2Introduction This manual provides practical guidance on
driving and caring for your Saab.
The Saab 9-5 is available with the following
engine variants:
2.3t Ecopower.
2.3 Turbo Ecopower.
3.0t Ecopower.
Although the manual describes the most
important differences between model vari-
ants, it does not include precise specifica-
tions of the different variants. Some differ-
ences also occur to meet special legal
requirements in different countries.
Importation and distribution of Saab auto-
mobiles, spare parts and accessories are
handled exclusively by General Motors of
Canada Limited in Canada and by Saab
Cars USA, Inc. in the U.S.A.We recommend that you read through the
manual before taking the car out for the first
time and that you keep it in the car for future
reference.
To find a specific item, use the overviews
given on pages 3-7. A list of contents is
given at the beginning of each section of the
manual, and there is also a comprehensive
index at the back of the book.
Supplied with the car is a Warranties and
Service Record booklet and a tire warranty
folder which specifies the regular mainte-
nance to be carried out. The book also con-
tains important warranty conditions. Since the policy at Saab is one of continual
improvement, we retain the right to incorpo-
rate modifications and to alter specifications
during production without prior notice.
If you have any queries concerning your car,
its equipment, the warranty conditions or
the like, your Saab dealer will be pleased to
help.
Best wishes,
Saab Automobile AB
The fitting of accessories that are not approved
by Saab Automobile AB can damage other parts
of the car.
The specifications, design particulars and illus-
trations included in the manual are not binding.
WARNING
WARNING texts warn against the danger
of injury if the specified instructions are
not followed.
NOTENOTE texts warn of potential damage to
the car if the recommendations are not
followed.
IB337
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3
Instrument panel
IB1080
Indicator and warning lights ______ 46
Speedometer _________________ 53
Odometer and trip meter ________ 52
Fuel gauge __________________ 53
Engine temperature gauge ______ 53
Parking lights ____________ 61
High/low beam __________ 61
Daytime running lights _____ 61
Rear fog light ____________ 62
Instrument illumination _____ 62
Changing bulbs _________ 182High/low beam control stalk 61
Turn signal and lane change
indicator _______________ 62
Cruise control __________ 145Front fog lights ___________ 63
Ashtrays ___________________ 112
Cigarette lighter ______________ 112
Tr i p c o m p u t e r
(Saab Information Display, SID) __ 54
Night panel __________________ 59
Clock _______________________ 60
Traction Control (TCS) Switch 51, 147
Wipers and washers ______ 65
Washer fluid ___________ 180
Replacing wiper blades __ 180Audio system ___________ 77
Steering-wheel controls____ 94Hazard warning lights _____ 63Climate control system:
automatic _____________ 67
Air conditioning: simple
fault diagnosis _________ 206
Seat heating controls __________ 106
Ventilated front seats ___________ 105Audio system steering-wheel
controls ________________ 94
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6Engine compartment,
4-cyl engine
IB583
Engine: description ___________ 170
Engine oil level: checking ______ 171
Engine oil: changing __________ 172
Engine oil specification ________ 229
Brakes and braking ___________ 146
ABS brakes _________________ 146
Brake system ________________ 175
Brake fluid __________________ 233
Brake pads __________________ 233
Fuse panels ___________ 192
Changing a fuse ________ 192
Table of fuses __________ 194
Relays _______________ 195Temperature gauge ______ 53
Driving in hot weather ____ 151
Driving in winter_________ 150
Coolant:
checking/changing __ 174 / 175
Cooling-system capacity _ 228
Power steering __________ 176
Steering fluid: grade _____ 176
Wiper/washer control stalk _ 65
Washer fluid: topping-up __ 181
Washer jets ___________ 181
Jump starting ________________ 177
Battery _____________________ 177
Battery charge _______________ 177
Manual transmission __________ 137
Automatic transmission ________ 138
Manual transmission oil ________ 232
Automatic-transmission fluid ____ 232
Important considerations
for driving ___________________ 132
Turbo unit ___________________ 167
Engine: technical data __________ 228Ignition system _________ 130
Drive belts _____________ 179
Spark plugs ____________ 230
Catalytic converter ______ 133Warning labels ___________ 8
V.I.N. number __________ 235
Engine number _________ 235
Gearbox number ________ 235
Color code _____________ 235
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7
Engine compartment,
6-cyl engine
IB585
Warning labels ___________ 8
V.I.N. number __________ 235
Engine number _________ 235
Gearbox number ________ 235
Color code _____________ 235Ignition system _________ 130
Drive belts _____________ 179
Spark plugs ____________ 230
Catalytic converter ______ 133Important considerations
for driving ___________________ 132
Turbo unit ___________________ 167
Engine: technical data __________ 228
Automatic transmission ________ 138
Automatic-transmission fluid ____ 232
Brakes and braking ___________ 146
ABS brakes _________________ 146
Brake system ________________ 175
Brake fluid __________________ 233
Brake pads __________________ 233Jump starting ________________ 177
Battery _____________________ 177
Battery charge _______________ 177
Fuse panels ___________ 192
Changing a fuse ________ 192
Table of fuses __________ 194
Relays _______________ 195Engine temperature gauge _ 53
Driving in hot weather ____ 151
Driving in cold climate ____ 150
Coolant:
checking/changing _ 174 / 175
Cooling-system capacity _ 228
Power steering _________ 176
Steering fluid: grade _____ 176
Wiper/washer control stalk _ 65
Washer fluid: topping-up __ 181
Washer jets ___________ 181
Engine: description ___________ 170
Engine oil level: checking ______ 171
Engine oil: changing __________ 172
Engine oil specification ________ 229
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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
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9
IB336
AIR BAG
WARNING
Flip visor overWARNING
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur.
Children 12 and under can be killed by the air bag.
The BACK SEAT is the SAFEST place for children.
NEVER put a rear-facing child seat in the front.
Sit as far back as possible from the air bag.
ALWAYS use SEAT BELTS and CHILD RESTAINTS.
50 10 111IB1195
CANADA
USAUSACANADA
Door mirrors
Do not trap
your fingers
when folding
out the mirrors
Door mirrors
Do not trap
your fingers
when folding
out the mirrors
WL26Child security lock
Locked.
The door can only be
opened from outside.
Safety catch (9-5 Wagon)
Locked
The tailgate cannot be
opened from the inside.
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12 SafetySafety belts Three-point inertia-reel safety belts are pro-
vided for all seats.
Research has established that it is danger-
ous for rear-seat passengers not to wear
their safety belts.
Otherwise, in the event of an accident, the
rear-seat passengers can be thrown for-
ward against the front-seat backrests,
imposing much higher stresses on the
front-seat passengers and belts and result-
ing in needless injury to everyone in the car. Bear in mind that in certain states it is a legal
requirement for all occupants of the car to
wear a seat belt.
Safety-belt reminderWhen the ignition is switched on, the ”fasten
belts” reminder will light up until the driver or
front-seat passenger are wearing their
belts. In addition an audible signal sounds
for 6 seconds, or until the driver fastens his
belt.
Safety-belt pretensionersThe belts of the front seats are fitted with
automatic pretensioners, which are acti-
vated in the event of a severe frontal colli-
sion or very violent rear-end collision. They
serve to reduce the forward movement of
the body by tensioning the belt.
The belt pretensioners do not activate in
less severe frontal collisions, nor to side col-
lisions, or rollovers.
WARNING
Safety belts must be worn at all times by
all car occupants.
Child safety, see page 18.
Check that the locking tongue is properly
locked in the belt lock (see page 17).
The A-pillar area (area beside the wind-
shield) and the headlining of your Saab
contain padding designed to reduce head
injuries. No modifications to these areas
should be made unless done so by your
authorized Saab dealer.
WARNING
Adjustments of the safety belt should be
done when the car is stationary so that
attention to traffic is not reduced.
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 and replaced as
necessary.
Never make any alterations or repairs to
the safety belt yourself but visit an autho-
rized Saab dealer.
IB409
FASTEN BELTS
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13 Safety
Correct position for safety belt The lap portion of the belt should be
pulled as tightly as comfortable and as
low as possible across the hips, so that it
is just touching the top of the thighs. The
shoulder belt should be well in on the
shoulder but not touching the neck.
Check to ensure that the belt is not twisted
or rubbing against any sharp edges.
There should not be any slack in the belt.
Pull the belt tight – particularly important
when thick outer clothing is worn. Refrain from tilting the backrest more than
necessary, as the safety belt provides
better protection when the seat is in the
more upright position.
Only one person per safety belt! For most of the time a safety belt is worn,
the retractor will allow the wearer freedom
of movement. The retractor locks up auto-
matically if the belt is jerked or withdrawn
sharply, the car tilts, the brakes are
applied hard or a collision occurs.
Children who have grown out of a child
seat should be restrained by the car’s
standard three-point belts. Make sure that
the shoulder belt is not in contact with the
neck or throat. If it is, a booster seat/cush-
ion may be necessary.
WARNING
Proper positioning of the safety belt is
extremely important. An out of position
safety belt can result in the wearer sliding
underneath the belt in a collision (subma-
rining) and injury can result from the lap
portion cutting into the abdomen.
WARNING
If two people share a belt, they risk injury
by being crushed together in the event of
an accident.
WARNING
Never fasten the safety belt with the
shoulder belt behind the body or pull the
belt off the shoulder and under the arm.
IB410
Correctly positioned safety belt
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