2003 SAAB 9-5 Owners Manual

73 Instruments and controls
Instrument illuminationThe brightness of the instrument illumina-
tion can be varied by means of the dimmer
switch adjacent to the headlight switch.
(See also Night panel on page 69).
In daylight or other equally bright light, the
instrument and switch illumination is auto-
matically extinguished.
Turn signal and lane change indica-
torsTo switch on the turn signals/lane change
indicators, move the stalk up or down.
The stalk has fixed positions for indicating a
right or left turn, and the indicators are can-
celled automatically (stalk returns to off
position).
The stalk also has an intermediate,
spring-loaded position that is useful for sig-
nalling when changing lanes or passing.
The respective indicator lights on the instru-
ment panel flash at the same frequency as
the direction indicators.
IB352
102
IB1595
Turn signal and lane change indicators 1 Right indicators
2 Left indicators
Instrument illumination
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74 Instruments and controlsFront fog lightsThe front fog lights can be activated in both
low beam headlight and parking light posi-
tions. Fog lights should only be used in poor
visibility conditions.
Make sure you are familiar with the appli-
cable provincial/state law regarding the
use of fog lights. Reversing lightsThe reversing lights come on automatically
when reverse gear is engaged or selected
with the ignition switched on.
Hazard warning lightsWhen this button is pressed, all the turn
signal indicators and a symbol in the button
flash simultaneously. If the ignition is on,
both indicator lights on the instrument panel
will also flash.
If the hazard warning lights are left on for
some time, the flasher frequency will be
reduced to save the battery.
Hazard warning lights should only be used
if the car constitutes a hazard to other road
users.

WARNING
Switch on the hazard flashers if the car
has to be left at the roadside on account
of a crash, engine trouble or a puncture. If
you carry a warning triangle or flares, they
should be set up along the side of the road
300 ft. (100 m) behind your vehicle. If the
car is not clearly visible (e.g. over the
brow of a hill or bridge), place the trian-
gle/flare even further back.
IB355
IB356
Hazard warning lights
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75 Instruments and controls
Wipers and washers There are three intermittent wiper positions.
Moving the control stalk to the
spring-loaded position between 0 and 2 will
produce a single sweep of the wipers.
The wipers are designed for optimal clean-
ing at all driving speeds. At higher speeds,
it may be possible to detect a slight ”sweep-
ing” sound. This may be due to the
increased air pressure on the blades at
higher speeds.Headlight washersIf low beam is on, the headlights are washed
every fifth time the windshield washers are
used or if 2 minutes have elapsed since the
windshield was last washed. The headlight
washers cannot be activated separately.
The headlight washers are of the high-pres-
sure type, which means that other parts of
the car may become wet if you activate the
washers while the car is stationary.Rain sensing wipers (option)
The rain sensor automatically controls the
windshield wipers. The sensor is located on
the windshield beside the rearview mirror.
The system varies between single sweeps
of the windshield and continuous wiping
depending on how much water or snow
there is on the windshield.Activate the system by lifting the control
stalk to position 1. The wipers make one
sweep for reference to see how much water
and snow is on the windshield. In future, the
sensor compares the amount of water and
snow on the windshield with this reference
value.
When the engine has been switched off,
the control stalk must be moved to posi-
tion 0 and back to position 1 to reactivate
the sensor.
Set the sensitivity using the control on the
wiper stalk (the same control as used for
wiper delay on cars not fitted with a rain sen-
sor). The sensor has three sensitivity set-
tings. It is most sensitive when in the upper-
WARNING
Turn the rain sensor off if the ignition is
ON when clearing snow and ice from the
windshield, to avoid personal injury.
NOTICETo avoid damaging the windshield
wipers, turn the rain sensor off before
washing the car in an automatic carwash.
IB359
0
41
2
3
0 OFF
1 Intermittent operation
2 Low speed
3 High speed
4 Washers
12
IB569
Control for setting wiper delay1 Long delay
2 Short delay
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76 Instruments and controlsmost position (1). When a higher degree of
sensitivity is selected, the wipers make one
sweep of the windshield for reference.
The rain sensor has a daylight and a night
time mode. The sensor measures the
amount of available light and automatically
selects the appropriate mode. The sensor is
more sensitive at night. The function of the
rain sensor is impaired by dry snow.Rear-window wiper (9-5 Wagon)The rear-window wiper and washer are
operated with the same stalk switch as used
for washing and wiping the windshield and
headlights.
This stalk has two additional switches,
ON/OFF and .
The ON position provides intermittent wip-
ing.
The position provides washing and
wiping. After a few sweeps the wiper stops
or reverts to intermittent wiping, if this has
been chosen. About 15 seconds after com-
pletion of the washing/wiping of the rear
window, the wiper makes a single sweep to
wipe away any remaining washer fluid.
A spring-loaded position between the OFF
and ON positions allows for a single sweep
of the rear-window wiper.
Intermittent wiping of the rear window
occurs when reverse gear is engaged if the
windshield wipers are in position 1, 2 or 3,
see page 75.
For how to adjust the rear window washer
jet on the 9-5 Wagon, refer to page 212.
2 1
IB1207
Rear-window wiper1 Intermittent wiping
2 Washers
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77 Instruments and controls
Automatic climate
control (ACC) The ACC system automatically works to
maintain the desired temperature inside the
car.
The system will achieve the desired temper-
ature in the quickest possible way. Note that
selecting a higher or lower temperature than
that desired will not speed up the process.
For the ACC system to be most effective, all
windows (and sunroof, if fitted) should be
closed.
Fresh air for the cabin is drawn in through an
inlet grille adjacent to the bottom edge of the
windshield. The air flows through a filter
upstream of the ACC system before deliv-
ery to the cabin. Cabin air is evacuated via
openings in the rear parcel shelf and then
through outlets on either side of the car
behind the rear bumper.
The incoming air is treated in three stages:
first it passes through a filter; it is then dehu-
midified and cooled and, finally, if required,
heated.
The filter is a combined particle and char-
coal filter. It is so efficient that levels of nox-
ious substances such as benzene and tolu-
ene are also reduced.To reduce the likelihood of misting on the
insides of the windows, the glass should be
cleaned with a quality window cleaner. How
often this will need to be done depends on
how clean the air is – if there are smokers in
the car, cleaning will need to be done more
frequently.
AUTO
ECON OFF
AUTO
ºF
ºC
ºF
ºC
ECON OFF
IB367
9
1
5
4
23
68
7
ACC panel 1 Temperature setting: LH side
2 AUTO: All settings selected automatically
3 Manual setting of fan speed
4 Manual setting of air distribution
5 Rear-window heating: ON/OFF 6 Recirculation: ON/OFF
7 A/C compressor: ON/OFF
8 ACC system: ON/OFF
9 Temperature setting: RH side
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78 Instruments and controls
The system has five sensors:
 Outdoor temperature sensor
 Interior temperature sensor
 Sun sensor (mounted on top of the fascia)
 Two blended-air temperature sensors
(mounted inside the front floor vents)
Note If anything is placed over the sun sen-
sor, the ACC system will not function prop-
erly.
Panel vents The panel vents swivel universally, so that
air can be directed as desired. In winter, for
instance, the outer vents can be directed
onto the door windows for enhanced
demisting.
The flow of air through the panel vents can
be controlled individually for each vent by
means of the adjacent control. The climate
control system works best if the panel vents
are open. If you find the air cold or that it is
drafty, start by directing the air away from
the body. If the center vent is aimed up, it will
cool the interior temperature sensor and
you may need to adjust ACC up or down,
depending upon temperature desired.
IB362
Panel vent
IB368
1
2
1 Interior-temperature sensor
2 Sun sensor
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79 Instruments and controls
Temperature control The cabin is divided into two temperature
zones:
 The driver’s zone
 The passenger zone (front and rear
seats)
The desired temperature can be set
between 58 and 82°F (15 and 27°C). In
addition, there are also HI and LO settings
(see below). The HI and LO settings for the
passenger zone can only be selected if they
are also selected for the driver’s zone.
The displayed temperature is not the abso-
lute temperature but corresponds to the
comfort level normally experienced at that
temperature after allowance has been
made for the air flow, relative humidity, solar
radiation, etc., currently prevailing inside
the car.
 The most usual temperature setting is
64–76°F (18–24°C), depending on per-
sonal preference and what clothing is
worn.
 It is recommended that changes in the
temperature setting be made in steps of
2°F (1°C).
 Once the desired climate has been
achieved, the rear center vents can be
closed to prevent warm air being distrib-
uted at face height.Settings when HI selected:
 Maximum heat
 Air distribution to windshield and floor
 Recirculation OFF (even if manually
selected before)
 Fan: high speed
 Settings shown on ACC display
Settings when LO selected:
 Maximum cooling (A/C compressor will
run even if ECON manually selected
before)
 Air distribution through panel vents
 Fan: maximum speed
 Recirculation ON
 Settings shown on ACC display
IB369
Air vent at rear side window
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80 Instruments and controlsFunctionsPressing AUTO will cancel all manual settings.
If a manual function is selected, it will be locked in but other functions
will be controlled automatically.
The selected temperature is always maintained automatically.
Temperature, air distribution, fan speed and
recirculation will all be controlled automatically.
In falling temperatures the A/C compressor is
switched off at 32°F (0°C).
In rising temperatures the A/C compressor is
switched on at 41°F (+5°C).
If at the start the outside air temperature is 32–41°F
(0 – +5°C), the A/C compressor is switched off.
 Pressing AUTO once will cancel all previous
manual selections.
 Pressing AUTO a second time will result in all the
automatically selected settings being displayed. When the engine is started, the A/C system is in
AUTO mode, apart from any currently set program,
see page 83 and 84).
IB370
A/C compressor OFF.
No cooling of inlet air. Temperature, air distribution
and fan speed still under automatic control.
ACC system OFF.
Fa n OF F.
A/C compressor OFF.
War m air OFF.
Air-distribution selections locked in current settings.
Recirculation can be selected manually.
Pressing the AUTO button will put the system into
automatic mode.
Pressing the OFF button again will result in the sys-
tem reverting to any previous manual settings.
IB371IB372
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