2Introduction This manual provides practical guidance on
driving and caring for your Saab.
The Saab 9-5 is available with the following
engine variants:
2.3t 185 hp (Linear)
2.3T 220 hp (Arc)
2.3 Turbo 250 hp (Aero)
Although this manual describes the most
important differences between model vari-
ants, it does not include precise specifica-
tions of the different variants. Some diffe-
rences also occur to meet special legal
requirements in different countries.
Importation and distribution of Saab auto-
mobiles, spare parts and accessories are
handled exclusively by General Motors of
Canada Limited in Canada and by Saab
Cars USA, Inc. in the U.S.A.We recommend that you read through the
manual before taking the car out for the first
time and that you keep it in the car for future
reference.
To find a specific item, use the overviews
given on pages 3–6. A list of contents is
given at the beginning of each section of the
manual, 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 and a tire warranty
folder which specifies the regular mainte-
nance to be carried out. The book also con-
tains important warranty conditions.
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
or the like, your Saab dealer will be pleased
to help.
Best wishes,
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.
The specifications, design particulars and illus-
trations included in the manual are not binding.
WARNING
WARNING texts warn against the danger
of injury if the specified instructions are
not followed.
NOTICENOTICE texts warn of potential damage
to the car if the recommendations are not
followed.
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3
Instrument panel
IB1080
Indicator and warning lights ______ 52
Speedometer _________________ 59
Odometer and trip meter ________ 58
Fuel gauge___________________ 59
Temperature gauge ____________ 59
Parking lights____________ 67
High/low beam __________ 67
Daytime running lights_____ 67
Instrument illumination ____ 69
Changing bulbs __________ 197
Rear fog light ____________ 68Turn signal and lane change
indicators ______________ 69
High beam flasher ________ 67
Cruise control ___________ 151Front fog lights___________ 70
Ashtrays (accessory) ___________ 117
Cigarette lighters (accessory) ____ 118
Saab Information Display (SID) ___ 61
Night panel___________________ 65
Clock _______________________ 66
Wipers and washers ______ 71
Rear-window wiper_______ 72
Rain sensing wipers ______ 71
Washers _______________ 196
Wipers and washers ______ 195Saab 9-5 Audio System ___ 83
Steering-wheel controls ___ 100Hazard warning lights_____ 70Automatic climate control
(ACC) ________________ 73
Air conditioning (ACC) ____ 234
Electric heating, front seats (if equip-
ped) _______________________ 15
Ventilated front seats ___________ 14Steering-wheel controls ___ 100
Sentronic, manual mode ___ 148
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14 SafetyMemory driver’s seat(if equipped)
In certain models the driver´s seat is equip-
ped with a programmable memory function.
This function also includes the door mirrors.
Adjust the seat and door mirrors.
To save the settings, press and hold the M
button and, at the same time, press one of
the preselect buttons (1, 2 or 3). The Saab
Information Display (SID) will chime to con-
firm that the settings have been saved.To recall the programmed settings, press
and hold the appropriate preset button,
whereupon the seat and mirrors will be
adjusted automatically.
To change the settings stored in a preset
button, adjust the seat and mirrors as before
and save the new settings by pressing M
and the appropriate preset button.
To facilitate reversing, the passenger side
door mirror can be tilted down automati-
cally, e.g. to show the curb. To do this,
select reverse and press the small grey
button adjacent to the door-mirror control.
When you deselect reverse, the mirror will
automatically return to its original setting
(see page 107).
Ventilated front seats(if equipped)
Ventilated front seats, that enhance seating
comfort in hot weather, are an option on Arc
and Aero models (certain markets).
Ventilated seats are equipped with two fans
that extract the moist air from between the
seat and the body.
The fans have three speeds and are OFF
when the switch is set to 0.
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56 Instruments and controlsThis light shows when the cruise-control
system is active (see page 151).
This light shows when the headlights are on
high beam (see page 67).
This light shows when the rear fog light is on
(see page 68).
The rear fog light is switched off automat-
ically when the engine is switched off. When
the fog light is next needed, it will have to be
switched on manually again.
The rear fog light consists of one light so it
should not be mistaken for brake lights.This light indicates that there is a fault in the
Xenon headlight system, which consists of
xenon headlights and an automatic levelling
system.
If a fault arises in the Xenon headlight sys-
tem, the headlights will be angled down to
avoid impairing the vision of drivers in onco-
ming traffic. Adjust your speed accordingly
as visibility will be reduced.If a door has not been closed properly, the
pictogram will indicate the door concerned
(or tailgate).
This light will come on in cars with automatic
transmission when the S (SPORT) button
on the selector lever has been pressed
(position N or D) see page 150.
In this mode, the gear changes occur later,
at higher engine revs, giving the engine and
transmission a sportier feel.
To cancel the SPORT mode, press the S
button on the selector lever again. The
mode is also deselected automatically
w h e n t h e s e l e c t o r l e v e r i s m o v e d t o P , R , M
or L, or when the ignition is switched off.
Indicator, cruise control
Indicator, high beam
Indicator, rear fog light
Xenon headlight fault
indicator
(if equipped)
NOTICE
If the Xenon headlight fault indicator lights
up, have your car checked as soon as
possible at an authorized Saab dealer.
If you do not rectify the problem, nighttime
visibility will be poor since the range of the
headlights is reduced.
Indicator, open door
Indicator, SPORT-mode
automatic transmission
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61 Instruments and controls
Selector lever indication(Automatic transmission)
The position of the selector lever is indica-
ted on the main instrument panel. If manual
mode is selected, the current gear is also
displayed.
Saab Information
Display (SID) The Saab Information Display (SID) shows
CHECK messages and incorporates eight
trip-computer functions.
The SID is also used by the Audio System.
Trip computerSelecting the function
Use the button to scroll down through
the following functions and use the
button to scroll back up through the func-
tions: Use the button to scroll through the
following functions:
WARNING
It is strongly recommended that the SID
settings be changed only when the car is
stationary. The driver’s attention can oth-
erwise easily be distracted from the road.
Dist Distance to destination / Trip
meter.
Arriv Estimated time of arrival.
Alarm Alarm function.
Speed W Speed warning (chime).
Date Date, month and year
Temp. Outdoor temperature and Date.
D.T.E. Estimated range (distance to
empty fuel tank).
Fuel∅ Average fuel consumption
since function last reset.
Speed∅ Average speed since function
last reset.
CLEARSET
NIGHT PANEL
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63 Instruments and controls
Turning the Alarm and Speed
warning on or off 1 Select the Alarm or Speed-warning
function.
2 Press SET to turn on the function.
Press CLEAR to turn off the function.
When either function is on, Alarm/Speed W
respectively will be visible on the display. An
asterisk
* will be visible on the right of the
display when either function is selected.
The Alarm and Speed-warning settings will
not be cancelled when the engine is swit-
ched off.
When the Alarm has been set to come on at
a specified time, it will only be activated
once – it will not come on at the same time
every day. Press SET to turn it on again.
The Alarm will continue to beep for one
minute if not switched off.
Calculation of arrival time and
average speed The settings must be made before the jour-
ney is started.
Calculation of arrival time:
1 Select Dist using the button.
2 Set the destination distance.
3 Press SET.
When Arriv. is selected during the journey,
the arrival time based on the average speed
over the past 20 minutes will be displayed.
The trip computer will include any stops in
the calculation of the estimated time of
arrival.
Press Dist and the distance remaining to the
destination will be displayed in the same
way.
After the distance to destination has
decreased to zero, the Dist will function as
a trip meter (see ”Using Dist as a trip
meter”). The starting value for the trip meter
will be the last distance set in the Dist
function.
Example: The Dist setting was 100 miles.
Once 100 miles (160 km) has been cove-
red, the Dist will start to function as a trip
meter, starting at the initial setting of
100 miles (160 km). Using Dist as a trip meter
If no value has been set for the Dist function,
Dist will now function as a trip meter (indica-
ted by an arrow on the far right of the dis-
play).
Press CLEAR to reset the trip meter.
Under 1000 miles the distance will be
shown in increments of 0.1 miles,
there-after, the reading will change in incre-
ments of 1.0 mile.
Metric units: for just under a kilometer, the
distance will be shown in increments of
10 meters, there-after, the reading will
change in increments of 100 meters.
When Dist is functioning as a trip meter, the
Arriv function will display the current time.
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88 Saab 9-5 Audio SystemRadio Press the /BAND button to switch to the
radio when another source is active. Preset station buttons (1) Press once (release within a second) to
select a preset station, e.g.
The small figure on the far right of the dis-
play is the number of the preset button
selected. Presetting a station Press and hold in the desired button (for
more than a second) to store the currently
tuned station. During this time, the radio will
be mute. The sound will return as soon as
the station has been stored.
Tuning (2) Automatic seek tuning: Press briefly to search for higher fre-
quencies or for lower frequencies. Manual tuning: To switch to the manual-tuning function,
press or and release quickly
(a chime will sound and the M indicator will
appear on the display).
The function will revert to automatic seek
tuning two seconds after the last manual
frequency change has been made.
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89 Saab 9-5 Audio System
Waveband selector (3) Press the BAND button repeatedly to move
through the waveband selections: FM1,
FM2, and AM.
AS, Autostore (4) The autostore mode provides an additional
preset function that can be used to search
for and to store stations when you are in an
area where you are unfamiliar with the sta-
tions and their frequencies.
Press the AS/SEARCH button to switch the
Autostore mode ON/OFF. When the Auto-
store mode is ON, the AS indicator will show
at the bottom of the display.
Press and hold in the AS/SEARCH button
for more than a second to initiate a search
for the six strongest stations.
Each time the system finds and stores a sta-
tion, the number on the far right of the dis-
play will change. If the system cannot find
six stations with good reception, the remain-
ing preset buttons will be empty. If one of
these empty buttons is pressed, U**** (FM)
or AM**** will appear on the display.
When the system leaves the AS mode, it
returns to the station that was selected
before the AS mode was activated.
The AS mode can also be used in the AM
band.
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