2001 SAAB 9-3 traction control

65 Instruments and controls
Traction Control System
indicator (option)
The TCS lamp in the tachometer lights up
when the TCS system is activated, i.e. when
the friction between the tires and road
surface is insufficient for the car to acceler-
ate as desired. You may also experience
that the engine does not respond as normal
when the accelerator is depressed.
Operation of the TCS indicates reduced
cohesion between the tires and the road,
and that extra care should be taken by the
driver.
During normal driving, the TCS will improve
both ride comfort and safety, but must not
be regarded as a system to enable the
driver to maintain a higher speed. The same
precautions for safe cornering and driving
on slippery roads must still be adopted (see
page 172.
Traction Control System
OFF indicator (option)
This light comes on when the traction
control system (TCS) is switched off with the
TCS button.
IMPORTANT! The traction control system is
switched on automatically each time the car
is started (see page 172.
This indicator light also comes on if a fault
has been detected in the TCS, in which case
the lamp will not be extinguished when the
TCS is switched off by means of the TCS
button. If a fault is indicated, have the
system checked at an authorized Saab
workshop.
See also the section Traction Control Sys-
tem, on page 172.
Autochecking of lights,
main instrument panel The above warning and indicator lights
should come on when the ignition is
switched on. They go out after about 3 sec-
onds.
The following lamps light up until the engine
starts, as long as no faults exist:
Central warning light .
Oil pressure warning light .
Charge warning light .
IB1279
1 Cars with automatic transmission
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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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219 Car care
Uniform Tire Quality Grading (US)Quality grades can be found where applica-
ble on the tire sidewall between tread shoul-
der and maximum section width. For exam-
ple:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature ATreadwearThe treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled conditions on
a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one half (1 1/2) times as well on the gov-
ernment course as a tire graded 100. The
relative performance of tires depends upon
the actual conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road character-
istics and climate.
TractionThe traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B and C. These grades represent
the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
TemperatureThe temperature grades are A (the highest),
B, and C, representing the tire’s resistance
to the generation of heat and its ability to dis-
sipate heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life. Excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to a tire is
based on straight-ahead braking, traction
test and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning or peak traction
characteristics.
WARNING
The temperature grade for a tire is estab-
lished for a tire that is properly inflated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading,
either separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire fail-
ure.
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260 IndexService information
______________ 238
Service intervals
________________ 236
Service record retention
__________ 237
Side airbags
____________________ 30
Ski hatch
______________________ 147
Snow tires _____________________ 252
Soft top storage, Convertible
_______ 56
Spare wheel
___________________ 149
Speedometer ___________________ 66
Starting the engine
______________ 153
Steering-wheel adjustment
________ 137
Storage compartments
___________ 142
Sunroof
_______________________ 138
Switches _______________________ 75
TTachometer
_____________________ 66
Technical data __________________ 243
Telematics
_____________________ 117
Temperature gauge
______________ 67
Textile carpeting, cleaning
________ 225
Through-load hatch
______________ 147
Tie-down eyes
__________________ 148
Tipping the rear seat
_____________ 144
Tire markings
__________________ 218
Tire pressure ___________________ 184
Tire pressures __________________ 217
Tires and wheels, sizes
___________ 252
Tools
_________________________ 149
Top tether
______________________ 23Touching up paintwork
___________ 227
Towing a caravan or trailer ________ 179
Towing the car
__________________ 185
Traction Control System
__________ 172
Trailer hitch attachment ___________ 179
Trailer hitch load
________________ 182
Transmission, automatic
__________ 162
Transmission, manual
____________ 161
Transporting the car
_____________ 185
Traveling abroad
________________ 190
Trip computer, SID _______________ 69
Trip meter
______________________ 66
Trunk
_________________________ 144
Trunk lid lock, Convertible
__________ 56
Trunk lighting
___________________ 139
Trunk, Convertible
________________ 56
Trunk, opening
__________________ 40
Turbo gauge
____________________ 67
Turn signal
_____________________ 76
UUpholstery and trim
______________ 225
Upholstery and trim, care of
_______ 225
Useful tips on starting
____________ 154
Useful tips, ACC
_________________ 92
VVanity mirror
___________________ 143
WWarning and indicator lights
________ 60
Warning labels
____________________ 7
Warning light, AIR BAG (SRS)
______ 32
Washer fluid
___________________ 205
Washer jets
____________________ 205
Washers
_______________________ 78
Washing ______________________ 226
Waxing and polishing
____________ 227
Wear indicators, brake pads
_______ 200
Wear indicators, tires
_____________ 220
Wheels
_______________________ 217
Wheels and tires, sizes
___________ 252
Window glass sensor, car alarm
_____ 42
Windshield washers
______________ 78
Windshield wipers
________________ 78
Winter driving
__________________ 177
Wiper blades
___________________ 204
Wipers
_________________________ 78
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