2003 SAAB 9-3 towing

165 Starting and driving
Rear towing eyeThe car has a permanent towing eye at the
rear under the bumper.
If the car is equipped with a towbar, this can
be used instead of the towing eye.
Towing the carEngage neutral (automatic transmission:
move the selector lever to N). Turn on the
parking lights.
Engage neutral (automatic transmission:
move the selector lever to N). Turn on the
hazard warning lights.
Drive carefully and do not exceed the
speed limit for vehicles on tow.Always try to keep the towrope taut by
gently applying the brake of the car on tow,
as necessary. This will avoid the towrope
being jerked violently.
Cars with automatic transmission:
Always observe the speed limit for vehicles
on tow. Whatever the speed limit, the car
must not be towed at speeds exceeding
30 mph (50 km/h) nor for a distance of more
than 30 miles (50 km). If the car needs to be
transported over a longer distance, a tow
truck or flatbed truck must be called out.
The engine cannot be started by towing or
pushing the car. In an emergency, the
engine can be started as described under
"Jump starting" on page 168.NOTICENever use the towing eyes to pull the car
unstuck.
NOTICE The car must be towed front first.
 If the car is to be towed with the front
wheels off the ground, make sure the
parking brake is off, as this acts on the
rear wheels.
Rear towing eye
Never use the towing eyes to pull the car
unstuck.
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237 Technical data
Curb weight
(i.e. with full fuel tank, full washer fluid res-
ervoir, standard tools and spare wheel) _3174–3461 lbs.
(1440–1570 kg)
Gross vehicle weight (GVW) ___________ 4343–4453 lbs.
(1970–2020 kg)
Maximum axle load:
Front ____________________________ 248 lbs. (1125 kg)
Rear ____________________________ 2226 lbs. (1010 kg)
Weight distribution:
Curb weight + driver (154 lbs. (70 kg)),
front/rear _________________________ approx. 60/40 %
GVW, front/rear ____________________ approx. 50/50 %
Maximum roof load _________________ 220 lbs. (100 kg)
Maximun load in trunk ______________ 175 lbs. (80 kg)
WARNING
 The GVW and maximum axle loads must not be exceeded.
Note that if some accessories (e.g. towbar, CD changer) are
fitted, the available load capacity is reduced by the weight of
these.
 When carrying a load in the trunk, make sure that it is lashed
down securely, particularly when part or all of the rear seat is
folded down.
Trailer:
Trailer with brakes ___________________ Max. 3500 lbs.
(1588 kg)
Trailer without brakes ________________ Max. 1000 lbs.
(450 kg)
Recommended towball load ___________ 110–165 lbs.
(50–75 kg)
Maximum theoretical towing speed, trailer
with brakes _______________________ 60 mph (100 km/h)
When towing a trailer, increase the pressure
of the rear tires by 0.2 bar (3 psi).
The above speed and weight restrictions are those specified by
Saab Automobile AB.
Note that national restrictions may apply to trailer speeds and
weights (see page 157).
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251 Index
Index
AA/C
__________________________ 82
ABS brakes
___________________ 142
ACC
_________________________ 84
Adjustment, steering wheel
________ 98
Air conditioning
_________________ 82
Air filter
______________________ 178
Air pressure, tyres
______________ 207
Airbag
________________________ 26
Anchorage eyes
_______________ 118
Anti-corrosion treatment
_________ 220
Antilock braking system _________ 142
Anti-spin
_____________________ 144
Ashtrays _____________________ 108
Autochecking of lights, warning and
indicator lights
_________________ 58
Autodimming
______________ 111
, 112
Automatic climate control (ACC)
____ 84
Automatic transmission
__________ 134
Automatic tyre pressure monitoring

207
BBattery
______________________ 182
Bedding-in of new brake pads
____ 132
Before towing a trailer
___________ 160
Bonnet
______________________ 172Bootlid, driving when open
_______ 163
Bootlid, opening
________________ 41
Brake fluid, grade ______________ 242
Brakes
_______________________ 141
Braking ______________________ 141
Bulb changing
_________________ 188
Bulb table
____________________ 198
CCabin lighting
_________________ 105
Car alarm
_____________________ 46
Car transport __________________ 166
Care of air conditioning
__________ 225
Change of address notification
____ 232
Changing bulbs
________________ 188
Changing engine oil
____________ 177
Changing the battery, remote control
44
Changing wheels
______________ 214
Changing wiper blades
__________ 186
Checking the number of
remote controls
________________ 43
Checks before towing a trailer
____ 160
Child safety
____________________ 21
Child safety locks, rear doors
______ 42
Child seats
____________________ 21
Cigarette lighter
________________ 108
Cleaning the engine bay
_________ 218
Cleaning upholstery
____________ 217
Climate control system, manual
____ 79
Compact spare
________________ 212Compass
_____________________ 115
Condensation water, A/C
_________ 82
Coolant
______________________ 179
Cruise control
_________________ 140
Cup holder
____________________ 107
DDate codes, tyres
______________ 212
Deep water, driving through
______ 163
Direction indicator stalk switch _____ 75
Direction indicators
______________ 75
Donor battery, boost starting
______ 168
Door handles
___________________ 38
Door mirrors __________________ 110
Drive belt
_____________________ 185
Drive belt, length
_______________ 240
Driver’s seat with memory
_________ 19
Driving at night
________________ 163
Driving in cold climates
__________ 155
Driving in deep water
____________ 163
Driving in hot climates ___________ 156
Driving techniques
______________ 153
Driving with a heavy load on
hilly roads
___________________ 136
Driving with a load
______________ 162
Driving with a roof load
__________ 161
Driving with the bootlid open
______ 163
Driving with the compact
spare wheel
__________________ 167
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252 IndexEESP, anti-skid system
___________ 146
Economical motoring ___________ 153
Electric engine heater ___________ 154
Electric heating, front seats
____ 83
, 92
Electric windows
________________ 99
Electrical system, technical data
___ 240
Electrically adjustable seats
_______ 18
Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
_146
Electronic steering wheel lock
____ 123
Emergency opening of the narrow
backrest
____________________ 119
Emergency operation of the sunroof
104
Engine bay, cleaning
___________ 218
Engine heater
_________________ 154
Engine immobilizer
______________ 45
Engine number
________________ 246
Engine oil, checking
____________ 176
Engine oil, grade
_______________ 238
Engine oil, volume _____________ 239
Engine temperature gauge
________ 60
Engine, description
_____________ 173
Engine, technical data __________ 238
Engines
______________________ 240
Extra electrical socket
___________ 108
FFactors affecting fuel consumption
_153
Filler cap
_____________________ 129Filling up
_____________________ 128
Flat spots, tyres
________________ 217
Folding down the rear seat
_______ 116
Front fog lights
_________________ 74
Front towing eye _______________ 164
Fuel filler flap, emergency opening
__ 52
Fuel gauge
____________________ 61
Fuel grade ____________________ 240
Functions, car alarm
_____________ 50
Fuse panel in luggage compartment
202
Fuse table
____________________ 201
Fuses
_______________________ 199
GGDO, garage door opener
_______ 112
Garage door opener
____________ 112
Gear selector indicator,
automatic transmission
__________ 62
Gearbox number
_______________ 246
Glove compartment _____________ 109
Glove compartment lighting
______ 196
HHandbrake
___________________ 148
Hazard warning lights
____________ 75
Head restraints
_________________ 20
Headlight flasher ________________ 72
Headlight levelling _______________ 73Headlights
_____________________ 72
Heated door mirrors
_____________ 83
Horn
__________________________ 98
Horn button
____________________ 98
IIgnition switch
_________________ 122
Immobilizer
____________________ 45
Important considerations for driving
125
Important information, petrol-engined
cars with catalytic converters
____ 126
Indicator lights
__________________ 54
Instrument illumination, adjusting
___ 73
Interior lighting
_________________ 105
Interior rearview mirror
__________ 111
Intermittent malfunctioning,
central locking
_________________ 40
JJack
_________________________ 214
Jump starting
__________________ 168
KKey
__________________________ 38
Kick-down
____________________ 136
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253 Index
LLATCH (child safety)
_____________ 22
Labels and plates, location
_______ 246
Lashing eyes
__________________ 118
Laying the car up
______________ 150
Leather upholstery, cleaning
______ 218
Limp-home
___________________ 126
Limp-home, automatic transmission
137
Load carriers, roof
______________ 161
Load indices, tyres _____________ 209
Load-through hatch _____________ 117
Locking a car with flat battery
______ 41
Locks
________________________ 38
Long-term parking
______________ 150
Luggage compartment
__________ 116
Luggage compartment lighting
106
, 119
Luggage compartment lighting,
changing
____________________ 197
MMAXI fuses
___________________ 200
Main instrument panel
___________ 54
Main/dipped beam
______________ 72
Maintenance schedule __________ 230
Manual climate control ___________ 79
Manual gear selection ___________ 139
Manual gearbox
_______________ 133
Manual tripping of car alarm
_______ 49
Materials used in the car, reclamation
222Memory, driver’s seat
____________ 19
Milometer
_____________________ 59
Movement sensor, car alarm
______ 48
Mug holder
___________________ 107
NNight driving
__________________ 163
Number plate lighting, changing
___ 196
OORVR
_______________________ 174
Oil capacity, engine
_____________ 239
Opening handles
________________ 38
Opening the fuel filler flap manually
_52
Owner assistance
______________ 232
PPanic function, car alarm
_________ 49
Park Brake Shift Lock
___________ 135
Park Brake Shift Lock,
temporary override
____________ 137
Parking
______________________ 148
Parking aid ___________________ 151
Parking brake _________________ 148
Parking on a hill _______________ 149
Pinch protection, electric windows
_100
Pinch protection, sunroof
________ 104Plates and labels, location
________ 246
Polishing and waxing
____________ 219
Poly-V-belt
____________________ 185
Position lights __________________ 72
Power steering fluid, checking
_____ 181
Power steering fluid, grade
_______ 242
Pressure gauge
_________________ 61
Profiles, customized settings
_______ 64
Puncture, changing wheels _______ 214
QQuick guide, remote control
_______ 39
RRain sensor
____________________ 77
Rear fog light ___________________ 74
Rear seats, folding down
_________ 116
Rear towing eye
_______________ 165
Rear window heating
_____________ 83
Rearview mirrors
_______________ 110
Recirculation
___________________ 82
Recommendations for automatic
transmission, towing a trailer
____ 158
Recommendations for manual
gearbox, towing a trailer
________ 159
Recommended fuel grades _______ 128
Recommended snow chains ______ 243
Refueling
_____________________ 128
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254 IndexRemote control
_________________ 38
Remote locking malfunction
_______ 40
Reporting safety defects
_________ 233
Rev counter
___________________ 59
Reversing lights ________________ 76
Roof lighting
__________________ 105
Roof lighting, changing
__________ 196
Running-in
___________________ 132
SSAHR, head restraint
____________ 20
SID
__________________________ 64
SPA _________________________ 151
Saab Information Display
_________ 64
Saab Parking Assistance ________ 151
Saab Trionic engine
management system
__________ 174
Safety belts
____________________ 11
Seatbelts
______________________ 11
Seatbelts, care
________________ 217
Seatbelts, checking
_____________ 217
Seats
_________________________ 16
Securing a load
________________ 118
Sentronic, manual gear selection
__ 139
Service costs
_________________ 232
Service information
_____________ 232
Service intervals
_______________ 230
Service record retention
_________ 231
Shifting the wheels
_____________ 209
Signalling, horn
_________________ 98Ski hatch
_____________________ 117
Spare wheel __________________ 212
Speed ratings, tyres
____________ 209
Speedometer
__________________ 60
Starting the engine
_____________ 123
Steering wheel adjustment
________ 98
Steering wheel lock
_____________ 123
Storage compartments __________ 109
Sun visor
_____________________ 106
Sunroof
______________________ 102
Switches ______________________ 72
TTCS
_________________________ 144
Technical data
_________________ 236
Textile carpeting, cleaning
_______ 218
Tightening torque, wheels ________ 216
Tools and spare wheel
__________ 212
Touching up paintwork __________ 219
Towbar
______________________ 157
Towbar load
__________________ 159
Towing
______________________ 164
Towing a trailer
________________ 157
Towing the car ________________ 165
Traction Control System (TCS)
____ 144
Transmission oil, checking
_______ 178
Transmission oil, grade
__________ 241
Transmission, automatic _________ 134
Transmission, manual
___________ 133
Transporting the car
____________ 166Trip computer
__________________ 65
Trip meter
_____________________ 59
Trolley jack ___________________ 215
Troubleshooting, A/C and ACC
____ 224
Turbo gauge
___________________ 61
Tyre date code ________________ 212
Tyre markings
_________________ 209
Tyre pressure _________________ 207
Tyre pressure monitoring, automatic
207
Tyre sizes
____________________ 243
Tyres
________________________ 206
UUpholstery care
________________ 217
Upholstery, cleaning
____________ 217
Useful tips on night driving
_______ 163
Useful tips on starting petrol engines
125
VVanity mirror
__________________ 106
Vehicle identification number
_____ 246
Vehicle recovery
_______________ 166
WWarning labels
___________________ 7
Warning lights __________________ 54
Warning triangle ________________ 76
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