73 Instruments and controls
Wipers and washers There are three intermittent wiper positions.
Moving the control stalk to the
spring-loaded position between 0 and 2 will
produce a single sweep of the wipers.
The wipers are designed for optimal clean-
ing at all driving speeds. At higher speeds,
it may be possible to detect a slight ”sweep-
ing” sound. This may be due to the
increased air pressure on the blades at
higher speeds.Headlight washers (certain models)If low beam is on, the headlights are washed
every fifth time the windshield washers are
used or if 2 minutes have elapsed since the
windshield was last washed. The headlight
washers cannot be activated separately.
The headlight washers are of the high-pres-
sure type, which means that other parts of
the car may become wet if you activate the
washers while the car is stationary.Rain sensing wipers (option)
The rain sensor automatically controls the
windshield wipers. The sensor is located on
the windshield beside the rearview mirror.
The system varies between single sweeps
of the windshield and continuous wiping
depending on how much water or snow
there is on the windshield.Activate the system by lifting the control
stalk to position 1. The wipers make one
sweep for reference to see how much water
and snow is on the windshield. In future, the
sensor compares the amount of water and
snow on the windshield with this reference
value.
When the engine has been switched off,
the control stalk must be moved to posi-
tion 0 and back to position 1 to reactivate
the sensor.
Set the sensitivity using the control on the
wiper stalk (the same control as used for
wiper delay on cars not fitted with a rain sen-
sor). The sensor has three sensitivity set-
tings. It is most sensitive when in the upper-
WARNING
Turn the rain sensor off if the ignition is
ON when clearing snow and ice from the
windshield, to avoid personal injury.
NOTICETo avoid damaging the windshield
wipers, turn the rain sensor off before
washing the car in an automatic carwash.
IB359
0
41
2
3
0 OFF
1 Intermittent operation
2 Low speed
3 High speed
4 Washers
12
IB569
Control for setting wiper delay1 Long delay
2 Short delay
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101 Saab 9-5 Audio System
Programmable
functionsVolume-preset modeTo select the volume-preset mode, press
and hold the WB button at the same time as
you switch the Audio System on.
Use the button to select the
desired function.
The following volume settings can be
preselected:
STARTVOL – maximum volume level
when the Audio System is switched on
TEL VOL – preset volume level when an
in-car phone is activated
SP D VOL – speed-dependent volume.
The Audio System will automatically
adjust the volume level to compensate for
background noise, such as road noise,
which increases with vehicle speed.
LOUDNESS ON/OFF – boosting of the
highest and lowest frequency ranges to
enhance the sound image when the
volume is set to a low level.
Adjusting the volume The default setting for START VOL is
volume setting 9, and that for TEL VOL is
volume setting 14 (the highest volume set-
ting is 30).
Maximum START VOL
TELVOL
To change the volume setting:
– Press and hold the WB button at the
same time as you switch on the Audio
System.
– Adjust the volume
– Wait 10 seconds or press one of the but-
tons on the bottom row of the Audio Sys-
tem, e.g. RADIO/BAND, to save the new
volume setting.
Speed-dependent volume
(SP D VOL) ON/OFF To change the default setting:
The default setting for this function is ON.
– Press and hold the WB button at the
same time as you switch on the Audio
System.
– Select SP D VOL using
– Select ON/OFF using the VOL control.
– Wait 10 seconds or press one of the but-
tons on the bottom row of the Audio Sys-
tem, e.g. RADIO/BAND, to save the new
default setting.
WARNING
These functions should only be carried
out when the car is stationary.
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105 Saab 9-5 Audio System
Antennas The Audio System has three antennas
incorporated in the rear window; two for FM
diversity and one for AM.
The car has a factory-fitted roof antenna for
a mobile phone/OnStar. Roof loads may
negatively affect telecommunication.
Multipath propagation Multipath propagation occurs when radio
waves from an FM transmitter are reflected
by, e.g. large buildings, causing them to
arrive slightly later than the direct waves.
This can create interference to radio recep-
tion. To avoid this problem as much as pos-
sible the system is equipped with two FM
antennas, so called FM diversity.
NOTICERefrain from placing hard or sharp
objects on the rear parcel shelf, to avoid
damaging the antenna leads.
Do not use sun protective film which con-
tains metal particles on the rear window,
this can be the cause of radio interfer-
ence.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of head injuries in the
event of a crash, the headliner and pillar
trims incorporate energy absorbing mate-
rial. These areas must not be modified in
any way. Work on these areas must only
be carried out at an authorized Saab
dealer.
IB386
IB389
IB1743
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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106 Saab 9-5 Audio SystemAdjusting the frequency steps North
America/Europe If the car is taken from North America to
Europe, the radio’s frequency steps can be
adjusted.
Press and hold (mid-segment)
and switch the radio on at the same time.
The preset stations will be cancelled and
replaced by default frequencies.
Fault codesThe Audio System has a built-in diagnostics
function. If a fault is detected, a fault code is
generated to help dealer technicians to
diagnose the fault. Below are the codes for
some faults that you might be able to rectify
yourself.
OnStar SystemYour vehicle may be equipped with OnStar,
a vehicle telematics communications and
navigation system. Please consult the sep-
arate chapter in this owner’s manual, page
107.
NOTICEGreat care should be exercised in trying
to rectify a fault. If you are at all unsure,
contact an authorized Saab dealer.
Fault code Possible cause
CD/CDC
ERROR
12/17/19 CD is dirty, loaded
wrong side up or defec-
tive.
TAPE ERR 01 Tape broken or
mechanical fault in
deck.
TAPE ERR
02/03 Tape snarled up or
mechanical fault in
deck.
TAPE ERR 11 Cassette jammed: can-
not be loaded/ejected.
WARNING
The CD player/CD changer is classified
as Class 1 laser equipment
Service and repair work must only be
carried out by authorized technicians.
If the casing is damaged, hazardous
laser radiation can occur. NOTICEAll work on the Audio System must be
carried out by an authorized Saab dealer.
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120 Interior equipment and trunkSteering wheel
adjustment Fore-and-aft and tilt adjustment of the steer-
ing wheel is possible.
Pull down the lever fully until you hear a
click. Move the steering wheel to the desired
position and then raise the lever. The lever
should lock with a click.
Make sure that the lever is fully locked
before driving off.
HornThe horn is sounded by pressing the central
part of the steering wheel. Press closest to
the steering wheel rim.
WARNING
Never adjust the steering wheel unless
the car is stationary.
IB408
To adjust the steering wheel
IB1563
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122 Interior equipment and trunkRearview mirrorThe rearview mirror has day/night positions
that can be selected by means of a knob
beneath the mirror. Adjust the mirror in day
position.
Interior rearview mirror with garage
opener, autodimming and compass
(certain variants only)Retain your original garage door transmitter
for future programming procedures (i.e.,
new vehicle purchase). It is also suggested
that upon the sale of the vehicle, the pro-
grammed garage opener buttons be erased
for security purposes.
WARNING
Make sure that people and objects are out
of the way of a moving door or gate to pre-
vent potential harm or damage.
When programming the garage opener,
you may be operating a garage door or
gate operator. Therefore it is advised to
park outside of the garage.
Do not use the garage opener with any
garage door opener that lacks the safety
stop and reverse feature as required by
federal safety standards. (This includes
any garage door opener model manufac-
tured before April 1, 1982.). A garage
door opener which cannot detect an
object, signalling the door to stop and
reverse, does not meet current federal
safety standards. Using a garage door
opener without these features increases
risk of serious injury or death.
Rearview mirror 1 Day position
2 Night position
Buttons for garage opener and compass1-3 Garage opener
4 LED
5 Compass/auto dimming ON/OFF
6 Compass bearing
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127 Interior equipment and trunk
Electric windowsThe electric motors of the front windows are
equipped with overload protection (inte-
grated thermal protection). This protection
operates when the windows are wound
down automatically (switch pressed fully
down).To open:
Front windows: press the front of the switch
Rear windows: Press the back of the switch.
The switches for the front windows have a
third position for automatic opening of the
window. Press the switch fully down to lower
the window completely.
To cancel automatic lowering of the win-
dow, lift the switch briefly.To close:
Front windows: Lift the front of the switch.
Rear windows: Lift the back of the switch.
The actuating motor will be switched off
automatically when the window is fully
closed or when the switch is released.
WARNING
Bear in mind the pinch hazard when the
side windows are being wound up.
Always remove the ignition key when
you leave the car to prevent personal
injury caused by the electric windows,
for example, due to children playing.
The person operating the electric win-
dows is responsible for ensuring that
no one, especially children, has their
head, hands or fingers in the window
openings, before raising the windows.
Raising the windows could otherwise
cause serious or fatal injuries.
IB429
1 Window switches
2 Switch for rendering rear door window switches inoperative
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128 Interior equipment and trunk
Child safety: rear windows (ON/OFF)The window switches on the rear doors can
be rendered inoperative by the ON/OFF
switch in the panel on the center console.
When the switch is ON, the rear side win-
dows can be operated by the switch on each
rear door. The switch’s back lighting will be
activated.
When the switch is OFF, the rear side win-
dows can only be operated from the panel
on the center console. When off, the
switch’s back lighting will also be switched
off.
Sunroof (Option in Canada) (certain variants)The sunroof is operated by the switch on the
overhead panel above the rearview mirror.
The sunroof can be opened partially or fully.
WARNING
Bear in mind the pinch hazard when clos-
ing the sunroof.
Always remove the ignition key when
you leave the car to prevent personal
injury caused by the electric sunroof,
for example, due to children playing.
The person operating the electric sun-
roof is responsible for ensuring that no
one, especially children, has their
head, hands or fingers in the opening,
before closing the sunroof. Operating
the sunroof could otherwise cause
serious or fatal injuries.
IB445
Switch for rear side window
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