
230 Car care and technical informationAir conditioning
(ACC)
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 running, the intake
air is dehumidified, and the resultant con-
densation is drained off through two outlets
underneath the floor of the car in the vicinity
of the front doors. It is therefore perfectly
normal for water to be seen dripping from
these outlets when the car is parked. The
warmer the ambient air and the higher the
humidity, the greater will be the amount of
condensation formed.
Inadequate cooling:
a Check that the condenser (forward of
the radiator) has not become clogged
with dirt and insects.
b Make sure that the drive belt for the com-
pressor is not slipping.
c Check the fuses for the ventilation fans
and compressor.
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
screen the radiator, e.g. with netting, as this
will greatly diminish its cooling capacity.
Note: The A/C system will only operate
when the outdoor temperature is above the
freezing point (0°C, 32°F).
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 gas can cause blindness or
other injury.
ProCarManuals.com

236 Car care and technical information4Inspect the undercoating and touch
up if necessary. Pay particular atten-
tion to the fenders and wheel housings,
which are exposed to abrasion by flying
gravel, etc. If the composition has worn
or flaked off, the steel must be thor-
oughly cleaned and dried before a fresh
coat is applied. The cleaning is best
done with a scraper and a steel wire
brush, followed by washing with solvent.
Apply the new coating thinly, as other-
wise it may run off or fall off when dry.
For long tripsBefore setting off on a long journey, it is
advisable to have your car checked over by
your Saab dealer.
Obtain a few important items to take along
on your journey such as spare bulbs, wiper
blades, fuses, a Poly-V-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 gasoline leaks out of
the engine or gearbox/transmission.
Check the coolant and power steering
fluid levels. Check also for leaks.
Inspect the Poly-V-belt and replace it if it
shows any signs of hard wear.
Check the battery charge.
Check the tires for tread pattern and air
pressure, including the compact spare
wheel.
Check the brakes.
Check all bulbs.
Check for the presence of the tool kit and
the jack in the car.
Recovery and/or
recycling of automotive
materialsA typical car consists of metals (65–75%),
plastics (10–14%), rubber (5%) and small
quantities of glass, wood, paper and tex-
tiles.
Some of these materials can be recycled,
while others can be recovered in chemical
processes for reuse in new products or as a
source of energy.
While the Saab 9-5 was still at the draw-
ing-board stage, Saab engineers were
giving serious consideration to how the
maximum quantity of materials could be
reclaimed from the car on its eventual
scrapping. To facilitate sorting, plastic parts,
for instance, have been marked to identify
the precise nature of the plastic.
Approximately 90% of the materials in the
car can be recycled or recovered, where
facilities exist.
Before the car is scrapped, all the oils and
other fluids that could pollute the environ-
ment should be recovered from the car. It
may be of interest in this context to learn that
the refrigerant used in the Saab 9-5’s ACC
systems (R134a) contains neither CFCs nor
any other chlorine compounds.
ProCarManuals.com

264 IndexDate code, tires
_________________ 224
Dim-dipped beam ________________ 63
Direction indicators _______________ 65
Door handles
___________________ 34
Door mirrors
___________________ 125
Doors, locks & luggage compartment
_33
Drive belt
______________________ 255
Drive belt, alternator
_____________ 202
Drive belts
_____________________ 255
Drive belts, length
_______________ 255
Driver’s seat, programmable
_______ 122
Driving in hot weather
____________ 173
Driving with a load
______________ 179
EElectric heating seat
_____________ 123
Electric heating, front seats
_______ 123
Electric windows
________________ 127
Electrical system, technical data
____ 254
Electrically heated rear seat
_______ 123
Electronic starting interlock _________ 35
Emergency operation of sunroof
____ 129
Emission control systems
_________ 191
Engine bay, 3.0t V6
_____________ 190
Engine bay, 4-cyl
_______________ 189
Engine bay, cleaning ____________ 233
Engine number
_________________ 259
Engine oil, grade ________________ 253
Engine, description _________ 192
, 193
Engine, technical data
___________ 252
Engine, temperature gauge
________ 55Engine-oil level, checking
_________193
Expansion tank, coolant
__________196
FFault codes, Audio System
________104
Flat spot, tire
___________________229
Fluid level, automatic transmission
__195
Folding the rear seat, 9-5 Sedan
___134
Folding the rear seat, 9-5 Wagon ___137
Frequently asked questions on airbag
30
Front fog lights
__________________66
Frost warning
___________________58
Fuel
__________________________154
Fuel consumption
________________57
Fuel filler flap
___________________145
Fuel gauge
_____________________55
Fuel grade _____________________252
Fuse box under hood
____________219
Fuse panel
____________________215
Fuses
________________________215
GGearbox number
________________259
Gearbox oil, checking
____________195
Gearbox, technical data, __________255
Glove compartment
______________131
HHandbrake
____________________185
Hazard warning lights
_____________66Head restraint
__________________ 18
Headlight flasher ________________ 63
Headlights
_____________________ 63
Holidaying abroad
______________ 236
Hood
________________________ 188
Horn _________________________ 124
IIgnition switch
_________________ 148
Immobilizer
____________________ 35
Indicator and warning lights
________ 48
Indicator lights
__________________ 48
Instrument illumination
___________ 65
Instruments and controls __________ 47
Integral child seat
_______________ 24
Interior equipment ______________ 119
Interior lighting
__________________ 67
Interior rearview mirror
__________ 125
KKey
__________________________ 34
Key to chassis number
__________ 260
Key, remove
__________________ 148
LLabels
_________________________ 8
Leather upholstery, care of
_______ 231
Light horn
_____________________ 63
Light switches __________________ 63
Luggage-compartment lighting
_____ 67
ProCarManuals.com

265 Index
MMain instrument panel
____________ 48
Main/dipped beam
_______________ 63
Maintenance schedule ___________ 242
Manual gearbox, technical data
____ 255
Maxi fuses
_____________________ 216
Milometer ______________________ 54
Motoring abroad
________________ 236
NNight Panel
_____________________ 61
OOil capacity, engine
_____________ 252
Oil change, engine
______________ 194
Oil specification
_________________ 252
OnStar
_______________________ 107
Outdoor temperature
_____________ 57
Owner assistance
_______________ 243
PPaintwork, touching-in
___________ 233
Parking lights
___________________ 63
Plates and labels _______________ 259
Poly-V-belt
____________________ 202
Power steering _________________ 199
Power-steering fluid
_____________ 199
Pressure gauge
_________________ 56
Programming I, ACC
______________ 76Programming II, ACC
_____________77
Programming the ACC ____________76
QQuestions on function of airbag
_____30
Quick guide, Audio System
_________83
RRadio
__________________________86
Rear fog light
____________________64
Rear seat, 9-5 Sedan, folding
______134
Rear seat, 9-5 Wagon, folding _____137
Rear-seat head restraints
__________18
Rear-view mirror, antidazzle _______126
Rearview mirrors
________________125
Reclamation
___________________236
Refuelling
_____________________154
Relay panel ____________________218
Remote control __________________34
Remote-control battery, changing
____37
Remove the key
________________148
Reporting safety defects
__________244
Reprogramming of systems _______261
Reservoir, power-steering fluid _____199
Rev counter
_____________________54
Reversing lights
_________________66
Roof load
______________________176
Running-in _____________________170
SSID
__________________________ 57
SRS (airbag)
___________________ 26
SRS, supplementary restraint system
26
Saab 9-5 Audio System
___________ 81
Saab Information Display (SID)
_____ 57
Safety belts
____________________ 12
Safety belts, care of
_____________ 231
Safety-belt pretensioners
_________ 13
Safety-belt reminder
_____________ 12
Seats
________________________ 120
Securing a load
_________________ 38
Selector lever indication,
automatic transmission
__________ 57
Service costs
__________________ 243
Service information
_____________ 244
Service intervals
_______________ 242
Service record retention
_________ 243
Settings, seats
_________________ 120
Side airbags
___________________ 28
Signalling, horn ________________ 124
Sliding floor, 9-5 Wagon
_________ 142
Snow chains
__________________ 172
Spare wheel __________________ 225
Spare wheel and tools
___________ 144
Spark plugs
___________________ 254
Speed rating __________________ 221
Speedometer ________________ 54
, 55
Starting in cold weather, ACC
______ 76
Starting in hot weather, ACC _______ 76
Steering wheel adjustment
_______ 124
ProCarManuals.com

266 IndexSteering, technical data
__________ 256
Stone-chip damage, repairing
______ 233
Storage compartments
___________ 131
Sun visors
_____________________ 130
Sunroof
_______________________ 128
Suspension
____________________ 256
Suspension, technical data
________ 256
Switches
_______________________ 63
Systems, adjustment
____________ 261
TTCS OFF
______________________ 53
Table of fuses __________________ 217
Tachometer
_____________________ 54
Tailgate, opening
________________ 38
Tank gauge
_____________________ 55
Technical data _________________ 249
Telematics
____________________ 107
Temperature control, ACC
_________ 72
Temperature gauge, engine ________ 55
Temperature zones, ACC
__________ 72
Textile carpeting
________________ 232
Through-load hatch ______________ 136
Tie Downs
_____________________ 136
Tightening torque, wheel studs
_____ 226
Tire markings
_____________ 221
, 222
Tire pressure
______________ 179
, 221
Tires
____________________ 221
, 257
Tools
_________________________ 144
Touching-in the paintwork
_________ 233
Towbar attachment
______________ 174Towbar load
___________________176
Towing the car _________________181
Towing, automatics
______________181
Traction
_______________________169
Trailer weights
__________________251
Trionic
________________________191
Trip computer
___________________57
Trip meter
______________________54
Trunk
_________________________134
Trunk lid, opening
________________38
Turbo gauge
____________________56
Turbo, points to note
_____________151
UUnder the hood, 3.0t V6
__________190
Under the hood, 4-cyl
____________189
Upholstery and trim
______________231
Upholstery and trim, care of
_______231
Useful tips, ACC
_________________78
VVanity mirrors
__________________130
Ventilated front seats
____________123
Viscosity, engine oil
_____________252
WWarning labels
___________________8
Warning light, AIR BAG
___________30
Warning lights
___________________48
Warning triangle ________________144Washers
_____________________ 203
Washers, windshield
____________ 204
Washing the car
_______________ 232
Waxing and polishing
___________ 233
Wear indicators, tires ____________ 223
Wheels and tires
___________ 221
, 257
Wheels and tires, sizes
__________ 257
Window-glass sensor, car alarm
____ 42
Windshield washers
_____________ 68
Windshield wipers
_______________ 68
Wiper blades, headlamp
_________ 203
Wiper blades, replacing __________ 203
Wipers and washers
_________ 68
, 203
ProCarManuals.com