2002 SAAB 9-3 remote control

171 Starting and driving
 Driving in a low gear results in higher fuel
consumption than in a high gear because
of the lower engine speed for a given road
speed. Always change up to a higher gear
as soon as traffic conditions allow and use
the highest gear as much as possible.
 Check the air pressure in the tires once a
month. Incorrect pressures increase tire
wear. It is better to have slightly higher
pressure than lower.
 Check fuel consumption regularly.
Increased consumption can indicate that
something is wrong and that the car
needs to be checked by an authorized
Saab dealer.
Practical tests on the roads have demon-
strated that substantial savings in fuel con-
sumption can be made if the above advice
is heeded.Road conditions Wet roads increase fuel consumption, as do
unpaved roads and driving in hilly country
(the amount of fuel saved driving downhill is
less than the additional amount required to
climb the hill).
Engine block heater (standard
equipment in Canada, accessory in
U.S.)The following are just some of the benefits
to the car and the environment of using an
engine block heater:
 Lower fuel consumption.
 Reduced wear on the engine.
 Inside of car warms up faster.
 Exhaust emissions substantially reduced
over short runs.
The engine block heater is effective with
outside temperatures up to +60 – +70°F
(+15 – +20°C). The warmer it is outside, the
shorter the time the heater need be con-
nected. Longer than 1.5 hours is unneces-
sary.
If the car is equipped with a removable elec-
trical cabin heater that is not in use, this
should be stored in the luggage compart-
ment.
Driving 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.
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184 Starting and drivingDriving considerations
with compact spare
wheel/tire fitted The following should be observed when the
compact spare wheel (T115/70 R16) is
installed:
The compact spare is light and easy to
handle when changing the wheel. Do not
drive farther than necessary with the com-
pact spare fitted – the maximum life of the
wheel is only just over 2000 miles
(3,500 km). Have the standard wheel
repaired and reinstalled as soon as possi-
ble.Points to bear in mind when driving with a
compact spare wheel:
 The car’s ground clearance is reduced
with the compact spare fitted.
 Only one compact spare wheel may be
used at any time.
 Take care not to hit the curb.
 Do not fit snow chains.
 Leave the wheel cover off, so that the
warning text is readily visible.
For long tripsBefore starting off on a long journey, it is
advisable to have your car inspected 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 fuel 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 wear.
 Check the battery charge.
 Check the tires for tread pattern and air
pressure, including the compact spare
wheel.
 Take an extra car key/remote control and
keep it separate, see also page 36.
 Check the brakes.
 Check all bulbs.
 Check for the presence of the tool kit and
the jack in the car.
WARNING
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) as the
tire can overheat and adversely affect the
handling of the car.
The tire should be inflated to 60 psi
(420 kPa).
NOTETo avoid damaging a punctured alloy
wheel this can be placed outside up in the
spare-wheel well but only while driving to
the closest dealer.
A general rule is that all heavy loads must
be well secured in the luggage compart-
ment, see page 142.
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249 Index
MMain beam
_____________________ 75
Main instrument panel
_____________ 60
Maintenance schedule ___________ 230
Manual climate-control system
______ 80
Manual raising of the soft top,
Convertible
____________________ 52
Manual transmission
_____________ 155
Manually opening the fuel filler door,
Convertible
____________________ 58
Manually opening the fuel filler door,
Coupé and 5-door
______________ 144
Maxi fuses
_____________________ 207
Memory, driver’s seat
____________ 128
Motoring abroad
________________ 184
NNight Panel
_____________________ 73
OORVR
________________________ 189
Odometer ______________________ 66
Oil specification
_________________ 237
OnStar
________________________ 111
Opening handle
__________________ 36
Owner assistance _______________ 231
PPaint touch-up
__________________221
Parcel shelf
____________________141
Park Brake Shift Lock
____________158
Parking brake
__________________168
Parking lights ____________________75
Plates and labels
________________243
Power steering fluid, check
________195
Power steering oil, grade
_________241
Pressure gauge
__________________67
Programmable driver’s seat
_______128
Programming, ACC
_______________90
RRadio
__________________________98
Raising the soft top, Convertible
_____51
Rear fog light
____________________77
Rear seat
______________________138
Rear seat, tipping
_______________138
Rearview mirrors ________________137
Rear-window wiper _______________79
Recirculation
____________________82
Recycling
______________________224
Refuelling _____________________151
Relay table ____________________209
Release handle, hood
____________186
Remote control
__________________36
Remote control battery, changing
____39
Removing the key
_______________146
Reporting safety defects
__________232Rev counter
____________________ 66
Reversing lights
_________________ 77
Roof rack
_____________________ 176
Rotating the tires
_______________ 212
Running-in
____________________ 155
SSAHR, head restraint
____________ 18
SID (Side Instrument Display)
______ 69
SRS (airbag)
___________________ 28
Saab Audio System
______________ 93
Saab Trionic engine management
system
______________________ 189
Safety belts ____________________ 12
Safety belts, care of
_____________ 218
Seat belts
_____________________ 12
Seat-belt pretensioners
___________ 13
Seats
________________________ 124
Service costs
__________________ 231
Service information
_____________ 232
Service intervals
_______________ 230
Service record retention
_________ 231
Side airbags
___________________ 30
Ski hatch
_____________________ 141
Snow tires ____________________ 242
Soft top storage, Convertible
_______ 56
Spare wheel
__________________ 143
Speedometer ___________________ 66
Starting the engine
_____________ 147
Steering-wheel adjustment
_______ 131
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