244 Car care and technical informationWashing the carThe bodywork must be washed frequently.
When the car is new, the body should be
washed by hand using plain cold water and
a clean, soft brush, or in a brushless car-
wash that uses mild detergent. Automatic
car washes with brushes should be avoided
when the car is new. Do not use automatic
car washes for the first five or six months,
before the paintwork has hardened prop-
erly. Thereafter, use a high quality car wash
soap added to lukewarm water.
Do not use a pressure washer at close
range on stone chip damage, scratches or
other damage to the paintwork. The paint
can otherwise start to flake.
Remove any bird droppings without delay,
as these can discolor the paintwork and
prove difficult to polish out.
Use a soft cloth moistened with methyl alco-
hol to remove splashes of tar or asphalt. Do
not use strong cleaners, as these can dry
out the paintwork.
The underside of the car also needs wash-
ing regularly, and this should be done extra
thoroughly at the end of winter. Clean the
underside of the car by hand if the car is usu-
ally washed in an automatic car wash with-
out special facilities for underbody cleaning.
Never wash or leave the car to dry in the
sun, but wipe it dry with a chamois leather
immediately after washing to avoid smears
and streaks.
Clean the window glass inside and out using
a high quality window cleaner. This is partic-
ularly important when the car is new, as
upholstery and trim have a tendency to
sweat a little at first.
Keep the glass well cleaned, as this helps to
prevent misting.
NOTICEAvoid using any alcohol-based cleaners
on the front and rear light clusters, as
these can cause cracking of the lenses.
NOTICE The door mirrors must be fully
retracted before the car enters an
automatic car wash.
Remove fixed antennas, e.g. for
mobile phone, before putting car
through an automatic car wash.
Try your brakes on leaving a car wash.
Wet brake discs may reduce the per-
formance of the brakes.
Cars with Saab Parking Assistance:
Do not spray the sensors or closer
than 20 cm to the sensors with a pres-
sure washer, as this can damage
them.
ProCarManuals.com
248 Car care and technical information4Inspect the undercoating and touch
up if necessary.
Pay particular atten-
tion to the fenders and wheel housings,
which are exposed to abrasion by flying
gravel, etc. If the composition has worn
or flaked off, the steel must be thor-
oughly cleaned and dried before a fresh
coat is applied. The cleaning is best
done with a scraper and a steel wire
brush, followed by washing with solvent.
Apply the new coating thinly, as other-
wise it may run off or fall off when dry.
For long tripsBefore setting off on a long journey, it is
advisable to have your car checked over by
your Saab dealer.
Obtain a few important items to take along
on your journey such as spare bulbs, wiper
blades, fuses, a Poly-V-belt and the like.
You can check some points yourself before-
hand:
Make sure that the engine is in good con-
dition.
Check that no oil or gasoline leaks out of
the engine or gearbox/transmission.
Check the coolant and power steering
fluid levels. Check also for leaks.
Inspect the Poly-V-belt and replace it if it
shows any signs of hard wear.
Check the battery charge.
Check the tires for tread pattern and air
pressure, including the compact spare
wheel.
Check the brakes.
Check all bulbs.
Check for the presence of the tool kit and
the jack in the car.
Recovery and/or
recycling of automotive
materialsA typical car consists of metals (65–75 %),
plastics (10–15 %), rubber (5 %) and small
quantities of glass, wood, paper and tex-
tiles. The recycling of metals has been com-
monplace for a long time now.
To facilitate sorting of other materials for
recycling, plastic parts, for instance, have
been marked to identify the precise nature
of the plastic.
The quantity of materials in the car that can
be recycled or recovered depends on the
scrapping facilities in different countries. EU
legislation that comes into force in 2006 will
require a minimum of 85 % of the total
weight of materials to be recycled. How-
ever, every major car salvage yard in each
market will receive details from Saab of how
the highest percentage of materials can be
reclaimed.
ProCarManuals.com
259 Specifications
Trailer:
Luggage compartment
Volume (SAE):
9-5 Sedan _______________________ 15.9 cu.ft.
(450 litres)
9-5 Wagon, rear seat upright ________ 31.4 cu. ft.
(890 litres)
9-5 Wagon, rear seat folded _________ 73.0 cu. ft.
(2067 litres)
Luggage compartment, length, 9-5 Sedan:
Rear seat upright _________________ 43.0 in (1092 mm)
Rear seat folded down _____________ 67.5 in (1714 mm)
Luggage compartment, length, 9-5 Wagon:
Rear seat upright _________________ 42.8 in (1087 mm)
Rear seat folded __________________ 61.2 in (1732 mm)
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 luggage compartment, make sure
that it is tied down securely, particularly when part or all of the
rear seat is folded down.
Maximum towing speed, trailer with brakes 60 mph (100 km/h)
Trailer with brakes _________________ Maximum weight:
3500 lbs (1588 kg)
Trailer without brakes ______________ Maximum weight:
1000 lbs (450 kg)
Maximum load on ball hitch __________ 110–165 lbs
(50–75 kg)
The above speed and weight restrictions are those specified by
Saab Automobile AB.
Note that local restrictions may apply to trailer speeds and
weights (see page 181).
ProCarManuals.com
265 Specifications
Suspension
SteeringBrake systemSpring type, front and rear ___________ Coil springs
Maximum deflection of springs:
Front __________________________ 7.09 in (180 mm)
Rear ___________________________ 7.87 in (200 mm)
Dampers, front and rear _____________ Gas-filled dampers
Steering _________________________ Power-assisted
steering of
rack-and-pinion
type; telescopic
steering-column
shaft with universal
joints
Number of turns, lock to lock __________ 2,9
Power-steering fluid ________________ Power-steering
fluid CHF 11S Footbrake (ABS) ____________________ Hydraulic disc
brakes with vacuum
servo unit. Diago-
nally split circuits;
ventilated discs on
front wheels. EBD
function, see page
172.
Handbrake ________________________ Acts on rear wheels
Brake fluid _________________________ DOT 4
Brake-fluid capacity _________________ 0.925 qts (900 ml)
Disc diameter:
Front ___________________________ 11.34 in (288 mm)
Front, certain variants *) _____________ 12.05 in (306 mm)
Rear ___________________________ 11.26 in (286 mm)
Rear, certain variants *) _____________ 11.81 in (300 mm)
*) 15” wheel must not be used on these
variants.
Total friction area of brake pads:
Front ___________________________ 36.3 in
2 (234 cm
2)
Rear ___________________________ 15.5 in
2 (100 cm
2)
ProCarManuals.com
273 Index
IndexAA/C system, fault diagnosis
________ 242
A/C system, maintenance _________ 242
ABS brakes
____________________ 172
ACC
__________________________ 77
ACC functions
___________________ 80
ACC, automatic climate control
______ 77
ACC, calibration
_________________ 85
ACC, condensation _______________ 86
ACC, programming _______________ 83
ACC, useful tips
_________________ 85
Adjusting the steering wheel
_______ 124
Adjustment, seats
________________ 12
Afterheater, V6-engine cars
________ 87
Air conditioning (A/C), fault diagnosis
and maintenance
______________ 242
Air distribution, ACC ______________ 82
Airbag
_________________________ 33
Alarm __________________________ 48
Alarm functions
__________________ 51
Alarm signals
_______________ 48
, 51
Alternator
_____________________ 211
Alternator drive belt
_________ 211
, 263
Alternator rating
________________ 263
Anticorrosion treatment
___________ 246
Antidazzle rear-view mirror
________ 129
Ashtrays
______________________ 135
Audio System
___________________ 89
Audio System, quick guide
_________ 91Autochecking of lights on starting
____62
Automatic climate control (ACC) _____77
Automatic transmission,
technical data
_________________264
Aviod theft, tip
__________________195
BBattery
________________________209
Battery charging/replacing
________210
Battery, boost starting
____________191
Belt guide
______________________17
Boost starting using jump leads
____191
Booster cushion
_________________31
Brake and clutch fluid
____________207
Brake-fluid reservoir
_____________207
Brakes, technical data ____________265
Bulbs, changing
_________________214
Bulbs, table of
__________________225
CCD changer
____________________101
CD player
______________________99
CHECK messages
_______________69
CHECKING
_____________________69
Calibration, ACC
_________________85
Cancelling the programmed settings
__83
Car alarm
______________________48
Car care
______________________197
Cargo net, 9-5 Wagon
____________146
Carpeting, care of
_______________243
Cassette player
__________________96Catalytic converter,
important considerations
________ 156
Central locking
__________________ 42
Change language in SID
__________ 70
Change of address notification
____ 256
Changing a wheel
______________ 237
Changing bulbs
________________ 214
Changing the wheels round
_______ 233
Changing wiper blades
__________ 212
Chassis number
_______________ 269
Chassis number, key to
__________ 270
Child safety
____________________ 23
Child safety locks, rear doors
______ 45
Child seat, integral
_______________ 31
Cleaning, engine bay ____________ 245
Clock
______________________ 69
, 70
Color code, body
_______________ 269
Color code, trim ________________ 269
Compact spare wheel
___________ 236
Compass
_____________________ 130
Condensation, ACC
______________ 86
Coolant
______________________ 206
Courtesy Headlight Feature
_______ 72
Cruise control
_________________ 171
Cup holder
____________________ 138
DDICE/TWICE
__________________ 227
Dampers
_____________________ 265
Date code, tires
________________ 235
Dim-dipped beam _______________ 71
Direction indicators ______________ 73
ProCarManuals.com