2001 SAAB 9-5 check transmission fluid

6Engine compartment,
4-cyl engine
IB583
Engine: description ___________ 192
Engine oil level: checking ______ 193
Engine oil: changing __________ 194
Engine oil specification ________ 253
Brakes and braking ___________ 167
ABS brakes _________________ 167
Brake system ________________ 198
Brake fluid __________________ 257
Brake pads __________________ 257
Fuse panels ___________ 215
Changing a fuse ________ 215
Table of fuses __________ 217
Relays _______________ 218Temperature gauge ______ 55
Driving in hot weather ____ 173
Driving in winter_________ 172
Coolant:
checking/changing __ 196 / 197
Cooling-system capacity _ 252
Power steering __________ 199
Steering fluid: grade _____ 199
Wiper/washer control stalk _ 68
Washer fluid: topping-up __ 204
Washer jets ___________ 204
Jump starting ________________ 183
Battery _____________________ 199
Battery charge _______________ 199
Manual transmission __________ 158
Automatic transmission ________ 159
Manual transmission oil ________ 256
Automatic-transmission fluid ____ 256
Important considerations
for driving ___________________ 151
Turbo unit ___________________ 189
Engine: technical data __________ 252Ignition system _________ 148
Drive belts _____________ 202
Spark plugs ____________ 254
Catalytic converter ______ 152Warning labels ___________ 8
V.I.N. number __________ 259
Engine number _________ 259
Gearbox number ________ 259
Color code _____________ 259
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7
Engine compartment,
3.0t V6
IB585
Warning labels ___________ 8
V.I.N. number __________ 259
Engine number _________ 259
Gearbox number ________ 259
Color code _____________ 259Ignition system _________ 148
Drive belts _____________ 202
Spark plugs ____________ 254
Catalytic converter ______ 152Important considerations
for driving ___________________ 151
Turbo unit ___________________ 189
Engine: technical data __________ 252
Automatic transmission ________ 159
Automatic-transmission fluid ____ 256
Brakes and braking ___________ 167
ABS brakes _________________ 167
Brake system ________________ 198
Brake fluid __________________ 257
Brake pads __________________ 257Jump starting ________________ 183
Battery _____________________ 199
Battery charge _______________ 199
Fuse panels ___________ 215
Changing a fuse ________ 215
Table of fuses __________ 217
Relays _______________ 218Engine temperature gauge _ 55
Driving in hot weather ____ 173
Driving in cold climate ____ 172
Coolant:
checking/changing _ 196 / 197
Cooling-system capacity _ 252
Power steering _________ 199
Steering fluid: grade _____ 199
Wiper/washer control stalk _ 68
Washer fluid: topping-up __ 204
Washer jets ___________ 204
Engine: description ___________ 192
Engine oil level: checking ______ 193
Engine oil: changing __________ 194
Engine oil specification ________ 253
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51 Instruments and controls
CHECK message indicator
This light indicates that there is a message
in the SID. A chime will also sound
(see page 61).
Central warning light
This light will come on and a chime will
sound if a fault has been detected in any
system that is critical to safety. Any of the
following can activate the central warning
light and alarm:
 Airbag system.
 Low oil pressure in engine.
 Parking brake is on (when car is moving).
 Brake fluid level low.
 Fault detected in ABS system.
 Electronic brake force distribution (distri-
bution of brake pressure between front
and rear wheels).
 Engine overheating.
 Alternator not charging properly.
Engine malfunction
(CHECK ENGINE)
This light indicates a malfunction in the
fuel-injection or ignition system. The car
may still be driven with care and with some-
what diminished performance (see page
151).
Indicator, fuel
This light comes on when there is less than
about 2.5 gallons (10 liters) of fuel left in the
tank.
WARNING
An illuminated ”Engine malfunction
(CHECK ENGINE)” indicator light indi-
cates a serious engine-related problem.
While your car may be able to be driven
with the ”Engine malfunction (CHECK
ENGINE)” indicator light illuminated
(Limp-home mode), you are advised to
have your car serviced at an authorized
Saab dealer as soon as possible.
Continued driving without this problem
being corrected might cause serious
further damage to your car and create
unsafe driving conditions. The operator
should be prepared to take action if such
unsafe conditions arise (e.g., apply the
brakes, disengage transmission, turn off
the ignition etc.).
NOTEThe car should be checked immediately
at an authorized Saab dealer to prevent
more serious faults from arising.NOTEIf the car runs out of fuel, air can be drawn
in with the fuel, which, in turn, can cause
the catalytic converter to be damaged by
overheating.
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61 Instruments and controls
CHECK messages When the engine is started, CHECKING will
appear on the display for about four sec-
onds, while the SID checks are being per-
formed.
When a CHECK message is generated
while the car is being driven, a chime will
sound, INFO DISPL will illuminate on on the
main instrument panel, and the message
will appear on the SID. The number of mes-
sages that can be displayed by the SID
varies with the specification of the car.
If more than one CHECK message has
been generated, the
+ symbol will appear to
the left of the text on the display. The mes-
sages appear in order of priority.
If a new fault occurs while another message
is being displayed, the message relating to
the new one will appear for 10 seconds,
after which the display will return to the ear-
lier one.
Press CLEAR once to acknowledge a mes-
sage, whereupon it will be cleared from the
display. It will not be displayed again before
the ignition has been switched off and then
on again. The following messages may be displayed:
1 This message will be displayed approxi-
mately 600 miles (1,000 km) before the next
scheduled service is due, or when 365 days
have elapsed since the last service. The
message should be cleared at the time of that
service (see the Saab Warranties & Service
Record Booklet).
This message can also be deleted by first
briefly pressing the CLEAR button, then
depressing it a second time for at least eight
seconds until ”SERVICE” appears on the dis-
play and a chime sounds. The message can
only be deleted when it is shown on the SID.
Night panelTo improve night-driving conditions inside
the car, the Night Panel mode can be
selected. In this mode, the amount of infor-
mation displayed is reduced, and only the
most important instruments and displays
will be illuminated.
When the Night Panel button is pressed,
only the speedometer will be illuminated (up
to the 87-mph or 140-km/h graduation), all
the other instruments illumination being
extinguished and their needles moved to
zero. Both the SID and the ACC displays will
be extinguished and the backlighting for
switches and other controls will be dimmed.
Note: All indicator and warning lights,
together with the display of CHECK mes-
sages, will operate as normal, except ”Out-
door temperature (Frost warning)”, see
page 58. Message See
page
FRONT LIGHT FAILURE 205
REAR LIGHT FAILURE 208
FOG LIGHT FAILURE 209
BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE 208
WASHER FLUID LEVEL LOW 204
FILL COOLANT FLUID 196
REPLACE KEY BATTERY 37
KEY NOT ACCEPTED 45
SERVICE THEFT ALARM 45
TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING 162
TIGHTEN FUEL FILLER CAP 154
TIME FOR SERVICE
1)
242
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195 Car care and technical information
Transmission fluidManual transmission Check and top up the fluid in accordance
with the service program.
If original fluid cannot can be obtained for
topping up (see page 255), automatic trans-
mission fluid Dexron III (synthetic fluid) can
be used. If so, the car should be taken to an
authorized Saab dealer as soon as possible
to have the reason for low fluid level cor-
rected and original fluid installed.Automatic transmission Check the fluid level as follows:
1 Stand the car on level ground and apply
the parking brake. The automatic trans-
mission fluid must be at normal running
temperature, approximately 175°F
(80°C). This can be achieved by driving
the car for about 30 min on the open
road.
2 With the engine idling, move the selector
lever to D and wait for at least
15 seconds. Next, move the selector
lever to R and wait for 15 seconds again.
Finally, move the selector lever to P. Let
the engine idle.
3 Wipe the dipstick clean with a lint-free
cloth and put it back.
4 With the fluid at normal temperature, the
level should be between the MAX and
MIN marks on the dipstick. Top up, as
necessary, with Texaco Texamatic
Dexron III automatic transmission fluid
(mineral oil-based), adding it through the dipstick pipe. The distance between
the MIN and MAX marks on the dipstick
corresponds to a volume of approxi-
mately 0.4 qts (0.4 liter).
If the outside temperature is below 50°F
(10°C), the fluid will not reach the specified
temperature of 175°F (80°C). In this case,
the correct fluid level may be 0.8 in (20 mm)
below the MAX mark.
WARNING
 Prolonged and repeated exposure of
the skin to engine oil can cause seri-
ous skin disorders.
 Avoid prolonged skin contact when-
ever possible. Wash the affected area
thoroughly with soap and water after
any contact.
 Keep oil out of reach of children.
 Do not touch the turbocharger or
manifold. These get very hot when the
engine has been running.
 Do not spill oil on hot parts of the
engine as this could cause a fire. Used
engine oil is particularly flammable.
 Protect the environment. Do not dis-
pose of oil in the ground or down a
drain. Dispose of all used oil and oil fil-
ters at an appropriate disposal facility.
NOTEIf there is a smell of burning fluid or the
fluid is black, change the fluid.
+80°
MIN MAX
+80°
IB495
Dipstick for automatic-transmission fluid
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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.
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243 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
locality.
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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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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