Page 1 of 292
Owner’s Manual
ProCarManuals.com
Page 2 of 292
In-car safetyThere is an In-car safety & Quick Reference Guide found in
your car which contains some quick reference concerning
safety issues.
Make sure you keep this Reference Guide readily available
for all occupants to review.
Replacement and/or additional Reference Guides may be
ordered from your Saab dealer.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 3 of 292
1
Owner’s Manual
Saab 9-3 M2005
© Saab Automobile AB 2004Service Readiness, Saab Automobile AB, Trollhättan, Sweden
Printed in Sweden
Safety 11
Security 41
9-3 Convertible 55
Instruments and controls 77
Interior equipment 121
Starting and driving 145
Car care 197
Customer Assistance and Information 261
Technical data 267
Index 283
ProCarManuals.com
Page 4 of 292

2IntroductionThis manual provides practical guidance on
driving and caring for your Saab.
The Saab 9-3 will be available with the fol-
lowing engine variants:
2.0t 175 hp
2.0 Turbo 210 hp
Although this manual describes the most
important differences between model vari-
ants, it does not specify the equipment or
features included on individual models.
Importation and distribution of Saab auto-
mobiles, spare parts and accessories are
handled exclusively by Saab Cars USA, Inc.
in the United States and by General Motors
of Canada Limited in Canada.We recommend that you read through the
manual before taking the car out for the first
time and keep it in the car for future refer-
ence.
To find a specific item, use the overviews
given on page 3–6. A list of content is given
at the beginning of each section of the man-
ual, and there is also a comprehensive
index at the back of the book.
Supplied with the car is a Warranty and Ser-
vice Record booklet which contains impor-
tant warranty information and specifies the
regular maintenance to be carried out. Also
included is a Quick Reference Guide, an
Infotainment System manual, tire warran-
ties and (U.S. customers), a dealer directory
with Roadside Assistance Program infor-
mation.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,
etc., your Saab dealer will be pleased to
help, or you may call the Saab Customer
Assistance Center in the U.S. at 1-800-955-
9007 or email them at saab-
[email protected]. In Canada, please
contact the Saab Customer Assistance
Center at 1-800-263-1999.
Enjoy the road ahead!
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.
WARNING
Failure to heed warnings may cause
personal injury.NOTICENOTICE texts warns of potential damage
to the car if the recommendations are not
followed.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 5 of 292

3
Instrument panelChanging bulbs __________ 213
Front fog lights___________ 98
Headlight levelling ________ 96
High/low beam __________ 97
Parking lights____________ 96
Rear fog light ____________ 98Cruise Control ___________ 165
Direction indicators _______ 98
High/low beam control stalk 97
Fuel gauge __________________ 85
Odometer and trip meter ________ 83
Speedometer ________________ 83
Tachometer __________________ 82
Temperature gauge ____________ 84
Turbo gauge _________________ 84
Warning and indicator lights _____ 78Ashtray _____________________ 132
Cigarette lighter _______________ 132
Clock _______________________ 92
Profiler ______________________ 87
Saab Information Display (SID) ___ 87
Replacing wiper blades ___ 211
Washers and wipers ______ 100
Washer fluid ____________ 211Automatic climate control __ 108
Car care and maintenance _ 257
Hazard warning lights_____ 99
Manual climate control ____ 103
Seat heating ____________ 107
Seat heating, ACC _______ 116
ProCarManuals.com
Page 6 of 292

4ExteriorAnti-corrosion treatment ___ 254
Body __________________ 253
Service program _________ 262
Sunroof ________________ 126
Touching up paintwork ____ 253
Washing _______________ 252
Waxing and polishing _____ 253Brake lights _____________ 220
Changing bulbs __________ 213
Light switches ___________ 96
Taillights _______________ 220Towing _________________ 190
Towing hook eyes ________ 190
Towing a trailer __________ 184Folding down the rear seat _ 140
Lighting ________________ 220
Load-through hatch _______ 142
Spare wheel ____________ 144
Tools __________________ 144
Trunk __________________ 140
Maximum loads _______________ 268
Mounting holes for roof carriers ___ 188
Roof load ____________________ 188
Hood _______________________ 198
Washing the engine bay_________ 252
Central locking __________ 42
Child safety locks ________ 46
Lock buttons ____________ 42
Trunk lock ______________ 45Changing bulbs _________ 213
Dipswitch ______________ 96
Direction indicators_______ 98
Front lights _____________ 215
Headlight levelling (xenon) _ 96
Headlight switches _______ 96
Headlight washers _______ 211Economical motoring _____ 179
Fuel filler door __________ 153
Fuel gauge _____________ 85
Fuel grade _____________ 271
Refueling ______________ 153
Braking _____________________ 166
Changing wheels ______________ 248
Spare wheel _________________ 246
Tire pressure ________________ 277
Tires _______________________ 234
Wheels _____________________ 275
Winter driving ________________ 181
ProCarManuals.com
Page 7 of 292

5
InteriorAirbag _________________ 29
Steering wheel adjustment _ 122
Steering _______________ 273
Interior rearview mirror _________ 135
Vanity mirror _________________ 130
Door mirrors__________________ 134
Airbag_________________ 29
Child safety locks ________ 46
Child seats _____________ 22
Safety belt care _________ 251
Safety belts ____________ 12Glove box ______________ 132
Storage compartments____ 132Automatic transmission ___ 159
Changing gears _________ 158
Manual transmission _____ 158
Child seats ________________ 22
Folding down the rear seat ____ 140
Rear seat__________________ 140
Safety belts ________________ 12
Seat adjustment ____________ 17
Seat heating _______________ 107,
116
Upholstery care _____________ 251
Interior lighting: changing bulbs ___ 225
Interior light switches ___________ 129
Sunroof _____________________ 126
Ashtray and cigarette lighter _____ 132
Break-In Period _______________ 157
Driving in hot/cold climates ______ 181
Ignition switch ________________ 146
Parking brake_________________ 173
Parking _____________________ 173
Starting the engine ____________ 148
Fuses _________________ 227Electric windows _________ 123
ProCarManuals.com
Page 8 of 292

6Engine bayColor code______________ 278
Engine number __________ 278
Gearbox number _________ 278
Warning labels __________ 7
Vehicle identification number 278Alternator ______________ 210
Drive belt _______________ 210
Exhaust emission control __ 151
Ignition system __________ 272
Simple troubleshooting
(A/C, ACC) _____________ 257
Spark plugs _____________ 272
Turbo gauge ____________ 84Engine oil: checking level __ 202Automatic transmission _________ 159
Transmission: technical data _____ 272
Manual transmission ___________ 158
Battery ______________________ 208
Battery charge ________________ 208
Jump starting _________________ 193
Changing engine oil ____________ 203
Engine: description ____________ 199
Engine: technical data __________ 270
Important considerations for driving 150
Oil grade and viscosity__________ 270
Topping-up fluid _________ 211
Wash/wipe stalk switch____ 100
Washer fluid ____________ 211
Washer jets ____________ 212
Power steering ________________ 207
Fluid: checking/topping up _______ 207
Coolant: checking/topping-up ____ 205
Driving in hot climates __________ 183
Radiator _____________________ 270
Temperature gauge ____________ 84
Changing a fuse _________ 227
Fuse table _____________ 232
Fuses _________________ 227
Relays ________________ 232ABS brakes_____________ 166
Brake pads _____________ 206
Brake system ___________ 274
Brake fluid______________ 206
ProCarManuals.com