2004 SAAB 9-3 key battery

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
ProCarManuals.com

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
ProCarManuals.com

46 SecurityChanging the key batteryWhen the voltage of the remote control bat-
tery drops below a certain level, the Saab
Information Display (SID) will display:
Change the battery as soon as possible to
avoid malfunctioning.Battery type: For optimum performance in
all temperatures and good service life, Saab
recommends the use of a Sony or Pana-
sonic CR2032, 3V lithium battery.
The battery should last for about 4 years of
normal use.
The battery type is marked on the inside of
the remote control. Avoid leaving finger-
prints on the faces of the battery.
1 Press the emblem on the reverse of the
remote control to remove the traditional
key.
2 Insert the tip of the key into the small slot
and turn the key to split the remote
control.
WARNING
Keep the battery and other small compo-
nents of the remote control out of reach of
children.NOTICEThe electronics of the remote control are
sensitive to electrostatic discharge. Incor-
rect handling when changing the battery
can damage the remote control. Avoid
touching electronic components of the
remote control with your hands.
Remote control battery low.
Press the emblem to remove
the traditional key
ProCarManuals.com

47 Security
3 Change the battery. Fit the new battery
so that it is positioned in the same way
as the old battery, with the positive (+)
side facing down.
4 Fit the two halves of the remote control
together and press them together until
you hear a click. Avoid pressing the
buttons. Reinsert the traditional key into
the remote control.5 After changing the battery in the remote
control, it is only possible to use the
remote control a limited number of times
before synchronization with the car is
lost. Therefore, do not press the buttons
on the remote control repeatedly directly
after changing the battery.
Unlock the car and insert the remote
control into the ignition switch to
synchronize the remote control and car.
If the central locking system does not work
after changing the battery and the car is
locked, proceed as follows:
1 Unlock the front left door with the tradi-
tional key. If the car has a car alarm, this
will be tripped.
2 Open the door and insert the remote
control into the ignition switch. If the car
has a car alarm, this will be silenced.
The remote control and receiver unit are
now synchronized.
ImmobilizerThe remote control contains an electronic
code that is unique to your car. When the
remote control is inserted into the ignition
switch, this code is checked and the LED on
the dashboard double-flashes for
3 seconds. If the code is correct, the car can
be started.
Each time you remove the remote control
from the ignition, the electronic starting
interlock is activated, the LED double-
flashes for 3 seconds and the car becomes
immobilized. If an incorrect remote control is
now inserted into the ignition switch (e.g.
the remote control of another car), the
immobilizer will remain operative (the LED
will not flash for 3 s) and it will not be possi-
ble to start the car.
If the immobilizer system malfunctions, the
Saab Information Display (SID) displays:
Immobilizer failure.
Try starting again.
Contact Saab dealer.
Change the battery and fit together
the two halves of the remote control
ProCarManuals.com

51 Security
Overview of functionsLocking/arming Direction indicators flash once.
Unlocking/
disarmingDirection indicators flash twice.
Unlocking/
disarming trunk
lidDirection indicators flash three times.
Alarm triggered Direction indicators flash for 5 min.
The horn sounds for 30-second intervals with
10-second breaks (max. 10 cycles) or until you
press one of the remote control buttons or turn
the remote control ON in the ignition switch.
Remote control Normal range: 5–16 yds. (5–15 metres).
In favorable conditions the range can be signif-
icantly greater.
Remote control
batteryNormal life: approx. 4 years.
Change the battery when the SID displays:
Remote control battery low. See Changing the
key battery, page 46.
Some car alarm functions and indications can be reprogrammed.
Contact a Saab dealer for details of the possibilities and refer to
page 280.
ProCarManuals.com

52 SecurityQuick guide, LED and Saab Information Display (SID)
messagesActivity LED signal
Arming (delay period) Shines for 11 s.
Alarm armed Flashes once every 3 s.
Disarming Extinguishes.
Alarm not armed Off.
A door, the hood or the tailgate is
open or opened during the delay
period.Flashes for 11 s then flashes
once every 3 s.
Car immobilized but not locked. Off.
Change of status of immobilizer
system, valid remote control
inserted or removed from ignition
switch.Double-flashes for 3 s.
SID message Reason/action
Key not accepted.
Contact Saab dealer.Error when remote control
inserted into ignition switch.
Remote control battery low. Battery needs replacing.
See page 46.
2: standard key
Key No: 1Check of the number of remote
controls programmed for your
car. See page 45.
Alarm has been triggered
since being armed.The alarm has been tripped
since the car was last locked.
Immobilizer failure.
Try starting again.
Contact Saab dealer.Error when immobilizer code
checked.
ProCarManuals.com

181 Starting and driving
Checks before drivingMake sure that the car and trailer are in
good working order. This is essential since
towing a trailer increases the strain on the
car.
 Check and if necessary adjust the tire
pressure of the car and trailer.
 Make sure all wheel bolts are properly
tightened.
 Make sure that the equipment joining the
car and trailer is properly secured and
adjusted.
 Make sure the trailer’s electrical cable is
properly connected and is not so long that
it drags along the ground. Also, make
sure the cable is not too short and risks
breaking when turning a corner.
 Check all bulbs.
 Check the car and trailer brakes.
 Make sure that all items on or in the
camper or trailer are properly secured.
 Make sure that the trailer’s jockey wheel
is raised and locked.
 Check the distribution of the load so that
the car and trailer are well balanced.
 Check that the rearview mirrors provide
the best possible rearward vision.
 Make sure the trailer’s safety cable is
correctly attached.
Driving considerationsAlways take extra care when towing a
trailer, as the car’s handling will be different
and its braking performance reduced. The
trailer’s braking system and suspension
also have a considerable effect on these
characteristics. See also "Driving with a
load" on page 183.
Drive carefully:
 descending hills
 on uneven roads
 over railway crossings
 when meeting large vehicles
If the car has automatic transmission, select
gear M1 when ascending or descending
steep hills.ReversingGet someone to help you keep an eye out
behind the trailer as the door mirrors do not
always provide sufficient rearward vision
when reversing.
NOTICEIf the camper or trailer has additional elec-
trical equipment, besides the standard
exterior lighting (e.g. interior lighting, a
fan or a charger for a separate battery)
and it is connected to the car via the trailer
connector, to be provided with a separate
power supply, the camper or trailer must
have a 13-pin connector as specified in
ISO 11446.
ProCarManuals.com

281 Technical data
Warning and indications that can be
shown on the SIDSymbol Text
Antilock brake malfunction.
Contact Saab dealer.
Brake malfunction.
Make a safe stop.
Contact Saab dealer.
Brake fluid level low.
Make a safe stop.
Contact Saab dealer.
Release parking brake.
Oil pressure low.
Make a safe stop.
Turn off engine.
Engine malfunction.
Contact Saab dealer.
Reduced engine power.
Contact Saab dealer.
Coolant level low.
Refill.
Hot engine.
Make a safe stop.
Run engine on idle.
Airbag malfunction.
Contact Saab dealer.
Use your seatbelt.
Gearbox malfunction.
Limited performance.
Contact Saab dealer.
Gearbox too hot.
Make a safe stop.
Open hood to cool down.
Battery not charging.
Make a safe stop.
Contact Saab dealer.
A/C off due to high engine
temperature.
Headlight levelling
malfunction.
Contact Saab dealer.
Tap brakes lightly before
using cruise control.
Traction control failure.
Contact Saab dealer.
Stability control failure.
Contact Saab dealer.
Washer fluid level low.
Refill.
Key not accepted.
Contact Saab dealer.
Remote control battery low.
2: standard key
0: valet key
Key No: 1
Lock system failure.
Contact Saab dealer.
Steering lock malfunc.
Make a safe stop.
Contact Saab dealer.
Steering wheel locked.
Pull out key, turn steering
wheel. Try again.
Immobilizer failure.
Try starting again.
Contact Saab dealer.
Theft protection failure.
Contact Saab dealer.
Alarm has been triggered
since being armed.
Rear left seat backrest
unlocked.
Rear right seat backrest
unlocked.
ProCarManuals.com