5
Interior
IB581
Rearview mirrors ______________ 121
Door mirrors __________________ 121
Sun visors ___________________ 131
Safety belts ____________ 17
Airbag _________________ 31
Child safety ____________ 23
Child safety locks ________ 43
Safety belts ____________ 253Glove compartment ______ 132Manual transmission _____ 158
Automatic transmission ___ 159
Electric windows ______________ 127
Ignition switch ________________ 148
Starting the engine ____________ 149
Engine Break-In Period _________ 157
Driving in hot weather __________ 177
Driving in cold weather _________ 176
Parking _____________________ 196
Steering wheel adjustment _ 120
Airbag _________________ 31
Power steering fluid _______ 209
Steering-wheel controls ___ 102
Sentronic, manual mode ___ 163Seats __________________ 12
Electric heating, front seats _ 15
Ventilated front seats______ 15
Safety belts _____________ 17
Child safety _____________ 23
Folding the rear seat, 9-5
Sedan ________________ 135
Folding the rear seat, 9-5
Wagon ________________ 138
Upholstery and trim _______ 253
Side airbags ____________ 35
Interior lighting ________________ 130
Sunroof _____________________ 128
Dome light, front ______________ 225
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6Engine compartment
IB1737
Engine ______________________ 203
Checking the oil level ___________ 204
Changing engine oil ____________ 204
Engine oil, specification _________ 273
Braking______________________ 168
ABS brakes __________________ 169
Brake and clutch fluid ___________ 208
Brake system _________________ 277
Brake pads ___________________ 277
Fuses _________________ 227
Changing a fuse _________ 229
Relays ________________ 230
Table of fuses ___________ 227Temperature gauge ______ 61
Driving in hot weather_____ 177
Driving in cold weather ____ 176
Coolant________________ 207
Coolant capacity_________ 272
Power steering fluid _______ 209
Steering, technical data ___ 277
Wipers and washers ______ 73
Washers _______________ 214
Washer jets ____________ 214
Jump starting _________________ 191
Battery ______________________ 210
Charging/replacing the battery____ 211
Manual transmission ___________ 158
Automatic transmission _________ 159
Automatic transmission,
technical data ________________ 276
Manual gearbox, technical data ___ 276
Important considerations for driving 151
Turbo unit ___________________ 201
Engine, technical data __________ 272Ignition switch ___________ 148
Drive belts ______________ 212
Spark plugs _____________ 275
Catalytic converter _______ 152Warning labels __________ 7
V.I.N. number ___________ 280
Engine number __________ 280
Gearbox number _________ 280
Color code______________ 280
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162 Starting and driving
Overheated transmission fluid If the automatic-transmission fluid should
overheat, the following message will appear
on the SID:
”Gearbox too hot. Make a safe stop.”. In this
event, stop the car in a suitable place,
switch off the engine and open the hood.
Wait for several minutes then turn on the
ignition to check that the message has gone
out. When driving subsequent to the trans-
mission fluid overheating, select a gear in
which the engine speed is about 3,000 rpm.
Overheating of the automatic-transmission
fluid can occur when the car is towing a
heavy load, such as a camping trailer in hilly
country. High ambient temperatures can
also increase the temperature of the trans-
mission fluid or the oil cooler may be faulty.
Contact an authorized Saab dealer (see
also page 178).
Driving on hilly roads with a heavy
loadThe transmission fluid can overheat when
the gearbox is strained, for example, when
driving with a trailer on hilly roads. To avoid
the transmission fluid overheating, always
drive in Normal mode. The adaptive gear
change patterns are then active.
High air temperatures or a faulty oil cooler
can also cause the transmission fluid to
overheat. Overheating reduces the service
life of the fluid. Contact an authorized Saab
dealer (see also page 178). Towing Towing of cars with automatic transmission,
see page 188.
NOTICEIf the control module has actuated the
Limp-home function for the automatic
transmission, the car will remain in 5th
gear when D is selected, making it very
sluggish.
Select position L to prevent unnecessary
wear on the transmission. The transmis-
sion then starts in 2nd gear. Once the car
is moving you can select position D.
When the indicator light is on, the car
must not be driven with a caravan or
trailer attached.
WARNING
Remember to use engine-braking (selec-
tor position D or L) to spare the brakes
when you are driving on a long or steep
downhill slope.
Brake failure can result from overheated
brakes!
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166 Starting and drivingSPORT and WINTER modes
To select Sport mode, press the ”S” button on
the selector lever when the selector lever is in
position N or D.
In this mode, gear changes will take place at
higher engine speeds than in Normal mode, in
other words, the transmission will change up
later and change down earlier for the same throt-
tle (accelerator) position.
The Sport mode will be deselected if:
The S button is pressed.
The selector lever is moved to position P,R, M
or L.
The engine is switched off.
The Winter mode is selected.
”Automatic transmission, fault indicator”
appears on main instrument panel, see page
161.
The Winter mode facilitates pulling away and
driving on icy roads. Third gear is selected auto-
matically for pulling away to reduce wheelspin.
Winter mode can be selected when the engine
is running by pressing the ”W” button on the
selector-lever surround. It cannot be selected
when the selector lever is in position M or L.
Note: It is still possible to use kick-down in the
Winter mode, in which case a change-down to
1st or 2nd will take place.
The Winter mode will be deselected if:
The W button is pressed.
The engine is switched off.
The selector lever is moved to position M or L.
The automatic-transmission fluid overheats.
”Automatic transmission, fault indicator”
appears on main instrument panel, see page
161.
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180 Starting and drivingWhen negotiating long hills, bear the follow-
ing important considerations in mind:
Use Normal mode when driving with a cara-
van or trailer on hilly roads. The adaptive
gear change pattern function will prevent
the transmission overheating.
Rises in coolant temperature are indicated
by the temperature gauge in the main instru-
ment panel.Recommendations for cars with
automatic transmission
Rises in coolant temperature are indicated
by the temperature gauge in the main instru-
ment panel.
The following steps are taken in order as the
temperature of the engine increases:
Gear change pattern is altered.
A/C compressor is switched off.
Engine torque is reduced.
The following message will be displayed on
the SID if the transmission fluid becomes
too hot: “Gearbox too hot. Make a safe stop.
If this message appears, stop the car as
soon as it is safe to do so and allow the
engine to idle until the message has gone
out. The selector lever should be in
position P.When continuing your journey, select
manual mode and a gear in which the
engine speed is about 3,000 rpm until the
incline eases (see page 164).
Do not drive continuously with the WINTER
mode selected in hilly country when you are
towing a caravan, as this will increase fuel
consumption and risk overheating the trans-
mission.
VARNING
Remember to use the braking effect of the
engine (position D or L) when you are
descending long or steep hills to spare
the brakes.
Brake failure can result from overheated
brakes!
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201 Car care and technical information
Engine compartment
10
9
6
7
8
1
2
4
3
5
IB1773
Engine compartment1 Engine-oil dipstick/filler cap
2 Reservoir, brake/clutch fluid
3 Fuse box
4 Expansion tank, coolant
5 Washer-fluid filler cap
6Battery
7 Dipstick, automatic transmission fluid
8 Turbo unit
9 Ignition discharge module
10 Reservoir, power-steering fluid
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206 Car care and technical informationTransmission fluidManual transmission Check and top up the fluid in accordance
with the service program.
If original fluid cannot be obtained for top-
ping up (see page 276), automatic trans-
mission fluid Dexron III (synthetic oil) can be
used. If so, the car should be taken to an
authorized Saab dealer immediately to
have the reason for low fluid level corrected
and original fluid installed.Automatic transmission Check the fluid level as follows:
1 Stand the car on level ground and apply
the parking brake. The automatic trans-
mission fluid must be at normal running
temperature, approximately 175°F
(80°C). This can be achieved by driving
the car for about 30 min on the open
road.
2 With the engine idling, move the selector
lever to D and wait for at least
15 seconds. Next, move the selector
lever to R and wait for 15 seconds again.
Finally, move the selector lever to P. Let
the engine idle.3 Wipe the dipstick clean with a lint-free
cloth and put it back.
4 With the fluid at normal temperature, the
level should be between the MAX and
MIN marks on the dipstick. Top up, as
necessary, with Saab 3309 automatic
transmission fluid (mineral oil-based),
adding it through the dipstick pipe. The
distance between the MIN and MAX
marks on the dipstick corresponds to a
volume of approximately 0.4 qts
(0.4 liter).
If the outside temperature is below 50°F
(10°C), the fluid will not reach the specified
temperature of 175°F (80°C). In this case,
the correct fluid level may be 0.8 in (20 mm)
below the MAX mark.NOTICEIf there is a smell of burning fluid or the
fluid is black, change the fluid.
IB1923
Dipstick for automatic-transmission fluid
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276 SpecificationsManual gearbox Automatic transmission Type ____________________________ All-synchromesh
5-speed with final
drive and differen-
tial
Oil ______________________________ Saab MTF 0063
Oil capacity _______________________ 1.9 qts (1.8 litres)
Oil volume (on changing) ____________ 1.6 qts (1.5 litres)
Clutch type _______________________ Hydraulic, single
dry-plate clutch of
diaphragm-spring
type
Speed (mph / km/h) at 1000 rpm in 5th gear: 27–29 / 43–47Type _____________________________ Electronically con-
trolled 5-speed,
fully automatic with
hydraulic torque
converter, plane-
tary gear set and
integral final drive
Lock-up function in
selector positions 3,
4 and 5.
Selector-lever positions ______________ P R N D M L
Transmission-fluid capacity, dry transmis-
sion (incl. torque converter and oil cooler) 7.5 qts (7 litres)
If fluid change required, approximately
3.5 litres can be drained through the drain
plug in the transmission casing
Transmission fluid ___________________ Saab 3309 (mineral
oil based)
Clutch type ________________________ Hydraulic plate
clutches, brake
bands and one-way
couplings
Speed (mph / km/h) at 1000 rpm in 5th gear: 29–30 / 46–48
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