2002 SAAB 9-3 steering

197 Car care
Drive beltThe alternator is situated on the right-hand
side of the engine. It is driven via a poly-V
belt from the crankshaft pulley.
The poly-V-belt also drives the water pump,
the A/C compressor and the steering servo
pump.
The belt tension is critical, and is adjusted
by an automatic belt tensioner.
See also page 61, "Warning charging".
WARNING
 Keep hands and clothing clear of drive
belts when engine is running.
 Always stop the engine before
inspecting drive belts.
 The fan can start even when the
engine is switched off.NOTESerious damage can occur to the car’s
electrical system if an alternator lead is
disconnected while the engine is running.
IB929
Drive belt
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209 Car care
Relay holderUnder the instrument panel next to the steering wheel No. Amp Function
21 10 Switch, manual A/C; soft top (Convertible)
22 15 Direction indicators; Cruise Control
23 20 Soft top (Convertible); telephone
24 7.5 Radio
25 30 Central locking; amplifier
26 30 Control module, engine management system
27 15 High beam flash; ACC
28 10 Control module, engine management system
29 10 Right parking light; license plate lighting
30 10 Left parking light
31 20 Reversing light; windshield wipers; headlight
beam-length adjustment
32 15 Fuel pump
33 15 Electric heating of rear seat
34 10 SID; control module; automatic transmission
35 15 DICE/TWICE; main instrument panel; interior light-
ing
36 10 Relay, starter
37 15 Limp-home
38 25 Oxygen sensor (lambda probe)
39 – –
S–SpareItem Function
A Electric heating of rear seat
B Reversing light, cars with automatic transmission
C1 –
C2 Lock motor, trunk lid
D1 Rear wiper
D2 Rear-window washing
E Ignition switch
F–
G1 Horn
G2 Windshield wipers (intermittent)
H Rear-window heating
IFuel pump
J–
KStart relay
L Main relay (injection system)
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211 Car care
WheelsAlternative wheels and tiresIf you wish to fit other tires or wheels than
those supplied with the car, consult your
Saab dealer first as to the possibilities avail-
able.
Wheels/tires combinations that are not
approved by Saab can negatively affect the
car´s directional stability, steering and brak-
ing in both wet and dry conditions.
Do not assume that a wheel/tire combina-
tion will function properly just because it will
bolt on.
To ensure that the speedometer is as accu-
rate as possible it should be reprogrammed
if wheels of a different dimension are fitted.
Contact an authorized Saab dealer.
The wheels and tires have been carefully
matched to the characteristics of the car and
play a key role in its outstanding roadhold-
ing and handling.
Tire pressureTires need to be inflated to suit the load car-
ried and the maximum speed the car will be
driven (see the recommended tire pres-
sures on the back cover). Tire pressure
label, see page 243.
Note that all values apply to cold tires. For
tires with an aspect ratio less than /60,
increase the tire pressure by 3 psi (20 kPa)
for rough roads with potholes to minimize
the risk of rim damage.
Never reduce the pressure of a hot tire. If the
tires are hot when you check them, only
increase the pressure, if necessary.
Soft tires will cause faster wear than
over-pressurized tires. They also increase
fuel consumption.
If a valve is leaking, simply unscrew it and fit
a new one.
Important! Remember to adjust the tire
pressures if you change the load in the car
or intend to cruise at a substantially higher
or lower speed than normal.
NOTEFor wide wheels and/or low-profile tires,
bear in mind the following:
 Tires and wheels can be damaged in
potholes etc.
 Springs, shock absorbers and wheel
bearings and body mountings can be
overloaded.
 The wheels can come into contact with
chassis and body components.
 The speed and load limits for the tires
must not be exceeded; see page 212.
 Wheels larger than 17” must not be
fitted on the Saab 9-3. For Viggen
models the wheel should not be larger
than 17”. The maximum permissible
offset for the 9-3 is 49 mm and for the
Viggen 42 mm.
 Wheels smaller than 16” must not be
fitted on Viggen models. Fitting a
smaller size wheel on a Viggen is not
possible due to the size of the brake
discs.
NOTECheck the tire pressures at least once
per month.
Underinflation is the main cause of:
 Tires wearing out prematurely.
 Damage to the sidewalls.
 Damage to the wheels.
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218 Car care
Flat spottingAll tires get hot, especially on long journeys
or when the car is driven hard. After the car
has been parked with hot tires and the tires
have cooled down, a flat spot can form in the
tire, where it is in contact with the ground.
The same can occur if the car has not been
moved for a long time.
Flat spots can cause vibration that can be
felt through the steering wheel, similar to
that experienced when the wheels need bal-
ancing. Flat spots of this type disappear
once the tires get hot again, usually after
10–15 miles (20–25 km) of driving at cruis-
ing speed.
Safety beltsA check should be made periodically to
ensure that the safety belts are working
properly.
 Hold the diagonal strap and pull it sharply.
The safety belt should lock and it should
not be possible to withdraw it further.
A sharp tug on the belt should cause the
inertia reel to lock. Check the floor anchor-
age points for corrosion damage. If a belt is
worn or has any fraying edges, it should be
replaced.
Safety belts must not come into contact with
substances such as polishes, oil or chemi-
cals. If the belts get dirty, wash them with
warm water and a detergent or have them
replaced.
WARNING
Safety belts and belt pretensioners that
were in use in a serious crash must be
replaced even if they are not visibly
damaged.
No attempt must be made to repair, or
modify the function of, safety belts.
IB923
Removing the wheel cover
IB925
Tightening sequence, wheel bolts
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233 Technical data
Technical dataGeneral dimensions......... 234
Engine ............................... 237
Engine oil .......................... 237
Fuel.................................... 239
Engine variants ................ 239
Electrical system.............. 240
Drive belts......................... 240
Manual transmission ....... 240
Automatic transmission .. 240
Suspension....................... 241
Steering............................. 241
Brake system.................... 241
Rims and tires .................. 242
Plates and labels .............. 243
IB993
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241 Technical data
Suspension
SteeringBrake systemSpring type, front and rear ____________ Coil springs
Maximum deflection of springs:
front, Coupé/5-door/Convertible _______ 6.4" (163 mm)
front, Viggen ______________________ 6.5” (165 mm)
rear, Coupé/5-door/Convertible _______ 8.3" (212 mm)
rear, Viggen ______________________ 7.9” (200 mm)
Dampers, front and rear ______________ Gas-filled tele-
scopic shock
absorbers
Steering __________________________ Power-assisted
steering gear of
rack-and-pinion
type with tele-
scopic, universal
joint steering- col-
umn shaft
Number of turns, lock to lock __________ 3.0
Oil type ___________________________ Power Steering
Fluid CHF 11S Footbrake (ABS) ___________________ Hydraulic disc
brakes with vacuum
servo, diagonally
split circuits
Parking brake ______________________ Acts on rear wheels
Brake fluid ________________________ DOT 4
Do not use DOT 5
Disc diameter:
front, Coupé/5-door/Convertible _______ 11.4" (288 mm)
front, Viggen ______________________ 12.0” (306 mm)
rear ____________________________ 11.3" (286 mm)
Total friction area of brake pads:
front, Coupé/5-door/Convertible _______ 34.4 in² (224 cm²)
front, Viggen ______________________ 35.9 in² (234 cm²)
rear ____________________________ 14.2 in² (92 cm²)
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247 Index
IndexAA/C system, fault diagnosis
________ 226
A/C system, maintenance _________ 226
ACC
__________________________ 84
ACC, useful tips
_________________ 92
Adjustment, steering wheel
________ 131
Air conditioning (A/C), fault diagnosis
and maintenance
______________ 226
Airbag
_________________________ 28
Alarm __________________________ 41
Alarm functions
__________________ 44
Alarm signals
___________________ 44
Anti-corrosion treatment
__________ 222
Anti-theft system
_________________ 41
Ashtray
_______________________ 135
Audio System
___________________ 93
Automatic climate control (ACC)
_____ 84
Automatic transmission
___________ 156
BBattery
________________________ 195
Boost starting from donor battery
___ 181
Brake fluid, check
_______________ 194
Brake fluid, grade _______________ 241
Brake pad wear indicators
___ 164
, 194
Brakes
________________________ 164Braking
_______________________164
Bulb table _____________________205
CCD changer
____________________102
CD player
_____________________100
CHECK messages
_______________72
CHECKING
_____________________72
Cabin lighting __________________133
Calibration, ACC _________________90
Car alarm
______________________41
Care of safety belts
______________218
Central locking
__________________36
Change of address notification
_____232
Changing a wheel
_______________215
Changing bulbs
_________________200
Changing the engine oil
__________190
Changing the key battery __________39
Changing the wheels round _______212
Changing wiper blades
___________198
Chassis number
________________243
Child car seats
__________________19
Child safety
_____________________19
Child safety locks, rear doors
_______39
Child seats
_____________________19
Cigar lighter ____________________135
Cleaning the soft top, Convertible
____57
Climate-control system, manual
_____80
Compact spare wheel
____________214
Condensation water, A/C __________82Condensation water, ACC
_________ 85
Convertible
____________________ 47
Coolant
______________________ 192
Courtesy Headlight Feature
_______ 76
Cruise Control
_________________ 163
Cup holder
____________________ 134
DDICE/TWICE
__________________ 207
Date code, tires ________________ 214
Dim low beam
__________________ 75
Dimmer
_______________________ 78
Direction indicators
______________ 76
Direction-indicator stalk
___________ 76
Dome lighting
_________________ 133
Door mirrors
__________________ 137
Drive belt
_____________________ 197
Driving in deep water
____________ 179
Driving in hot weather ___________ 173
Driving technique
_______________ 170
Driving with a compact spare wheel

184
Driving with a load
______________ 178
Driving with a roof load
__________ 176
Driving with the trunk lid open
_____ 179
EEconomical motoring
____________ 170
Electrical system, technical data
___ 240
Electrical window
_______________ 130
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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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