2001 SAAB 9-3 brake pads

6Engine bayWarning labels ___________ 7
V.I.N. number __________ 253
Engine number _________ 253
Gearbox number ________ 253
Color coding ___________ 253Ignition system _________ 250
Drive belt ______________ 203
Alternator _____________ 203
Spark plugs ____________ 250
Catalytic converter ______ 156
Simple fault tracing
(A/C, ACC) ____________ 232Turbo-compressor ________ 67
Pressure gauge __________ 67
Important considerations
for driving _____________ 154
Technical data: engine ___ 247Manual transmission __________ 197
Automatic transmission ________ 197
Transmission oil ______________ 197
Gearbox: technical data ________ 250
Battery _____________________ 201
Battery charge _______________ 201
Jump starting ________________ 187IB1624
Engine: description ____________ 194
Engine oil, level control
and topping up _______________ 196
Engine oil: changing ___________ 196
Oil grade_____________________ 247
Washer fluid ___________ 205
Topping up with fluid _____ 205
Washer jets ___________ 205
Wiper/washer control stalk _ 78
Steering servo _______________ 201
Fluid checking
and topping up ______________ 201
Coolant, checking
and topping up ________ 198
Coolant, changing ______ 199
Temperature gauge ______ 67
Driving in hot weather ____ 179
Driving in cold weather ___ 177Fuse panels ___________ 212
Changing a fuse ________ 212
Table of fuses __________ 214
Relays _______________ 216
Brake system ________________ 251
Brake fluid __________________ 200
Brake pads __________________ 200
ABS brakes _________________ 170
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161 Starting and driving
Engine Break-in PeriodPistons, cylinder bores and bearings need
time to obtain uniform, wear-resistant sur-
faces.
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.
Manual transmissionTo 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 shifting 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.
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.
NOTEWhen the reverse gear is to be engaged
the car must be at a standstill with the
accelerator fully released. Lift the reverse
lock-out collar and push the gear lever
firmly to the right in neutral before easing
it into reverse.
IB864
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170 Starting and drivingDisengaging the system The system will be disengaged:
 When the brake or clutch pedal is
depressed.
 When the switch is moved to CANCEL.
 When the switch is moved to OFF.
 When the engine is switched off.
 When the selector lever is moved to posi-
tion N (cars with automatic transmission).
BrakingTo avoid overheating the brakes, (e.g. when
negotiating long descents with a drop of
several hundred feet), select a low gear to
use the braking effect of the engine. If the
car has automatic transmission, move the
selector lever to position 1 or 2.
When driving fast, you can help to prolong
the life of the brakes by thinking ahead and
braking harder for short periods, rather than
braking more moderately over long
stretches. Brake pad wear indicatorsThe outboard brake pads on the front
wheels incorporate pad-wear indicators.
When the lining is down to 3 mm, the pad
will produce a screeching, squealing or
scraping noise when the brakes are applied.
New pads should be installed without delay.
Brake pads should only be replaced by
an authorized Saab dealer.
To ensure optimum brake performance,
it is recommended that you use only
Saab original brake pads.

WARNING
 It is prudent to try your brakes from
time to time, especially when driving in
heavy rain, through water collected on
the road, in snow, on a wet road sur-
face or in salty slush. In such condi-
tions, the brakes may take longer than
normal to take effect. To rectify this,
touch the brake pedal periodically to
dry the brakes out.
 The same applies after the car has
been washed or when the weather is
very humid.
 Avoid parking the car with wet brakes.
Before parking, and if the traffic condi-
tions allow, brake quite heavily so that
the brake discs and pads warm up and
dry.
 The brakes are power assisted and it
should be kept in mind that the servo
unit only provides the power assis-
tance when the engine is running.
 The brake pressure required when the
engine is off,( e.g. when the car is
being towed) is roughly four times the
normal pedal force required. The
pedal also feels hard and unrespon-
sive.
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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
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200 Car careBrake- clutch fluid and
brake padsChecking the fluid level The combined brake and clutch-fluid reser-
voir is transparent to facilitate checking of
the fluid level.
The level should be between the MAX and
MIN marks. Top up, as necessary, with
DOT 4 fluid. Do
not
use DOT 5 brake fluid.
Use only new brake fluid from a sealed con-
tainer.
Check that there are no leaks in the brake
system.
Changing of the brake fluid should be
carried out by an authorized Saab dealer.The vehicle´s regular braking system is
adjusted automatically, but the parking
brake has to be adjusted manually. This
work, involving adjustment of the parking
brake cables and brake pads, must only be
carried out by an authorized Saab dealer.
It is not possible to detect, through abnormal
pedal or parking brake-lever travel, whether
brake pads are worn and need replacing. It
is therefore essential that brake pads be
checked regularly, as specified in the ser-
vice program, see page 239.
Brake pad wear indicators The outboard brake pads on the front
wheels incorporate pad-wear indicators.
When the lining is down to 0.11 in (3 mm),
the pad will produce a screeching, squeal-
ing or scraping noise when the brakes are
applied. New pads should be installed with-
out delay.
Brake pads should only be changed by
an authorized Saab dealer. To ensure
optimum brake performance, use only
Saab original brake pads.
WARNING
Brake fluid deteriorates as it becomes
old. Because it is hygroscopic, it absorbs
water from the air and, in time, could allow
vapor to form in the brake system, thus
reducing its performance. It is therefore
important that brake fluid be changed reg-
ularly, as specified in the service pro-
gram, see page 239.
NOTEAvoid spilling brake fluid onto paintwork,
since it can cause the paint to bubble and
lift. If any brake fluid is spilled, the area
should be flushed with large quantities of
water as quickly as possible.
IB894
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237 Maintenance and owner assistance
Service record retentionService instruction coupons and record
stubs are provided in the Saab Warranties
and Service Record Booklet which accom-
panies this Owner’s Manual. The coupons
are arranged in the order that normal ser-
vice should be performed. The edge of each
coupon is shaded to correspond to the type
of service point:
 Striped - "Check-up".
 Blue - Oil change/inspection service.
 Black - Major service.
Note that in Canada a combined service
and warranty book is used, but not service
coupons.
When scheduled services are performed,
your dealer will tear out the applicable
coupon and use it to check off the opera-
tions performed and enter it into the service
file at the dealership. The servicing dealer’s
stamp, along with the date and mileage at
which the service was done, should be
entered on the corresponding stub which
remains in your booklet. The booklet is your
permanent record of the services per-
formed. It also includes a log sheet for
unscheduled repairs.
It is advisable to retain receipts and, if pos-
sible, copies of shop work orders for all ser-
vice and repair work, wherever performed.
Service costsDealer pricing practices and labor for ser-
vice work vary. Saab’s recommended ser-
vice times for each service point do not
include the labor required to replace wear
items, such as wiper blades, brake pads or
tires. Nor is labor to perform other service or
repairs found to be necessary as a result of
the inspections included in these times.
Additional labor and parts will be charged
for such work when necessary, except as
covered under an applicable Saab warranty
or any optional extended service contract.
Transmission fluid changes or suspension
alignment, when necessary, are also addi-
tional.
Dealer charges for general shop material,
regulated hazardous waste removal, recy-
cling expenses or other operation costs may
also be applied to service and repair
invoices and are apt to vary by dealer and
location.
Owner assistanceWarranties and service problem
assistanceFor complete information about all applica-
ble warranties, including the New Car War-
ranty, Perforation Warranty, Vehicle Emis-
sion Warranty and Emission Perforation
Warranty, consult the Warranties and Ser-
vice Record Booklet which accompanies
this Owner’s Manual. It also contains owner
assistance information including Saab
Roadside Assistance. If the booklet is lost or
misplaced, a new one may be ordered
through a Saab dealer or by contacting
Saab.
In the U.S. there is a national Customer
Assistance Center at Saab Cars USA, Inc.
The toll-free number to call from all 50 states
is 1-800-955-9007.
In Canada, please call the Saab Customer
Assistance Centre at 1-800-263-1999.
A list of authorized Saab sales and service
dealers is available for those planning to
travel in the United States and Canada.
Canadian or U.S. travelers may call the
Customer Assistance Center in the country
in which they are traveling.
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241 Maintenance and owner assistance
(c.) Check wheel alignment if irregular or premature tire wear is apparent.
(d.) Check and clean rear pads and rear calipers in areas with heavy road salt use.
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
R Ball joint clearance, outer and inner steering joints and
rubber boots""""""""""
R Shock absorbers and bushes; tightness and condition"""
R Tire pressure, tread depth and wear, including spare (c.)"""""""""""
R Rotate tires, front to rear""""""""""
R Brake pads and discs; wear and condition (d.)""""""""""
R Brake lines and hoses""""""""""
R Brake fluid level & renewal (max. 2-year intervals)"""" ! """ ! ""
R Check parking brake function"""""""""""
R Power steering fluid level"""""""""""
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251 Technical data
Suspension
SteeringBrake systemSpring type, front and rear ____________ Coil springs
Maximum deflection of springs:
front, Coupé/5-door/Convertible _______ 6.4" (163 mm)
front, Viggen ______________________ 6.5” (165 mm)
rear, Coupé/5-door/Convertible _______ 8.3" (212 mm)
rear, Viggen ______________________ 7.9” (200 mm)
Dampers, front and rear ______________ Gas-filled tele-
scopic shock
absorbers
Steering __________________________ Power-assisted
steering gear of
rack-and-pinion
type with tele-
scopic, universal
joint steering- col-
umn shaft
Number of turns, lock to lock __________ 3.0
Oil type ___________________________ Power Steering
Fluid CHF 11S Footbrake (ABS) ___________________ Hydraulic disc
brakes with vacuum
servo, diagonally
split circuits
Parking brake ______________________ Acts on rear wheels
Brake fluid ________________________ DOT 4
Do not use DOT 5
Disc diameter:
front, Coupé/5-door/Convertible _______ 11.4" (288 mm)
front, Viggen ______________________ 12.0” (306 mm)
rear ____________________________ 11.3" (286 mm)
Total friction area of brake pads:
front, Coupé/5-door/Convertible _______ 34.4 in² (224 cm²)
front, Viggen ______________________ 35.9 in² (234 cm²)
rear ____________________________ 14.2 in² (92 cm²)
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