2001 SAAB 9-3 sensor

66 Instruments and controlsInstruments TachometerThe tachometer indicates the engine speed
in thousands of revolutions per minute. The
needle may be allowed to enter the broken
red zone on the dial only for an instant.
A safety cut-out function (in the fuel system)
prevents the engine speed exceeding
approximately 6,200 rpm (2.0 Turbo) and
6,400 rpm (2.3 Turbo).
Odometer and trip meterThe odometer records the distance trav-
elled in miles on U.S. vehicles and on Cana-
dian vehicles the distance indicated is in
kilometres, and the trip meter in miles and
tenths (kilometres and tenths of kilometres
on Canadian vehicles). Reset button The button is located close to the right of the
odometer and trip meter in the main instru-
ment panel.
The reset button has two functions, deter-
mined by whether the ignition is ON or OFF.
 When the ignition is ON, the button will
reset the trip meter.
 When the ignition is OFF, the button will
bring up the display for 20 seconds to
allow the odometer and trip-meter read-
ings to be viewed.
Speedometer (U.S. speedometer
shown)The speedometer receives signals from a
wheel sensor in the ABS system.
If the NIGHT PANEL mode has been
selected, the scale will be illuminated up to
87 mph (140 km/h). The remainder of the
scale will be illuminated if the speed of the
car exceeds 84 mph (135 km/h).
IB340
IB341
IB606
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85 Instruments and controls
The system uses five sensors:
 Outside-air temperature.
 Cabin-air temperature.
 Sun sensor.
 Blended-air temperature (located in the
heater unit).
 Coolant temperature.
The sun sensor is centrally located on the
dashboard panel between the defroster
nozzles. Note that if anything is placed over
the sun sensor the ACC system will not
function properly.
Condensation water When the A/C compressor is on, the incom-
ing air is dehumidified. The resulting con-
densation water is drained away through an
outlet under the car.
It is therefore perfectly normal for water to
be seen dripping from this outlet when the
car is parked. The warmer the ambient air
and the higher the humidity, the more con-
densation will form.
IB763
1 Sun sensor
2 Interior-temperature sensor
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92 Instruments and controlsUseful tips: If the ACC system is not functioning
satisfactorily the following should be tried
before you take the car to an authorized
Saab dealer.
 If the indication AUTO does not light up
after starting (the ignition must have been
switched off for at least 10 minutes): See
“Cancelling program I”, page 90.
 If you think that the ACC system is not
functioning satisfactorily you should:
1 Check that the cigarette lighter plug is in
its socket (since if the socket is empty
heated air can flow out and affect the
cabin sensor).
2 Recalibrate: See the section headed
Calibration, page 90.
 If the battery has been disconnected or
has died, the ACC system should be reca-
librated: See Calibration, pag 90.
Programmed settings are not deleted if the
battery has been disconnected. Extinguishing the lighting in ACC See section Night panel, page 73.
ACC - 9-3 Convertible When the soft top is folded down the ACC
system goes over to manual temperature
setting.
Between HI and LO there are eleven (0-10)
fixed temperature steps.
The system adjusts itself as follows
 AUTO is turned off.
 Heating, air distribution and fan speed are
not affected.
 Recirculation and electric rear window
are turned off.
 A/C assumes the same setting (ON/OFF)
as it had when the soft top was last folded
down.
All manual selections are possible with the
exception of electric rear window.
Saab recommends leaving the ACC setting
on ECON when the soft top is folded down
to improve fuel economy and unnecessary
running of the A/C compressor.
When the soft top is raised the system
reverts to the AUTO mode and the previous
set temperature.
Fault diagnosis and care of A/C sys-
tem, see page 232.
IB795
ACC display with soft top folded down
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156 Starting and driving
Important considerations with cata-
lytic convertersThe catalytic converter is an emission-con-
trol device incorporated in the car’s exhaust
system. It consists of a metal canister with a
honeycomb insert, the cells of which have
walls coated in a catalytic layer (mixture of
precious metals).
To ensure that the catalytic converter con-
tinues to function properly, and also to avoid
damage to the converter and its associated
components, the following points must be
observed:
 Have the car serviced regularly in accor-
dance with the service program. The fuel
and ignition systems are particularly
important in this context.
 Always be alert to any misfiring of the
engine (not running on all cylinders) and
any loss of power or performance. At the
first sign of a malfunction, reduce speed
and take the car to an authorized Saab
dealer as soon as possible. If the engine fails to start (in very cold
weather or if the battery is dead), the car
can be push started (manual gearbox
only) or started using jumper cables to a
donor battery. However, as soon as you
have started the engine, it is important
that it runs on all cylinders. If it is misfiring,
allow it to idle for up to five minutes to give
it time to settle and run smoothly. If, after
this time, the engine still fails to run prop-
erly, turn off the engine and get in touch
with an authorized Saab dealer for
advice.
NOTEIf the CHECK ENGINE warning light
starts to flash, ease off the accelerator
slightly. If the light does not cease to flash
within 5 seconds, stop the car in a suita-
ble place as soon as possible and turn off
the engine. The car must be towed to an
authorized Saab dealer.
If the CHECK ENGINE warning light
flashes, it indicates that the engine is
misfiring which can result in damage to
the catalytic converter.
NOTEUse only unleaded gasoline. Leaded gas-
oline is detrimental to the catalyst and
oxygen sensor and will seriously impair
the function of the catalytic converter.
IB1315
Engine-management system with catalytic
converter 1 Engine control module
2 Oxygen sensor (lambda probe)
3 Catalytic converter
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171 Starting and driving
ABS brakes ABS (Antilock Braking System) modulates
the brake pressure to the respective
wheels. Wheel sensors detect if a wheel is
about to lock, and the control module
reduces the pressure to that wheel and then
increases it once more until the tendency is
detected again.
The brake system is equipped with an Elec-
tronic Brake-force Distribution device
(EBD), which distributes the brake pressure
between the front and rear wheels in such a
way as to achieve optimum braking perfor-
mance regardless of the car’s speed and
load.
The ABS system has a built-in diagnostic
function which will switch on the ABS warn-
ing light if a fault is detected in the system
(see page 62). The ABS system will not reduce the braking
distance on loose gravel or on snow or ice
but, because the wheels cannot lock up,
some steering control is retained.
When the ABS system is working, i.e. mod-
ulation of the brake pressure is in progress,
the brake pedal will pulsate and a ticking
noise will be heard. All this is perfectly nor-
mal.
Press the pedal down hard (you cannot
press too hard) and steer the car to safety. Do not release the brake pedal before the
car has come to a halt or the danger is
past!
This is critical.
If the road is slippery, the ABS system will
operate even when only light pressure is
applied to the pedal. This means that you
can brake gently to test the condition of the
road and adapt your driving accordingly.
It is well worth practising the use of ABS
brakes on a skid pad or other suitable facil-
ity.
WARNING
 The additional safety afforded by the
ABS system is not designed to allow
drivers to drive faster but to make
normal driving safer.
 To stop as quickly as possible, without
loss of directional stability, whether
the road surface is dry, wet or slippery,
press the brake pedal down hard
without letting up (do not pump the
pedal), declutching simulta-
neously, and steer the car to safety.
IB877
ABS braking - confirmation that the sys-
tem is operating
IB878
Braking with ABS - evasive steering
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172 Starting and drivingTraction Control SystemHow the system works The traction control system (TCS) is
designed to prevent wheelspin. This
enables the car to achieve the best possible
grip and, hence, maximum tractive effort,
together with greater stability.
The TCS system uses information from the
ABS system’s wheel sensors to detect
when the front (driving) wheels are rotating
faster then the rear wheels. It then monitors
whether one driving wheel is rotating faster
than the other. If so, the faster wheel is
retarded until both wheels are rotating at the
same speed.
If the two front wheels are rotating at the
same speed but are turning faster than the
rear wheels, the torque from the engine is
reduced to eliminate the difference.
The process continues until all the wheels
are rotating at the same speed. The advantages of the TCS system become
most apparent when the cohesion between
the front wheels and the road surface is so
low that one or both of the wheels would
lose their grip were the car not equipped
with the TCS, e.g.:
 When the car is pulling away or accelerat-
ing with the front wheels on different sur-
faces (e.g. one slippery and one dry). The
TCS then functions like an electronic dif-
ferential lock.
 When the car is pulling away or accelerat-
ing on a slippery road, in which case the
TCS eliminates wheelspin. The same
applies when the car is reversing.
 On cornering, if there is a tendency for the
inner front wheel to rotate faster than the
other wheels.
 On overtaking.
TCS OFF The TCS OFF indicator on the main instru-
ment panel will come on:
 If a fault has been detected and the
system has therefore been switched off.
 If there is a fault in the ABS system.
 If the system has been switched off man-
ually.
The indicator light will also come on for
4 seconds when the ignition key is turned to
ON, while an internal system check is per-
formed. TCS indicator The indicator light will come on for
4 seconds when the ignition key is turned to
ON, while an internal system check is per-
formed.
The TCS light in the tachometer comes on
when the system is operative, i.e. when the
wheels are not rotating at the same speed.
The fact that the TCS system is operative
indicates that the limit for grip has been
exceeded and that the driver must exert
greater care.
WARNING
In normal driving, the TCS system
enhances the safety of the car, but it
does not mean that the car can be driven
faster. The same care and prudence
normally applied should be displayed on
cornering and when driving on slippery
roads.
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215 Car care
Relay holderUnder the instrument panel next to the steering wheel No. Amp Function
21 10 Switch, manual A/C; soft top (Convertible)
22 15 Direction indicators
23 20 Soft top (Convertible); telephone
24 7.5 Radio
25 30 Central locking; amplifier
26 30 Control module, engine management system
27 15 High beam flash; ACC
28 10 Control module, engine management system
29 10 Right parking light; number-plate lighting
30 10 Left parking light
31 20 Reversing light; windshield wipers; headlight
beam-length adjustment
32 15 Fuel pump
33 15 Electric heating of rear seat
34 10 SID; control module; automatic transmission
35 15 DICE/TWICE; main instrument panel; interior light-
ing
36 10 Relay, starter
37 15 Limp-home
38 25 Oxygen sensor (lambda probe)
39 – –
S–SpareItem Function
A Electric heating of rear seat
B Reversing light, cars with automatic transmission
C1 –
C2 Lock motor, trunk lid
D1 Rear wiper
D2 Rear-window washing
E Ignition switch
F–
G Windshield wipers (intermittent)
H Rear-window heating
IFuel pump
J–
KStart relay
L Main relay (injection system)
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256 Technical dataSaab 9-3 Audio System:
The following functions can be adjusted by
the driver (see page 108):
 Maximum starting volume (when the
radio is switched on).
 Telephone volume (if the car is equipped
with a phone connected to the audio sys-
tem).
 Speed dependent volume (volume
increases or decreases with vehicle
speed).
 Loudness.Alarm System:
The glass breakage sensor can be tempo-
rarily disabled, see page 42.
Daytime Running Lights:
To disable, turn off the ignition and pull out
fuse 15, see page 214.
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