2004 SAAB 9-3 maintenance

262 Customer Assistance and InformationMaintenance 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 a good practice!
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 begins with an
Inspection Service at 30 days. A time for
service message will illuminate on the Saab
Instrument Display (SID) when the car is
due for regular maintenance. There are
three different messages that will appear:
TIME FOR INTERMEDIATE SERVICE
indicates that an oil/filter change is required
along with several inspections. This mes-
sage is set by the engine management
system which calculates service intervals
based on several factors including driving
habits, ambient temperature, number of
cold starts, mileage driven and elapsed time
since the last service. If mileage accumula-
tion does not occur, the message will be set,
and maintenance required at a maximum of
2 years.
TIME FOR MAIN AND INTERMEDIATE
SERVICE
indicates that an oil/filter change is required
along with several inspections and addi-
tional maintenance such as air filter or spark
plug replacement.TIME FOR MAIN SERVICE will be set when
additional maintenance is necessary, such
as air filter or spark plug replacement. When
the message Time for service. is displayed,
contact your Saab Dealer for a service
appointment.
Failure to perform scheduled maintenance
in a timely manner may result in serious
damage to key components or systems.
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.
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263 Customer Assistance and Information
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 “Techni-
cal data” section of this Owner’s Manual.
The use of extra additives in the oil is not
necessary and is not recommended, and
may be harmful to turbochargers.
More frequent oil changes are recom-
mended if your vehicle is operated under
any of the following conditions:
 Most trips are less than 5–10 miles (8–
16 km). This is particularly important
when outside temperatures are below
freezing.
 Most trips include extensive idling
(frequent stop-and-go traffic).
 Most trips are through dusty areas (such
as construction zones).
 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. These conditions
cause the engine oil to break down faster.
The Warranties and Service Record Book-
let has provisions to record extra oil
changes.
Service record retentionIt is the owner’s responsibility to retain ser-
vice records. If possible, you should keep
copies of all shop work orders for all service
and repairs, whenever performed. As indi-
cated in the new car and emission control
system warranties, it is important to docu-
ment that all necessary maintenance has
been done.
HOW THE SERVICE RECORD IS ORGA-
NIZED
The service record is comprised of a series
of coupons on which to record services as
they are performed. There are additional
coupons for documenting extra engine oil
and filter changes, extra automatic trans-
mission fluid services necessary for severe
service conditions, and brake fluid changes.
HOW TO USE THE SERVICE RECORD
COUPONS
When the car is brought to a Saab dealer for
scheduled maintenance, present the War-
ranties & Service Record Booklet to the ser-
vice manager. When the technician has
completed the service, the technician will
sign the maintenance record. The person
responsible for quality assurance at the
dealership will also sign and stamp the
record with the dealer identification stamp.
Service costsDealer pricing practices and labor for ser-
vice work vary. Saab’s recommended ser-
vice times for each service point do not
include the labor required to replace wear
items, such as wiper blades, brake pads or
tires. Nor is labor to perform other service or
repairs found to be necessary as a result of
the inspections included in these times.
Additional labor and parts will be charged
for such work when necessary, except as
covered under an applicable Saab warranty
or any optional extended service contract.
Transmission fluid changes or suspension
alignment, when necessary, are also addi-
tional.
Dealer charges for general shop material,
regulated hazardous waste removal, recy-
cling expenses or other operation costs may
also be applied to service and repair
invoices and are apt to vary by dealer and
location.
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285 Index
Important considerations for driving
_ 144
Important information, petrol-engined
cars with catalytic converters
_____ 145
Indicator lights
___________________ 74
Inflation, tires __________________ 231
Instrument illumination, adjusting
____ 92
Interior lighting
_________________ 123
Interior lighting, Convertible
________ 70
Interior rearview mirror
___________ 129
Intermittent malfunctioning, central
locking
_______________________ 42
JJump starting
__________________ 187
KKey
___________________________ 40
Kick-down
_____________________ 155
LLATCH (child safety)
______________ 22
Labeling, tire sidewall ____________ 238
Labels and plates, location
________ 278
Lashing eyes
___________________ 137
Laying the car up
_______________ 169
Leather upholstery, cleaning
_______ 249Lighting in luggage compartment,
Convertible
____________________ 70
Limp-home
____________________ 144
Limp-home, automatic transmission
_156
Load carriers, roof
_______________ 182
Load indices, tires _______________ 239
Loading your vehicle _____________ 240
Load-through hatch ______________ 136
Locking a car with flat battery
_______ 43
Locks
__________________________ 40
Long-term parking
_______________ 169
Luggage compartment
___________ 134
Luggage compartment lighting
_ 124
, 138
Luggage compartment lighting,
Convertible
____________________ 70
Luggage compartment lighting,
changing
_____________________ 219
MMAXI fuses
____________________ 223
Main instrument panel
_____________ 74
Main/dipped beam
_______________ 92
Maintenance schedule ___________ 262
Manual climate control ____________ 98
Manual gear selection ____________ 158
Manual gearbox
________________ 152
Manual tripping of car alarm
________ 50
Materials used in the car, reclamation
255
Memory, driver’s seat
_____________ 19
Messages on SID, Convertible
______ 63Milometer
_______________________ 79
Mug holder ____________________ 124
NNew tires, buying
________________ 233
Night driving
___________________ 184
Number plate lighting, changing
____ 219
OORVR
________________________ 194
Oil capacity, engine
______________ 271
Opening handles
_________________ 40
Opening the soft top, Convertible
____ 56
Outside mirrors
_________________ 128
Owner assistance _______________ 264
PPanic function, car alarm
___________ 50
Park Brake Shift Lock
____________ 154
Park Brake Shift Lock, temporary
override
______________________ 156
Parking
_______________________ 167
Parking aid ____________________ 170
Parking brake __________________ 167
Parking on a hill _________________ 168
Pinch protection, electric windows
__ 118
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