2002 SAAB 9-3 warning

2IntroductionThis manual provides practical guidance on
driving and caring for your Saab.
The Saab 9-3 is available with a 2.0L
turbo-engine, 185 hp (Canada only) or 205
hp or a 2.3L turbo-engine, 230 hp.
Although the manual describes the most
important differences between model vari-
ants, it does not include precise specifica-
tions of the different variants. Some differ-
ences also occur to meet special legal
requirements in different countries.
Importation and distribution of Saab auto-
mobiles, spare parts and accessories are
handled exclusively by General Motors of
Canada Limited in Canada and by Saab
Cars USA, Inc. in the U.S.A.
We recommend that you read through the
manual before taking the car out for the first time and that you keep it in the car for future
reference.
To find a specific item, use the overviews
given on pages 3-6. A list of contents is
given at the beginning of each section of the
manual, and there is also a comprehensive
index at the back of the book.
Supplied with the car is a Warranties and
Service Record booklet and a tire warranty
folder which specifies the regular mainte-
nance to be carried out. The book also con-
tains important warranty conditions: Since the policy at Saab is one of continual
improvement, we retain the right to incorpo-
rate modifications and to alter specifications
during production without prior notice.
If you have any queries concerning your car,
its equipment, the warranty conditions or
the like, your Saab dealer will be pleased to
help.
Best wishes,
Saab Automobile AB
Saab Automobile AB does not accept liability for
any damage caused by the fitting of spare parts,
exchange parts or accessories that are not
approved by Saab Automobile AB.
The specifications, design particulars and illus-
trations included in the manual are not binding.
WARNING
WARNING texts warn against the danger
of injury if the specified instructions are
not followed.
NOTENOTE texts warn of potential damage to
the car if the recommendations are not
followed.
IB1884
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3
Instrument panel High/low beam ________________ 75
Parking lights __________________ 75
Daytime running lights ___________ 75
Changing bulbs _______________ 200High/low beam control stalk 75
Direction indicators _______ 76
Cruise Control __________ 163Rear fog light ___________ 77
Front fog lights ___________ 77Instrument lighting ________ 78
Warning and indicator lights _____ 60
Tachometer __________________ 66
Speedometer _________________ 66
Odometer and trip meter ________ 66
Gauge showing turbo pressure ___ 67
Fuel gauge __________________ 68
Temperature gauge ____________ 67
IB731
Ashtrays (accessory) __________ 135
Cigarette lighter (accessory) ____ 135
Tr i p c o m p u t e r
(Saab Information Display, SID) __ 69
Night panel __________________ 73
Clock _______________________ 74
Washers and wipers ______ 78
Rear-window wiper _______ 79
Replacing wiper blades __ 198Audio system____________ 94
CD player _____________ 100Hazard warning lights _____ 76Climate control system:
manual _______________ 80
Climate control system:
automatic _____________ 84
Car care ______________ 185Seat heating controls ____ 129
Steering-wheel-mounted
controls, Audio System __ 106
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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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7
Coolant: Never open while engine is hot.
Escaping coolant under pressure can cause
serious injuries.
Drive belt: Moving belt. Do not
touch while engine
running.
Radiator fan: The radiator fan can cut in even
after engine has been switched off.
Battery:  No sparks, flames or smoking.
 Shield eyes, explosive gases can cause blindness or injury.
 Sulphuric acid can cause blindness or servere burns.
 Flush eyes immediately with water. Get medical help fast.
 Do not tip battery, do not open battery.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
Warning labelsA/C system: Refrigerant at high pressure.
Do not undo or remove any connections in the A/C system
until the system has been emptied. Working the wrong way
may result in injury. Work on the A/C system must be left
to qualified personnel only. For working instructions, see
the Workshop Handbook.
The A/C system complies with SAE J639.
Refrigerant: 770 g of R134a.
Compressor oil: 150 cc PAG Oil SP-10, or
SAAB oil 4759106 SP-10.  AVOID SPARKS, AVOID OPEN FLAMES, NO SMOKING
 PROTECT YOUR EYES
 KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
 ACID
 SEE MANUAL
 FLAMMABLE GAS
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8
Long loads Always SECURE LOAD to prevent it from shift-
ing during transport.
An unsecured load could cause passenger
injuries in braking situations or in the event of a
crash.
Cover sharp edges with a protective wrap.
Belt beam Warning for pinch risk due to
movable parts when beam is in
unlocked position.
Wheel changing: Intended for the Saab 9-5 and 9-3. Use the jack
only on firm, level ground. Use blocks. Max. jack
load: 2200 lbs. (1000 kg). For further information,
see the manual.
AIR BAG
WARNING
Flip visor over
50 10 111
WARNING
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur.
 Children 12 and under can be killed by the air bag.
 The BACK SEAT is the SAFEST place for children.
 NEVER put a rear-facing child seat in the front.
 Sit as far back as possible from the air bag.
 ALWAYS use SEAT BELT and CHILD RESTRAINTS
IB1195
USA CANADA
USACANADA
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12 SafetySafety belts Three-point inertia-reel safety belts are pro-
vided for all seats. The results of studies show that it is equally
important to wear safety belts in the rear
seat as in the front seats.
Safety-belt reminder When the ignition is switched on, the ”fasten
belts” reminder will light up until the driver
fastens the safety belt. In addition an audi-
ble signal sounds for 6 seconds, or until the
driver fastens his belt.
WARNING
Safety belts must be worn at all times by
all car occupants. Child safety, see page
19.
Check that the locking tongue is properly
locked in the belt lock.
WARNING
In the event of a crash, the rear-seat pas-
sengers can be thrown forward against
the front seat backrests, imposing much
higher stresses on the front seat passen-
gers and belts and resulting in needless
injury to everyone in the car.
WARNING
For safety reasons, you should adjust
safety belts only while the car is station-
ary.
FASTEN BELTS
IB1302
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13 Safety
Safety-belt pretensionersThe belts of the front seats are fitted with
automatic pretensioners, which are acti-
vated in the event of a severe frontal crash
or very violent rear-end crash. They serve to
reduce the forward movement of the body
by tensioning the belt.
The belt pretensioners do not activate in
less violent frontal or rear-end crashes.
Correct position for safety belt  The lap part of the belt should be pulled
as tightly as comfortable and as low as
possible across the hips, so that it is just
touching the top of the thighs. The shoul-
der belt should be well in on the shoulder
but not touching the neck.
 Check to ensure that the belt is not twisted
or rubbing against any sharp edges.
 There should not be any slack in the belt.
Pull the belt tight – particularly important
when thick outer clothing is worn. Refrain from tilting the backrest more than
necessary, as the safety belt provides
better protection when the seat is in the
more upright position.
 Only one person per safety belt!
 For most of the time a safety belt is worn,
the retractor will allow the wearer freedom
of movement. The retractor locks up auto-
matically if the belt is jerked or withdrawn
sharply, the car tilts, the brakes are
applied hard or a crash occurs.
WARNING
If the car is involved in a crash, the safety
belts, belt pretensioners and other com-
ponents must be inspected by an autho-
rized Saab dealer and replaced as neces-
sary.
Never make any alterations or repairs to
the safety belt yourself but visit an author-
ized Saab dealer.
WARNING
Proper positioning of the safety belt is
extremely important. An out of position
safety belt can result in the wearer sliding
underneath the belt in a crash (submarin-
ing) and injury can result from the lap por-
tion cutting into the abdomen.
WARNING
If two people share a belt, they risk injury
by being crushed together in the event of
a crash.
IB816
Correctly positioned safety belt.
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14 Safety Children who have grown out of a child
seat should be restrained by the car’s
standard three-point belts. Make sure that
the shoulder belt is not in contact with the
neck or throat. If it is, a booster seat/cush-
ion may be necessary.
Front seat belts Fasten the belt by pulling the belt and insert-
ing the tongue in the buckle. Check that it is
securely fastened.
Because the lower belt-anchorage points
are on the seat (9-3 5-door), the belt buckle
follows the movement of the seat during
seat adjustment. In the 9-3 Coupé and
9-3 Convertible, the lower outer anchorage
point is in the rear of the sill, which makes it
all the more important that the lap strap is
not slack during use.
Grasp the shoulder belt close to the buckle
and pull the belt towards the shoulder to
tighten the lap belt part.
The belt must be as far in on the shoulder as
possible.To release the belt, press the red button on
the belt buckle, as illustrated.
See page 218 for the checking of belt func-
tion, cleaning etc.
WARNING
Never fasten the safety belt with the
shoulder belt behind the body or pull the
belt off the shoulder and under the arm.
IB1304
To fasten the belt
IB1305
Press the red button to release the belt.
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