2004 SAAB 9-3 service interval

193 Car care
EngineThe engine is a transverse four-cylinder in-
line engine with twin overhead camshafts
and 16 valves.
The engine is equipped with two balance-
shafts that reduce engine vibrations to a
minimum.
The balance shafts are chain-driven and
rotate at twice the speed of the crankshaft.
They produce forces and torques that are
opposed to those generated by the pistons
and connecting rods. The effect occurs
twice in each revolution of the engine, coun-
teracting the vibration from its moving parts,
and at the same time reducing unwanted
engine noise.
The gearbox, located on the right (viewed
from the front), is integrated with the engine.
Engine familiesSaab cars imported into the United States
and Canada meet all applicable emission
control standards. The engine family and
appropriate tune-up specifications are iden-
tified on a label affixed to the left front inner
fender.
These engine families meet applicable EPA
Federal Standards, California State Stan-
dards and Canadian Federal Standards and
are equipped with the following systems:
• sequential multiport fuel injection system
 three way catalytic converter
 crankcase emissions control system
 evaporative emission system.
Emission control
systemsThe systems for controlling emissions to the
atmosphere require regular checking and
adjustment at the intervals specified in the
service program.
In addition to meeting the exhaust emission
regulations and thereby helping to keep the
environment clean, a correctly tuned engine
will also give maximum fuel economy.
WARNING
Engine exhaust, some of its constituents,
and certain vehicle components contain
or emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth
defects and reproductive harm. In addi-
tion, certain fluids contained in vehicles
and certain products of component wear
contain or emit chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
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200 Car careNote:
If incorrect coolant is used or added, the life-
time properties will be affected. Even if the
coolant is flushed from the system and
replaced with life-time coolant, life-time
properties are no longer retained and the
coolant must then be drained and replaced
at regular intervals.
Brake/clutch fluid and
brake padsCheckingBrake fluid should be changed according to
the service program. Refer to the Warranty
and Service Book.
The brake and clutch fluid reservoir is trans-
parent to facilitate checking of the fluid level.
The fluid level should lie between the MAX
and MIN marks.
If the level drops too low, the following mes-
sage appears on the SID:
Top up as necessary with DOT 4 brake
fluid. Do not use DOT 5 fluid.
Use only new brake fluid from a sealed
container.The brake fluid level will fall somewhat as
the brake pads wear. The MAX level in the
reservoir corresponds to the amount of
brake fluid required with new brake pads. If
the fall in fluid level is moderate, due to
normal brake pad wear, topping up is not
necessary.
If the brake fluid should require chang-
ing, this must be carried out at a Saab
dealer.
NOTICEIf the cooling system needs topping up,
mix the antifreeze with the appropriate
quantity of drinking water or distilled
water before adding it to the system.
If undiluted antifreeze is added, the
engine could still freeze and be damaged.
This is because the antifreeze will not mix
properly with the coolant before the ther-
mostat has opened to allow full circula-
tion.
WARNING
Brake fluid deteriorates as it becomes
old. Because it is hygroscopic, it absorbs
water from the air and, in time, could allow
vapor to form in the brake system, thus
reducing its performance. It is therefore
important that brake fluid be changed
regularly, as specified in the service
program.
Brake fluid level low.
Make a safe stop.
Contact Saab dealer.
Brake fluid reservoir
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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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270 Technical dataEngine Engine oilType: Four cylinders,
double overhead
camshafts,
16 valves, two
balancer shafts,
dual-mass flywheel
Cylinder bore_______________________ 3.386'' (86 mm)
Stroke ____________________________ 3.386'' (86 mm)
Swept volume ______________________ 122 cu.in. (1.998 l)
Idling speed________________________ 720 rpm.
When the engine
load increases, e.g.
the steering wheel is
turned, the idling
speed is raised to
900 rpm.
Antifreeze _________________________ Saab-approved
antifreeze
Coolant capacity ____________________ 7.5 qts. (7.1 l)To meet demands in Saab's extended service intervals all en-
gines are filled with specially designed synthetic factory fill oils.
Long service intervals, fuel economy and environmental issues
are the base for our choice of oil. By using oils approved by
Saab you minimise the tendencies for oil sludge build, by that
protecting the engine from harmful, wear increasing, deposits.
Approved oils:
All gasoline engines - Fully Synthetic Engine Oil fulfilling GM-
LL-A-025 requirements.
To ensure being able to take advantage of the Saab specified
service intervals, be sure to select a fully synthetic engine oil
fulfilling GM-LL-A-025 requirements.
Servicing/Oil changes:
To be able to use recommended service intervals the need to
use only approved engine oils is vital. Use only engine oils ap-
proved for your engine. Service should be done according to
the recommended service intervals to optimize your engine's
function through out its entire life. Saab Automobile AB will not
take responsibility for any damage that might occur due to ne-
glecting to meet above mentioned requirements.
At your Saab dealers you can find Saab Genuine or Mobil en-
gine oils. Among those there are oils specially designed to meet
your engines specific needs. We recommend that you, with the
help of our skilled service personnel, choose your oil from that
selection.
Other oil companies also have engine oils approved according
to the table above. Oils meeting these standards may be identi-
fied as synthetic. However, not all synthetic oils will meet your
engines requirements. You should only use oil that meets your
engines specific requirements
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286 IndexPinch protection, sunroof
_________ 122
Plates and labels, location ________ 278
Polishing and waxing
____________ 251
Poly-V-belt
____________________ 205
Position lights ___________________ 91
Power steering fluid, checking
_____ 201
Power steering fluid, grade
________ 273
Pressure gauge
_________________ 80
Pressure, tires
__________________ 231
Profiles, customized settings
_______ 83
QQuality grading, tires
_____________ 235
Quick guide, remote control
________ 41
RRain sensor
_____________________ 96
Raising the soft top manually,
Convertible ____________________ 60
Reading lights, Convertible
_________ 70
Rear fog light
___________________ 93
Rear seats, folding down
_________ 134
Rear towing eye
________________ 185
Rear window heating
____________ 102
Rearview mirrors
________________ 128
Recirculation
___________________ 101
Recommendations for automatic
transmission, towing a trailer
_____ 179Recommendations for manual
gearbox, towing a trailer
_________ 180
Recommended fuel grades ________ 147
Recommended snow chains _______ 275
Refueling
______________________ 147
Remote control
__________________ 40
Remote locking malfunction
________ 42
Replacement, wheel
_____________ 236
Reporting safety defects __________ 265
Rev counter
_____________________ 78
Reversing lights
_________________ 94
Roll bars, Convertible
_____________ 68
Roll-over protection, Convertible
_____ 68
Roof lighting
___________________ 123
Roof lighting, changing
___________ 217
Running-in
_____________________ 151
SSAHR, head restraint
_____________ 20
SDM
_________________________ 266
SID
___________________________ 83
SPA __________________________ 170
Saab Information Display
__________ 83
Saab Parking Assistance _________ 170
Saab Trionic engine management
system
______________________ 194
Safety belts _____________________ 11
Seatbelts
_______________________ 11
Seatbelts in rear seat, Convertible
___ 67
Seatbelts, care
_________________ 248Seatbelts, checking
______________ 248
Seats
__________________________ 16
Securing a load
_________________ 137
Sentronic, manual gear selection
___ 158
Service costs
___________________ 263
Service information
______________ 264
Service intervals
________________ 262
Service record retention
__________ 263
Signalling, horn
_________________ 116
Ski hatch
______________________ 136
Spare wheel ___________________ 243
Speed ratings, tires
______________ 239
Speedometer
____________________ 79
Starting the engine
______________ 142
Steering wheel adjustment
________ 116
Steering wheel lock
______________ 142
Steps for determining correct load
limit
_________________________ 242
Storage compartments
___________ 126
Sun visor
______________________ 124
Sunroof
_______________________ 120
Switches _______________________ 91
TTCS
__________________________ 163
Technical data
__________________ 268
Textile carpeting, cleaning
_________ 249
Tie down eyes
__________________ 137
Tightening torque, wheels
_________ 247
Tire chains
_____________________ 237
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