
231 Car care and technical information
Safety beltsRegularly check the function of the safety
belts as follows:
Hold the diagonal strap and pull it sharply.
The safety belt should lock and it should
not be possible to withdraw it further.
Check the anchorage points in the floor.
They must not have suffered rust damage.
There must be no frayed threads in the web-
bing.
Safety belts must not come into contact with
substances such as polishes, oils or other
chemicals. If the straps are dirty, wash them
with warm water and a detergent or have
them replaced.
Upholstery and trimTo remove fluff or hairs from the seat uphol-
stery or headlining, use a moist, lint-free
cloth or a special lint remover (brush or
roller). Remove any dirty marks using a
cloth moistened with lukewarm soapy
water.
When using a stain remover, always work
from the outside towards the center to avoid
leaving a ring. If a soiled ring or spot should
remain, it can usually be removed using
lukewarm soapy water or water alone.
Wet patches left by spilt soft drinks or thin oil
must be wiped off immediately using an
absorbent material, such as kitchen paper,
and treated with stain remover.
Alcohol is recommended for removing
grease or oil stains, and a semi-stiff brush
may also be used.
Cleaning and caring for leather
upholsteryThe principal reason for treating leather
upholstery is to maintain its elegant appear-
ance and to provide it with a protective film.
Discoloration caused by dust and wear
mainly affects the lighter shades, although
this is not detrimental to the leather –
indeed, the patina resulting from use is often
considered desirable in leather. But if the
leather is allowed to become too grubby, it
can start to look shabby.
It is a good idea to clean and recondition the
leather twice a year – in conjunction with a
general spring-cleaning of the car – after the
winter and in the autumn, for instance. In
hot, dry climates, the leather will need to be
treated more frequently.
Moisten a soft cloth in a mild soap solution.
Carefully apply this damp (not wet) cloth to
the leather, working in light, circular move-
ments until the leather is clean. Repeat the
procedure using clean water and then leave
the leather to dry thoroughly. Finally, treat
the leather with a leather conditioner.
WARNING
If the car is involved in a collision, the
safety belts, belt pretensioners and other
components must be inspected by an
authorized Saab dealer.
Never make any alterations or repairs to
the safety belt yourself but visit an autho-
rized Saab dealer.
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235 Car care and technical information
What causes rust?Steel body panels of automobiles are sub-
ject to rusting whenever air and moisture
manage to penetrate the protective finish,
and body panels may rust through if the pro-
cess is unchecked. Rusting can occur wher-
ever water is trapped or where the car’s
panels are continuously damp. Damage to
paint and undercoating by stones, gravel
and minor accidents immediately exposes
metal to air and moisture. Road salts used
for de-icing will collect on the bottom of the
car and promote rusting. Areas of the coun-
try with high humidity have great potential
for rust problems, especially where salt is
used on roads or there is moist sea air.
Industrial pollution (fallout) may also
damage paint and promote rusting.
Preventive maintenanceThe following procedures are necessary to
help protect against rusting. Refer also to
the terms and conditions of the Sheet Metal
Coverage described in the warranty book-
let.
1Wash the car frequently, and wax at
least twice a year. Under adverse con-
ditions, where there is a rapid buildup of
dirt, sand or road salt, wash your car at
least once a week. After extreme expo-
sure to salted snow or slush, evidenced
by a white film on the car, wash the car
immediately. Frequent washing will pre-
vent paint damage from acid rain and
other airborne contaminants such as
tree sap and bird droppings. If any of
these contaminants are noticed on the
car the finish should be washed immedi-
ately.
Begin washing by rinsing the entire car
with water to loosen and flush off heavy
concentrations of dirt (include the
underbody).
Sponge the car with a solution of either
a good quality car soap or mild general
purpose (dish washing) detergent and
water.
Rinse car thoroughly with clean water.
After washing, check and clear all
drains in doors and body panels.
Wipe the car dry, preferably using a
chamois.2Clean the underside of the car during
the winter. Use high pressure water to
clean the car’s underside (floor panels,
wheel wells) at least at mid- winter and
in the spring.
3Inspect the car frequently for leaks or
damage, and arrange for needed
repairs promptly. After washing or after
heavy rain, check for leaks. When wash-
ing the car inspect body surfaces for
paint damage. While checking for leaks,
lift the floor mats and check beneath
them. Water can collect in these areas
and remain for prolonged periods. Dry
any wet areas including the floor mats.
Have leaks repaired as soon as possi-
ble.
Use touch-up paint to repair small
scratches or minor finish damage. Areas
where metal is exposed will rust quickly
and MUST be repaired immediately by
touch-up or professional repainting.
Rust must be removed, the bare metal
primed and painted. Major body
damage should be repaired immediately
and new panels or exposed areas
should be undercoated with anti- corro-
sion material.
Repairs of this type are the owner’s
responsibility and are not covered under
warranty.
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246 Maintenance and owner assistance* These are the minimum required Emission Control System maintenance steps. Saab urges that all recommended maintenance procedures be performed
according to this program.
(b.) Change automatic transmission fluid at more frequent intervals (20,000; 50,000; 80,000 miles, etc.) if car is driven in dense city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reach 90°F or higher, or if car is used in a mountainous/high altitude area or for trailer towing.
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 (cont.)
E Evaporative emission system including filler cap, vapor
lines, EVAP canister and canister purge valve"
R Fuel system: leaks and damage""""""""""
E Fuel filter!
E Engine air cleaner element!
*
!*
!*
R Exhaust system and mountings; leaks and condition""""""""""
Electrical
R Battery: state of charge and electrolyte level; clean termi-
nals if necessary"""""""""""
R Head, fog, brake, tail, turn signal, warning lights instru-
ment panel, backup and marker lamps"""""""""""
Transmission
R Automatic transmission fluid change (b.)!!!
R Automatic transmission oil level"""""""""""
R Manual transmission oil level"""
R Outer and inner driver joint boots""""""""""
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263 Index
Index
AA/C system, fault diagnosis
_______ 230
A/C system, maintenance
_________ 230
ABS brakes
____________________ 167
ACC
__________________________ 70
ACC functions
___________________ 73
ACC, automatic climate control
_____ 70
ACC, calibration
_________________ 78
ACC, condensation _______________ 79
ACC, programming _______________ 76
ACC, useful tips
_________________ 78
Adjusting the steering wheel
_______ 124
Adjustment, seats
_______________ 120
Afterheater, V6-engine cars
________ 80
Air conditioning (A/C), fault diagnosis
and maintenance
______________ 230
Air distribution, ACC ______________ 75
Airbag
_________________________ 26
Alarm _________________________ 41
Alarm functions
__________________ 44
Alarm signals
_______________ 41
, 44
Alternator
_____________________ 202
Alternator drive belt
_________ 202
, 255
Alternator rating
________________ 254
Anticorrosion treatment
___________ 234
Antidazzle rear-view mirror
________ 126
Ashtrays
______________________ 130
Audio System
___________________ 81
Audio System, quick guide
_________ 83Autochecking of lights on starting
____54
Automatic climate control (ACC) _____70
Automatic transmission,
technical data
_________________256
BBattery
________________________199
Battery charging/replacing
________201
Battery, boost starting
____________183
Belt guide
______________________12
Boost starting using jump leads
____183
Booster cushion
_________________24
Brake and clutch fluid
____________198
Brake-fluid reservoir
_____________198
Brakes, technical data ____________257
Bulbs, changing
________________205
Bulbs, table of
__________________214
CCD changer
_____________________93
CD player
______________________91
CHECK messages
_______________61
CHECKING
_____________________61
Calibration, ACC
_________________78
Cancelling the programmed settings
_76
Car alarm
______________________41
Car care
______________________187
Car phone, installation
___________103
Cargo net, 9-5 Wagon ____________141
Carpeting, care of
_______________232Cassette player
_________________ 88
Catalytic converter,
important considerations
________ 152
Central locking
__________________ 34
Change language in SID
__________ 62
Change of address notification
____ 244
Changing a wheel
______________ 226
Changing bulbs
________________ 205
Changing the coolant
___________ 197
Changing the wheels round
_______ 222
Changing wiper blades
__________ 203
Chassis number
_______________ 259
Chassis number, key to
__________ 260
Child safety
____________________ 19
Child safety locks, rear doors
______ 37
Child seat, integral
_______________ 24
Cleaning, engine bay ____________ 233
Clock
______________________ 61
, 62
Colour code, body
______________ 259
Colour code, trim _______________ 259
Compact spare wheel
___________ 225
Condensation, ACC
______________ 79
Coolant
______________________ 196
Coolant, changing
______________ 197
Courtesy Headlight Feature
_______ 64
Cruise control
_________________ 166
Cup holder
____________________ 133
DDICE/TWICE
__________________ 216
Dampers
_____________________ 256
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