2004 SAAB 9-3 steering

5
InteriorAirbag _________________ 28
Steering wheel adjustment _ 116
Steering _______________ 273
Interior rearview mirror _________ 129
Vanity mirror _________________ 124
Door mirrors__________________ 128
Airbag_________________ 28
Child safety locks ________ 44
Child seats _____________ 21
Safety belt care _________ 248
Safety belts ____________ 11Glove compartment ______ 126
Storage compartments____ 126Automatic transmission ___ 153
Changing gears _________ 152
Manual transmission _____ 152
Child seats _____________ 21
Folding down the rear seat _ 134
Rear seat ______________ 134
Safety belts _____________ 11
Seat adjustment _________ 16
Seat heating ____________ 102,
111
Upholstery care__________ 249
Interior lighting: changing bulbs ___ 220
Interior light switches ___________ 123
Sunroof _____________________ 120
Ashtray and cigarette lighter _____ 126
Break-In Period _______________ 151
Driving in hot/cold climates ______ 175
Ignition switch ________________ 140
Parking brake_________________ 167
Parking _____________________ 167
Starting the engine ____________ 142
Fuses _________________ 222Electric windows _________ 117
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6Engine bayColor code______________ 278
Engine number __________ 278
Gearbox number _________ 278
Warning labels __________ 7
Vehicle identification number 278Alternator ______________ 205
Drive belt _______________ 205
Exhaust emission control __ 145
Ignition system __________ 272
Simple troubleshooting
(A/C, ACC) _____________ 255
Spark plugs _____________ 272
Turbo gauge ____________ 80Engine oil: checking level __ 196Automatic transmission _________ 153
Transmission: technical data _____ 272
Manual transmission ___________ 152
Battery ______________________ 202
Battery charge ________________ 202
Jump starting _________________ 187
Changing engine oil ____________ 197
Engine: description ____________ 193
Engine: technical data __________ 270
Important considerations for driving 144
Oil grade and viscosity__________ 270
Topping-up fluid _________ 206
Wash/wipe stalk switch____ 95
Washer fluid ____________ 206
Washer jets ____________ 207
Power steering ________________ 201
Fluid: checking/topping up _______ 201
Coolant: checking/topping-up ____ 199
Driving in hot climates __________ 177
Radiator _____________________ 270
Temperature gauge ____________ 80
Changing a fuse _________ 222
Fuse table _____________ 227
Fuses _________________ 222
Relays ________________ 227ABS brakes_____________ 160
Brake pads _____________ 200
Brake system ___________ 274
Brake fluid______________ 200
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16 SafetySeatsManually adjusted front seatsThe following seat adjustments can be
made to achieve a comfortable driving
position:
Height
Sport Sedan - driver’s seat
Convertible - passenger seats
Legroom
Sport Sedan - both seats
Convertible - passenger seats
Backrest rake angle
Sport Sedan - both seats
Convertible - passenger seats
Lumbar support firmness
Sport Sedan - driver’s seat
Convertible - only electrically adjustable
front seats
Head restraint height
Sport Sedan - both seats
Convertible - passenger seatsWe recommend that adjustments to the
driver’s seat be performed in the following
order:
1Height
2 Legroom
3 Backrest rake angle
4 Head restraint height
Lastly, adjust the position of the steering
wheel (see page 116).
Electrically adjustable front seatsSee page 18.Electric heating, front seats (option)See pages 102 and 111.
Height adjustmentSport Sedan, driver’s seat
Convertible, both front seats
Lift the lever to raise the seat. The lever is
spring-loaded to return to its neutral posi-
tion. Repeated lifting of the lever will
increase the height in steps.
Press down the lever to lower the seat.
Repeated downward presses of the lever
will lower the seat in steps.
WARNING
Never adjust the driver’s seat except
when the car is stationary.
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28 SafetyAirbag
Airbag system components Airbag in steering wheel
 Airbag in instrument panel in front of
passenger seat
 Side airbags in front seat backrests
Convertible: The side airbags help
protect the head also.
 Inflatable curtains along length of headlin-
ing (from front to rear roof pillars)
(Sport Sedan only)
 Safety belt pretensioners for front seats
and outer rear seats.
The airbag system supplements the protec-
tion provided by the safety belts to further
enhance the safety of occupants taller than
55 in. (140 cm).
When the system is activated at the moment
of impact, the airbag inflates and then
deflates through holes in the back. The
whole operation takes roughly 0.1 second,
quicker than the blink of an eye.
The steering wheel and passenger airbags
are so-called smart airbags. The driver and
passenger airbag system compensates for
safety belt usage and the force of the crash
at the moment of impact.Note:
The sensor reacts differently depending on
whether or not the front safety belts on the
driver’s and passenger sides are used. Sit-
uations can therefore arise where only one
of the airbags inflates. It is also possible for
only the safety belt pretensioners to be acti-
vated and for the airbags to remain unin-
flated.
If only Stage I is activated at the moment of
impact, Stage II will automatically be acti-
vated later to neutralize the gas generator in
the airbag.
WARNING
To reduce risk of death or serious injury:
Always wear your safety belt.
Always adjust your seat so that you
are as far back as possible but still
able to operate the pedals and reach
the steering wheel and controls
comfortably.
 Passengers 12 and under or shorter
than 55 inches (140 cm) must always
travel in the rear seat as the car is fitted
with a passenger airbag.
Never fit a child seat in front of the
passenger airbag.
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30 SafetyAirbag system1 Steering wheel with integral airbag
2 Passenger airbag
3 Side airbag
4 Inflatable curtain (Sport Sedan only)
5 Sensors in front bumper
6 Sensor, side-impact protection
7 Sensor, side-impact protection (Sport Sedan only)
8 Electronic control module and central sensor (SDM)
Accessories and other equipment must
not be fitted to the surfaces marked as
these are where the airbags inflate in the
event of a crash.
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31 Safety
WARNING
 Even if the car is equipped with
AIRBAGS, safety belts must still
always be worn by all occupants.
 Note that because an airbag inflates
and deflates extremely rapidly, it will
not provide protection against a
second impact occurring in the same
incident. Always use your safety belt.
 Always sit with the whole of your back
in contact with the backrest of the seat,
and with your seat as far back as is
practical.Otherwise you will be thrown
back against the backrest when the
airbag inflates which could cause you
injury or death. The airbag needs
room in which to inflate.
 Never attach anything to the steering
wheel or passenger side of the instru-
ment panel, as this could result in
injury if the airbag should inflate. The
same applies to anything you might
have in your mouth, such as a pipe, for
instance.
 Some components of the airbag will
be warm for a short time. In some
circumstances the airbag can cause
minor burns or abrasions to the body
when the airbag inflates/deflates.
 Never rest your hands or forearms on
the steering-wheel center padding.
 If the airbag warning light remains
on after the car has been started or
comes on while you are driving, have
the car checked immediately by an
authorized Saab dealer. The warning
light could signify that the airbags may
not inflate in a crash, or they could
even inflate without a crash. See page
77.
 Fumes are generated by the chemical
reaction that inflates the airbag.
Skin surfaces that show signs of irrita-
tion should be washed with clean
water and a mild soap as soon as
possible.
In the event of eye irritation, flush the
eyes thoroughly with clean water for at
least 20 minutes.
In case of persistent irritation, consult
a doctor.
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32 Safety
Front passenger seatThe system is the same as that used on the
driver’s side.
The airbag systems are interconnected and
have a common warning light . The pas-
senger airbag module is housed in the
fascia above the glove compartment and is
marked "AIRBAG".
Both airbags will be inflated in the event of a
moderate to severe frontal, or near-frontal
crash, even if the passenger seat is unoccu-
pied.
The car is equipped as standard with
a passenger airbag.
WARNING
Never secure a rear-facing child seat in
the right front seat of a car equipped with
a passenger airbag. Inflation of the airbag
in the event of a crash could seriously
injure or kill a child.
WARNING
 DEATH or SERIOUS
INJURY can occur
 Children 12 and under or
shorter than 55 inches
(140 cm) can be killed by the
airbag
 The BACK SEAT is the SAFEST place
for children
 NEVER put a rear-facing child seat in
the front
 Sit as far back as possible from the
airbag
 ALWAYS use SAFETY BELTS and
CHILD RESTRAINTS
Never allow a child to stand in front of
the seat or to sit on the lap of a front
seat passenger. Serious injury or
death could result if the airbag is
inflated in a crash.
 The glove compartment must be
closed while travelling. An open glove
compartment door could cause leg
injuries in the event of a crash.
Operation of the steering wheel airbag in
a front-end crash
Moment of impact.
Sensors detect a
deceleration and send
a signal via the control
module to a gas gen-
erator that inflates the
airbag.
The inflating airbag
cushions the driver.
Airbag now fully
inflated.
The airbag starts to
deflate.
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35 Safety
The inflatable curtains, which protect the
head, are concealed along the lengths of
the headlining (all the way from front to rear
roof pillars).
The inflatable curtains inflate at the same
time as the side airbags in the front seats in
case of a side-on impact.
The inflatable curtains reduce the risk of
head injuries to the occupants of the car’s
outer seats. The inflatable curtains deploys
into the window area between the front and
rear roof pillars.
If the airbag system registers forces equiv-
alent to a high-speed frontal crash (Stage II
for the steering wheel and passenger
airbags), the inflatable curtains will also be
deployed.
For optimal protection, do not sit too close to
the door. Bear this in mind, for example, if
someone is sleeping in the car. The inflat-
able curtain comes down from the headlin-
ing and covers a large portion of the side
windows.
Prohibited seating position
Inflated inflatable curtain, sport Sedan
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