2001 SAAB 9-3 oil

190 Starting and drivingDriving considerations
with compact spare
wheel/tire fitted The following should be observed when the
compact spare wheel (T115/70 R16) is
installed:
The compact spare is light and easy to
handle when changing the wheel. Do not
drive farther than necessary with the com-
pact spare fitted – the maximum life of the
wheel is only just over 2000 miles
(3,500 km). Have the standard wheel
repaired and reinstalled as soon as possi-
ble.Points to bear in mind when driving with a
compact spare wheel:
 The car’s ground clearance is reduced
with the compact spare fitted.
 Only one compact spare wheel may be
used at any time.
 Take care not to hit the curb.
 Do not fit snow chains.
 Leave the wheel cover off, so that the
warning text is readily visible.
For long tripsBefore starting off on a long journey, it is
advisable to have your car inspected by
your Saab dealer.
Obtain a few important items to take along
on your journey such as spare bulbs, wiper
blades, fuses, a Poly-Vee-belt and the like.
You can check some points yourself before-
hand:
 Make sure that the engine is in good con-
dition.
 Check that no oil or fuel leaks out of the
engine or gearbox/transmission.
 Check the coolant and power steering
fluid levels. Check also for leaks.
 Inspect the Poly-Vee-belt and replace it if
it shows any signs of wear.
 Check the battery charge.
 Check the tires for tread pattern and air
pressure, including the compact spare
wheel.
 Take an extra car key/remote control and
keep it separate, see also page 36.
 Check the brakes.
 Check all bulbs.
 Check for the presence of the tool kit and
the jack in the car.
WARNING
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) as the
tire can overheat and adversely affect the
handling of the car.
The tire should be inflated to 60 psi
(420 kPa).
NOTETo avoid damaging a punctured alloy
wheel this can be placed outside up in the
spare-wheel well but only while driving to
the closest dealer.
A general rule is that all heavy loads must
be well secured in the luggage compart-
ment, see page 148.
ProCarManuals.com

191 Car care
IB944
Hood release handle ....... 192
Engine .............................. 194
Engine bay ....................... 193
Engine oil ......................... 196
Transmission fluid .......... 197
Coolant ............................. 198
Brake- clutch fluid and
brake pads ..................... 200
Power steering ................ 201
Battery .............................. 201
Drive belt .......................... 203
Wipers and washers ....... 204
Wiper blades .................... 204
Changing bulbs ............... 206
Fuses ................................ 212
Wheels.............................. 217
Safety belts ...................... 224 Upholstery and trim ......... 225
Textile carpeting .............. 225
Engine bay ........................ 226
Washing ............................ 226
Waxing and polishing ...... 227
Touching up the paint ..... 227
Anti-corrosion treatment . 228
Recovery and/or recy-
cling of automotive mate-
rials .................................. 230
Air conditioning (A/C
system) ........................... 232 Car care
ProCarManuals.com

193 Car care
1 Engine-oil dipstick
2 Brake-fluid reservoir
3 Power-steering fluid reservoir
4 Fuse box
5 Coolant reservoir
6 MAXI fuses
7 Washer-fluid reservoir
8Battery
9Drive belt
10 Air filter
Engine bay
IB1625
ProCarManuals.com

196 Car careEngine oilChecking the fluid level Regularly check the oil level in the engine.
Do this with the car standing on level ground
with the engine warm, 2-5 minutes after it
has been turned off. Take the dipstick out
and wipe it off with a clean rag before carry-
ing out the check.
The level must not be below the MIN mark
on the dipstick, but nor should it be above
the MAX mark. Excess engine oil could
result in abnormal oil consumption.
The distance between MIN and MAX corre-
sponds to a volume of about one quart.
When necessary, add oil of the recom-
mended grade via the dipstick pipe. Make
sure that the cap of the dipstick is screwed
on properly after the check. Oil changingThe engine oil must be changed in accor-
dance with the service program, see page
239.
Oil volume and grade, see page 247.
Oil changing should be carried out on a
warm engine. 1 Unscrew the drain plug in the bottom of
the sump and leave the oil to drain into
an oil tray or other suitable receptacle for
at least ten minutes. Take care, as the oil
may be hot.
2 After the oil has been drained, unscrew
and remove the oil filter.
3 Fit a new filter and tighten it by hand.
4 Refit the drain plug with a new washer.
5 Add new oil.
Run the engine to normal temperature and
check the oil level.
IB890
Oil filler cap and dipstick
IB891
Drain plug
ProCarManuals.com

197 Car care

Transmission fluidManual transmissionCheck and top up the fluid in accordance
with the service program.
If original fluid cannot be obtained for top-
ping up, Dexron III (synthetic fluid) auto-
matic transmission fluid can be used. If so,
the car should be taken to an authorized
Saab dealer as soon as possible to have the
reason for low fluid level corrected and orig-
inal fluid installed.Automatic transmissionCheck the fluid level as follows:
1 Park the car on level ground and apply
the parking brake. The automatic trans-
mission fluid must be at normal running
temperature, approximately 175°F
NOTEChange of engine oil and oil filter may be
required more frequently (5000-mile
intervals (8,000 km)) if any one of the fol-
lowing conditions apply to the car:
 Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8
to 16 km). This is particularly important
when outside temperatures are below
freezing.
 Most trips include extensive idling
(such as frequent stop-and-go driving).
 Most trips are through dusty areas.
 You frequenty tow a trailer or use a car-
rier on top of your vehicle.
 If the vehicle is used for delivery ser-
vice, police, taxi or other commerical
applications.
WARNING
 Prolonged and repeated exposure of
the skin to engine oil can cause seri-
ous skin disorders.
 Avoid prolonged skin contact when-
ever possible. Wash the affected area
thoroughly with soap and water after
any contact.
 Keep oil out of reach of children.
 Do not touch the turbocharger or
manifold. These get very hot when the
engine has been running.
 Do not spill oil on hot parts of the
engine as this could cause a fire. Used
engine oil is particularly flammable.
 Protect the environment. Do not dis-
pose of oil in the ground or down a
drain. Dispose of all used oil and oil fil-
ters at an appropriate disposal facility.
+80°
MIN MAX
+80°
IB495
Oil dipstick, automatic transmission
ProCarManuals.com

198 Car care
(80°C). This can be achieved by driving
the car for about 30 min on the open
road.
2 With the engine idling, move the selector
lever to D and wait for at least
15 seconds. Next, move the selector
lever to R and wait for 15 seconds again.
Finally, move the selector lever to P. Let
the engine idle.
3 Wipe the dipstick clean with a lint-free
cloth and put it back.
4 With the fluid at normal temperature, the
level should be between the MAX and
MIN marks on the dipstick. Top up, as
necessary, with Texaco Texamatic
Dexron III automatic-transmission fluid,
adding it through the dipstick pipe. The
distance between the MIN and MAX
marks on the dipstick corresponds to a
volume of approximately 0.4 qts
(0.4 litre).
If the outside temperature is below 50°F
(10°C), the fluid will not reach the specified
temperature of 175°F (80°C). In this case,
the correct fluid level may be 0.8 in (20 mm)
below the MAX mark.
CoolantThe expansion tank is transparent, to facili-
tate checking. The level must be a little
under the mark ”KALT – COLD” on the tank
when the engine is cold. If the SID message
"FILL COOLANT FLUID" is displayed, the
level in the expansion tank should be
checked. Top up as necessary with equal
parts of clean water and coolant. Use only
coolant approved by Saab.
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 filled 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).
NOTEIf there is a burnt smell or the fluid is black,
change the fluid as soon as possible.
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.
Coolant expansion tank
ProCarManuals.com

201 Car care
Power steeringCheck the level of the power-steering fluid
in the reservoir regularly, in accordance with
the service program.
The wheels should point forward during the
check.
Clean around the cap before it is
unscrewed.
Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick. To
check the fluid level, first screw the cap on
fully again and then remove. The level
should be between the MAX and MIN marks
on the dipstick when the oil temperature is
about 68°F (+20°C). If the oil is colder the oil
level can be lower, and in higher tempera-
tures the level can be higher, both of which
are acceptable.
Top up with power-steering fluid CHF 11S
(part number 8996860).
Battery
WARNING
Do not fill the power steering fluid to
above the MAX mark. Too much fluid can
result in leakage.
Power steering fluid on hot engine com-
ponents constitutes a fire risk.
WARNING
 Work on the battery may entail an
explosion hazard, since the battery
gives off hydrogen which forms an
explosive mixture with the oxygen in
the air.
For this reason, always avoid sparks
or open flames when working near the
battery.
 The battery contains corrosive sulphu-
ric acid. Always wear a face mask or
goggles when working on the battery.
 If battery acid gets into the eyes or
splashes the skin or clothing, wash the
affected area liberally with water.
If acid gets into the eyes or a large
quantity makes contact with the skin,
seek medical help.
IB896
Power steering fluid reservoir
ProCarManuals.com

202 Car careThe liquid level in the car battery must be
checked at regular intervals.
Tap water contains salts and minerals that
accelerate the corrosion of the battery elec-
trodes, which can shorten the life of the bat-
tery.
The charge level should be checked with a
battery-acid tester. The specific gravity of
the acid in a fully charged battery should be
1.28. A specific gravity of 1.18 roughly indi-
cates a 50% charge.If frequent short journeys are made in cold
weather, the battery may need to be given a
booster charge. This can be done either
using a battery charger or by taking the car
for a long drive. A car with standard equipment and a fully
charged battery can be left for up to 40 days
and still have a sufficient charge for starting.
If extra equipment is fitted, such as a mobile
telephone, the time may be reduced to
about 15 days.
Always connect the positive (red) cable to
the positive (+) terminal of the battery and
the negative (blue) cable to its negative (-)
terminal. Always disconnect both battery
leads when boost charging the battery.NOTENever use tap water to top up the battery.
Use distilled or boiled water.
NOTEA discharged battery can freeze and frac-
ture. Batteries should therefore always be
stored away from frost.
NOTE• Don’t connect the battery terminals
+ and – the wrong way around.
 Serious damage can occur to the car’s
electrical system if a battery or alterna-
tor lead is disconnected while the
engine is running.
IB897
Taking out the battery
IB1173
Correct fluid level in the battery
ProCarManuals.com