
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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164 Starting and drivingDisengaging the system The system will be disengaged:
When the brake or clutch pedal is
depressed.
When the switch is moved to CANCEL.
When the switch is moved to OFF.
When the engine is switched off.
When the selector lever is moved to posi-
tion N (cars with automatic transmission).
BrakingTo avoid overheating the brakes, (e.g. when
negotiating long descents with a drop of
several hundred feet), select a low gear to
use the braking effect of the engine. If the
car has automatic transmission, move the
selector lever to position 1 or 2.
When driving fast, you can help to prolong
the life of the brakes by thinking ahead and
braking harder for short periods, rather than
braking more moderately over long
stretches. Brake pad wear indicatorsThe outboard brake pads on the front
wheels incorporate pad-wear indicators.
When the lining is down to 3 mm, the pad
will produce a screeching, squealing or
scraping noise when the brakes are applied.
New pads should be installed without delay.
Brake pads should only be replaced by
an authorized Saab dealer.
To ensure optimum brake performance,
it is recommended that you use only
Saab original brake pads.
WARNING
It is prudent to try your brakes from
time to time, especially when driving in
heavy rain, through water collected on
the road, in snow, on a wet road sur-
face or in salty slush. In such condi-
tions, the brakes may take longer than
normal to take effect. To rectify this,
touch the brake pedal periodically to
dry the brakes out.
The same applies after the car has
been washed or when the weather is
very humid.
Avoid parking the car with wet brakes.
Before parking, and if the traffic condi-
tions allow, brake quite heavily so that
the brake discs and pads warm up and
dry.
The brakes are power assisted and it
should be kept in mind that the servo
unit only provides the power assis-
tance when the engine is running.
The brake pressure required when the
engine is off,( e.g. when the car is
being towed) is roughly four times the
normal pedal force required. The
pedal also feels hard and unrespon-
sive.
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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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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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