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.
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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
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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
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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
7
Coolant:Never open when engine hot!
Radiator fan:Radiator fan may start at any
time.
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
NO SPARKS, FLAMES OR SMOKING
SHIELD EYES
KEEP OUT OF REACH FROM CHILDREN
ACID
SEE OWNER’S MANUAL
EXPLOSIVE GASWarning labelsA/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 qualified personnel only. For instructions consult dealer man-
ual.
The A/C system complies with SAE J639.
Charge: 680 g R134a.
Compressor oil: 150 cc PAG oil SP-10 alt.
Saab oil 4759106
DANGER/POISON
700 CCA (SAE)
LEVEL INDICATOR
INDICATEUR DE NIVEAU
DARK / NOIR No sparks, flames or smoking. Flush eyes immediatly with water
Do not tip battery. Do not open battery
KEEP OUT OF REACH FROM CHILDREN.
000 12102-EP
Shield eyes, explosive gases can cause
blindness or injury.Get medical help fast.
Sulfuric acid can cause blindness or severeMAINTENANCE-FREE BATTERY-P/N 53 52 000 12V/700A/125min(SAE) 12V/700A/70Ah (EN)
Saab Automobile AB 53 53 057 Manufactured by Tudor Spain (Exide Technologies) 12102-EPburns.
OK
CLEAR
CLAIRLOW
BAS
DANGER/POISON
700 CCA (SAE)
Éviter les étincelles et les flammes. Ne pas fumer. Rincer immédiatement les yeux avec de
Ne pas pencher ni ouvrir la batterie.
GARDER HORS DE LA PORTÉE DES
ENFANTS
000 12103-EP
Protéger les yeux car les gaz explosife peuvent
causer la cécité ou des blessures.l'oau Consulter un médecin rapidement.
L'acide sulfurique peut causer la cécité ou desBATTERIE SANS ENTRETIEN-P/N 53 52 000 12V/700A/125min(SAE) 12V/700A/70Ah (EN)
Saab Automobile AB 53 53 085 Fabriquée par Tudor Espagne (Exide Technologies) 12103-EPbrûlures graves.
CANADA
NETTOYER LE BOUCHON
DE REMPLISSAGE
AVANT DE L’ENLEVER.
UTILISER SEULEMENT
DU LIQUIDE DOT 4 PROV-
ENANT D’UN CONTE-
NANT SCELLÉ.
ProCarManuals.com
9
No sparks,
flames or
smokingBuckle up
Refer to
the Owner’s
ManualAirbag
Shield eyesNever place a
rear-facing
child seat in
this seat
Keep out of
reach of
childrenElectric
windows
Battery acid
contains sul-
phuric acidDeactivating
of rear window
switches
Risk of
explosive gasCentral
locking, lock
Central
locking,
unlock
Trunk lid,
opening
HeadlightsWindshield
wipers
Direction
indicatorsWindshield
washers
Parking lights Defroster
Hazard warn-
ing lightsRear window
heating
Front fog
lightsCabin fan
Rear fog light
Coolant tem-
peratureRadiator fan
No charge to
batteryFuel
Foot brake
Coolant level
Engine oil
pressure
ABS brakes
Electronic
Stability
Program
Example of symbols that can be found in your car
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58 9-3 ConvertibleOpeningThe following conditions must be fulfilled for
the soft top to be folded:
Vehicle speed must not exceed 20 mph
(30 km/h).
Battery voltage must exceed 10 V.
Outside temperature must exceed 23°F
(–5°C).
The trunk lid must be locked.
There must be sufficient space in the
trunk for the soft top.
1 Star t the engine and let it idle. Clearance
for soft top operation: height, min. 7.2 ft
(2.2 m); behind car, min. 2" (5 cm).
2 Press and hold the soft top button until
the soft top is fully folded and the soft top
cover raised. Completed folding is indi-
cated by a chime. If there is a malfunc-
tion a text message will be shown on the
SID. Refer to page 65.
Do not press any of the buttons on the
same section of the instrument panel as
the soft top switch while folding the soft
top. This will cause the soft top to stop
and then sink after about 20 seconds.
If you continue to hold the button after the
chime, all the windows will open after a brief
delay.Remote opening (option)
You can fold the soft top when outside the
car by pressing and holding the
(unlock) button on the remote control. See
also page 123.
Folding
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60 9-3 ConvertibleRaisingThe following conditions must be fulfilled for
raising the soft top:
Vehicle speed must not exceed
20 mph (30 km/h).
Battery voltage must exceed 10 V.
The trunk lid must be locked.
1 Star t the engine and let it idle. Clearance
for soft top operation: height, min. 7.2 ft
(2.2 m); behind car, min. 2" (5 cm).
2 Press and hold the soft top button until
the soft top is fully raised and the soft top
cover closed. Completed raising is indi-
cated by a chime. If there is a malfunc-
tion a text message will be shown on the
SID. Refer to page 65.
Do not press any of the buttons on the
same section of the instrument panel as
the soft top switch while raising the soft
top. This will cause the soft top to stop
and then sink after about 20 seconds.
All side windows are opened slightly to pro-
tect the seals when the soft top is raised.
Check that the hooks in the soft top hold it securely to the upper edge of the wind-
shield.
If you hold the button pressed up after the
chime, all the windows will be closed after a
short delay.
Raising
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