Page 45 of 292

43 Security
Remote control functions
*) parking lights, side direction indicators,
taillights and license plate lighting.
NOTICEThe remote control contains delicate
electronics.
Do not expose it to water.
Avoid rough handling.
Do not place the remote control where
it may be subjected to high tempera-
tures, e.g. on the instrument panel.
Warm the remote control in your
hands for a couple of minutes if it has
become very cold to prevent malfunc-
tion.
For details on changing the battery,
refer to page 48.
Button Pressed once Pressed
twiceHold and
press the
button more
than 2 s
Locks all doors
and trunk lid.
Convertible: also
fuel filler door.
Unlocks driver´s
door.
Convertible: also
fuel filler door.The other
doors are
unlocked
and the trunk
lid switch is
enabled.Comfort
opening, see
page 123.
Unlocks and
slightly opens
trunk lid.
Checks number
of remote con-
trols, see
page 47.
Turns on exterior
and cabin lighting
*) (for 30 s) or
turns off lighting
and deactivates
panic alarm.Panic alarm
(activates
alarm manu-
ally), see
page 52.
Remote control1 Locks car
2 Unlocks car and turns on cabin lighting
3 Unlocks and opens trunk lid.
4 Turns on exterior and cabin lighting.
Activates panic function
ProCarManuals.com
Page 46 of 292

44 SecurityLocking/unlocking the carRemote locking and unlocking also control
the car alarm.
Remote locking
Press the button once: all doors and
the trunk lid locked (Convertible: also fuel
filler door).
The hazard warning lights will flash once to
confirm.Remote unlocking
Pressing the button once: the driver´s
door is unlocked (Convertible: also fuel filler
door). Press a second time to unlock the
rest of the doors and enable the trunk lid
switch.
The hazard warning lights will flash twice to
confirm.
If a fault arises in the locking system, the
Saab Information Display (SID) will display:
Saab Information Display (SID), see
page 87.
Intermittent malfunctioning
Equipment in the vicinity of the car that uses
the same frequency as the remote control
may cause interference to the remote con-
trol signal. In this case, retry from another
angle and aim at the receiver located by the
steering wheel.If remote unlocking should fail to work
1 Remove the traditional key from the
remote control by pressing the emblem
on the reverse of the remote control.
(This key only fits the front left-hand
door.)
2 Carefully remove the cover plate from
the keyhole in the door.
3 Unlock the door with the key.
The car alarm will be tripped. To silence the
alarm, insert the remote control into the igni-
tion switch.
WARNING
Leaving children or pets unattended in a
locked car is dangerous. It is also danger-
ous to leave children in a vehicle with the
ignition key. A child or others could be
badly injured or even killed.
Never lock anyone in the car.
Lock system failure.
Contact Saab dealer.
Locking/unlocking the front left-hand door
with the traditional key1 Lock
2 Unlock
ProCarManuals.com
Page 47 of 292
45 Security
Locking a car with dead batteryThe steering wheel lock requires sufficient
battery voltage to lock and unlock. If the bat-
tery voltage drops below a certain level
while the remote control is in the ignition
switch, you will not be able to remove the
remote control.
If you must leave the car, proceed as
follows:
1 Lock the car by pressing down the lock
buttons on the doors.
2 Lock the front left door from outside with
the traditional key (see page 44). The
car is now locked but the car alarm will
remain inactive.
Trunk lidOpening
The trunk lid is unlocked and slightly opened
when the button on the remote control
or on the inside of the driver’s door is
pressed once.
The hazard warning lights will flash three
times to confirm.
Closing
The trunk lid is locked when closed.
If the doors are locked when the trunk lid is
closed it is armed and the movement sensor
in the cabin will be armed.
Opening button on driver’s door
ProCarManuals.com
Page 49 of 292

47 Security
Trunk Release HandleThere is a glow-in-the-dark trunk release
handle located inside the trunk on the latch.
This handle will glow following exposure to
light. Pull the release handle down to open
the trunk from inside.
Reprogramming lock system
functionsCertain lock system functions can be
reprogrammed at a Saab dealer (see
page 280).Checking the number of remote
controlsTo check the number of remote controls that
are programmed for the car:
1 Insert the remote control into the ignition
switch and turn it to ON.
2 Press and hold the button for more
than 2 seconds within 30 seconds after
the ignition switch has been turned to
the ON position.
3 The Saab Information Display (SID) will
now display the number of remote
controls that are programmed for your
car, and which of these (1–5) is in the
ignition switch.
Example of SID message:
NOTICEThe trunk release handle was not
designed to be used to tie down the trunk
lid or as an anchor point when securing
items in the trunk. Improper use of the
trunk release could damage it
2: standard key
Key No: 1
Trunk Release Handle
ProCarManuals.com
Page 52 of 292

50 SecurityIf, when inserted into the ignition switch,
there is a problem checking the electronic
code of the remote control, the following
message will appear on the SID:
Visit a Saab dealer to have the problem
checked and rectified.
Car alarmThe car alarm is armed when the car is
locked with the remote control.
The car alarm will not be armed if you
lock the car with the traditional key (see
page 44).
All the doors, the hood and the trunk lid are
monitored by the alarm.The alarm is armed 11 seconds after the car
has been locked by remote control.
During the delay period, the LED shines
constantly. It will then start to flash once
every 3 seconds. The LED is located on the
dashboard.
If a door or the trunk lid is open when the car
is locked with the remote control, the LED
will flash 3 times per second for
11 seconds. Check that the doors, hood
and trunk lid are closed.
If the signal persists, contact a Saab dealer
to have the problem checked and rectified.
Locking the trunk lid: If you unlock the
trunk lid from outside the car with the
button on the remote control, you must lock
the car with the button to arm the car
alarm. Key not accepted.
Contact Saab dealer.
WARNING
Leaving children or pets unattended in a
locked car is dangerous. It is also danger-
ous to leave children in a vehicle with the
ignition key. A child or others could be
badly injured or even killed.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 55 of 292
53 Security
Overview of functionsLocking/arming Direction indicators flash once.
Unlocking/
disarmingDirection indicators flash twice.
Unlocking/
disarming trunk
lidDirection indicators flash three times.
Alarm triggered Direction indicators flash for 5 min.
The horn sounds for 30-second intervals with
10-second breaks (max. 10 cycles) or until you
press one of the remote control buttons or turn
the remote control ON in the ignition switch.
Remote control Normal range: 5–16 yds. (5–15 metres).
In favorable conditions the range can be signifi-
cantly greater.
Remote control
batteryNormal life: approx. 4 years.
Change the battery when the SID displays:
Remote control battery
low. Replace battery.
See Changing the key battery, page 48.
Some car alarm functions and indications can be reprogrammed.
Contact a Saab dealer for details of the possibilities and refer to
page 280.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 56 of 292

54 SecurityQuick guide, LED and Saab Information Display
(SID) messagesActivity LED signal
Arming (delay period) Illuminates for 11 s.
Alarm armed Flashes once every 3 s.
Disarming Extinguishes.
Alarm not armed Off.
A door, the hood or the tailgate is
open or opened during the delay
period.Flashes for 11 s then flashes
once every 3 s.
Car immobilized but not locked. Off.
Change of status of immobilizer
system, valid remote control
inserted or removed from ignition
switch.Double-flashes for 3 s.
SID message Reason/action
Key not accepted.
Contact Saab dealer.Error when remote control
inserted into ignition switch.
Remote control battery
low. Replace battery.Battery needs replacing.
See page 48.
2: standard key
Key No: 1Check of the number of remote
controls programmed for your
car. See page 47.
Alarm has been triggered
since being armed.The alarm has been tripped
since the car was last locked.
Immobilizer failure.
Try starting again.
Contact Saab dealer.Error when immobilizer code
checked.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 58 of 292

56 9-3 ConvertibleAdvice on soft top
operation Once you have raised the soft top and
before driving off, always check that the
soft top is properly engaged with the wind-
shield rail.
Once you have folded the soft top and
before driving off, check that the soft top
cover is locked.
Do not operate the soft top in tempera-
tures below 23°F (–5°C).
Note that certain automatic car washes
can damage the soft top. This applies to
car washes that use mechanical feelers
bearing against the body. Saab advises
against washing the Convertible in an
automatic car wash.
After rain or washing the car, allow the soft
top to dry completely before folding it.
Folding a wet or damp soft top can cause
water damage in the car and mildew to
form on the soft top. Roof racks and ski holders must not be
mounted on the soft top.
On no account should anything be put into
the stowage space of the soft top (under
the soft top cover) since this could cause
an obstruction when the soft top is being
folded away.
Do not place any objects on the covers
over the roll bars as this can hamper their
function.
When operating the soft top, raise or fold
it fully until notified that operation is com-
plete by the SID. Do not leave the soft top
partially open/closed. If the soft top is left
in an intermediate position it will collapse
progressively after 20 seconds to prevent
overloading the drive system.
Washing the soft top, see page 252.
WARNING
Never touch the hinges and struts of
the soft top nor the upper rail of the
windshield while operating the soft
top.
Do not operate the soft top while there
are bystanders close to the car.
ProCarManuals.com