
160 Starting and drivingIf winter tires are fitted, the same type must
be fitted on all wheels. Your Saab dealer will
be pleased to advise you on the best tires for
your car.
Remember that tires age. It may therefore
be necessary to change them before they
reach the legal wear limit, as they gradually
lose their friction properties.
The best response if the car gets into a front-
wheel skid is to freewheel (manual gearbox
only), i.e. disengage the clutch (so that the
wheels are neither driven or retarded by the
engine.
If the car has automatic transmission, ease
up on the accelerator and steer carefully in
the desired direction.
In a rear-wheel skid, steer in the same direc-
tion that the rear of the car is moving.
Tire chainsIf you want to fit tire chains (where legally
permitted) they should only be fitted to the
tires recommended under ”Specifications”
(see page 260).
Consult your Saab dealer for details of
approved tire chains.
Driving in hot weather Always check the coolant level before
starting a journey. The level should be just
below the MAX mark.
At the end of a journey, if the engine has
worked hard, allow it to idle for two or
three minutes before switching it off.
If the needle on the temperature gauge
enters the red zone:
1 Bring the car to a standstill but leave the
engine running. Do
not
remove the cap
on the expansion tank even if the tank is
empty. If the needle on the temperature
gauge continues to rise while the engine
is idling, switch off the engine.
WARNING
Do not exceed 30 mph (50 km/h)
when tire chains are fitted.
Tire chains can reduce the directional
stability of the car.
Tire chains must not be used on the
rear wheels. NOTICE Check the links frequently for wear.
Check that the chains do not contact
the wheel-arch liner at full lock.
See section ”Specifications”,
page 260, for information on allowable
wheel dimensions for the fitting of tire
chains.
ProCarManuals.com

164 Starting and drivingRecommendations for cars with manual
gearboxRises in coolant temperature are indicated
by the temperature gauge in the main instru-
ment panel.
The following steps are taken in order as the
temperature of the engine increases:
A/C compressor is switched off.
engine torque is reduced.
When continuing your journey, select a gear
in which the engine speed is about
3,000 rpm until the incline eases.
Driving considerations Always take extra care when towing a
trailer, as the car’s handling will be different
and its braking effect reduced. The trailer’s
braking system and suspension also have a
considerable effect on these characteris-
tics, see also ”Driving with a load” page 168.
If the car has automatic transmission, select
position D when ascending steep hills. This
ensures that the adaptive gear change pat-
terns are operational, see page 150. Use
position D or L for steep descents.
Checks before drivingMake sure that the car and camper or trailer
are in good working order. This is essential
since towing a camper or trailer increases
the strain on the car.
Check and if necessary adjust the tire
pressure of the car and camper or trailer.
Make sure all wheel bolts are properly
tightened.
Make sure that the equipment joining the
car and camper or trailer is properly secu-
red and adjusted.
Make sure the camper or trailer’s electri-
cal cable is properly connected and is not
so long that it drags along the ground.
Also, make sure the cable is not too short
and risks breaking when turning a corner.
Check all bulbs.
Check the car and camper or trailer bra-
kes.
Make sure that all items on or in the cara-
van or trailer are properly secured.
Make sure that the camper or trailer’s
jockey wheel is raised and locked.
Check the distribution of the load so that
the car and camper or trailer are well
balanced.
Check that the rearview mirrors provide
the best possible rearward vision.
Make sure the camper or trailer’s safety
cable is correctly attached.
WARNING
Utilize the braking effect of the engine
(1st, 2nd or 3rd gear) when you are
descending long or steep hills to spare
the brakes.
Brake failure can result from overheated
brakes!
NOTICEIf the ”Automatic transmission, fault indi-
cator” indicator comes on, cease
towing until the problem has been recti-
fied.
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190 Car care and technical informationUse only new brake fluid from a sealed con-
tainer.
Check that there are no leaks in the brake
system.
The brake fluid level will fall somewhat as
the brake pads wear. The MAX level in the
reservoir corresponds to the amount of
brake fluid required with new brake pads. If
the fall in fluid level is moderate, due to
normal brake pad wear, topping up is not
necessary.Changing of the brake fluid should be
carried out by an authorized Saab dealer.The vehicle´s regular braking system is
adjusted automatically, but the parking
brake has to be adjusted manually. This
work, involving adjustment of the parking
brake cables and brake pads, must only be
carried out by an authorized Saab dealer.It is not possible to detect, through abnormal
pedal or parking brake-lever travel, whether
brake pads are worn and need replacing. It
is therefore essential that brake pads be
checked regularly, as specified in the ser-
vice program.
Brake pad wear indicators The outboard brake pads on the front
wheels incorporate pad-wear indicators.
When the lining is down to 0.11 in (3 mm),
the pad will produce a screeching, squeal-
ing or scraping noise when the brakes are
applied. New pads should be fitted without
delay.Brake pads should only be changed by
an authorized Saab dealer. To ensure
optimum brake performance, use only
Saab original brake pads.
NOTICEAvoid spilling brake fluid onto paintwork,
since it can cause the paint to bubble and
lift. If any brake fluid is spilled, the area
should be flushed with large quantities of
water as quickly as possible.
IB1188
Brake and clutch-fluid reservoir
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218 Car care and technical informationWhen to checkCheck your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It
should be at 60 psi (420 kPa).How to CheckUse a good quality pocket-type gauge to
check tire pressure. You can’t tell if your
tires are properly inflated simply by looking
at them. Radial tires may look properly infla-
ted even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the
valve stems. They help prevent leaks by
keeping out dirt and moisture.Tire Inspection and RotationAny time you notice unusual wear, rotate
your tires as soon as possible and check
wheel alignment. Also check for damaged
tires or wheels. See “When It Is Time for
New Tires” on page 219 and “Wheel Repla-
cement” on page 222 for more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve
more uniform wear for all tires on the
vehicle. The first rotation is the most impor-
tant.
When rotating your tires, always use the
correct rotation pattern. Left front tire to left
rear. Left rear tire to right front. Right front to
right rear. Right rear to left front.
Don’t include the compact spare tire in your
tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the
front and rear inflation pressures as shown
on the Tire-Loading Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly tigh-
tened. See page 233.
Flat spottingAll tires get hot, especially on long journeys
or when the car is driven hard. After the car
has been parked with hot tires and the tires
have cooled down, a flat spot can form in the
tire, where it is in contact with the ground.
The same can occur if the car has not been
moved for a long time.
Flat spots can cause vibration that can be
felt through the steering wheel, similar to
that experienced when the wheels need
balancing.
Flat spots of this type disappear once the
tires get hot again, usually after 10–15 miles
(20–25 km) of driving at cruising speed.
WARNING
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel
could come off and cause an accident.
When you change a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency,
you can use a cloth or a paper towel to do
this; but be sure to use a scraper or wire
brush later, if you need to, to get all the
rust or dirt off. See “Changing a wheel” on
page 231.
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223 Car care and technical information
Tire Chains
Notice:
If your vehicle does not have
225/45R17 size tires, use tire chains only
where legal and only when you must.
Contact your Saab dealer regarding sui-
table snow chains. Install them on the
front tires and tighten them as tightly as
possible with the ends securely faste-
ned. Drive slowly and follow the chain
manufacturer’s instructions. If you can
hear the chains contacting your vehicle,
stop and retighten them. If the contact
continues, slow down until it stops. Dri-
ving too fast or spinning the wheels with
chains on will damage your vehicle.If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow-out” while
you’re driving, especially if you maintain
your tires properly. If air goes out of a tire,
it’s much more likely to leak out slowly. But
if you should ever have a “blow-out”, here
are a few tips about what to expect and what
to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a
drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side.
Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and
grip the steering wheel firmly. Steer to main-
tain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blow-out, particularly on a curve, acts
much like a skid and may require the same
correction you’d use in a skid. In any rear
blowout, remove your foot from the accele-
rator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go.
It may be very bumpy and noisy, but you can
still steer. Gently brake to a stop – well off
the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to
use your jacking equipment to change a flat
tire safely.
WARNING
If your vehicle has 225/45 R17 size tires,
don’t use tire chains, there’s not enough
clearance.
Tire chains used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can cause
damage to the brakes, suspension or
other vehicle parts. The area damaged by
the tire chains could cause you to lose
control of your vehicle and you or others
may be injured in a crash.
Use another type of traction device only if
its manufacturer recommends it for use
on your vehicle and tire size combination
and road conditions. Follow that manu-
facturer’s instructions. To help avoid
damage to your vehicle, drive slowly,
readjust or remove the device if it’s
contacting your vehicle, and don’t spin
your wheels.
If you do find traction devices that will fit,
install them on the front tires.
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231 Car care and technical information
Changing a wheel
WARNING
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. The jack provided with your
vehicle is designed only for changing a
flat tire. If it is used for anything else, you
or others could be badly injured or killed if
the vehicle slips off the jack. Use the jack
provided with your vehicle only for chang-
ing a flat tire.
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The
vehicle can slip off the jack and roll over
or fall on you or other people. You and
they could be badly injured or even killed.
Find a level place to change your tire. To
help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1 Set the parking brake firmly.
2 If you have an automatic transmis-
sion, put the shift lever in PARK (P).
For a manual transmission, leave the
car in gear (1st or REVERSE (R)).
3 Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
4 Do not allow passengers to remain in
the vehicle.
To be even more certain the vehicle won't
move, you should put blocks at the front
and rear of the tire farthest away from the
one being changed. That would be the
tire, on the other side, at the opposite end
of the vehicle.
The car jack is designed solely for use
in changing a wheel or fitting snow
chains.
It must not be used to
support the car during repair work
or servicing.
Never
crawl under a car that is
supported only by a jack.
Raising your vehicle too high or with
the jack improperly positioned can
damage the vehicle and even make
the vehicle fall. To help avoid personal
injury and vehicle damage, be sure to
fit the jack lift head into the proper
location before raising the vehicle, and
raise the vehicle only far enough off
the ground so there is enough room for
the spare tire to fit (no more than 25
mm or 1 inch clearance between the
ground and the bottom of the tire).
Switch on the hazard warning lights if
the car is on a road.
The jack should be stored correctly
under the carpeting in the trunk. If it
lies loose in the car, it could thrown
forward and cause personal injury in
the event of a crash or if the car rolls
over.
Grit, salt and rust can clog the inner
threads of the wheel bolts if the car has
been driven for several years exclu-
sively with alloy wheels.
If steel wheels are being installed, the
bolt hole threads in the brake hubs
should be cleaned before the thinner
steel wheels are fitted. It may other-
wise not be possible to achieve the
correct clamping force, despite tight-
ening the wheel bolts to the correct
torque.
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265 Index
IndexAA/C system, fault diagnosis
_______ 235
A/C system, maintenance
_________ 234
ABS brakes
____________________ 152
ACC
__________________________ 73
ACC functions
___________________ 76
ACC, automatic climate control
_____ 73
ACC, calibration
_________________ 81
ACC, condensation _______________ 82
ACC, programming _______________ 79
ACC, useful tips
_________________ 81
Adjusting the steering wheel
_______ 106
Adjustment, seats
________________ 12
Air conditioning (A/C), fault diagnosis
and maintenance ______________ 234
Air distribution, ACC ______________ 78
Airbag
_________________________ 28
Alarm _________________________ 44
Alarm functions
__________________ 47
Alarm signals
________________ 44
, 47
Alternator
_____________________ 194
Alternator drive belt
__________ 194
, 257
Alternator rating
________________ 257
Anticorrosion treatment
___________ 240
Antidazzle rear-view mirror
________ 111
Ashtrays
______________________ 117
Audio System
___________________ 83Audio System, quick guide
_________ 85
Autochecking of lights on starting
____ 58
Auto-dimming rear-view mirror with
garage door opener
____________ 108
Automatic climate control (ACC)
_____ 73
Automatic transmission, technical
data
_________________________ 258
Aviod theft, tip
__________________ 179
BBattery
________________________ 192
Battery charging/replacing
________ 193
Battery, boost starting
____________ 174
Before a long journey ____________ 241
Before towing a camper or trailer
___ 164
Belt guide
______________________ 16
Boost starting using jump leads
____ 174
Brake and clutch fluid
____________ 189
Brake-fluid reservoir
_____________ 189
Brakes, technical data ____________ 259
Bulbs, changing
________________ 197
Bulbs, table of
__________________ 210
Buying new tires ________________ 219
CCD changer
_____________________ 95
CD player
______________________ 93CHECK messages
_______________ 64
CHECKING
_____________________ 64
Calibration, ACC
_________________ 81
Cancelling the programmed settings
__ 79
Car alarm
_______________________ 44
Car care _______________________ 181
Cargo net, 9-5 SportWagon
_______ 128
Carpeting, care of
_______________ 236
Cassette player
__________________ 90
Catalytic converter, important
considerations _________________ 137
Central locking ___________________ 38
Change language in SID
___________ 66
Change of address notification
_____ 248
Changing a wheel
_______________ 231
Changing bulbs
_________________ 197
Changing wiper blades
___________ 195
Charger/Jump starting ____________ 176
Charging the battery/Jump starting
__ 176
Chassis number
________________ 262
Chassis number, key to
___________ 263
Checks before towing a camper or
trailer
________________________ 164
Child safety
_____________________ 21
Child safety locks, rear doors
_______ 41
Cleaning, engine bay
_____________ 238
Clock
_______________________ 65
, 66
Color code, body
________________ 262
Color code, trim _________________ 262
Compact spare wheel
____________ 230
Compass
______________________ 112
Condensation, ACC
_______________ 82
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269 Index
Towing, automatics
______________ 171
Trailer weights
_________________ 253
Treadwear indicators
____________ 219
Trionic
________________________ 184
Trip computer
___________________ 61
Trip meter
______________________ 58
Trunk
_________________________ 121
Trunk lid, opening
________________ 42
Turbo gauge
____________________ 60
Turbo, points to note
_____________ 136
UUnder the hood
_________________ 183
Uniform tire quality grading
________ 221
Upholstery and trim
______________ 236
Upholstery and trim, care of
_______ 236
Useful tips, ACC
_________________ 81
VVanity mirrors
__________________ 117
Vehicle Data Collection
___________ 249
Ventilated front seats
_____________ 14
Viscosity, engine oil
_____________ 254
WWarning labels
___________________ 7
Warning light, AIR BAG
___________ 33
Warning lights
___________________ 52
Washers
______________________ 195
Washers, windshield
_____________ 196
Washing the car
________________ 237
Waxing and polishing
____________ 238
Wear indicators, tires ____________ 219
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inflates?
______________________ 34
Wheel replacement
______________ 222
Wheel, change
_________________ 231
Wheels and tires ________________ 260
Wheels and tires, sizes
___________ 260
When it is time for new tires
_______ 219
Windshield washers
______________ 71
Windshield wipers
________________ 71
Winter tires
________________ 228
, 260
Wiper blades, replacing
__________ 195
Wipers and washers
__________ 71
, 195
XXenon headlight
________________ 197
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