80 Instruments and controlsManual climate-control
systemThe air is drawn in through an intake at the
bottom edge of the windshield. It passes
through an efficient filter before being
routed through the climate-control system
and into the cabin. The cabin discharge vent
is located on the right behind the rear
bumper. The air discharge vents should be
kept free of snow and ice in the winter.
The rate of air flow inside the car is con-
trolled by means of the fan switch. Temperature control The temperature of the incoming air can
be steplessly varied using the temperature
control.
Air distribution The air distribution control is used to direct
the flow of air to the defroster, dash and floor
vents.
The control permits settings intermediately
between the three main settings so that the
available air can be apportioned between
the floor and the windshield (defroster) or
between the floor and the panel.
To counter cold drafts from the front side
windows when the control has been set to
defroster or floor, a small flow of air issues
from the dash vents. The dash vents swivel universally, so that
the air can be directed as desired.
The flow of air through the dash vents can
be adjusted for each vent by means of the
adjacent control.
Air to the rear side windows is supplied by
the floor ducts. To demist these windows
you should therefore select a defroster/floor
combination.
If the windows are thoroughly cleaned it is
much easier to keep them free of mist.
Fan
IB755
Control panel: manual system 1 Temperature
2 Fan speed
3 Air distribution
4 Air conditioning (A/C)
5 Rear-window heating
6 Recirculation
IB032
Dash vent 1 Adjusting the direction of the air flow.
2 Adjusting the air flow
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82 Instruments and controls
The air conditioning is combined with the
conventional climate-control system and is
switched on by pressing the button,
provided that the fan control is in
position 1-4.
The incoming air is treated in three stages:
first it passes through a filter; it is then dehu-
midified and cooled and, finally, if required,
heated.
The air conditioning can be used at outdoor
temperatures down to 32°F (0°C). Condensation water When the A/C compressor is on, the incom-
ing air is dehumidified. The resulting con-
densation water is drained away through an
outlet under the car.
It is therefore perfectly normal for water to
be seen dripping from this outlet when the
car is parked. The warmer the ambient air
and the higher the humidity, the more con-
densation will form. When the button is depressed the
regular air intake will be closed. In this posi-
tion, the air inside the cabin is recirculated.
Use recirculation when you want rapid cool-
ing, at extremely high air temperatures.
Switch the air conditioning (A/C) on first.
Recirculation can be useful to activate man-
ually to prevent unpleasant smells being
drawn into the car from outside.
Note that recirculation should not be
used when the outside temperature is
lower than 50°F (+10°C) except briefly,
e.g. to avoid unpleasant air from enter-
ing the car. Prolonged use of recircula-
tion could cause the windows to mist or
ice up.
Air conditioning (A/C)
Recirculation
IB794
Air vent at rear side window
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84 Instruments and controlsAutomatic climate
control (ACC)The air is drawn in through an intake at the
bottom edge of the windshield. It passes
through an efficient filter before being
routed through the climate-control system
and into the cabin. The cabin discharge vent
is located on the right behind the rear
bumper. The air discharge vents should be
kept free of snow and ice in the winter.
ACC (Automatic Climate Control) automati-
cally maintains the desired cabin tempera-
ture, regardless of the weather outside.
The system will achieve the desired temper-
ature in the quickest possible way.
Note that heating or cooling is not
speeded up by setting the temperature
higher or lower than you really want.
For the ACC system to be most effective, all
windows, and the sunroof if there is one,
must be closed, and the panel vents must
be open.
The incoming air is treated in three stages:
first it passes through a filter; it is then dehu-
midified and cooled and, finally, if required,
heated. The temperature interval within which you
can make adjustments is 58-82°F
(15-27°C). Outside it, there is the HI position
(max. heat and high fan speed) and the LO
position (max. cooling and max. fan speed).
The displayed temperature is not the actual
temperature but corresponds to the comfort
level normally experienced at that tempera-
ture after allowance has been made for the
air flow, relative humidity, solar radiation,
etc., currently prevailing inside the car.
The most usual temperature setting is
66-74°F (19-23°C), depending on per-
sonal preference and what clothing is
worn. It is recommended that changes in the
temperature setting be made in steps of
2°F (1°C).
Conversion between °C and °F is done in
the SID unit; see ”Units and language ver-
sions”, page 74.
During the cooling phase in warm
weather the panel vents must be open.
Do not manually select recirculation in
cold/wintery weather. The reduced air
flow can cause misting and ice on the
inside of the windows.
IB794
Air vent at rear side window
IB032
Dash vent 1 Adjusting the direction of the air flow.
2 Adjusting the air flow
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147 Starting and driving
If the car does not startIf the text "KEY NOT ACCEPTED" appears
on the SID when the engine refuses to start,
the trouble may be a fault in the transponder
of the key or in the receiver of the ignition
switch. Proceed as follows:
• Turn the key back to the LOCK position.
Turn the key to the ON position.
Press one of the buttons on the remote
control (the LED on top of the dash stops
flashing).
Start the engine.
Try the other key. If it works, the trouble is in
the first key.
Call on an authorized Saab dealer for
inspection and correction.
Starting the engine
Do not run the starter motor for more than
25 seconds at a time. Wait 20-30 seconds
before running the starter again, to give the
battery time to recover.
Avoid racing the engine or putting a heavy
load on it before it has warmed up. Let the
engine idle for at least 10 seconds and then
drive away as long as the engine oil warning
light has gone out to enable the engine to
attain its normal temperature as quickly as
possible.
It is possible for air to enter the lubricating
system in conjunction with an oil or oil-filter
change, or if the car has been stored for
some time. This air can cause the hydraulic
cam followers to emit a ticking noise, which
can persist for up to 15 minutes after start-
ing. Although this is quite normal and does
not indicate any malfunction, it is advisable
not to exceed 3,000 rpm before the noise
has disappeared.
The hydraulic cam lifters are completely
service free; the valve clearance is set up at
the factory and will not need any subse-
quent adjustment.
WARNING
Always remove the key before leaving
the car.
Always apply the parking brake before
removing the ignition key.NOTETake care not to spill drinks or to drop
crumbs over the ignition switch. If dirt or
liquid gets into it, the switch may not
operate properly.
WARNING
When starting the engine:
– Sit down in the driver’s seat.
– Depress the clutch pedal fully. If the
gear lever is not in the neutral posi-
tion, the clutch pedal must be fully
depressed or the car will jump
forwards or backwards, which may
cause a crash.
– Never start the car from outside the
vehicle, e.g. through a lowered
window. This could lead to serious
personal injury.
Engage reverse (R) (position P for
automatic transmission) to remove the
ignition key. The key can only be
removed in this gear position.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless,
odorless, poisonous gas. Be alert to
the danger of CO – always open the
garage doors before starting the
engine in the garage.
There is also a danger of CO poison-
ing if the exhaust system is leaking.
Do not rest or sleep in the car when
parked with the engine running. There
is a risk of depressing the accelerator
which could lead to engine damage.
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185 Car care
IB944
Hood release handle ....... 186
Engine .............................. 188
Engine bay ....................... 187
Engine oil ......................... 190
Transmission fluid .......... 191
Coolant ............................. 192
Air filter ............................ 193
Brake- clutch fluid and
brake pads ..................... 194
Power steering ................ 195
Battery .............................. 195
Drive belt .......................... 197
Wipers and washers ....... 198
Wiper blades .................... 198
Changing bulbs ............... 200
Fuses ................................ 206
Wheels.............................. 211 Safety belts ....................... 218
Upholstery and trim ......... 219
Textile carpeting .............. 219
Engine bay ........................ 220
Washing ............................ 220
Waxing and polishing ...... 221
Touching up the paint ..... 221
Anti-corrosion treatment . 222
Recovery and/or recy-
cling of automotive mate-
rials .................................. 224
Air conditioning (A/C
system) ........................... 226 Car care
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187 Car care
1 Engine-oil dipstick
2 Brake-fluid reservoir
3 Power-steering fluid reservoir
4 Fuse box
5 Coolant reservoir
6 MAXI fuses
7 Washer-fluid reservoir
8Battery
9Drive belt
10 Air filter
Engine bay
IB1625
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193 Car care
The coolant does not normally have to be
changed during the service life of the car.
This type of coolant has a reddish colour
and should not be mixed with other types of
coolant. Saab Original coolant should be
used all year round. Only use coolant
approved by Saab.
Air filter
NOTEAlways mix the antifreeze with the
appropriate volume of water before
adding it to the cooling system.
If pure antifreeze is added, the engine
could still freeze and be damaged. This is
because the antifreeze will not mix
properly with the coolant before the
thermostat has opened to allow full
circulation.
WARNING
Only use an air filter recommended by
Saab Automobile AB.
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238 Technical dataOil specification
Oil for gasoline engines is classified by the API (American Pe-
troleum Institute) and ACEA (European Automobile Manufac-
turers Associations) standards.
API classifies engine oil into grade classes SH (since 1993) and
SJ (since 1996). The SJ class fulfils more stringent require-
ments and has lower phosphorous level. A new grade API SL,
introduced 2001, fulfils even higher requirements.
These grade classes are most often combined with correspond-
ing classes for diesel engines. The class designations for diesel
engines begins with the letter "C" (Commercial). For example a
grade combination suitable for both types of engine could be
API SH/CD, SJ/CF or SL/CF.
Under the ACEA nomenclature, oils are divided into Class A for
gasoline engines and Class B for diesel engine passenger cars.
There is a further class for heavy diesel engines. Each class is
divided into grades: 1,2 and 3 where grades 2 and 3 normally
encompass semi- and fully synthetic oils. The diesel class also
has a fourth grade, B4, which encompasses tests and regula-
tions aimed at improving the performance of direct injection
diesel engines.
In the same way as in the API system, gasoline and diesel
engine specifications are combined for products that can be
used in both types of engine. For example, a grade designation
could be ACEA A2/B2 or ACEA A3/B3, B4.
Viscosity: The viscosity of oil is classified according to the SAE standard.
Nowadays, multigrade oils are always used in cars. The proper-
ties of these oils facilitate starting the car in cold weather but
mean that the oil is also viscous enough to coat all moving parts
under high pressures and with high outside air temperatures.
Multigrade oils are graded with two viscosity’s, e.g. 5W-30,
where 5W meets certain viscosity requirements at -4°F (-20°C),
while 30 fulfils requirements at 212°F (100°C).
Oil capacity inc. filter (on changing) _____ 4.0 l
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