2002 SAAB 9-5 coolant level

6Engine compartment,
4-cyl engine
IB1737
Engine: description ___________ 192
Engine oil level: checking ______ 193
Engine oil: changing __________ 194
Engine oil specification ________ 251
Brakes and braking ___________ 165
ABS brakes _________________ 165
Brake system ________________ 197
Brake fluid __________________ 255
Brake pads __________________ 255
Fuse panels ___________ 216
Changing a fuse ________ 216
Table of fuses __________ 218
Relays _______________ 219Temperature gauge ______ 57
Driving in hot weather ____ 173
Driving in winter_________ 171
Coolant _______________ 196
Cooling-system capacity _ 250
Power steering __________ 198
Steering fluid: grade _____ 198
Wiper/washer control stalk _ 70
Washer fluid: topping up __ 203
Washer jets ___________ 203
Jump starting ________________ 182
Battery _____________________ 199
Battery charge _______________ 199
Manual transmission __________ 156
Automatic transmission ________ 157
Manual transmission oil ________ 254
Automatic transmission fluid ____ 254
Important considerations
for driving ___________________ 149
Turbo unit ___________________ 189
Engine: technical data __________ 250Ignition system _________ 146
Drive belts _____________ 201
Spark plugs ____________ 253
Catalytic converter ______ 150Warning labels ___________ 8
V.I.N. number __________ 257
Engine number _________ 257
Gearbox number ________ 257
Color code _____________ 257
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7
Engine compartment,
3.0t V6
IB1738
Warning labels ___________ 8
V.I.N. number __________ 257
Engine number _________ 257
Gearbox number ________ 257
Color code _____________ 257Ignition system _________ 146
Drive belts _____________ 201
Spark plugs ____________ 253
Catalytic converter ______ 150Important considerations
for driving ___________________ 149
Turbo unit ___________________ 189
Engine: technical data __________ 250
Automatic transmission ________ 157
Automatic transmission fluid ____ 254
Brakes and braking ___________ 165
ABS brakes _________________ 165
Brake system ________________ 197
Brake fluid __________________ 255
Brake pads __________________ 255Jump starting ________________ 182
Battery _____________________ 199
Battery charge _______________ 199
Fuse panels ___________ 216
Changing a fuse ________ 216
Table of fuses __________ 218
Relays _______________ 219Engine temperature gauge _ 57
Driving in hot weather ____ 173
Driving in cold climate ____ 171
Coolant _______________ 196
Cooling-system capacity _ 250
Power steering _________ 198
Steering fluid: grade _____ 198
Wiper/washer control stalk _ 70
Washer fluid: topping up __ 203
Washer jets ___________ 203
Engine: description ___________ 192
Engine oil level: checking ______ 193
Engine oil: changing __________ 194
Engine oil specification ________ 251
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58 Instruments and controlsCheck fuse 15 (radiator fan) in the fuse
panel under the hood, see page 220.
If the needle repeatedly enters the red zone,
stop the car as soon as it is safe to do so and
check the coolant level by looking at the
level visible through the plastic tank - do not
remove the cap.
If the coolant level falls below the MIN mark,
the SID will display the message ”FILL
COOLANT FLUID”.
Pressure gaugeThe turbo gauge indicates the air volume for
combustion, which is equivalent to the
engine load.
At low loads, the needle will move within the
white zone. At higher loads and during
heavy acceleration, the needle will enter the
yellow area. At very high loads (certain var-
iants only) the needle may enter the first part
of the red zone without indicating that there
is a fault.Under certain barometric conditions the
needle may enter the first part of the red
zone without necessarily indicating that a
fault has arisen.
If the needle repeatedly enters the red zone
and the engine at the same time loses
power, because the monitoring system is
holding the charging pressure down, you
should contact an authorized Saab dealer.
If the speed exceeds 143 mph (230 km/h),
the increase in speed will be limited by the
lowering of the boost pressure. The pres-
sure gauge then moves towards the middle
of the orange zone, indicating reduced
engine output and thus reduces the speed
of the car as well.
NOTEIf the needle, despite the above action,
enters the red zone, stop the car immedi-
ately, let the engine idle.
If the needle stays in the red zone, stop
the engine.
WARNING
Never open the cap of the expansion tank
completely when the engine is hot, open
with care. The pressure in the cool-
ing-system can cause hot coolant and
steam to be released.
IB344
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63 Instruments and controls
CHECK messages When the engine is started, CHECKING will
appear on the display for about four sec-
onds, while the SID checks are being per-
formed.
When a CHECK message is generated
while the car is being driven, a chime will
sound, INFO DISPL will illuminate on the
main instrument panel, and the message
will appear on the SID. The number of mes-
sages that can be displayed by the SID
varies with the specification of the car.
If more than one CHECK message has
been generated, the
+ symbol will appear to
the left of the text on the display. The mes-
sages appear in order of priority.
If a new fault occurs while another message
is being displayed, the message relating to
the new one will appear for 10 seconds,
after which the display will return to the ear-
lier one.
Press CLEAR once to acknowledge a mes-
sage, whereupon it will be cleared from the
display. It will not be displayed again before
the ignition has been switched off and then
on again. The following messages may be displayed:
1 This message will be displayed approxi-
mately 600 miles (1,000 km) before the next
scheduled 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 CLEAR button, then
depressing it a second time for at least eight
seconds until ”SERVICE” appears on the dis-
play 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 being
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, except ”Out-
door temperature (Frost warning)”, see
page 60. Message See
page
FRONT LIGHT FAILURE 205
REAR LIGHT FAILURE 209
FOG LIGHT FAILURE 209
BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE 209
WASHER FLUID LEVEL LOW 203
FILL COOLANT FLUID 196
REPLACE KEY BATTERY 40
KEY NOT ACCEPTED 47
SERVICE THEFT ALARM 47
TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING 160
TIGHTEN FUEL FILLER CAP 152
TIME FOR SERVICE
1)
244
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173 Starting and driving
Driving in hot weather Always check the coolant level before
starting a journey. The level should be just
below the MAX mark.
 At the end of a journey, if the engine has
worked hard, allow it to idle for two or
three minutes before switching it off.
If the needle on the temperature gauge
enters the red zone:
1 Bring the car to a standstill but leave the
engine running. Do not remove the cap
on the expansion tank even if the tank is
empty. If the needle on the temperature
gauge continues to rise while the engine
is idling, switch off the engine. 2 Wait until the needle has dropped back
to indicate normal temperature (roughly
midway, in the white zone) before stop-
ping the engine. If the coolant needs top-
ping up, unscrew the cap on expansion
tank carefully.
Top up, as necessary, ideally with a
50/50 mixture of Saab-approved coolant
and water. If only water is available, use
that, but remember to have the coolant
mixture checked as soon as possible.
3 As soon as possible, have the cooling
system checked by an authorized Saab
dealer.
Towing a trailerTrailer hitch attachmentTrailer hitch attachments are available as
accessories. These are designed for a max-
imum trailer weight of 3500 lbs. (1588 kg),
see also page 249.
Use only the electrical trailer hitch socket
provided in the trailer hitch kit.
Saab recommends:
 Use a Saab original hitch kit attachment
which is designed and tested by Saab.
 Consult your Saab dealer regarding the
appropriate hitch kit for your car.
WARNING
Always undo the expansion tank filler cap
carefully, releasing the pressure and any
vapor before removing the cap com-
pletely.
NOTEUse only a genuine Saab trailer hitch and
wiring, since other wiring methods can
cause expensive damage to the car’s
body and electrical system.
Consult an authorized Saab dealer for
guidance on how to connect the trailer
hitch electrical system.
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196 Car care and technical informationCoolant The expansion tank is transparent to facili-
tate checking of the coolant level.
When the engine is cold, the coolant must
not lie over the KALT/COLD mark on the
expansion tank.
If the message ”FILL COOLANT FLUID” is
displayed on the SID, check the level of fluid
in the expansion tank.
Top up, as necessary, with equal parts of
clean water and Saab-approved coolant.
If the expansion tank is empty when coolant
is added, run the engine to normal temper-
ature and top up again, as necessary.
Coolant The cooling system is charged at the factory
with coolant containing a 50% concentra-
tion of a combined antifreeze and corrosion
inhibitor. A weaker mixture will result in
reduced anticorrosion protection. For pro-
tection against freezing in very cold
weather, a stronger concentration will be
needed.
A 60% concentration of antifreeze will pro-
vide protection at temperatures down to
-58 F (-50°C).
The coolant does not normally have to be
changed during the service life of the car.
The type of coolant used has a reddish color
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.

WARNING
 Proceed with caution if the radiator is
boiling when you open the hood.
Never remove the expansion-tank
filler cap when the radiator is boiling.
Loosen the cap carefully, and let the
engine cool before removing the cap.
 The cooling system is pressurized –
hot coolant and vapor can escape
when the filler cap is released.
 Exercise care when adding coolant.
Coolant on hot surfaces constitutes a
fire risk.
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.
IB1338
Coolant expansion tank
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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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259 Specifications
Several of the systems in your Saab
car can be adjusted to better fit your
individual needsSome functions are governed by legal
requirements and cannot therefore be
reprogrammed.
Consult an authorized Saab dealer for fur-
ther information.
Car alarm/central locking system:
 The sound level of the siren when locking/
unlocking, HIGH or LOW.
 The number of blinks when locking/
unlocking, 1 to 7.
 Automatic locking of the trunk when the
car is driven, 1 to 8 mph (2-14 km/h), YES
or NO.
 Preclude the unlocking of the trunk while
the car is driven, YES or NO.
 Automatic locking of the trunk after
1 second-4 minutes if it has not been
opened, YES or NO.
 Automatic locking of the trunk when it is
closed, YES or NO.
 Automatic locking of all doors when the
car is driven above 7.5 mph (12 km/h),
YES or NO.Saab Information Display:
 Outdoor temperature display can be
adjusted.
Miscellaneous:
 Select the on-time for heated rear seat.
 Coolant temperature gauge adjustment
can be increased/decreased.
 Fuel level gauge adjustment can be
increased/decreased.
 Additional sweep of the wipers after wind-
shield washer function (ON or OFF).
 Follow me home on-time can vary from 20
to 50 seconds.
 Night panel illumination deactivation
speed for the speedometer can be
adjusted.
Following adjustments can be done
by the driver:Automatic Climate Control (ACC):
To alter the preprogrammed ”AUTO” start
up mode with your own preferences you can
manually select the desired settings for:
 Temperature.
 Fan speed.
Air distribution.
See ”Programming I” on page 78 and ”Pro-
gramming II” on page 79.
Saab 9-5 Audio System (see page 99):
 Maximum starting volume (when the
radio is switched on).
 Telephone volume (if the car is equipped
with a phone connected to the audio sys-
tem).
 Speed dependent volume (volume
increases or decreases with vehicle
speed).
 Loudness.
Alarm system:
The glass breakage sensor can be tempo-
rarily disabled, see page 44.
Daytime Running Lights:
To disable, turn off the ignition and pull out
fuse 35, see page 218.
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