2Introduction This manual provides practical guidance on
driving and caring for your Saab.
The Saab 9-5 is available with the following
engine variants:
2.3t Ecopower
2.3T Ecopower
2.3 Turbo Ecopower
Although this manual describes the most
important differences between model vari-
ants, it does not include precise specifica-
tions of the different variants. Some differ-
ences also occur to meet special legal
requirements in different countries.
Importation and distribution of Saab auto-
mobiles, spare parts and accessories are
handled exclusively by General Motors of
Canada Limited in Canada and by Saab
Cars USA, Inc. in the U.S.A.We recommend that you read through the
manual before taking the car out for the first
time and that you keep it in the car for future
reference.
To find a specific item, use the overviews
given on pages 3–6. A list of contents is
given at the beginning of each section of the
manual, and there is also a comprehensive
index at the back of the book.
Supplied with the car is a Warranties and
Service Record booklet and a tire warranty
folder which specifies the regular mainte-
nance to be carried out. The book also
contains important warranty conditions. Since the policy at Saab is one of continual
improvement, we retain the right to incorpo-
rate modifications and to alter specifications
during production without prior notice.
If you have any questions concerning your
car, its equipment, the warranty conditions
or the like, your Saab dealer will be pleased
to help.
Best wishes,
Saab Automobile AB
Saab Automobile AB does not accept liability for
any damage caused by the fitting of spare parts,
exchange parts or accessories that are not
approved by Saab Automobile AB.
The specifications, design particulars and illus-
trations included in the manual are not binding.
WARNING
WARNING texts warn against the danger
of injury if the specified instructions are
not followed.
NOTICENOTICE texts warn of potential damage
to the car if the recommendations are not
followed.
IB1734
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4Exterior
IB1736
Driving with a roof rack load______ 183
Fitting the roof carriers (accessory) 183
Maximum roof load ____________ 270
Rearview mirror _______________ 122
Hood _______________________ 200
Engine compartment: washing ___ 255
Central locking __________ 40
Trunk lid lock, 9-5 Sedan __ 44
Tailgate, 9-5 SportWagon __ 45
Child safety locks ________ 43
Car alarm ______________ 46Headlights _____________ 69
High/low beam __________ 69
Turn signal and lane change
indicators______________ 71
Headlight washers (certain
models) _______________ 73
Changing bulbs _________ 215
Fuel gauge___________________ 61
Fuel filler flap _________________ 153
Refueling ____________________ 154
Economical motoring ___________ 174
Fuel ________________________ 272
b Tires pressure ________________ 279
Wheels and tires ______________ 278
Braking______________________ 168
Driving in cold weather__________ 176
Compact spare tire_____________ 246
Changing a wheel _____________ 247
Trunk _______________________ 135
Folding the rear seat, 9-5 Sedan __ 135
Folding the rear seat, 9-5 Wagon _ 138
Trunk Release Handle __________ 144
Spare wheel and tools __________ 145
Compact spare tire ____________ 246Towing a trailer __________ 178
Towing the car ___________ 188
Rear towing eye _________ 189Headlights ______________ 69
Rear light cluster, 9-5 Sedan 220
Rear lights clusters, 9-5
Wagon ________________ 222
Changing bulbs __________ 215Sunroof ________________ 128
Washing the car _________ 254
Waxing and polishing _____ 255
Touching up the paint _____ 255
Anti-corrosion treatment ___ 256
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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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7
Battery No sparks, flames or smoking.
Shield eyes, explosive gases can cause blindness or injury.
Sulphuric acid can cause blindness or severe burns.
Flush eyes immediately with water. Get medical help fast.
Do not tip battery. Do not open battery.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN Brake fluid
CLEAN FILLER CAP BEFORE
REMOVING. USE ONLY DOT 4
FLUID FROM SEALED
CONTAINER. Radiator fan
Radiator fan may start at any
time.
IB336
A/C system
Refrigerant at high pressure.
Do not loosen or remove the A/C system fittings before
discharging the A/C system. Improper service methods
may cause personal injury. System to be serviced by
authorized personnel only. For instructions consult
workshop manual.
The A/C system complies with SAE J639.
Charge: 825 g of R134a.
Compressor oil: PAG oil SP-10 alt.
Saab oil 4759106
Oil amount: See workshop manual.
Warning labels
AVOID SPARKS AND OPEN FLAMES,
NO SMOKING
WEAR EYE PROTECTION
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
ACID
SEE OWNER’S MANUAL
FLAMMABLE GAS
Coolant:
Never open when engine hot!
ProCarManuals.com
9
No sparks,
flames or
smoking.Buckle up
Use protective
gogglesAirbag
Keep out of
reach of
children.Electric
windows
Battery acid
contains
sulfuric acid.Deactivating
of rear window
switches
Refer to the
Owner’s
Manual.Central
locking, lock
Risk of
explosive gas.Central
locking,
unlock
Tr u n k
lid/tailgate,
opening
Never place a
rear-facing
child seat in
this seat.
HeadlightsWindshield
wipers
Direction
indicatorsWindshield
washers
Parking lights Defroster
Hazard
warning lightsRear window
heating
Front fog
lightsVentilation fan
Rear fog
light
Coolant
temperatureRadiator fan
Battery
chargingFuel
Foot brake
Coolant level
Engine oil
pressure
ABS brakes
Examples of symbols that can be found in your car
ProCarManuals.com
47 Security
Activating the car alarm The car alarm cannot be activated if the
driver’s door is open or if the ignition switch
is in ON position.
If, on the other hand, one of the other doors
or the trunk or hood is open or opened and
not closed again during the 10-seconds
delay period, it will be excluded from the
alarm function.
If it is then closed, a new delay period of ten
seconds will start, and the door (or trunk or
hood) will once again be secured by the
alarm system.
As usual, the LED will be on continuously
during the new delay period and will start to
flash once every other second after the
10-seconds period has elapsed.
Electronic starting interlock
(immobilizer) When the key is inserted in the ignition, a
signal is sent to the receiver. If the signal is
verified, the engine can be started.
Each time the key is removed from the igni-
tion, the electronic immobilizer is activated.
This means that the car cannot be started
without the correct key inserted in the igni-
tion and the immobilizer thus deactivated.
If a fault is detected (e.g. in the transmitter)
”Key not accepted. Contact service.” will
appear on the Saab Information Display
(SID).
In this case, you can still start the car if you
turn the ignition key to ON and press one of
the buttons on the key (providing that the
receiver gets the right signal from the key).
Take the car to an authorized Saab dealer to
have the system checked.
The LED double-flashes when the car is
immobilized.
Alarm signals When the car alarm is armed, it will be trig-
gered if any door, or the trunk lid or hood, is
opened.
The alarm will also be triggered if an attempt
is made to bypass or short-circuit the igni-
tion switch, or to disconnect the battery.
If the alarm is triggered, the following alarm
signals will be set off:
Flashing of hazard warning lights for five
minutes.
Horn wailing for 30 seconds.
The alarm signals will stop if the alarm is
deactivated (car unlocked) during the alarm
period.
ProCarManuals.com
50 SecurityOverview of LED signals and SID messagesSome signals may differ between model variants for different
countries. Status LED signal
Activation (during 10-second delay). Comes on for 10 seconds.
Alarm activated (after delay). Flashes once every other
second.
Deactivation. Comes on for 2 seconds.
Alarm not activated. Off.
Door, trunk lid/tailgate or hood open
or opened during delay period.Flashes three times per sec-
ond for 10 seconds.
Unlocking the trunk lid/tailgate. Flashes three times per sec-
ond for 10 seconds.
Closing of door, trunk lid/tailgate or
hood after delay period.Comes on for 10 seconds.
Car immobilized but not locked.
Car alarm not activated.Flashes twice at three sec-
onds intervals.
Fault in a switch serving doors, hood
or trunk lid.Flashing (instead of being
on continuously) during
delay period.
SID message Reason/action
Theft protection failure.
Contact service.Probably a fault in one of the sensors
or the horn.
Have the car checked by an autho-
rized Saab dealer.
Key not accepted.
Contact service.Fault in key transmitter or in igni-
tion-switch receiver.
Turn ignition switch to ON and press
the unlock button on the key. Start
the engine.
Have the car checked by an autho-
rized Saab dealer.
Remote control battery
low. Replace battery.Fit a new battery in the key, see page
43.
REMOTE KEY
TRANSPONDRTurn the ignition key to position ON
and then press the button for open-
ing the trunk lid. Saab Information
Display (SID) displays the number of
keys and transmitters (transponders)
coded to the car.
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