242 Car care and technical informationAir conditioning
(ACC)
Fault diagnosis If a fault occurs in the A/C system, there are
a number of checks you can perform your-
self. If the fault persists, however, have the
system checked by an authorized Saab
dealer.Important!
When the A/C system is running, the intake
air is dehumidified, and the resultant con-
densation is drained off through two outlets
underneath the floor of the car in the vicinity
of the front doors. It is therefore perfectly
normal for water to be seen dripping from
these outlets when the car is parked. The
warmer the ambient air and the higher the
humidity, the greater will be the amount of
condensation formed.
Inadequate cooling: a Check that the condenser (forward of
the radiator) has not become clogged
with dirt and insects.
b Make sure that the drive belt for the com-
pressor is not slipping.
c Check the fuses for the ventilation fans
and compressor.
Maintenance The drive belt for the compressor should
be inspected under the regular service
program.
Clean dirt and insects away from the con-
denser and radiator to prevent clogging.
When washing the car, use the hose to
spray the radiator and condenser (located
forward of the radiator) from both sides
(both from the front of the car and from
inside the engine bay). Do not use a pres-
sure washer.Caution: Do not use the hose when the
engine is hot.Other than in extremely cold weather, do not
screen the radiator, e.g. with netting, as this
will greatly diminish its cooling capacity.Note:
The A/C system will only operate
when the outdoor temperature is above the
freezing point (0°C, 32°F).
WARNING
All repairs and adjustments on the A/C
system must be carried out by a Saab
dealer authorized for this kind of work.
The A/C system is pressurized. Do not
break any connections or undo A/C
system components.
Escaping refrigerant gas can cause
visual impairment or other injury.NOTICE The A/C system is designed for use
with R134a refrigerant.
Refrigerant handling requires special
equipment and special procedures for
charging and draining the system.
Never mix R134a and R12 refriger-
ants.
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
250 Car care and technical informationHeadlight aiming The vehicle has a visual optical headlight
aiming system equipped with vertical
aiming device. The aim has been preset at
the factory and should normally not need
further adjustments.
If your headlights are damaged in a crash,
the headlight aim may be affected. If you
believe your headlights need to be
re-aimed, we recommend that you take it to
your Saab dealer for service, however, it is
possible for you to re-aim your headlights as
described in the following procedure.To check the aim, the vehicle should be
properly prepared as follows:
The vehicle shall be placed so that the
headlights are 25 ft (7.6 m) from a light
colored wall or other flat surface. The
aiming area should be darkened, this will
improve your ability to see the beam of the
low beam headlight being aimed.
The vehicle must have all four wheels on
a perfectly level surface which is level all
the way to the wall or other flat surface.
The vehicle should be placed so it is per-
pendicular to the wall or other flat surface.
The vehicle should be unloaded and fuel
tank full, and one person or 160 lbs.
(75 kg) on the drivers seat. The vehicle should be fully assembled
and all other work stopped while headlight
aiming is being done.
The vehicle should not have any snow, ice
or mud attached to it.
Tires should be inflated to the prescribed
pressure.
Close all doors.
Rock the vehicle to stabilize the suspen-
sion.
Headlight aiming is done with the vehicle
low beam lamps. The high beam lamps will
be correctly aimed if the low beam lamps
are aimed properly.
WARNING
Before checking/adjusting the headlight
aiming, switch off the engine to avoid
danger of fingers and hands being injured
by moving parts.
The radiator fan can start up even when
the engine is switched off.NOTICETo make sure that your headlights are
aimed properly read all instructions
before beginning. Failure to follow these
instructions could cause damage to
headlight parts or a not correctly aimed
headlight.
ProCarManuals.com
254 Maintenance and owner assistanceMaintenance scheduleThe Maintenance Schedule prescribes a
service program to the purchaser/operator
of a Saab that is reasonable and necessary
to ensure the proper emission control sys-
tems function, safety and reliability of the
Saab automobile in normal use. Additional
maintenance is recommended for specific
components when the car is operated under
certain severe conditions. Proper mainte-
nance is always good advice!
Authorized Saab dealers are equipped and
trained to meet your Saab’s service needs.
They regularly receive up-to-date Saab ser-
vice manuals and parts and technical ser-
vice bulletins from Saab and are able,
through their franchise agreement, to attend
Saab service schools, obtain Saab special
tools and technical assistance and pur-
chase original equipment service and
replacement parts.
Today’s complex automobiles should only
be entrusted to the most knowledgeable
service professionals. A Saab dealer is your
best choice.
Service intervalsThe maintenance schedule is comprised of
a Check -up 30 days after retail delivery, fol-
lowed by services at every 10,000 miles
(16,000 km) thereafter (10,000, 20,000,
30,000 miles/16,000 32,000, 48,000 km
etc.).
Engine oil and filter changesChanging the engine oil and filter is required
at every service point. Use only a Saab
approved long-life oil filter and engine oils
meeting the SAE viscosity ratings and API
service classifications stated in the Specifi-
cation section of this Owner’s Manual. The
use of extra additives in the oil is not neces-
sary and is not recommended, and may be
harmful to turbochargers.
More frequent oil changes are recom-
mended if your vehicle is operated under
the following conditions:
Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to
16 km). This is particularly important
when outside temperatures are below
freezing.
Most trips include extensive idling (such
as frequent stop-and-go driving).
Most trips are through dusty areas.
You frequently tow a trailer or use a car-
rier on top of your vehicle.
If the vehicle is used for delivery service,
police, taxi or other commercial applica-
tions.
If your driving habits match this description,
have the engine oil and filter changed in-
between normal services at 5,000 mile
(8,000 km) intervals. The Warranties and
Service Record Booklet has provisions to
record extra oil changes.
NOTICEThe Check-up will be done by your Saab
dealer at no charge and should be done
as close as possible to the scheduled 30
days.
ProCarManuals.com
270 Specifications 1 Region ___________Y = Northern Europe
2 Country __________S = Sweden
3 Manufacturer _____3 = Saab Automobile AB
4 Product line ______E = 9-5
5 Model series ______B = 9-5 Linear with driver’s and
passenger-side airbags
D = 9-5 Arc with driver’s and
passenger-side airbags
H = 9-5 Aero with driver’s and
passenger-side airbags
6 Body version _____4 =
5 =4-door
5-door
7 Gearbox __________5 = Manual 5-speed
9 = Automatic 5-speed8 Engine variant _____E =
G =
Z =2.3t
2.3 Turbo
3.0t V6
9 Check digit ________0–9/X
10 Model year ________3 = 2003
11 Factory ___________3 = Trollhättan
12 Serial number ______000001–999999 position:1234567891011 12
||||||||||| |
V.I.N.:YS3EF4 9E63 3045842
| | ||||
1 2 3456= identification codes for certain chassis details
IB1917
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
274 IndexDoor handles
____________________ 42
Door mirrors ___________________ 125
Doors, locks & luggage compartment
_41
Drive belt
______________________ 263
Drive belt, alternator
_____________ 211
Drive belts, length
_______________ 263
Driver’s seat, programmable
________ 14
Driving at night
_________________ 186
Driving in hot weather
____________ 181
Driving with a load
_______________ 187
EESP
__________________________ 176
Electric heating seat
______________ 15
Electric heating, front seats
_________ 15
Electric windows
________________ 131
Electrical system, technical data
____ 263
Electrically heated rear seat
________ 15
Electronic Stability Program, ESP
___ 176
Electronic starting interlock
_________ 43
Emergency operation of sunroof
____ 133
Emission control systems
_________ 201
Engine bay, 3.0t V6
______________ 200
Engine bay, 4-cyl
_______________ 199
Engine bay, cleaning _____________ 245
Engine number
_________________ 269
Engine oil, grade ________________ 261
Engine, description _________ 202
, 203
Engine, technical data
____________ 260
Engine, temperature gauge
________ 63
Engine-oil level, checking
_________ 203
Expansion tank, coolant
__________ 206
FFault codes, Audio System
________109
Flat spot, tire
___________________241
Fluid level, automatic transmission
__205
Folding the rear seat, 9-5 Sedan
____139
Folding the rear seat, 9-5 Wagon ___142
Frequently asked questions on airbag
39
Front fog lights
__________________74
Frost warning
___________________66
Fuel
__________________________158
Fuel consumption
________________65
Fuel filler door
__________________150
Fuel gauge
_____________________63
Fuel grade _____________________260
Fuse box under hood
____________230
Fuse panel
____________________226
Fuses
________________________226
GGarage door opener
_____________126
Gearbox number
________________269
Gearbox oil, checking
____________205
Gearbox, technical data, __________264
Glove compartment
______________136
HHandbrake
_____________________195
Hazard warning lights
_____________74
Head restraint
___________________16
Headlight flasher _________________71Headlights
_____________________ 71
Holidaying abroad
______________ 248
Hood
________________________ 198
Horn _________________________ 124
IIgnition switch
_________________ 152
Immobilizer
____________________ 43
Indicator and warning lights
________ 56
Indicator lights
__________________ 56
Instrument illumination
___________ 73
Instruments and controls __________ 55
Integral child seat
_______________ 31
Interior equipment ______________ 123
Interior lighting
_________________ 134
Interior rearview mirror
__________ 125
JJack
_________________________ 239
KKey
__________________________ 42
Key to chassis number
__________ 270
Key, remove
__________________ 152
LLATCH (child safety)
_____________ 24
Labels
_________________________ 8
Leather upholstery, care of
_______ 243
Light horn
_____________________ 71
ProCarManuals.com