact an authorized Saab dealer (see
also page 152).
Towing Towing of cars with automatic transmission,
see page 158.
NOTEIf the control module has actuated the
Limp-home function for the automatic
transmission, the car will remain in 4th
gear when D is selected, making it very
sluggish. To overcome this, move the
selector lever to position 2.
WARNING
Remember to use engine-braking (selec-
tor position 1, 2, or 3) to spare the brakes
when you are driving on a long or steep
downhill slope. Select the same gear as
you would on the corresponding uphill
slope.
Brake failure can result from overheated
brakes!
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149 Starting and driving
Economical motoringFactors affecting fuel consumption Fuel consumption is greatly affected by the
general driving conditions, the way in which
the car is driven and at what speeds, the
weather, the state of the road, the condition
of the car, etc. Breaking-in Fuel consumption may be somewhat higher
during the break-in period (the first 3,000–
4,000 miles (5,000–7,000 km) than stated
under ”Technical data”.
Weather conditions Fuel consumption can be as much as 10 %
lower in summer than in winter. The higher
consumption in cold weather is explained by
the longer time it takes for the engine to
reach normal operating temperature, and
for the transmission and wheel bearings to
warm up. Fuel economy is also affected by
the distance driven: short journeys of
3-5 miles (5-8 km) do not give the engine
enough time to reach normal temperature.
Strong winds can also affect fuel consump-
tion.
How to read the graph on the right:
If fuel consumption with the engine at
normal temperature is 28 mpg
(10l/100 km), the actual fuel consumption 3
miles (5 km) after the engine has started
from cold will be:
– 23.5 mpg (12l/100 km) at outside temp.
of 68°F (20°C) (increase of 20%).
– 17.7 mpg (16l/100 km) at outside temp.
of 32°F (0°C) (increase of 60%).
– 14 mpg (20l/100 km)) at outside temp. of
–4°F (–20°C) (increase of 100%).
As can be seen, both the distance travelled
by the car and the outside temperature have
a major impact on fuel consumption after
the engine has started from cold. Thus, if the
car is mainly used for short journeys of
3–5 miles (5–8 km), the fuel consumption
will be 60–80 % higher than normal.
Driving technique To obtain the best running economy, not
only regarding fuel consumption but gen-
eral wear also, regular service is required.
 High speed, unnecessary acceleration,
heavy braking and much low gear work all
gives rise to higher fuel consumption.
 Frequent gear changing in traffic, starting
in cold weather, the use of studded tires
and roof racks, and towing a trailer all
increase fuel consumption.
 Do not run the engine when the car is sta-
tionary.
IB311
Percentage increase in fuel consumption
of engine starting from cold compared to
engine at normal temperature.
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152 Starting and driving3 As soon as possible, have the cooling
system checked by an authorized Saab
dealer.
Towing a trailerTrailer hitch attachmentTrailer hitch attachments are available as
accessories. These are designed for a max-
imum trailer weight of 2000 lbs. (900 kg).
Use only the electrical trailer hitch socket
provided in the spare wheel area in the lug-
gage compartment for connecting the trailer
electrics.
Trailer weightMaximum recommended trailer weights for
different gradients, with a view to comfort
and drivability for manual and automatic
cars, are shown on the drawing.
Make sure you are familiar with the law
regarding speed limits for towing, maxi-
mum trailer weights, trailer-braking
requirements, and also any special
driving-licence provisions
(see also page 227).
The specified trailer weights and gradients
assume that the journey starts at the hill and
therefore apply only to short periods.
WARNING
Always undo the expansion tank filler cap
carefully, releasing the pressure and any
vapor before removing the cap com-
pletely.
NOTEUse only a genuine Saab trailer hitch,
since other models can damage the car’s
bodywork and electrical system (or in
Canada, a high quality hitch designed to
fit the car, available from a trailer hitch
specialist).
Consult an authorized Saab dealer for
guidance on how to connect the trailer
hitch electrical system.
WARNING
When towing a trailer, do not attempt to
negotiate a hill having a gradient in
excess of 15%. The weight distribution
over the front wheels of the car will be
insufficient to prevent wheelspin, making
further progress impossible.
In addition, the parking brake may not
always be able to hold the car and trailer
securely, with the result that the wheels
can start to slide downhill.
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153 Starting and driving
Recommendations for cars with auto-
matic transmission.
The following time limits are based on the
capacity of the cooling system in warm
weather, i.e. approximately 104°F (40°C).
When negotiating long hills, bear the follow-
ing important considerations in mind:
If TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING
appears on the SID, stop the car as soon as
it is safe to do so and wait until the warning
has been extinguished. When continuing
your journey, select a locked gear (1, 2 or 3)
that will allow you to drive at an engine
speed of about 3,000 rpm (see page 142).
Do not drive continuously with the WINTER
mode selected in hilly country when you are
towing a trailer, as this will increase fuel con-
sumption and risk overheating the transmis-
sion.
Trailer hitch loadThe weight distribution on the trailer makes
a lot of difference to the handling properties
of the car and trailer combination. As
regards single-axle trailers, whenever pos-
sible, concentrate the load over the wheels
and keep it as low as possible.
The trailer should be loaded so that the
maximum load on the towbar ball is 5% to
7% of the trailer weight with a maximum per-
missible tongue weight of 165 lbs. (75 kg).
Note that this load must be added to the total
load for the car. If this now exceeds the
specified load capacity, the load in the lug-
gage compartment will have to be reduced
by a corresponding amount. Driving considerations Always take extra care when towing a
trailer, as the car’s handling will be different
and its braking effect reduced. The trailer’s
braking system and suspension also have a
considerable effect on these characteris-
tics.
If the car is equipped with automatic trans-
mission, select position 1 when ascending
or descending steep hills. Gradient
of hill, % Maximum
trailer
weight, lbs.
(kg)Maximum dura-
tion, minutes
6-7 2000 (900) unlimited
8-9 2000 (900) 15 max
10-15 1000 (450) 15 max. NOTEIf the “Fault indicator, automatic trans-
mission” indicator comes on, cease
towing until the problem has been recti-
fied.
IB106
Distribution of load in trailer a Light
b Moderate
cHeavy
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