2003 SAAB 9-3 Owners Manual

57 Instruments and controls
This light reminds the driver to buckle up.
This light comes on when the parking brake
is applied (see page 148).
The parking brake is mechanical and oper-
ates on the rear wheels.This light comes on if a potentially serious
fault has occured in the airbag system.
The following message is shown on the
Saab Information Display (SID):
This light will come on for about three sec-
onds when the ignition switch is turned to
the Start or Drive position. It should go out
after the engine has started.
Seatbelt reminder
Parking brake warning
light
WARNING
Always apply the parking brake when
parking, see page 148.
Always apply the parking brake
before removing the remote control.
Do not apply the parking brake while
the car is moving.
Airbag warning lightAirbag malfunction.
Contact Saab dealer.
WARNING
 If the airbag readiness light stays on
after you start your vehicle, it means
the airbag system may not be working
properly. One or more of the following
conditions may occur:
- Non-deployment of the airbags in the
event of a crash.
- Deployment of the airbags without a
crash.
- Deployment of the airbags in crashes
less severe than intended.
 To help avoid injury to yourself or
others, have your vehicle serviced
right away if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
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58 Instruments and controlsThis light comes on when there is less than
about 2.5 gallons (10 litre) of fuel left in the
tank.
This light indicates that the headlights or
parking lights are on.This light comes on when the system is
engaged.
This symbol can be found in cars with
manual transmission. The symbol is not
activated until the engine is warm.
It is not always necessary or even recom-
mended to shift up to a higher gear when
this symbol lights up, such as when driving
in heavy traffic or down a steep hill.
Changing up a gear when the symbol
comes on does however improve fuel econ-
omy. Make it a habit to shift up when the
symbol lights up.
Autochecking of lights, main
instrument panelThe warning and indicator lights shown
above should come on when the ignition
switch is turned to ON. They should go out
after about 4 seconds once the engine has
started or after the fault-free self-diagnosis
of each system or function.
Indicator, fuel
NOTICE
If the car runs out of fuel, air can be drawn
in with the fuel, which, in turn, can cause
the catalytic converter to be damaged by
overheating.
Headlight and parking
light indicator
Cruise control indicator
light
Shift-up
(US-spec. cars only)
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59 Instruments and controls
InstrumentsTachometerThe tachometer displays the engine speed
in thousands of revolutions per minute.
A protective function (interruption of the fuel
supply) limits the engine speed within the
red zone.
Odometer and trip meterThe odometer records the distance trav-
elled in miles on U.S. vehicles and on Cana-
dian vehicles the distance indicated is in
kilometres, and the trip meter in miles and
tenths (kilometres and tenths of kilometres
on Canadian vehicles).
Reset buttonThe reset button is positioned immediately
to the left of the speedometer.
 Ignition ON:
Press once – resets the trip meter.
 Ignition OFF:
Press once – enables you to read the
odometer and trip meter.
Press twice – resets the trip meter.
Cars with manual transmissionCars with automatic transmission
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60 Instruments and controlsSpeedometer (U.S. speedometer
shown)The speedometer displays the speed of the
car in miles per hour (mph). It receives infor-
mation about vehicle speed from the ABS’s
wheel sensors.
Temperature gaugeThe temperature gauge shows the temper-
ature of the coolant. The needle should be
in the middle of the scale when the engine
is at normal operating temperature.
If the needle goes into the red zone (which
can occur at high outside air temperatures
or under heavy engine loads), choose the
highest possible gear ratio and the lowest
possible engine speed, and avoid shifting
down.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 (see page 179).
NOTICEIf the needle, despite the above action,
enters the red zone, stop the car in a suit-
able place and allow the engine to idle. If
the needle continues to rise, switch off the
engine.
WARNING
Never open the cap of the expansion tank
completely when the engine is hot, open
with care. The pressure in the cooling-
system can cause hot coolant and steam
to be released. Failure to heed this warn-
ing may result in personal injury.
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61 Instruments and controls
Turbo gaugeThe turbo gauge indicates the air volume
used for combustion, which is equivalent to
the engine load.
At low loads and when the engine is used for
braking, the needle will move within the
white zone.
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
limiting the boost pressure, you should
contact a Saab dealer as soon as possible.
When the speed of the car exceeds
143 mph (230 km/h), acceleration is limited
by reducing the boost pressure. The pres-
sure gauge then moves towards the middle
of the white field, indicating a drop in engine
power and consequently the car’s speed.
Fuel gaugeWhen less than about 2.5 gallons (10 litre)
of fuel is left in the tank, a warning light on
the main instrument panel comes on.
Refueling, see page 128.
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62 Instruments and controlsInformation display,
main instrument panelUnder the speedometer is a display. The
information shown here varies depending
on whether the car has a manual transmis-
sion or automatic transmission.
Cars with manual transmission:
 The odometer reading is shown on the
left-hand side of the display.
 Various information and faults are
displayed in the center of the display.
 The trip meter reading is shown on the
right-hand side of the display.Cars with automatic transmission:
 The odometer and trip meter readings are
shown on the left-hand side of the display.
 Various information and faults are
displayed in the center of the display.
 The selected gear position is shown on
the right-hand side of the display.This symbol comes on when a message or
warning is displayed on the Saab Informa-
tion Display (SID).
The current gear position is displayed on the
right-hand side of the information display.
When gears are selected manually, the
letter M (manual) and the selected gear are
displayed (see page 139).
Information symbol.
Read information on SID
Gear selector indicator
(cars with automatic trans-
mission)
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63 Instruments and controls
This symbol lights up when the system is
operative.
Operation of the TCS or ESP indicates
reduced cohesion between the tires and the
road, and that extra care should be taken by
the driver.
The car is equipped as standard with TCS
and ESP.This symbol lights up when the system is
disengaged using the TCS/ESP button.
If there is a malfunction, the symbol cannot
be turned off by pressing the TCS/ESP
button.The following message is shown on the
Saab Information Display (SID):
or
If so, have the system checked at a Saab
dealer.
See also Traction Control System (TCS) on
page 144 andElectronic Stability Program
(ESP) on page 146.
TCS or
ESP indicator
(certain variants only)
WARNING
The system improves ride comfort and
safety during normal driving. It must
however not be regarded as a system
to enable the driver to maintain higher
speeds. The same precautions as
normal for safe cornering and driving
on slippery roads must be adopted (see
pages 144/ 146).
TCS OFF or
ESP OFF indicator (certain
variants only)
WARNING
The system improves ride comfort and
safety during normal driving. It must
however not be regarded as a system
to enable the driver to maintain higher
speeds. The same precautions as
normal for safe cornering and driving
on slippery roads must be adopted (see
pages 144/ 146).
Traction control failure.
Contact Saab dealer.
Stability control failure.
Contact Saab dealer.
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64 Instruments and controlsSaab Information
Display (SID)Various types of information are shown on
the SID: warnings, indications, trip com-
puter information and information from the
car’s Infotainment System.
The warnings and indications that can be
shown on the SID are listed on page 249.
When the engine is switched off, the current
warnings and indications are displayed.
If there is more than one message on the
SID, a plus sign will be displayed to the left
of the first message. Each message will be
displayed for 10 seconds.
Press the CLEAR button to acknowledge
a SID message. If you acknowledge a mes-
sage but do nothing about it, the message
will be displayed again the next time you
start the car.
You can adjust the settings of several of the
car’s systems, such as the clock, alarm and
climate control system. These are known as
Profiler.
ProfilerAdjustments can be made with the control
unit situated between the main instrument
panel and the audio system. This is called
Profiler.
1 Activate Profiler by pressing the
CUSTOMIZE button.
2 Turn the INFO dial until the appropriate
system is selected.
3 Confirm selection by pressing the
INFO dial.
Select Exit once you have made the desired
settings.The number of systems that are displayed
on the SID depends on the car’s equipment
level. The list shown below includes the
systems that can be found in your car.
Theft Alarm, page 46.
Full theft alarmDoor alarm only
Park Assistance, page 152.
SPA onSPA off
Clock / Alarm, page 69.
Set ClockSet Alarm
Rain Sensor, page 77.
HighMediumLow
SID, control unit and display
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