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11 - 4Maintenance and service
26 December 2003
improperly used or handled, for example, bat-
tery acid.
!Your vehicle should only be serviced by per-
sons fully competent to do so. Serious person-
al injury may result to persons not experienced
in servicing vehicles.
!Always use the proper tools and make certain
that they are well maintained.
!Never get under the vehicle supported only
by a jack. Always use a safety stands to sup-
port the vehicle.
!Never keep the engine running in a poorly
ventilated area, such as a garage or other
closed areas.
!Do not smoke or allow open flames around
the fuel or battery. This will cause a fire.
!Because the fuel system is under pressure,
replacement of the fuel filter should be per-
formed only by your Saab dealer.
!Wear adequate eye protection to guard
against getting oil or fluids in your eyes. If
something does get in your eyes, thoroughly
wash them out with clean water.
!Do not tamper with the wiring of the SRS air-
bag system or seatbelt pretensioner system, or
attempt to take its connectors apart, as that
may activate the system or it can render it inop-erative. The wiring and connectors of these
systems are yellow for easy identification. NEV-
ER use a circuit tester for these wiring.
If your SRS airbag or seatbelt pretensioner
needs service, consult your nearest Saab deal-
er."Before checking or servicing in the en-
gine compartment!Always stop the engine and set the parking
brake firmly to prevent the vehicle from mov-
ing.
!Always let the engine cool down. Engine
parts become very hot when the engine is run-
ning and remain hot for some time after the en-
gine is stopped.
!Do not spill engine oil, engine coolant, brake
fluid or any other fluid on hot engine compo-
nents. This may cause a fire.
!Always remove the key from the ignition
switch. When the ignition switch is in the “ON”
position, the cooling fan may operate suddenlyeven when the engine is stopped.
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Maintenance and service
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11
26 December 2003
"When you do checking or servicing in
the engine compartment while the en-
gine is runningA running engine can be dangerous. Keep your
fingers, hands, clothing, hair and tools away
from the cooling fan, belts and any other mov-
ing engine parts. Removing rings, watches andties is advisable.
Engine hood
0
To open the hood:
1. If the wiper blades are lifted off the windshield, re-
turn them to their original positions.
2. Pull the hood release knob under the instrument
panel.
HSB014BA
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11 - 1 6Maintenance and service
26 December 2003
"Recommended grade and viscosity
under severe driving conditionsIf the vehicle is used in desert areas, in areas with very
high temperatures, or used for heavy-duty applica-
tions such as towing a trailer, use of oil with the follow-
ing grade and viscosities is recommended.API classification SL (or SJ):
SAE viscosity no.: 30, 40, 10W-50, 20W-40, 20W-50
"Synthetic oilYou can use synthetic engine oil that meets the same
requirements given for conventional engine oil. When
using synthetic oil, you must use oil of the same clas-
sification, viscosity and grade shown in this owner’s
manual, and must follow the oil and filter changing in-
tervals shown in the maintenance schedule.
Cooling systemNever attempt to remove the radiator cap until
the engine has been shut off and has cooled
down completely. Since the coolant is under
pressure, you may suffer serious burns from a
spray of boiling hot coolant when the cap is re-moved.!The cooling system has been filled at the fac-
tory with a high quality, corrosion-inhibiting,
year-around coolant which provides protection
against freezing down to –33°F (–36°C). For
adding, use genuine Saab coolant or an equiv-
alent: a mixture of 50% soft water and 50% eth-
ylene-glycol basis coolant. Use of improper
coolants may result in corrosion in the cooling
system. It is important to maintain protection
against freezing and corrosion, even if freezing
temperatures are not expected. Never mix dif-
ferent kinds of coolant.
!Do not splash the engine coolant over paint-
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11 -1 7
Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
11
26 December 2003
ed parts. The alcohol contained in the enginecoolant may damage the paint surface."Cooling fan, hose and connectionsYour vehicle employs an electric cooling fan which is
thermostatically controlled to operate when the engine
coolant reaches a specific temperature.
If the radiator cooling fan does not operate even when
the engine coolant temperature gauge exceeds the
normal operating range, the cooling fan circuit may be
defective. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary.
If the fuse is not blown, have the cooling system
checked by your Saab dealer.
If frequent addition of coolant is necessary, there may
be a leak in the engine cooling system. It is recom-
mended that the cooling system and connections be
checked for leaks, damage, or looseness.
"Engine coolant!Checking the coolant level1) “FULL” level mark
2) “LOW” level markCheck the coolant level at each fuel stop.
1. Check the coolant level on the outside of the reser-
voir while the engine is cool.
2. If the level is close to or lower than the “LOW” level
mark, add coolant up to the “FULL” level mark. If the
reserve tank is empty, remove the radiator cap and re-
fill as required.
FULL
LOW
UG9032DB
1
2
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11 - 1 8Maintenance and service
18 February 2004
1) Rubber gaskets3. After refilling the reserve tank and the radiator, re-
install the caps and check that the rubber gaskets in-
side the radiator cap are in the proper position.!Be careful not to spill engine coolant when
adding it. If coolant touches the exhaust pipe, it
may cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or a fire.
!Do not splash the engine coolant over paint-
ed parts. The alcohol contained in the enginecoolant may damage the paint surface.!Changing the coolant
1) Drain plugAlways add genuine cooling system conditioner when-
ever the coolant is replaced.
Change the engine coolant and add genuine cooling
system conditioner using the following procedures ac-
cording to the maintenance schedule.
1. Remove the under cover.
2. Place a proper container under the drain plug and
loosen the drain plug.
3. Loosen the radiator cap to drain the coolant from
the radiator. Then drain the coolant from the reserve
tank. Tighten the drain plug securely.
1
HSB026BB
1
HSB027BB
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11 - 2 0Maintenance and service
26 December 2003
Turbo models
1) Filler neck
2) Fill up to this level5. Slowly pour the coolant and fill up to just below the
filler neck, allowing enough room to add the genuine
cooling system conditioner in the radiator. Add genu-
ine cooling system conditioner until the coolant level
reaches the filler neck. Do not pour the coolant too
quickly, as this may lead to insufficient air bleeding
and trapped air in the system.
Guideline of coolant quantity (including coolant in reservoir
tank):
Non-turbo models:
MT. 7.4 US qt (7.0 liters, 6.2 Imp qt)
AT. 7.3 US qt (6.9 liters, 6.1 Imp qt)
Turbo models:
MT. 8.1 US qt (7.7 liters, 6.8 Imp qt)
AT. 8.0 US qt (7.6 liters, 6.7 Imp qt)
1) “FULL” level mark
2) “LOW” level mark
1
2
USB518BB
FULL
LOW
UG9032DB
1
2
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