1
Owner’s Manual
Saab 9-5, Model Year 2001
Safety 11
Security 33
Instruments and controls 47
Saab 9-5 Audio System 81
OnStar - Telematics 107
Interior equipment and trunk 119
Starting and driving 147
Car care and technical information 187
Maintenance and owner assistance 241
Specifications 249
Index 263
© Saab Automobile AB 2000
Service Readiness, Saab Automobile AB, Trollhättan, Sweden
Printed in Sweden
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4Exterior
IB580
Roof-rack load _______________ 176
Mounting holes for roof rack ____ 176
Maximum loads ______________ 250
Rearview mirrors _____________ 125
Hood ______________________ 188
Engine compartment: washing __ 233
Central lock ____________ 34
Interior locking buttons ____ 36
Child safety lock catch ____ 37
Trunk/tailgate lid lock _____ 38
Car alarm (anti-theft alarm) 41Front lights _____________ 63
Headlight switch _________ 63
High/low beam
control stalk ____________ 63
Turn signal &
lane change indicators ___ 65
Headlight wipers _________ 68
Changing bulbs ________ 205
Fuel gauge __________________ 55
Fuel filler flap ________________ 154
Refueling ___________________ 154
Fuel economy _______________ 170
Fuel grade __________________ 252
Economical motoring __________ 170
Tire pressure ___________ back cover
Wheel and tire specifications ____ 257
Brakes and braking ___________ 167
Winter driving ________________ 172
Wheels and tires _____________ 221
Wheel changing ______________ 226
Spare wheel _________________ 180
Luggage compartment _________ 134
Folding down the rear seat,
9-5 Sedan ___________________ 134
Folding down the rear seat,
9-5 Wagon __________________ 137
Trunk _______________________ 134
Tool kit ______________________ 144
Spare wheel _____________ 144, 180
Jack ________________________ 226Driving with a trailer ______ 174
Towing ________________ 181
Towrope attachment eyes _ 181Light switches ___________ 63
Changing bulbs _________ 205
Tail lights ____________ 208
Stop lights ___________ 208Sunroof _______________ 128
Washing the car ________ 232
Waxing and polishing ____ 233
Touching-up of paintwork _ 234
Anticorrosion treatment ___ 234
Service program_________ 245
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19 Safety
Child safety
Car safety tips Protect your children from getting
trapped in the trunk of a car
WARNING
Children must always be suitably
restrained in the car. All child
restraints and booster seats are
designed to be secured in vehicle
seats by the lap belt or the lap belt of a
lap-shoulder belt. If the child restraint
is not properly secured, a child can be
endangered in a crash.
NEVER put a child seat in the front.
Children 12 and under can be killed by
the airbag.
According to accident statistics, the
BACK SEAT is SAFER for properly
restrained children than the front seat.
Sit as far back as possible from the air
bag.
WARNING
Never leave your children unattended
in a car, even for a short time.
– Children can suffer heat stroke - per-
haps die - in a matter of minutes.
– Children can put the car into gear and
hurt themselves or others.
At gas stations, take the keys from the
car while filling the tank.
Never allow children to climb on top of -
or under motor vehicles.
Always look for children before backing
your motor vehicle out of a garage or
driveway.
To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning,
never let a car idle in the garage.
Supervise young children around buck-
ets of water while washing your car.
Small children can drown in seconds in
less than an inch of water.
WARNING
Teach your kids not to play in or around
cars.
Watch your children when loading or
unloading the car so they don´t get
locked in by mistake.
Always lock the doors and trunk of your
car, and keep the keys out of children´s
sight and reach.
Keep the rear fold-down seats closed
to help prevent kids from getting into
the trunk from inside the car.
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34 SecurityDoorsDoor handlesPull the handle to open the door.
If the door is stuck (e.g. if frozen), hold the
handle from above to secure a better grip.
Central locking
Key / Remote control The key unit consists of a mechanical key
with integrated remote control.
The mechanical key is used for manual
locking and unlocking.
The remote control is used for remote lock-
ing and unlocking.
The key fits all the car’s locks
The key supplied with the car has a code
number on a black plastic tag that needs to
be quoted for ordering additional keys. You
should therefore make a careful note of the
number.
The key contains a unique electronic code
for your car. When the key is inserted in the
ignition, the code is checked. If it matches,
the car can be started. Two keys are supplied with the car. It is pos-
sible to have up to four at one time that are
coded for your car. If one is lost, contact
your authorized Saab dealer to obtain a
replacement.
NOTE: For this reason, we strongly advise
you to take two keys with you on long jour-
neys and to keep them separate. If all keys
are lost, it will be necessary to replace costly
electronic components as well as the keys
and remotes. This loss and replacement
cost is not covered by the new car warranty.
If an additional key is to be added, all of the
original keys must be brought to the dealer
so that the control module can ”learn” to rec-
ognize the new components.
WARNING
Leaving children or pets unattended in a
locked car is dangerous. It is also danger-
ous to leave children in a vehicle with the
ignition key. A child or others could be
badly injured or even killed.
IB447
Door handle Key / Remote control
1To lock
2 To unlock
3 Opening the trunk (9-5 Sedan)
Unlocking the tailgate (9-5 Wagon)
IB1524
3
2 1
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35 Security
To check the number of keys that are pro-
grammed for the car; see page 45.Electronic starting interlock
(immobilizer)Each time the key is removed from the igni-
tion, the electronic starting interlock is acti-
vated and the car is thus immobilized, see
also page 42.Reprogramming lock system
functionsCertain lock system functions can be repro-
grammed by your authorized Saab work-
shop; see page 261.
Locking/unlocking the car When the car is locked and unlocked the
theft alarm is also affected.
Remote locking (1)
Press once on the control: all doors
locked.
The hazard warning lights will flash once
and the horn chirps once to confirm.
The tailgate cannot be opened now from
inside using the switch on the driver´s door.
Remote unlocking (2)
Press once on the control: the driver´s
door is unlocked. Press a second time to
unlock the rest of the doors.
The hazard warning lights will flash twice
and the horn chirps twice to confirm.
NOTEThe key contains delicate electronics.
Do not expose it to water.
Avoid rough handling.
Do not place the key where it may be
subjected to high temperatures, e.g.
on the instrument panel.
The key may malfunction if it becomes
very cold. Warm it in your hands for a
couple of minutes.
Never open the key except to change the
battery. For changing the battery, see
page 37.
WARNING
The remote control also works from inside
the car. Therefore, hold the key in such a
way that the buttons are not unintention-
ally pressed when the key is turned, or
inserted or removed from the ignition
switch.
Otherwise, the doors may be unintention-
ally locked or the tailgate unlocked. On
Sedan models, the trunk may even be
opened.
IB1557
Locking/unlocking by remote control.1To lock
2 To unlock
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36 SecurityLocking by key (1)
When the car is locked and unlocked the
theft alarm is also affected.
Turn the key clockwise: all doors locked.
The trunk lid/tailgate cannot be opened now
from inside using the switch on the driver’s
door.
Unlocking by key (2)
Turn the key counterclockwise once: the
driver´s door will unlock.
Turn the key counterclockwise twice: all
doors, but not trunk lid/tailgate, unlocked. The central locking can also be operated
from inside the car by means of the
switch on the center console.
To lock all doors: press the symbol side of
the switch once.
To unlock the driver´s door: press the
switch once.
To unlock all doors: press the switch
twice.
This switch is inoperative when the car is
locked from the outside.
The interior locking buttons on each door
affect only the respective door.If the car is left with the doors open, the inte-
rior lighting and the courtesy lights in the
doors will be switched off automatically after
20 minutes, to prevent a flat battery. In such
cases the electrically operated seats will not
function.
WARNING
Having the doors locked when you are
driving will reduce the likelihood of:
Passengers, especially children,
opening doors and falling out of the
car.
Intruders entering the car when it is
moving slowly or stopped.
Being thrown out of the car in a crash.
IB451
Switch for operation of central locking
IB1555
2
1
Locking/unlocking by key1To lock
2 To unlock
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38 SecurityTrunk lid lock, 9-5 SedanThe trunk lid lock is independent of the cen-
tral-locking system. The trunk lid release
switch on the driver’s door is inoperative
when the car is locked from the outside or
moving at a speed greater than 2.7 mph
(4 km/h).Unlocking
The trunk lid is unlocked using:
The button on the key
The trunk lid switch on the inside of the
driver’s door (if the car is unlocked and at
a standstill) or
Manually, using the key in the trunk lid
lock.
Remote unlocking is confirmed by the direc-
tion indicators flashing three times.
The trunk lid switch on the driver’s door is
inoperative when the car is locked.
If the alarm is activated (the car is locked),
the alarm will sound if the trunk lid is
unlocked with a key. However, if the trunk lid
is opened using remote unlocking, the
alarm will not be triggered.
Locking
The trunk lid release is locked automatically
when closed.
IB457
Trunk lid switch
IB1561
Opening the trunk with the key,
9-5 Sedan
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39 Security
Tailgate, 9-5 WagonThe tailgate is not unlocked when the other
car doors are unlocked. The tailgate button
on the driver’s door is inoperative when the
car is locked or moving at a speed greater
than 4 km/h.
Unlocking
The tailgate is unlocked using:
The button on the key
The tailgate switch on the inside of the
driver’s door (if the car is unlocked and at
a standstill) or
Manually, using the key in the trunk lock.
Remote unlocking is confirmed by the direc-
tion indicators flashing three times.
If the alarm is activated (the car is locked),
the alarm will sound if the tailgate is
unlocked with a key. However, if the tail-
gate is opened using remote unlocking, the
alarm will not be triggered. Locking
The tailgate is locked using:
The button on the key
The button on the centre console
The key in the driver’s door.
IB1562
Unlocking the tailgate with a key,
9-5 Wagon
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