2002 SAAB 9-3 brake fluid

6Engine bayWarning labels ___________ 7
V.I.N. number __________ 243
Engine number _________ 243
Gearbox number ________ 243
Color coding ___________ 243Ignition system _________ 240
Drive belt ______________ 197
Alternator _____________ 197
Spark plugs ____________ 240
Catalytic converter ______ 150
Simple fault tracing
(A/C, ACC) ____________ 226Turbo-compressor ________ 67
Pressure gauge __________ 67
Important considerations
for driving _____________ 148
Technical data: engine ___ 237Manual transmission __________ 191
Automatic transmission ________ 191
Transmission oil ______________ 191
Gearbox: technical data ________ 240
Battery _____________________ 195
Battery charge _______________ 195
Jump starting ________________ 181IB1624
Engine: description ____________ 188
Engine oil, level control
and topping up _______________ 190
Engine oil: changing ___________ 190
Oil grade_____________________ 237
Washer fluid ___________ 199
Topping up with fluid _____ 199
Washer jets ___________ 199
Wiper/washer control stalk _ 78
Steering servo _______________ 195
Fluid checking
and topping up ______________ 195
Coolant, checking
and topping up ________ 192
Coolant _______________ 192
Temperature gauge ______ 67
Driving in hot weather ____ 173
Driving in cold weather ___ 171Fuse panels ___________ 206
Changing a fuse ________ 206
Table of fuses __________ 208
Relays _______________ 210
Brake system ________________ 241
Brake fluid __________________ 194
Brake pads __________________ 194
ABS brakes _________________ 164
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9
Jack– The jack is designed only for changing a tire or mount-
ing tire snow chains.
– Car must be level and jack must be placed on firm and
level ground.
– Never crawl under car while it is jacked up.
JACKING INSTRUCTIONS
1 Set parking brake and shift transmission to park.
2 Fit top of jack into jacking point next to wheel that to
be changed (See illustration).
3 Crank jack until so that car begins to lift.
4 Remove center cap by inser ting a screw driver under
cap prying up.
5 Using socket wrench in tool kit, loosen wheels bolts
one-half turn.
6 Raise car so that tire clears ground. Loosen wheel
bolts completely and remove wheel.
7 Mount spare wheel and tighten bolts enough so
wheel is not loose.
8 Lower car. Tighten wheel bolts in crosswise order
(See illustration).
Observe max. speed limit for spare tire.
IB934
Soft top, Saab 9-3
Convertible Push the handle in before
driving away.
There would otherwise be
a risk of injury.
Soft top, Saab 9-3 ConvertibleDo not lean over top or sit in the rear seat
while activated.
Brake fluidClean filler cap before removing. Use only Dot
4 fluid from sealed container.
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61 Instruments and controls

Warning charging
This light comes on together with if the
battery is not charging. If it comes on while
you are driving, stop the car as soon as pos-
sible and switch off the engine.
Check the alternator drive belt (see page
197). If the belt has broken, the engine may
overheat (cooling system will not function
properly), the battery will not be charged,
the A/C compressor will not run and power
assistance for the steeering will be lost.
Brake warning light
This light should come on briefly when you
turn the ignition key to ON. If it doesn´t come
on, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn
you if there is a problem.
The brake warning light will come on
together with if there is insufficient
brake fluid in the reservoir, see page 194.
If the ABS warning light is on at the same
time, the ABS system may be inoperative
because of a fault (see Anti-lock brake
warning, see page 62).
Parking brake warning
light
The light will show when the parking brake
is on (see page 168.)
If the car driven with the parking brake on,
will also come on and a chime will
sound.
The parking brake is mechanical and oper-
ates on the rear wheels.
WARNING
Never drive the car when these warning
lights are on. Danger of brake failure!
Have the brake system checked at once
by an authorized Saab dealer.
WARNING
 Always apply the parking brake when
parking, see page 168.
 Always apply the parking brake before
removing the ignition key.
 Do not apply the parking brake while
the car is moving.
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62 Instruments and controls
Anti-lock brake warning
This light will come on if a fault has occurred
in the ABS system.
On certain variants and as well
as can light up to indicate a fault in the
electronic brake force distribution system
(distribution of the brake pressure between
the front and rear wheels).
Conventional braking without the ABS func-
tion will still be available.
For safety reasons, stop the car and check
the level of the brake fluid (see page 194).
If the level is normal, depress the brake
pedal firmly two or three times. Now check
the level again. If the level is still normal, you
may drive the car, with considerable cau-
tion, to the nearest authorized Saab dealer
to have the brake system checked.

Airbag warning light
This light together with will come on if
a potentially serious fault has occurred in
the airbag system.
This light will come on for about three sec-
onds when the ignition switch is turned to
the Start or Drive position. It should go out
after the engine has started.

Indicator, fuel
This light comes on when there is less than
about 2.5 gallons (10 litre) of fuel left in the
tank.
WARNING
 If the ABS is inoperative, there is a
danger of the rear wheels locking up
on hard braking
 If the level of brake fluid in the reser-
voir is below the MIN mark, the car
should be towed to an authorized
Saab dealer
WARNING
 If the airbag readiness light stays on
after you start your vehicle, it means
the airbag system may not be working
properly. One or more of the following
conditions may occur:
- Non-deployment of the airbags in the
event of a crash.
- Deployment of the airbags without a
crash.
- Deployment of the airbags in
crashes less severe than intended.
 To help avoid injury to yourself or
others, have your vehicle serviced
right away if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
NOTEIf the car runs out of fuel, air can have
been drawn in with the fuel, which, in turn,
can cause the catalytic converter to be
damaged by overheating.
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63 Instruments and controls
Central warning light
This light comes on and a chime will sound
if a fault has been detected in any system
that is critical to safety. Any of the following
can activate the central warning light and
alarm:
 Airbag system.
 Low oil pressure in engine.
 Parking brake is on (when car is moving).
 Brake fluid level low.
 Fault detected in ABS system.
 Electronic brake force distribution (distri-
bution of brake pressure between front
and rear wheels).
 Engine overheating.
 Alternator not charging properly.
Cruise Control
indicator light
The symbol is lit when cruise control is
active.
Engine malfunction
(CHECK ENGINE)
This light indicates a malfunction in the
fuel-injection or ignition system. The car
may still be driven with care and with some-
what diminished performance.
SPORT Mode Indicator
(automatic transmission)
On cars with automatic transmission the
indicator light comes on when you press the
SPORT button on the gear-lever knob.
In SPORT mode, the transmission remains
longer in the (D, 3, 2, 1) gears before
upshifting.
Cancel Sport mode by again depressing the
SPORT button; see also page 162.
WARNING
An illuminated CHECK ENGINE indicator
light indicates a serious engine-related
problem. While your car may be able to be
driven with the CHECK ENGINE indicator
light illuminated (limp-home mode), you
are advised to have your car serviced at
an authorized Saab dealer as soon as
possible.
Continued driving without this problem
being corrected might cause serious fur-
ther damage to your car and create
unsafe driving conditions. The operator
should be prepared to take action if such
unsafe conditions arise (e.g., apply the
brakes, disengage transmission, turn off
the ignition etc.).
NOTEThe car should be checked immediately
at an authorized Saab dealer to prevent
more serious faults from arising.
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73 Instruments and controls
The following CHECK messages may be
displayed: 1) This message will be displayed approximately
600 miles (1,000 km) before the next sched-
uled service is due, or when 365 days have
elapsed since the last service. The message
should be cleared at the time of that service
(see the Saab Warranties & Service Record
Booklet).
This message can also be deleted by first
briefly pressing the CLR button, then depress-
ing it a second time for at least eight seconds
until "SERVICE" appears on the display and a
chime sounds. The message can only be
deleted when it is shown on the SID.
Night panelTo improve night-driving conditions inside
the car, the Night Panel mode can be
selected. In this mode, the amount of infor-
mation displayed is reduced, and only the
most important instruments and displays
will be illuminated.
When the Night Panel button is pressed,
only the speedometer will be illuminated (up
to the 87-mph or 140-km/h graduation), all
the other instruments illumination will be
extinguished and their needles moved to
zero. Both the SID and the ACC displays will
be extinguished and the backlighting for
switches and other controls will be dimmed.
Note: All indicator and warning lights,
together with the display of CHECK mes-
sages, will operate as normal. The following conditions will wake up the
respective displays in the Night-Panel
mode:
 Setting of the Audio System, SID or ACC
(display comes on for ten seconds).
 CHECK message generated in the SID.
 High engine revs cause the rev counter to
be illuminated until the engine speed has
fallen again.
 If the quantity of fuel remaining falls below
4 gallons (15 liters), the fuel gauge will be
illuminated.
 If the engine temperature rises above nor-
mal, the temperature gauge will be illumi-
nated.
 If the speed of the car exceeds 84 mph
(135 km/h), the entire speedometer will
be illuminated.
 In cars with automatic transmission, if the
selector lever is moved from D to position
3, 2 or 1, the selector indication on the
main instrument panel will be illuminated.
To restore the displays and lighting to the
normal mode, press the Night-Panel button. Display shows: See
page
BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE 202
FRONT LIGHT FAILURE 200
REAR LIGHT FAILURE 202
FOG LIGHT FAILURE 203
WASHER FLUID LEVEL LOW 199
TIGHTEN FUEL FILLER CAP 151
FILL COOLANT FLUID 192
KEY NOT ACCEPTED 45
REPLACE KEY BATTERY 45
SERVICE THEFT ALARM 45
TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING 159
TIME FOR SERVICE
1)
230
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159 Starting and driving
Automatic transmission
fault indicator
If the symbol appears on the main instru-
ment panel, the system has detected a fault
in the automatic transmission or its control
module (see page 64).
This also means that the Limp-home mode
has been selected, to guard against further
damage being done to the transmission. In
this mode, the automatic transmission
starts in 4th gear, and gear changes (if nec-
essary) will have to be made manually.
It is not possible to select the SPORT or
WINTER mode when the Limp-home mode
is active.
You should have the automatic transmis-
sion checked as soon as possible by an
authorized Saab dealer.
The following gears will be engaged in the
respective selector positions when the auto-
matic transmission is in the Limp-home
mode:
Overheated transmission oilIf the transmission oil becomes overheated
while driving, the following message
appears on the SID: TRANSMISSION
OVERHEATING. In this event, stop the car
in a suitable place, switch off the engine,
open the hood and wait until the message
goes out. When driving subsequent to the
transmission oil overheating, select either
3rd gear or Drive, whichever will allow the
engine to run at 3,000 rpm and maintain the
speed of traffic or a safe speed.
The transmission oil can become very hot
when the car is driven with a heavy load; for
example, driving with a trailer on hilly roads
when the wrong gear has been selected,
resulting in many extra gear changes.
Select one of the positions 1, 2 or 3. A high
outside temperature or a defective oil cooler
can also cause the oil temperature to
increase. Contact an authorized Saab
dealer, see also page 173.
Driving in hilly country with a heavy
loadOverheating of the automatic-transmission
fluid can occur when the car is towing a
heavy load, such as a trailer in hilly country,
with the wrong gear selected, resulting in
abnormally frequent gear changing. To
avoid the transmission oil from overheating
always drive in Normal mode, then the
adaptive gear change pattern is active.
High ambient temperatures can also
increase the temperature of the transmis-
sion fluid or the oil cooler may be faulty. As
the transmission fluid temperature
increases, its useful service life is reduced.
Contact an authorized Saab dealer (see
also page 173).TowingTowing a car with automatic transmission,
see page 181. Position R D 3 2 1
Gear Reverse 4th 4th 3rd 3rd
NOTEIf the control module has actuated the
Limp-home function for the automatic
transmission, the car will remain in 4th
gear when D and 3 are selected, making
it very sluggish. To overcome this, move
the selector lever to position 1. The trans-
mission then starts in 3rd gear. When the
car is moving you can select position D
or 3.
WARNING
Remember to use engine-braking (selec-
tor position 1, 2, or 3) to spare the brakes
when you are driving on a long or steep
downhill slope.
Brake failure can result from overheated
brakes!
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169 Starting and driving
Parking on a hillWhen parking on a steep hill, turn the front
wheels so that they will be blocked by the
curb if the car should move.
Long-term parkingIf the car is not going to be used for some
time, e.g. 3–4 months, the following steps
are recommended:
 Run the engine to normal temperature
before long-term parking.
 Drain the washer-fluid reservoir and
hoses.  Wash and wax the car. Clean the rubber
seals on the hood, trunk lid and doors,
and lubricate them with glycerol (glyc-
erin).
 After washing the car, dry the brake discs
by taking the car out on the road and
applying the brakes a few times. If the traf-
fic conditions allow, brake quite heavily
just before parking.
 Fill the fuel tank with fuel to prevent con-
densation forming in it.
 Top up the coolant and check the anti-
freeze before the onset of winter.
 Park the car in a dry, covered and
well-ventilated building. Leave the park-
ing brake OFF!
 Disconnect the negative (-) battery lead.
If freezing temperatures are likely to occur
during the long-term parking, remove the
battery and store it away from freezing
temperatures.
 Ideally, the car should be put up on
blocks, with the wheels off the ground. If
this is not possible, inflate the tires to
about 43 psi (300 kPa).
 Leave all the windows open a crack and
cover the car with a fabric tarpaulin - not
one made of plastic which will not breath.
IB879
1Pointing downhill and
against the curb
– Turn the wheels into the
curb and edge the car for-
ward until the wheels touch
the curb. 2Pointing uphill and
against the curb
– Turn the wheels away
from the curb and edge the
car back until the wheels
touch the curb. 3Pointing uphill or down-
hill – no curb
– Turn the wheels towards
the edge of the road. If the
car should start rolling, it
will not run into the road.
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