2001 SAAB 9-3 flat tire

28 SafetyAirbag (Supplemental
Restraint System
"SRS") The supplementary restraint system (SRS)
comprises an airbag in the steering wheel,
a front passenger airbag and side airbags in
the front seats.
The system supplements the protection
provided by the safety belts to further
enhance the safety of occupants.
If a fault is detected in the SRS, the
AIR BAG warning light on the main instru-
ment panel will come on (see pages 62 and
32). When the system is triggered by impact of a
frontal collision, the airbags in the steering
wheel and passenger side of the dash board
are inflated, after which they deflate through
vents in the back of the bags.
The entire process takes less than
0.1 second – literally, faster than the blink-
ing of an eye.
These airbags are triggered only by moder-
ate to severe frontal or near-frontal colli-
sions. They will not be activated by minor
front-end impacts, rear-end or side impacts,
or by the car rolling over.
Side airbags, see page 30.
WARNING
To reduce risk of injury:
Always wear your safety belt.
Always adjust your seat so that you
are as far back as possible but still
able to reach the steering wheel and
controls comfortably.
 Children 12 and under or shorter than
55 inches (140 cm) should always
travel in the rear as the vehicle is
equipped with an airbag on the pas-
senger side.
IB827
Airbag in course of inflation (driver’s side)
IB1597
5
1
4
2
6
3
2
6
5
SRS (airbag) system with belt
pretensioners 1 Electronic control module and sensor
2 Belt pretensioners (for both front safety belts)
3 Steering wheel with integral airbag
4 Recess for airbag on passenger’s side
5 Sensor, side airbag
6 Side airbag
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77 Instruments and controls
Back-UpThe back-up lights come on automatically
when reverse gear is engaged or selected
with the ignition switched on.
Rear fog lightPress the button to switch on the rear fog
light, which will only come on if the head-
lights or front fog lights are on.
The rear fog light will go off automatically
when the engine is switched off. When the
fog light is next needed, it will have to be
switched on manually again.
Your Saab is equipped with one rear fog
light and this is located on the driver´s side
in the rear taillight housing.
Make sure you are familiar with the appli-
cable provincial/state law regarding the
use of rear fog light.
Front fog lightsPress the button to switch on the fog lights
fitted in the front spoiler. These should be
used in poor visibility. They will only operate
on low beam and switch off automatically on
high beam.
Make sure you are familiar with the appli-
cable provincial/state law regarding the
use of fog lights.
WARNING
Switch on the hazard flashers if the car
has to be left at the roadside on account
of an accident, engine trouble or a flat tire.
If you carry a warning triangle or flares,
they should be set up along side of the
road 300 ft. (100 m) behind your vehicle.
If the car is not clearly visible (e.g. over
the brow of a hill or bridge), place the tri-
angle/flare even further back.
WARNING
In poor visibility, avoid following the tail
lights of the vehicle in front. If the vehicle
stops suddenly, you may be unable to
avoid a collision and therefore risk injury
to yourself and others.
IB750
IB751
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121 OnStar - Telematics
Roadside assistance**There’s nothing worse than being stranded
on the road with car trouble. No matter what
the problem is (flat tire, out of gas, or engine
trouble), just call OnStar. We will contact the
help you need to get you quickly back on the
road.Stolen vehicle trackingOnStar doesn’t just protect you, it protects
your Saab, too. If your vehicle is ever stolen,
just contact OnStar by calling
1-888-4-ONSTAR. We will put you in touch
with the authorities and aid them in locating
your Saab. Ask your insurance carrier about
possible premium discounts.Accident Assist™Accident Assist™ provides step-by-step
guidance about what to do in case of an
accident. Working with leading insurance
companies we have developed a ”best
practices” list to assist you through most
accident situations. OnStar Accident
Assist™ can make the process of complet-
ing a police report and/or insurance claim
less stressful.
OnStar Med-Net***OnStar MED-NET securely stores your per-
sonal medical information (e.g., physician’s
name, emergency contacts, medications,
chronic conditions) and, in an emergency,
can quickly send it to a medical facility. This
important information can help assist with
diagnosis and treatment. **There will be no charge for Roadside Assistance as
long as your vehicle is under warranty.
***Requires activation and additional fee.Hands-free communicationTalking to an OnStar Advisor is easy and
hands-free. Simply press the OnStar but-
ton, and a small microphone picks up your
voice while the OnStar Advisor talks to you
through your stereo speakers. You can
even adjust the volume to your liking with
the steering wheel controls or the radio
volume knob. Your hands remain on the
steering wheel, while your eyes remain on
the road.Being safe on the road is important, but
there’s more to life than security. There’s liv-
ing. That’s why we have created the OnStar
Premium Plan. It gives you not only the
important protections of the Safety and
Security Plan, but also a whole range of ser-
vices which truly change driving from a
chore to a luxury. All new Saab models
come with a full year of the OnStar Premium
Service Plan.* * New retail deliveries only.
The OnStar Premium
Plan *Route supportWith OnStar Route Support, an Advisor can
help you find your way, no matter how far off
course you are. You can get exact street
directions, or guidance to nearby gas sta-
tions, restaurants, hotels or ATMs.Ride AssistIf you need a lift, anytime of the day or night,
just call OnStar. We’ll contact transportation
and send it right to you.Information and Convenience ser-
vicesOur Advisors have access to over five mil-
lion service listings including hotels, restau-
rants, gas stations, dealerships, hospitals,
ATMs and airports — more than 250 service
categories in all. Our Advisors can even
assist you with hotel and restaurant reser-
vations.*All Saab models come with a full year of Premium Ser-
vice. New retail deliveries only.
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148 Interior equipment, trunkTie downsFour tie downs for securing the load are
fitted inside the trunk. Place the load as far
in as possible.Trunk lightingTo the left in the trunk is a light which goes
on and off when the trunk lid is opened and
closed.
The lighting can also be turned on and off
using the button on the light housing. If the
trunk lid is left open, the lighting will go off
after 20 minutes to prevent the battery from
being drained.
WARNING
Load opening:
Always secure a load properly. You can,
for example, use the hip strap in the
center rear safety belt. This will reduce
the risk of having the load thrown about
during a collision and causing personal
injury.
Trunk:
Lay heavy suitcases flat on the floor.
Then place smaller and lighter items of
luggage on top.
Always secure heavy, bulky loads to the
four tie downs in the trunk. This will
reduce risk of having them thrown about
during heavy braking or during a collision
and causing personal injury. When the
backrest is lowered, narrow objects can
also be thrown around and cause injury.
You should thus secure them well.
To retain the car’s safe normal handling
characteristics, you must be careful not to
exceed its maximum load capacity, (see
page 244).
The tail pipe of the exhaust system can
become very hot during driving. Bear this
in mind when loading and unloading the
car so that children, for example, do not
burn themselves.
WARNING
 Never place any objects on top of the
rear parcel shelf. In the event of a col-
lision, unsecured cargo may present a
safety hazard and cause personal
injuries to vehicle occupants.
 Do not obstruct outward vision or the
ability to exit the vehicle when loading
the vehicle.
 When the rear seat backrest is placed
upright after having been folded for-
ward, ensure that all rear safety belts
are accessible and properly routed.
 Make sure that tire pressures are
properly adjusted in accordance with
altered vehicle weight (refer to tire
pressures in the Specifications sec-
tion of this manual).
IB854
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175 Starting and driving
Parking on a hillWhen parking on a steep hill, turn the front
wheels so that they will be blocked by the
curb if the car should move.
Long-term parkingIf the car is not going to be used for some
time, e.g. 3–4 months, the following steps
are recommended:
 Run the engine to normal temperature
before long-term parking.
 Drain the washer-fluid reservoir and
hoses.  Wash and wax the car. Clean the rubber
seals on the hood, trunk lid and doors,
and lubricate them with glycerol (glyc-
erin).
 After washing the car, dry the brake discs
by taking the car out on the road and
applying the brakes a few times. If the traf-
fic conditions allow, brake quite heavily
just before parking.
 Fill the fuel tank with fuel to prevent con-
densation forming in it.
 Top up the coolant and check the anti-
freeze before the onset of winter.
 Park the car in a dry, covered and
well-ventilated building. Leave the park-
ing brake OFF!
 Disconnect the negative (-) battery lead.
If freezing temperatures are likely to occur
during the long-term parking, remove the
battery and store it away from freezing
temperatures.
 Ideally, the car should be put up on
blocks, with the wheels off the ground. If
this is not possible, inflate the tires to
about 43 psi (300 kPa).
 Leave all the windows open a crack and
cover the car with a fabric tarpaulin - not
one made of plastic which will not breath.
IB879
1Pointing downhill and
against the curb
– Turn the wheels into the
curb and edge the car for-
ward until the wheels touch
the curb. 2Pointing uphill and
against the curb
– Turn the wheels away
from the curb and edge the
car back until the wheels
touch the curb. 3Pointing uphill or down-
hill – no curb
– Turn the wheels towards
the edge of the road. If the
car should start rolling, it
will not run into the road.
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184 Starting and drivingDriving with a loadThe driving characteristics of the car are
affected by the way it is loaded.
 Place heavy loads as far forward and as
low as possible in the trunk.
 Secure the load to the tie downs, see
page 148.
 The load should be such that the car´s
total weight or axle weight are not
exceeded, see page 245.
 Heavy loads mean that the car’s center of
gravity is further back. As a result, the car
will sway more during evasive steering.
 Never exceed the permissible load in the
roof box, even if there is room for more.
 Ensure that the tire pressure is correct –
slight overinflation is preferable to under-
inflation.
 The braking distance of a loaded car is
always greater. Keep your distance from
the vehicle in front.
Tire pressure, see page 217 and back
cover.
TiresThe tire pressure should match the current
load and speed of the car; see the back
cover or the tire pressure label on
page 253.
The tire pressures given apply to cold tires,
that is tires that are the same temperature
as the outside air temperature.
The tire pressure increases as the tires
become warm (e.g. during highway driving)
with approximately 0.3 bar (4 psi). When
the temperature of the tires changes by 50°
(10°C), the tire pressure will change 0.1 bar
(2 psi).Never reduce the pressure of a hot tire. If the
tires are hot when you check them, only
increase the pressure, if necessary.
Underinflated tires wear more quickly than
slightly overinflated tires.
If a valve is leaking, simply unscrew it and fit
a new one.
Important! Remember to adjust the tire
pressures if you change the load in the car
or intend to drive at substantially lower or
higher speeds than normal.NOTECheck the tire pressure at least once a
month. Underinflation is the main cause
of:
 Damage to the wheels.
 Premature tire wear.
 Damage to the sidewalls.
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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.
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217 Car care
WheelsAlternative wheels and tiresIf you wish to fit other tires or wheels than
those supplied with the car, consult your
Saab dealer first as to the possibilities avail-
able.
Wheels/tires combinations that are not
approved by Saab can negatively affect the
car´s directional stability, steering and brak-
ing in both wet and dry conditions.
Do not assume that a wheel/tire combina-
tion will function properly just because it will
bolt on.
The wheels and tires have been carefully
matched to the characteristics of the car and
play a key role in its outstanding roadhold-
ing and handling.
Tire pressureTires need to be inflated to suit the load car-
ried and the maximum speed the car will be
driven (see the recommended tire pres-
sures on the back cover). Tire pressure
label, see page 253.
Note that all values apply to cold tires. For
tires with an aspect ratio less than /60,
increase the tire pressure by 3 psi (20 kPa)
for rough roads with potholes to minimize
the risk of rim damage.
Never reduce the pressure of a hot tire. If the
tires are hot when you check them, only
increase the pressure, if necessary.
Soft tires will cause faster wear than
over-pressurized tires. They also increase
fuel consumption.
If a valve is leaking, simply unscrew it and fit
a new one.
Important! Remember to adjust the tire
pressures if you change the load in the car
or intend to cruise at a substantially higher
or lower speed than normal.
NOTEFor wide wheels and/or low-profile tires,
bear in mind the following:
 Tires and wheels can be damaged in
potholes etc.
 Springs, shock absorbers and wheel
bearings can be overloaded.
 The wheels can come into contact with
chassis and body components.
 The speed and load limits for the tires
must not be exceeded; see page 218.
 Wheels larger than 17” must not be
fitted on the Saab 9-3. For Viggen
models the wheel should not be larger
than 17”. The maximum permissible
offset for the 9-3 is 49 mm and for the
Viggen 42 mm.
 Wheels smaller than 16” must not be
fitted on Viggen models. Fitting a
smaller size wheel on a Viggen is not
possible due to the size of the brake
discs.
NOTECheck the tire pressures at least once
per month.
Underinflation is the main cause of:
 Tires wearing out prematurely.
 Damage to the sidewalls.
 Damage to the wheels.
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