3
Instrument panel
IB1080
Indicator and warning lights ______ 48
Speedometer _________________ 55
Odometer and trip meter ________ 54
Fuel gauge __________________ 55
Engine temperature gauge ______ 55
Parking lights ____________ 63
High/low beam __________ 63
Daytime running lights _____ 63
Rear fog light ____________ 64
Instrument illumination _____ 65
Changing bulbs _________ 205High/low beam control stalk 63
Turn signal and lane change
indicator _______________ 65
Cruise control __________ 166Front fog lights ___________ 66
Ashtrays ___________________ 130
Cigarette lighter ______________ 130
Tr i p c o m p u t e r
(Saab Information Display, SID) __ 57
Night panel __________________ 61
Clock _______________________ 62
Traction Control (TCS) Switch 53, 169
OnStar switch ________________ 108
Wipers and washers ______ 68
Rear wiper ______________ 69
Washer fluid ___________ 203
Replacing wiper blades __ 203Audio system ___________ 81
Steering-wheel controls____ 98Hazard warning lights _____ 66Climate control system:
automatic _____________ 70
Air conditioning: simple
fault diagnosis _________ 230
Seat heating controls __________ 123
Ventilated front seats ___________ 123Audio system steering-wheel
controls ________________ 98
ProCarManuals.com
68 Instruments and controlsWipers and washers There are three intermittent wiper positions.
Moving the control stalk to the
spring-loaded position between 0 and 2 will
produce a single sweep of the wipers.
The wipers are designed for optimal clean-
ing at all driving speeds. At higher speeds,
it may be possible to detect a slight ”sweep-
ing” sound. This may be due to the
increased air pressure on the blades at
higher speeds.Washers When the washers are operated, the wipers
will make 3, 4 or 5 sweeps, depending on
how long the washers were kept on. If the
speed of the car is less than 12 mph
(20 km/h), the wipers will make an addi-
tional sweep after 9 seconds. Headlight wipersThe headlight wipers will operate at the
same time as the windshield washers are
activated. The headlights cannot be wiped
separately.
IB359
0
41
2
3
0 OFF
1 Intermittent operation
2 Low speed
3 High speed
4 Washers
12
IB569
Control for setting wiper delay1 Long delay
2 Short delay
ProCarManuals.com
172 Starting and drivingDriving in cold weatherBefore starting a journey in cold weather
you should check the following:
That the wiper blades have not become
frozen to the windshield/glass.
Brush any snow away from the air intake
for the heater system (opening between
hood and windshield).
It may be advisable to lubricate the
door-lock cylinder (use molybdenum
disulphide, MoS
2) to prevent its freezing.
If the lock has frozen, take care not to
break the key (or use the remote control)
– heat it first or spray it with de-icer.
Periodically during the winter, add gaso-
line anti-freeze to the fuel to dispel any
condensation in the fuel tank which could
freeze and cause problems in the system.
Keep the tank well filled to reduce the risk
of condensation forming.
If the car is parked outside in freezing
weather, fuel additives (gasoline
anti-freeze) will not do any good as it
cannot remove water that has already fro-
zen. Park the car in a warm place so that
any ice that may have built up melts, then
add gasoline anti-freeze when filling up
the tank. Condensation is caused by
changes in the outdoor temperature or by
the car being parked alternately in a
garage and outside.
It is particularly important when the roads
are slippery that the brakes and tires be in
good condition. Check the anti-freeze in the engine cool-
ant, see page 196.
The car´s trip computer will warn you when
there is a risk of slippery conditions. For fur-
ther information on this function, see page
58.
The car is equipped with tires designed to
provide optimum grip on both wet and dry
roads, although this has been achieved at
the expense of somewhat reduced grip on
snow and ice. For regular driving on snow
and ice, we therefore recommend that
winter (snow) tires be fitted.
Winter (snow) tires, particularly studded
tires (where use is legally permitted), gener-
ally make driving safer on snow and ice.
Acquaint yourself with the legal provi-
sions governing the use of different
types of winter tires and snow chains.
Studded tires are not allowed in some
countries.If winter tires are fitted, the same type must
be fitted on all wheels. Your Saab dealer will
be pleased to advise you on the best tires for
your car.
Remember that tires age. It may therefore
be necessary to change them before they
reach the legal wear limit, as they gradually
lose their friction properties.
The best response if the car gets into a
front-wheel skid is to freewheel (manual
gearbox only), i.e. disengage the clutch (so
that the wheels are neither driven or
retarded by the engine.
If the car has automatic transmission, ease
up on the accelerator and steer carefully in
the desired direction.
In a rear-wheel skid, steer in the same direc-
tion that the rear of the car is moving.
ProCarManuals.com
203 Car care and technical information
Wipers and washersCheck and clean all wiper blades regularly.
We recommend Saab washer fluid for
cleaning.
If poor wiper performance is experienced,
clean the windshield with Saab washer fluid.
This is particularly important if the car has
been through an automatic car wash, as
these sometimes leave a wax coating on the
windshield.
If wiper performance is still unsatisfactory,
fit new blades.
Changing the windshield wiper
bladesLift the wiper arm off the windshield
1 Depress the catch.
2 Pull the complete blade assembly down
to free it from the wiper arm, and then lift
it off the arm.
Changing headlight-wiper blades 1 Lift the wiper arm off the headlight.
2 Release the wiper blade by pulling it
straight down, at right angles to the
wiper arm.
To fit the new blade, slot the blade into the
retainer on the wiper arm, and press it firmly
home.
IB506
2
1
IB505
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
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.
ProCarManuals.com
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
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