Page 102 of 276

100 Saab 9-5 Audio SystemLoudness ON/OFF To change the default setting:
The default setting for this function is ON.
– Press and hold the BAND button at the
same time as you switch on the Audio
System.
– After START VOL appears, release the
BAND button.
– Select LOUDNESS using
– Select ON or OFF using the VOL control.
– Wait 10 seconds or press one of the but-
tons on the bottom row of the Audio Sys-
tem, e.g. RADIO/BAND, to save the new
default setting.
Steering-wheel controls To facilitate use of the Audio System and to
promote safer driving, most of the functions
can be operated using the integral remote
controls on the steering wheel. Control functions: NXT: RADIO mode: preselect buttons
1⇒2⇒...⇒
6⇒1⇒...
TAPE mode: Play other side of tape.
CD mode: Inoperative.
CD-changer mode: Select CD in magazine
1⇒2⇒...⇒
6⇒1⇒...
<< SEEK >>:
RADIO mode: Auto/manual tuning.
TAPE mode:
Music search/Fast forward or rewind.
CD/CD-changer mode:
Track search/Rapid play.
SRC (source)Press repeatedly to switch between
RADIO
⇒ TAPE
⇒ CD
⇒ (CD changer)
⇒RADIO
⇒...
VOL +/–: Volume adjust.
IB385
Audio System controls on steering wheel
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Page 107 of 276
105 Interior equipment and trunk
Steering wheel
adjustment ___________ 106
Rearview mirrors_______ 107
Electric windows _______ 113
Sunroof ______________ 114
Interior lighting ________ 116
Sun visors ____________ 117
Ashtrays______________ 117
Glove compartment ____ 118
Cup holders ___________ 120
Trunk ________________ 121
IB394
Interior equipment and trunk
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Page 108 of 276
106 Interior equipment and trunkSteering wheel
adjustment Fore-and-aft and tilt adjustment of the stee-
ring wheel is possible.
Pull down the lever fully until you hear a
click. Move the steering wheel to the desired
position and then raise the lever. The lever
should lock with a click.
Make sure that the lever is fully locked
before driving off.
HornThe horn is sounded by pressing the central
part of the steering wheel. Press closest to
the steering wheel rim.
WARNING
Never adjust the steering wheel unless
the car is stationary.
IB408
To adjust the steering wheel
IB1563
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Page 131 of 276

129 Interior equipment and trunk
Sliding load floor(accessory)
The function of the sliding floor is to facilitate
loading and unloading.
Securing loads, see page 123.
When the car is parked and the floor is
pulled out, it can bear the weight of two
people (maximum 440 lbs./200 kg).
Setting up1 Lift up the floor.
2 Fold out the support wheels.
3 Set the floor down on the support
wheels.
WARNING
To avoid personal injury take note of the
following:
Do not leave children unsupervised
when the sliding floor is drawn out.
Be aware of the risk of pinching when
handling the sliding floor.
Never drive the car with the sliding
floor pulled out.
Always use the car’s regular cargo
anchoring when transporting a cargo.
Provide protection on sharp edges to
prevent damage to the anchoring
straps.
The sliding floor must not be changed
or modified in any way.
Put the sliding floor in the folded- down
position when it is not in use.
IB1220
Setting up the sliding floor
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Page 132 of 276

130 Interior equipment and trunkLoading/Unloading1 Lift the handle and pull out the sliding
floor to the outer locking position. Make
sure that the floor is locked correctly.
2 Put on the cargo, but make sure that it
does not cover the handle.
3 Lift the handle and push in the floor to
the inner locking position. Make sure
that the floor is locked correctly.
4 Tie down the load with Saab’s load
straps according to the instructions, see
page 126.
When the floor is not in use1 Lift up the floor.
2 Fold down the support wheels.
3 Lay down the sliding floor and make sure
that it is locked in its lower position.
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 the inside.NOTICEThe trunk release handle was not desig-
ned to be used to tie down the trunk lid or
as a an anchor point when securing items
in the trunk. Improper use of the trunk
release could damage it.
IB1221
Loading
IB1222
Folding down the sliding floor
IB1833
Trunk Release Handle
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Page 133 of 276
131 Starting and driving
IB1754
Starting and driving
Ignition switch ________ 132
Starting the engine ____ 133
Important considerations
for driving___________ 136
Refueling ____________ 138
Engine Break-In Period_ 142
Gear changing ________ 142
Cruise control ________ 151
Braking ______________ 152
Electronic Stability
Program (ESP) _______ 155
Economical motoring __ 157
Driving in cold weather_ 159
Driving in hot weather _ 160
Towing a trailer _______ 161 Driving with a roof rack
load_________________ 166
Driving at night ________ 168
Driving with a load _____ 168
Driving considerations
with compact spare
wheel/tire fitted _______ 170
Spare wheel and tools __ 170
Driving with the trunk
lid/tailgate open _______ 171
Driving in deep water ___ 171
Towing the car_________ 171
Jump starting _________ 174
Saab Parking Assistance 177
Parking brake _________ 179
Parking _______________ 179
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Page 150 of 276

148 Starting and drivingSentronic, manual modeMove the selector lever to the M position.
Select a higher gear by flicking the right-
hand paddle towards you. Select a
lower gear by flicking the left-hand paddle
towards you.
An example of when you may wish to make
manual gear changes is when overtaking, to
enable you to remain in a low gear for an
extended period of time.
Changes from 3rd to 4th and from 4th to 5th
can be made when the engine speed is
above roughly 2,000 rpm.
If you select a gear that is judged too high by
the system, the selected gear position will
be shown briefly on the main instrument
panel and then the gear that is actually
engaged.If the road surface is slippery, you may wish
to pull off in 2nd or 3rd to reduce the risk of
wheel spin.
When descending hills you should select a
low gear to increase the braking effect of the
engine and thus spare the brakes.
Manual gear selections are shown on the
main instrument panel. The selector posi-
tion and the current gear are displayed.When the selector lever is in the M position,
as opposed to the D position, engines are
much more responsive to changes in acce-
lerator position. The accelerator has a diffe-
rent feel.
When in manual mode, kick-down operates
for 4th and 5th gears (below 2,000 rpm).
Kick-down cannot be activated in 1st, 2nd or
3rd gears.
For optimum performance, gear changes
should be made before reaching 6,000 rpm.
To avoid damaging the engine and trans-
mission, the transmission will shift up a gear
if the engine is in danger of overrevving. You
may feel a slight jolt before this gear change
is effected.
Paddles on the steering wheel for
changing gear manually
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Page 152 of 276

150 Starting and drivingIf you move the selector lever from D to L, down shifts will follow a
set pattern to avoid damaging the engine or transmission.
Manual gear-changing is not recommended on slippery roads.
If one of the drive wheels spins excessively, the engine torque will
be reduced to avoid damaging the transmission.Adaptive gear-change patternsAdaptive gear-change patterns are selected automatically depend-
ing on the engine load and the present temperature of the transmis-
sion. The function is available in Normal and Sport modes.
The changes occur at a higher engine speed and the car remains in
the same gear for longer, if the transmission control module senses
that the load has not decreased. These gear-change patterns pre-
vent unnecessary changing up and down, when for example driving
up or down long slopes with a trailer or caravan, and to prevent over-
heating the transmission oil. The adaptive gear-change function is
also selected automatically when the transmission oil becomes too
hot, to protect the transmission itself from damage and to lower the
oil temperature.
The adaptive gear-change pattern function is deselected when:
The engine is switched off.
The load is reduced so much that the function is no longer requi-
red.
”Automatic transmission, fault indicator” appears on main
instrument panel, see page 146.
SPORT modes
To select Sport mode, press the ”S” button on
the selector lever when the selector lever is in
position N or D.
In this mode, gear changes will take place at hig-
her engine speeds than in Normal mode, in
other words, the transmission will change up
later and change down earlier for the same
throttle (accelerator) position.
The Sport mode will be deselected if:
The S button is pressed.
The selector lever is moved to position P,R, M
or L.
The engine is switched off.
”Automatic transmission, fault indicator”
appears on main instrument panel, see
page 146.
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