2003 SAAB 9-3 snow chains

8
Long loads:Always secure load to prevent it
from shifting during transport.
An unsecured load could cause
passenger injuries in braking situa-
tions or in the event of a crash.
Changing wheels:Use on level ground only. Use vehicle
support stands. Safe working load
1980 lbs. (900 kg).
Contact a Saab dealer if a
xenon headlight requires
replacement.
This label is only found on
cars with xenon headlights.
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur Children 12 and under can be killed by the air bag
 The BACK SEAT is the SAFEST place for children
 NEVER put a rear-facing child seat in the front
 Sit as far back as possible from the air bag
 ALWAYS use SEAT BELTS and CHILD RESTRAINTSUSA
CANADA
Jack Jack is designed only for changing a tire or mounting
tire snow chains.
 Vehicle must be level and jack must be placed on firm
and level ground.
 Never crawl underneath vehicle when it is jacked up.
JACKING INSTRUCTION
1 Set parking brake and shift transmission to park.
2 Fit top of jack into jacking point next to wheel to be
changed.
3 Crank jack so that vehicle begins to lift.
4 Using socket wrench in tool kit, loosen wheel bolts
one-half turn.
5 Raise vehicle so that tire clears ground. Loosen
wheel bolts completely and remove wheel.
6 Mount spare wheel and tighten bolts enough so
wheel is not loose.
7 Lower vehicle. Tighten wheel bolts in a crisscross
sequence.
ProCarManuals.com

155 Starting and driving
Driving in cold weatherIn cold weather, special attention should be
paid to the following:
 Before driving off, make sure that the
wiper blades have not frozen to the wind-
shield.
 Remove any snow from the heating
system air intakes between the hood and
the windshield.
 If necessary, inject oil into the locks to
prevent them from freezing. Use molyb-
denum-sulphide oil (MoS
2). If the locks
freeze, exercise care when unlocking the
car (manual unlocking) to avoid breaking
the key. Warm up the key or use a de-icer.
 It is particularly important when the roads
are slippery that the brakes and tires are
in good condition.
 For how to check the level of antifreeze in
the engine coolant, see page 179. Add gasoline anti-freeze when refueling
several times before the onset of winter.
This will prevent condensation water in
the fuel tank from freezing and causing
interruptions in the fuel supply. The likeli-
hood of condensation is lowest when the
fuel tank is full.
If the car is parked outside and the
temperature is below zero, carburettor
spirit is of little use as it cannot remove
water that has already frozen. Park the
car in a warm place so that any ice that
may have built up melts, then add carbu-
rettor spirit when refueling.
Condensation is caused by temperature
fluctuations, either in the outside temper-
ature alone or when the car is alternately
parked outdoors and in a garage.
The car is equipped with tires designed to
provide optimum grip on both wet and dry
roads, although this has been achieved at
the expense of somewhat reduced grip on
snow and ice. For regular driving on snow
and ice, we therefore recommend that
winter (snow) tires be fitted.Winter tires, particularly studded tires,
generally make driving safer on snow and
ice.
Acquaint yourself with the legal provi-
sions governing the use of different
types of winter tires and snow chains.
Studded tires are not allowed in some
countries. If winter tires are fitted, the same
type must be fitted to all four wheels. Your
Saab dealer will be pleased to advise you on
the best tires for your car.
Remember that tires age: it may therefore
be necessary to change winter tires before
they reach the legal wear limit, as they grad-
ually lose their friction properties with age.
If you get into a front wheel skid and the car
has a manual transmission, the best
response is to freewheel, which means
declutching so that the wheels neither drive
nor brake, and to cautiously steer in the
desired direction.
If the car has automatic transmission, ease
off the accelerator slightly and steer cau-
tiously in the desired direction.
If you get into a rear wheel skid, steer in the
same direction as the movement of the rear
of the car.
ProCarManuals.com

156 Starting and drivingDriving with tire chainsSnow chains must only be fitted to the wheel
and tire dimensions that Saab recommends
in "Technical data" on page 235.
Contact a Saab dealer regarding approved
tire chains.
Driving in hot climatesAlways check the coolant level before start-
ing a journey. When the engine is cold, the
coolant must not lie above the KALT/COLD
mark on the expansion tank (boundary
between the upper and lower sections of the
tank).
At the end of a journey, allow the engine to
idle for 2–3 minutes before switching it off.
If the needle on the temperature gauge
enters the red zone, the following message
will be shown on the SID:
1 Stop the car but do not switch off the
engine. Do not remove the cap on the
cooling system expansion tank, even if
the tank is empty. The engine tempera-
ture should decrease. If the temperature
continues to rise with the engine idling,
the engine must be switched off.2 If the engine is idling and the needle on
the temperature gauge falls, wait until a
normal temperature is shown (about in
the middle of the scale) before switching
off the engine. If the coolant needs to be
topped up, carefully unscrew the
expansion tank cap.
Fill as required with a mixture of 50 %
antifreeze and 50 % clean water. Use an
antifreeze approved by Saab.
3 Have the car’s cooling system checked
at a Saab dealer.
WARNING
 Do not drive at speeds above 30 mph
(50 km/h) when tire chains are fitted.
 Tire chains can reduce directional
stability.
 Do not fit tire chains to the car’s rear
wheels.NOTICE Check the links frequently for wear.
 Check that the chains do not foul the
wheel arch liner at full lock.
 Refer to the "Technical data" section
on page 235, for information on wheel
and tire dimensions approved for the
fitting of tire chains.
Hot engine.
Make a safe stop.
Run engine on idle.
WARNING
 Exercise care when opening the hood
if the engine is overheated. Never
remove the expansion tank cap
completely when the engine is hot.
 The cooling system is pressurized -
hot coolant and vapour can escape.
These can cause injury to your eyes
and burns. Open the cap slowly to
release the pressure before removing
it.
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

214 Car careChanging a wheel
WARNING
 The car jack is designed solely for use
in changing a wheel or fitting snow
chains. It must not be used to
support the car during repair work
or servicing.
Never crawl under a car that is
supported only by a jack.
 Special care must be taken if the car is
on a slope - use wedge-shaped wheel
chocks!
 Position chocks, one ahead and one
behind, the wheel that is diagonally
opposite to the one to be changed.
 Switch on the hazard warning lights if
the car is on a road.
 Apply the parking brake and leave the
car in gear (1st or reverse). Automatic
transmission: move the selector lever
to the P position.
 Ensure that everybody is out of the car
before jacking it up.
 Never start the engine while the car is
jacked up.
 If possible, make sure the jack is
standing on a firm, level surface.
 The jack should be stored correctly
under the carpeting in the trunk. If it
lies loose in the car, it could thrown
forward and cause personal injury in
the event of a crash or if the car rolls
over.
 Do not use the jack on a car other than
your Saab 9-3.
 Grit, salt and rust can clog the inner
threads if the car has been driven for
several years exclusively with alloy
wheels.
If steel wheels are now fitted, the bolt
hole threads in the brake hubs should
be cleaned before the thinner steel
wheels are fitted. It may otherwise not
be possible to achieve the correct
clamping force, despite tightening the
wheel bolts to the correct torque.
ProCarManuals.com

243 Technical data
Wheels and tires Summer tires
6.5 x 15" _________________________ 215/60R15 94 H
6.5 x 16" _________________________ 215/55R16 93 H
7 x 17"___________________________ 215/50R17 91 W or
225/45R17 91 W
7.5 x 18" (accessory) _______________ 225/45 R18 91 W
Always contact a Saab dealer if you plan to fit other wheels or
tires than those fitted as standard.
Winter (snow) tires:
6.5 x 15" wheel ____________________ 195/65 R15 91 Q
M+S
6.5 x 16" wheel ____________________ 205/55 R16 91 Q
M+S or
215/55 R16 93 Q
M+S
7 x 17" wheel _____________________ 205/50 R17 93 Q RF
M+S
Compact spare:
Wheel ___________________________ 4 x 16"
Tire _____________________________ 125/80 R16 97 M or
125/85 R16 97 M
Pressure _________________________ 4.2 bar (60 psi)
Maximum life______________________ 2200 miles
(3500 km)
Maximum speed ___________________ 50 mph (80 km/h)
NOTICEContact your Saab dealer regarding suitable snow chains.
Max. permissible speed with snow chains fitted is 30 mph
(50 km/h).
Snow chains must not be fitted to wheels larger than 17".
Snow chains must not be used on the rear wheels.NOTICEWheels larger than 18" must not be fitted.
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.
Permitted wheel offset is 41 mm.
ProCarManuals.com

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
ProCarManuals.com