2003 SAAB 9-3 wheel

157 Starting and driving
Towing a trailerMake sure you are familiar with the legal
requirements regarding speed limits for
towing, maximum trailer weights, trailer
braking requirements, and also any spe-
cial driving licence provisions.
Trailer hitch attachmentTrailer hitch attachments are available as
accessories. These are designed for a max-
imum trailer weight of 3500 lbs (1588 kg),
with trailer brakes.
An electrical socket is provided for connect-
ing the trailer electrics. This is located under
the floor trim by the left-hand tail light.
The Saab genuine electrical socket enables
the battery in the trailer on tow to be charged
during while driving. Also, if the car has
SPA, this is deactivated automatically if a
trailer is hitched up and correctly connected
to the Saab genuine trailer socket.
Saab recommendations:
 Use a genuine Saab towbar that is
designed and tested for your Saab.
 Contact your Saab dealer for advice on
which towbar is designed for your car.
WARNING
 Do not drive with a trailer on inclines
steeper than 15 %. The load on the
drive (front) wheels will be so low that
the wheels can start to spin and
prevent further progress.
 In addition, the car’s parking brake
may not always be sufficient to hold
the car and trailer securely, as the
wheels may start to slide.
 Always apply the trailer’s parking
brake when unhitching it. There is
otherwise a risk of personal injury or
damage to the bumper should the
trailer start to roll.
 When you hitch up the trailer be sure
to attach its safety chains to the holes
by the hitch attachment.
NOTICE Use only a genuine Saab trailer hitch,
since other models can damage the
car’s bodywork and electrical system.
 Consult a Saab dealer for guidance on
how to connect a trailer hitch.
 Exercise care when driving on uneven
roads or against the curb if the car is
heavily laden. This particularly applies
to cars with 18" wheels.
ProCarManuals.com

159 Starting and driving
Recommendations for cars with
manual transmissionRises in coolant temperature are indicated
by the temperature gauge in the main instru-
ment panel.
When the needle is just outside the red
zone, the A/C compressor will be switched
off and, on certain engine variants, the max-
imum engine torque will be limited.
When continuing your journey, select a low
gear in which the engine speed is about
3,500 rpm until the incline eases.
Trailer hitch loadThe weight distribution on the trailer makes
a lot of difference to the handling properties
of the car and trailer combination. As
regards two-wheel trailer, concentrate the
load over the wheels and keep it as low as
possible.
The trailer should be loaded so that the load
on the towball is 110–165 lbs. (50–75 kg).
Note that this load must be included in the
total load for the car. If this now exceeds the
specified load capacity, the load in the trunk
may have to be reduced by the correspond-
ing amount.
WARNING
Remember to use engine-braking (selec-
tor position 1, 2, or 3) to spare the brakes
when you are driving on a long or steep
downhill slope.
Overheating can cause the brakes to
fade!
Distribution of load in traileraLight
b Moderate
cHeavy
ProCarManuals.com

160 Starting and drivingChecks before drivingMake sure that the car and trailer are in
good working order. This is essential since
towing a trailer increases the strain on the
car.
 Check and if necessary adjust the tire
pressure of the car and trailer.
 Make sure all wheel bolts are properly
tightened.
 Make sure that the equipment joining the
car and trailer is properly secured and
adjusted.
 Make sure the trailer’s electrical cable is
properly connected and is not so long that
it drags along the ground. Also, make
sure the cable is not too short and risks
breaking when turning a corner.
 Check all bulbs.
 Check the car and trailer brakes.
 Make sure that all items on or in the cara-
van or trailer are properly secured.
 Make sure that the trailer’s jockey wheel
is raised and locked.
 Check the distribution of the load so that
the car and trailer are well balanced.
 Check that the rearview mirrors provide
the best possible rearward vision.
 Make sure the trailer’s safety cable is
correctly attached.
Driving considerationsAlways take extra care when towing a
trailer, as the car’s handling will be different
and its braking performance reduced. The
trailer’s braking system and suspension
also have a considerable effect on these
characteristics. See also "Driving with a
load" on page 162.
Drive carefully:
 descending hills
 on uneven roads
 over railway crossings
 when meeting large vehicles
If the car has automatic transmission, select
gear M1 when ascending or descending
steep hills.ReversingGet someone to help you keep an eye out
behind the trailer as the door mirrors do not
always provide sufficient rearward vision
when reversing.
ProCarManuals.com

164 Starting and drivingTowing the car
Front towing eyeThe front towing eye is stowed by the spare
wheel. On the left-hand side of the bumper
is a cover concealing the attachment point
(tapped hole) for the towing eye.
1 Press the knob on the upper section of
this cover to open it.
2 Screw in the towing eye. The towing
eye has a left-hand thread!
3 Insert the wheel wrench into the eye to
tighten it properly.
WARNING
 Remember that the brake servo does
not operate when the engine is off.
Much greater pressure than normal
will therefore be required to operate
the brake pedal.
 Nor does the steering servo operate
when the engine is off. The steering
will therefore be much heavier than
usual.
 The towing vehicle should always be
heavier than the vehicle on tow.
 Never allow passengers to ride in the
car when it is on tow.
 Always seek professional help if the
car needs to be recovered.
 The ignition switch must be in the ON
position if the car is moved with the
engine not running.
 The steering wheel lock disengages
when the remote control is inserted
into the ignition switch, if the battery
has sufficient charge.
WARNING
 Make sure that the towing eye is
screwed in tightly. It has a left-hand
thread!
 The towing eye is only designed for
towing the car on roads. It must not
be used to pull the car out of a ditch,
for example.
 Make sure that all bystanders keep a
suitable distance, in case the towing
eye or tow rope should snap. The
towing eye or tow rope could catapult
off and cause seriously injury.
 Never drive with the towing eye fitted
to the front bumper. Return it to its
designated storage space.
Front towing eye fitted.
The towing eye has a left-hand thread!
ProCarManuals.com

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.
ProCarManuals.com

167 Starting and driving
Driving with the
compact spare wheelObserve the following when the compact
spare wheel is fitted:
 The compact spare is light and easy to
handle when changing a wheel.
 Do not drive further than necessary with
the compact spare fitted - the maximum
life of the wheel is only just over
2,000 miles (approx. 3,500 km).
 Refit the standard wheel as soon as
possible.Important considerations when driving with
a compact spare wheel:
 The car’s ground clearance is reduced.
 The car must not be driven with more than
one compact spare wheel at a time.
 Avoid driving against the curb.
 Do not use snow chains.
 Do not fit the wheel cover - this would
conceal the warning text.
WARNING
 Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h). The
tire can overheat affecting the car’s
roadholding.
 Tire pressure: refer to page 243.
 The spare wheel or punctured wheel
must be stowed under the trunk floor,
and secured in place with the retaining
nut.
NOTICETo avoid damaging a punctured alloy
wheel, this can be temporarily placed
outside up in the spare wheel well but
only while driving to the closest work-
shop.
As a general rule, all heavy loads must be
well secured in the trunk (see page 118).
ProCarManuals.com

170 Starting and drivingFor long tripsBefore starting off on a long journey, it is
advisable to have your car inspected by
your Saab dealer.
Obtain a few important items to take along
on your journey, such as spare bulbs, wiper
blades, fuses, a drive belt (poly-V-belt) and
the like.
You can check some points yourself before-
hand:
 Check that no oil or fuel leaks out of the
engine or gearbox/transmission.
 Check the coolant and power steering
fluid levels. Check also for leaks.
 Inspect the drive belt (poly-V-belt) and
replace if it shows any signs of wear.
 Check the battery charge.
 Check the tires for tread pattern and air
pressure, including the compact spare
wheel.
 Take an extra remote control and keep it
separate.
 Check the brakes.
 Check all bulbs.
 Check for the presence of the tool kit and
jack in the car.
ProCarManuals.com

171 Car care
Hood ________________ 172
Engine ______________ 173
Engine bay ___________ 175
Engine oil ____________ 176
Air filter______________ 178
Transmission fluid ____ 178
Coolant ______________ 179
Brake/clutch fluid and
brake pads__________ 180
Power steering________ 181
Battery ______________ 182
Drive belt ____________ 185
Wipers and washers ___ 186
Wiper blades _________ 186
Changing bulbs _______ 188 Fuses ________________ 199
Wheels _______________ 206
Compact spare wheel ___ 212
Changing a wheel ______ 214
Safety belts ___________ 217
Upholstery and trim ____ 217
Textile carpeting _______ 218
Engine bay ____________ 218
Washing ______________ 218
Waxing and polishing ___ 219
Touching up the paint___ 219
Anti-corrosion treatment 220
Recovery and/or
recycling of automotive
materials ____________ 222
Air conditioning (A/C) ___ 224
Car care
ProCarManuals.com