Page 190 of 272
190 Car care and technical informationEngine compartment, 6-cyl. (3.0t V6)
99
2
1
4
57
6
10
83
IB1774
Engine compartment, 6-cyl. (3.0t V6) 1 Engine-oil dipstick
2 Engine-oil filler cap
3 Reservoir, brake/clutch fluid
4 Fuse box
5 Expansion tank, coolant
6 Washer-fluid filler cap
7Battery
8 Dipstick, automatic transmission fluid
9 Ignition discharge module
10 Reservoir, power-steering fluid
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Page 198 of 272

198 Car care and technical informationPower steering fluidCheck the level of the power steering fluid in
the reservoir regularly, in accordance with
the service program.
The wheels should point forward during the
check.
Clean around the cap before it is
unscrewed. Clean the dipstick. Screw in the
cap completely again before checking the
level.
The oil should lie between the MAX and MIN
marks when the oil temperature is about
70°F (+20°C). If the oil is colder the level can
be lower, and in higher temperatures the
level can be higher, both of which are
acceptable.
Top up with ”Power Steering Fluid
CHF 11S” (part number 8996860).
Air filter
WARNING
Do not fill the power steering fluid to
above the MAX mark. Too much fluid can
result in leakage.
Power steering fluid on hot engine com-
ponents constitutes a fire risk.
WARNING
For Service and Repair, parts equivalent
to those used by Saab should be used.
Be aware that some non standard
replacement parts may put you in an
unsafe condition, even if they might fit.
IB501
Power steering fluid reservoir
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Page 201 of 272
201 Car care and technical information
Drive belts The alternator is situated on the right-hand
side of the engine, adjacent to the bulkhead.
It is driven via a Poly-V-belt from the crank-
shaft 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
automatically by the belt tensioner.
See also page 51, ”Warning, charging”.
WARNING
Keep hands and clothing well clear of
drive belts when engine is running.
Always stop engine before inspecting
drive belts.
The fan can start even when the
engine is switched off.NOTESerious damage can be done to the car’s
electrical system if an alternator lead is
disconnected while the engine is running.
IB542
Routing of the Poly-V-belt:
4-cylinder engine
IB543
Routing of the Poly-V-belt:
3.0t V6
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Page 222 of 272

222 Car care and technical informationWheels Alternative 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.
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.
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 workshop.
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). 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.
NOTEAlways consult your Saab dealer before
changing the wheels and tires on your
Saab.
For 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 223.
Wheels larger than 17” must not be fit-
ted. The maximum permissible offset
is 49 mm.
Tire and wheel size can affect the
function of the Electronic Stability
Program (ESP).
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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Page 230 of 272

230 Car care and technical information
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 appear 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 give rise to 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.
WARNING
If the car has been driven for several
years exclusively with alloy wheels and
steel wheels are now fitted, the bolt hole
threads in the brake hubs should be
cleaned before the thinner steel wheels
are fitted. Grit, salt and rust can clog the
inner threads making it impossible to
achieve the correct tightening torque.
IB539
Tightening sequence, wheel bolts
IB1800IB1800
Removing the wheel cover
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Page 237 of 272

237 Car care and technical information
4Inspect the undercoating and touch
up if necessary.
Pay particular atten-
tion to the fenders and wheel housings,
which are exposed to abrasion by flying
gravel, etc. If the composition has worn
or flaked off, the steel must be thor-
oughly cleaned and dried before a fresh
coat is applied. The cleaning is best
done with a scraper and a steel wire
brush, followed by washing with solvent.
Apply the new coating thinly, as other-
wise it may run off or fall off when dry.
For long tripsBefore setting off on a long journey, it is
advisable to have your car checked over by
your Saab dealer.
Obtain a few important items to take along
on your journey such as spare bulbs, wiper
blades, fuses, a Poly-V-belt and the like.
You can check some points yourself before-
hand:
Make sure that the engine is in good con-
dition.
Check that no oil or gasoline leaks out of
the engine or gearbox/transmission.
Check the coolant and power steering
fluid levels. Check also for leaks.
Inspect the Poly-V-belt and replace it if it
shows any signs of hard wear.
Check the battery charge.
Check the tires for tread pattern and air
pressure, including the compact spare
wheel.
Check the brakes.
Check all bulbs.
Check for the presence of the tool kit and
the jack in the car.
Recovery and/or
recycling of automotive
materialsA typical car consists of metals (65–75%),
plastics (10–14%), rubber (5%) and small
quantities of glass, wood, paper and tex-
tiles.
Some of these materials can be recycled,
while others can be recovered in chemical
processes for reuse in new products or as a
source of energy.
While the Saab 9-5 was still at the draw-
ing-board stage, Saab engineers were
giving serious consideration to how the
maximum quantity of materials could be
reclaimed from the car on its eventual
scrapping. To facilitate sorting, plastic parts,
for instance, have been marked to identify
the precise nature of the plastic.
Approximately 90% of the materials in the
car can be recycled or recovered, where
facilities exist.
Before the car is scrapped, all the oils and
other fluids that could pollute the environ-
ment should be recovered from the car. It
may be of interest in this context to learn that
the refrigerant used in the Saab 9-5’s ACC
systems (R134a) contains neither CFCs nor
any other chlorine compounds.
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Page 247 of 272
247 Specifications
Specifications General.............................. 248
Engine ............................... 250
Fuel.................................... 250
Engine oil .......................... 251
Engine variants ................ 252
Electrical system.............. 253
Drive belts......................... 253
Manual gearbox................ 254
Automatic transmission .. 254
Suspension....................... 255
Steering............................. 255
Brake system.................... 255
Wheels and tires .............. 256
Plates and labels .............. 257
IB603
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Page 255 of 272

255 Specifications
Suspension
SteeringBrake systemSpring type, front and rear ___________ Coil springs
Maximum deflection of springs:
Front __________________________ 7.09 in (180 mm)
Rear ___________________________ 7.87 in (200 mm)
Dampers, front and rear _____________ Gas-filled dampers
Steering _________________________ Power-assisted
steering of
rack-and-pinion
type; telescopic
steering-column
shaft with universal
joints
Number of turns, lock to lock __________ 2,9
Power-steering fluid ________________ Power-steering
fluid CHF 11S Footbrake (ABS) ____________________ Hydraulic disc
brakes with vacuum
servo unit. Diago-
nally split circuits;
ventilated discs on
front wheels. EBD
function, see page
165.
Handbrake ________________________ Acts on rear wheels
Brake fluid _________________________ DOT 4
Brake-fluid capacity _________________ 0.925 qts (900 ml)
Disc diameter:
Front ___________________________ 11.34 in (288 mm)
Front, certain variants *) _____________ 12.05 in (306 mm)
Rear ___________________________ 11.26 in (286 mm)
Rear, certain variants *) _____________ 11.81 in (300 mm)
*) 15” wheel must not be used on these
variants.
Total friction area of brake pads:
Front ___________________________ 36.3 in
2 (234 cm
2)
Rear ___________________________ 15.5 in
2 (100 cm
2)
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