
232 Car careAir 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 in operation, mois-
ture from the air will condense on the evap-
orator. When the car is then parked, this
condensation will drip off the evaporator
and form a small pool of water on the
ground. This is normal. The warmer the
ambient air and the higher the humidity, the
greater the amount of condensation formed.Inadequate cooling:
a Make sure that the temperature and
air-distribution controls are in the
appropriate settings, see page 81.
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, see page 203.
d Check the fuses for the ventilation fans
and compressor, see page 214.
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 refrigerant gas can cause
blindness or other injury.
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233 Car care
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
cover the radiator, e.g. with screen netting,
as this will greatly diminish its cooling capac-
ity.
Note: The A/C system will only operate
when the outdoor temperature is above the
freezing point (0°C, 32°F). Switch on the
A/C system when the car stands in a warm
place.
Headlight aimingThe vehicle is equipped with vertical and
horizontal aim indicators. The aim has been
preset at the factory and should normally not
need further adjustments. This is true even
though your vertical and horizontal aim indi-
cators may not fall exactly on the "0" (zero)
marks on their scales.
If your headlight is damaged in an accident,
the headlight aim may be affected. If you
believe your headlights need to be
re-aimed, we recommend that you take it to
your Saab dealer for service. However, it is
possible for you to re-aim your headlights as
described in the following procedure.
To check the aim, the vehicle should be
properly prepared as follows: Place the vehicle on a level pad or surface
The vehicle should be unladen and fuel
tank full, and one person or 160 lbs.
(75 kg) on the drivers seat
The vehicle should not have any snow, ice
or mud attached to it
Tires should be inflated to the prescribed
pressure
Rock the vehicle to stabilize the suspen-
sion
WARNING
Before checking/adjusting the headlight
aiming, switch off the engine to avoid
danger of fingers and hands being injured
by moving parts.
The radiator fan can start up even when
the engine is switched off.
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239 Maintenance and owner assistance
Saab Original Service Program M2001 USA, Canada, (9-3 Models)* These are the minimum required Emission Control System maintenance steps. Saab urges that all recommended maintenance procedures be performed
according to this program.
(a.) Engine oil and filter should be changed at least once a year. Intermediate oil and filter changes (halfway between indicated intervals) suggested for
cars primarily used for driving in dense city traffic or for repeated short trip operation without sufficient warm up.
** Service intervals:
Refer to the Warranties & Service Record Book for service intervals beyond 100,000 miles (160,000 km).Service Intervals **
Miles = U.S. Cars
Kilometers = Canadian Cars
30 day
10,000
(16,000 km)
20,000
(32,000 km)
30,000
(48,000 km)
40,000
(64,000 km)
50,000
(80,000 km)
60,000
(96,000 km)
70,000
(112,000 km)
80,000
(128,000 km)
90,000
(144,000 km)
100,000
(160,000 km)
Service #
1234567891011
Engine and engine compartment
E Engine oil and filter (a.)!!!!!!!!!!
R Engine coolant freezing point and level""" """ ""
R Engine coolant flush and replace (max. 3-year intervals)!!
R Engine cooling system, hoses and cap""""""""""
R Drive belt; condition""""" ! """"
E Spark plugs!
*
!*
!*
E Crankcase ventilation and vacuum lines""
Application/type of service (col. 1) Service Procedure
E = emission service"= Check - top up, adjust or replace if necessary
R = regular maintenance!= Replace
#= Lubricate
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242 Maintenance and owner assistance
Service Intervals **
Miles = U.S. Cars
Kilometers = Canadian Cars
30 day
10,000
(16,000 km)
20,000
(32,000 km)
30,000
(48,000 km)
40,000
(64,000 km)
50,000
(80,000 km)
60,000
(96,000 km)
70,000
(112,000 km)
80,000
(128,000 km)
90,000
(144,000 km)
100,000
(160,000 km)
Service #
1234567891011
Chassis (cont.)
RToe-in"""
R Cabin air filter!!!!!
R Door hinges, stops and locks"" # "" # "" # "
R Airbag system, SRS warning lamp, visual inspection"""""""""""
R Safety belts; operation and visual inspection of belt for
tears and fraying"""""""""""
R Wiper blades"""""""""""
R Washer system: check and top-up"""""""""""
R Reset service indicator""""""""""
Customer programming
R Carry out systems programming per customer request"
Road test
R Check performance of drive train, steering and brakes
and verify tire balance.
Check function of instruments and controls, including
horn, windshield wipers, cruise control and climate sys-
tem.
Note any noises or problems for correction."""""""""""
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243 Technical data
Technical dataGeneral particulars .......... 244
Engine ............................... 247
Engine oil .......................... 247
Fuel.................................... 249
Engine variants ................ 249
Electrical system.............. 250
Drive belts......................... 250
Manual transmission ....... 250
Automatic transmission .. 250
Suspension....................... 251
Steering............................. 251
Brake system.................... 251
Rims and tires .................. 252
Plates and labels .............. 253
IB993
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250 Technical dataElectrical system
Drive belts
Manual transmission
Automatic transmission
Voltage ___________________________ 12 V
Battery capacity ____________________ 60 Ah
Starter motor ______________________ 1.4 kW
Alternator rating ____________________ 130 A/14 V
Firing order ________________________ 1-3-4-2
Spark plugs:
2.0 Turbo 185 bhp__________________ NGK PFR 6H-10
2.0 Turbo 205 bhp __________________ NGK PFR 6H-10
Viggen __________________________ NGK PFR 6H-10
Electrode gap ______________________ 0.95 mm
(0.03740”)
Outside lengthCars with A/C compressor ____________ 2345 mm
Cars without A/C compressor __________ 1805 mmDrive belt
IB929
Type _____________________________ 5-speed, fully
synchronized with
final-drive gear and
differential
Oil type (for topping-up) ______________ Saab synthetic man-
ual gearbox oil
Oil capacity _______________________ 1.8 qts. (1.8 l)
Speed (mph/km/h) at 1000 rpm in 5th gear 26/42
Type _____________________________ Electronically con-
trolled 4-speed with
torque converter
and differential
Gear selector positions ______________ P R N D 3 2 1
Oil quantity, total ___________________ 7.4 qts. (7.2 litres)
Oil volume (on changing) _____________ 3.4 qts. (3.25 litres)
Oil type ___________________________ Texaco Texamatic
Dexron III, mineral
oil based
Clutch type ________________________ Hydraulically-oper-
ated plate clutches,
brake bands and
one-way clutches
Speed (mph/km/h) at 1000 rpm in 4th gear 25/40
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257 Index
Index
AA/C system, fault diagnosis
________ 232
A/C system, maintenance _________ 232
ACC
__________________________ 84
ACC, useful tips
_________________ 92
Adjustment, steering wheel
________ 137
Air conditioning (A/C), fault diagnosis
and maintenance
______________ 232
Airbag
_________________________ 28
Alarm __________________________ 41
Alarm functions
__________________ 44
Alarm signals
___________________ 44
Anti-corrosion treatment
__________ 228
Anti-theft system
_________________ 41
Ashtray
_______________________ 141
Audio System
___________________ 93
Automatic climate control (ACC)
_____ 84
Automatic transmission
___________ 162
BBattery
________________________ 201
Boost starting from donor battery
___ 187
Brake fluid, check
_______________ 200
Brake fluid, grade _______________ 251
Brake pad wear indicators
____ 170
, 200Brakes
________________________ 170
Braking _______________________ 170
Bulb table _____________________ 211
CCD changer
____________________ 105
CD player
_____________________ 103
CHECK messages
_______________ 72
CHECKING
_____________________ 72
Cabin lighting __________________ 139
Calibration, ACC _________________ 90
Car alarm
______________________ 41
Car phone, installation
___________ 113
Care of safety belts
______________ 224
Cassette player
_________________ 100
Central locking __________________ 36
Change of address notification
_____ 238
Changing a wheel
_______________ 221
Changing bulbs
_________________ 206
Changing the coolant
____________ 199
Changing the engine oil __________ 196
Changing the key battery __________ 39
Changing the wheels round _______ 218
Changing wiper blades
___________ 204
Chassis number
________________ 253
Child car seats
__________________ 19
Child safety
_____________________ 19
Child safety locks, rear doors
_______ 39
Child seats
_____________________ 19
Cigar lighter ____________________ 141Cleaning the soft top, Convertible
____ 57
Climate-control system, manual
_____ 80
Compact spare wheel
____________ 220
Condensation water, A/C __________ 82
Condensation water, ACC __________ 85
Convertible
_____________________ 47
Coolant
_______________________ 198
Courtesy Headlight Feature
________ 76
Cruise Control
__________________ 169
Cup holder
_____________________ 140
DDICE/TWICE
___________________ 213
Date code, tires _________________ 220
Dim low beam
___________________ 75
Dimmer
________________________ 78
Direction indicators
_______________ 76
Direction-indicator stalk
____________ 76
Dome lighting
__________________ 139
Door mirrors
___________________ 143
Drive belt
______________________ 203
Driving in deep water
_____________ 185
Driving in hot weather ____________ 179
Driving technique
________________ 176
Driving with a compact spare wheel
_ 190
Driving with a load
_______________ 184
Driving with a roof load
___________ 182
Driving with the trunk lid open
______ 185
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259 Index
Leather upholstery, care of
________ 225
Load eyes
_____________________ 148
Locks
__________________________ 36
Lowering rear seat
______________ 144
Luggage compartment ___________ 144
Luggage compartment, Convertible
__ 56
Luggage-compartment lighting
_____ 148
MMain beam
_____________________ 75
Main instrument panel
_____________ 60
Maintenance schedule ___________ 236
Manual climate-control system
______ 80
Manual raising of the soft top,
Convertible
____________________ 52
Manual transmission
_____________ 161
Manually opening the fuel filler door,
Convertible
____________________ 58
Manually opening the fuel filler door,
Coupé and 5-door
______________ 150
Maxi fuses
_____________________ 213
Memory, driver’s seat
____________ 134
Motoring abroad
________________ 190
NNight Panel
_____________________ 73
OORVR
________________________ 195
Odometer ______________________ 66
Oil specification
_________________ 247
OnStar
________________________ 117
Opening handle
__________________ 36
Owner assistance _______________ 237
PPaint touch-up
__________________ 227
Parcel shelf
____________________ 147
Park Brake Shift Lock
____________ 164
Parking brake
__________________ 174
Parking lights ____________________ 75
Plates and labels
________________ 253
Power steering fluid, check
________ 201
Power steering oil, grade
_________ 251
Pressure gauge
__________________ 67
Programmable driver’s seat
_______ 134
Programming, ACC
_______________ 90
RRadio
__________________________ 98
Raising the soft top, Convertible
_____ 51
Rear fog light
____________________ 77
Rear seat
______________________ 144
Rear seat, tipping
_______________ 144Rearview mirrors
________________ 143
Rear-window wiper _______________ 79
Recirculation
____________________ 82
Recycling
______________________ 230
Refuelling _____________________ 157
Relay table ____________________ 215
Release handle, hood
____________ 192
Remote control
__________________ 36
Remote control battery, changing
____ 39
Removing the key
_______________ 152
Reporting safety defects
__________ 238
Rev counter
_____________________ 66
Reversing lights
__________________ 77
Roof rack
______________________ 182
Rotating the tires
________________ 218
Running-in
_____________________ 161
SSAHR, head restraint
_____________ 18
SID (Side Instrument Display)
_______ 69
SRS (airbag)
____________________ 28
Saab Audio System
_______________ 93
Saab Trionic engine
management system ____________ 195
Safety belts
_____________________ 12
Safety belts, care of
______________ 224
Seat belts
______________________ 12
Seat-belt pretensioners
____________ 13
Seats
_________________________ 130
Service costs
___________________ 237
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