Page 43 of 288
43 Security
Locking a car with dead batteryThe steering wheel lock requires sufficient
battery voltage to lock and unlock. If the bat-
tery voltage drops below a certain level
while the remote control is in the ignition
switch, you will not be able to remove the
remote control.
If you must leave the car, proceed as
follows:
1 Lock the car by pressing down the lock
buttons on the doors.
2 Lock the front left door from outside with
the traditional key (see page 42). The
car is now locked but the car alarm will
remain inactive.
Trunk lidOpening
The trunk lid is unlocked and slightly opened
when the button on the remote control
or on the inside of the driver’s door is
pressed once.
The hazard warning lights will flash three
times to confirm.
Closing
The trunk lid is locked when closed.
If the doors are locked when the trunk lid is
closed it is armed and the movement sensor
in the cabin will be armed.
Opening button on driver’s door
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Page 44 of 288

44 SecuritySwitches on front doorsThe central locking can also be operated
from inside the car using the button by each
front door handle.
Locking the car with the remote control
renders these buttons inoperative.
If you are sitting in the car and press the
button on the driver’s door, this will unlock
the driver’s door. Press the button a
second time to unlock the remaining
doors and the trunk lid. The button on the
passenger door works in the same way
except that this first unlocks the passen-
ger door. During this operation the rear
doors remain locked.
If the car is left with one or more doors open,
the interior lighting will be switched off auto-
matically after 20 minutes. This is to prevent the battery from running flat. Also, if the car
has electrically adjustable seats, these will
cease to operate.
Child safety locksThe rear doors are equipped with child
safety locks that are activated by means of
a catch next to the door latch.
Insert a screwdriver or the traditional key
(enclosed in the remote control) and turn it
45° in the direction shown on the label on
the door.
When the child safety lock is in the locked
position, the door can only be opened from
outside the car.
WARNING
If small children are carried in the rear
seat, the safety locks on the rear doors
should be activated to prevent uninten-
tional opening from the inside.
Child safety locks
Central locking switch
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Page 53 of 288
53 9-3 Convertible
Advice on soft top
operation ___________ 54
Operating the soft top __ 55
Raising the soft top
manually ___________ 60
SID warnings and
messages __________ 63
"Easy entry" __________ 65
Head restraints _______ 66
Safety belts, rear seat,
Convertible _________ 67 Roll-over protection ____ 68
Electric windows _______ 69
Interior lighting ________ 70
Unlocking the trunk lid
manually ____________ 71
Placing two golf bags
in the trunk __________ 72
9-3 Convertible
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Page 63 of 288
63 9-3 Convertible
Cause Suitable action
Soft top front not locked.
Try again.Failure of the soft top to lock automatically to
the windshield. Move the car so that it is standing level if on
a steep slope.
Press the soft top button to fold the soft top
slightly. Fold the soft top again.
Soft top power pack
overheated.
Allow to cool.
Remove cargo carrier
to operate soft top.
Open trunk.
Move goods away from
top storage area.Move the object hindering soft top operation.
Soft top may be
damaged if operated
at low temperature.Displayed if the soft top is folded at temperatures
below 23°F (–5°C).
Only manual
operation possible.
Contact Saab dealer.
Soft top cover not locked.
Try again.
SID warnings and messagesThe following messages associated with the soft top system and can be displayed on the SID together with a chime:
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Page 73 of 288
73 Instruments and controls
Warning and indicator
lights _______________ 74
Instruments ___________ 78
Information display,
main instrument panel _ 81
Saab Information Display
(SID) ________________ 83
Switches _____________ 91
Wipers and washers ____ 95
Manual climate-control
system ______________ 98
Automatic climate-
control system (ACC)__ 103
Instruments and controls
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Page 74 of 288
74 Instruments and controls
Warning and indicator
lightsThe following warning and indicate lights
are found on the main instrument panel.This warning light illuminates when a fault
arises in the antilock brake system.
The following message is shown on the
Saab Information Display (SID):
The brake system will continue to function
but without ABS modulation.
Antilock braking warningAntilock brake malfunction.
Contact Saab dealer.
Main instrument panel1 Tachometer
2 Speedometer
3 Turbo gauge
4 Fuel gauge5 Engine temperature gauge
6 Information display
7 Trip meter reset buttonMain instrument panel (Arc panel shown)
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Page 75 of 288

75 Instruments and controls
This light will come on if the engine oil pres-
sure is too low. If the warning light flashes or
comes on while you are driving, stop imme-
diately in a safe place, switch off the engine
and check the oil level (see page 196).
The following message is shown on the
Saab Information Display (SID):This light indicates a malfunction in the fuel
or ignition system. The car may still be
driven with care but the performance of the
engine will be somewhat diminished (see
page 144).
The following message is shown on the
Saab Information Display (SID):
Warning, oil pressure
(engine oil)
NOTICE
Never drive the car when the oil pressure
warning lamp is on. Low oil pressure can
cause serious engine damage.
Oil pressure low.
Make a safe stop.
Turn off engine.
Engine malfunction
(CHECK ENGINE)
WARNING
An illuminated “Engine malfunction
(CHECK ENGINE)” indicator light indi-
cates an engine-related problem. While
your car may be able to be driven with the
“Engine malfunction (CHECK ENGINE)”
indicator light illuminated (limp-home
mode), you are advised to have your car
serviced at an authorized Saab dealer as
soon as possible.
Continued driving without this problem
being corrected might cause serious
further damage to your car and create
unsafe driving conditions. The operator
should be prepared to take action if such
unsafe conditions arise (e.g. brake
smoothly, engage neutral, stop in a suita-
ble place, switch off the engine, etc.)
Engine malfunction.
Contact Saab dealer.
NOTICEThe car should be checked immediately
at a Saab dealer to prevent more serious
faults from arising.
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Page 76 of 288

76 Instruments and controlsThis light shows when the high beam is on
(see page 92).
This light indicates when the front fog lights
are on (see page 93).
The front fog lights are switched off auto-
matically when the engine is switched off.
When the fog lights are next needed, they
will have to be switched on manually.This light should come on briefly when you
turn the ignition key to ON. If it doesn´t come
on, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn
you if there is a problem. This light indicates
when the brake fluid level is too low (see
page 200).
The following message is shown on the
Saab Information Display (SID):For safety reasons, stop the car and check
the level of the brake fluid (see page 200).
If the level is normal, depress the brake
pedal firmly two or three times. Now check
the level again. If the level is still normal, you
may drive the car, with considerable cau-
tion, to the nearest Saab dealer to have the
brake system checked.
The brake system provides Electronic
Brakeforce Distribution (EBD). This distrib-
utes the brake pressure between the front
and rear wheels, in such a way as to achieve
optimum braking performance irrespective
of the car’s load.
If a fault arises in the EBD function, the ,
and lights will come on. Also, the fol-
lowing message will appear on the Saab
Information Display (SID):
If this is the case, drive carefully and contact
a Saab dealer as soon as possible. Refer to
Brake warning light on page 76, Antilock
braking warning on page 74 and TCS OFF
or ESP OFF indicator (certain variants only)
on page 82.
High beam Indicator
Front fog lights (option)
Brake warning lightBrake fluid level low.
Make a safe stop.
Contact Saab dealer.
WARNING
Never drive the car if these two lights
are on at the same time. Danger of
brake failure!
If the level of brake fluid in the reser-
voir is below the MIN mark, the vehicle
should be transported on a recovery
vehicle.
Have the brake system checked
immediately at a Saab dealer.
Brake malfunction.
Make a safe stop.
Contact Saab dealer.
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