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.
IB1734
ProCarManuals.com
4Exterior
IB1736
Driving with a roof rack load______ 166
Fitting the roof carriers, 9-5 Sedan
and 9-5 Wagon without roof rails _ 166
Maximum roof load ____________ 252
Rearview mirror _______________ 108
Hood _______________________ 182
Engine compartment: washing ___ 238
Central locking __________ 38
Trunk lid lock, 9-5 Sedan __ 42
Tailgate, 9-5 SportWagon __ 43
Child safety locks ________ 41
Car alarm ______________ 44Headlights _____________ 67
High/low beam __________ 67
Turn signal and lane change
indicators______________ 69
Headlight washers _______ 71
Changing bulbs _________ 197
Fuel gauge___________________ 59
Refueling ____________________ 138
Economical motoring ___________ 157
Fuel ________________________ 254
b Tires pressure ________________ 261
Wheels and tires ______________ 260
Braking______________________ 152
Driving in cold weather__________ 159
Compact spare tire_____________ 230
Changing a wheel _____________ 231
Trunk _______________________ 121
Folding the rear seat, 9-5 Sedan __ 121
Folding the rear seat,
9-5 SportWagon ______________ 124
Trunk Release Handle __________ 130
Spare wheel and tools __________ 170
Compact spare tire ____________ 230Towing a trailer __________ 161
Towing the car ___________ 171
Rear towing eye _________ 172Headlights ______________ 67
Rear light cluster, 9-5 Sedan 203
Rear lights clusters,
9-5 SportWagon_________ 206
Changing bulbs __________ 197Sunroof ________________ 114
Washing the car _________ 237
Waxing and polishing _____ 238
Touching up the paint _____ 238
Anti-corrosion treatment ___ 240
ProCarManuals.com
5
Interior
IB3150
Rearview mirrors ______________ 107
Door mirrors __________________ 107
Sun visors ___________________ 117
Safety belts ____________ 16
Airbag_________________ 28
Child safety ____________ 21
Child safety locks ________ 41
Safety belts, maintenance _ 235Glove compartment ______ 118Manual transmission _____ 142
Automatic transmission ___ 143
Electric windows ______________ 113
Ignition switch ________________ 132
Starting the engine ____________ 133
Engine Break-In Period _________ 142
Driving in hot weather __________ 160
Driving in cold weather _________ 159
Parking _____________________ 179
Steering wheel adjustment _ 106
Airbag _________________ 28
Power steering fluid _______ 191
Steering-wheel controls ___ 100
Sentronic, manual mode ___ 148Seats __________________ 12
Electric heating, front seats (if
equipped) ______________ 15
Ventilated front seats______ 14
Safety belts _____________ 16
Child safety _____________ 21
Folding the rear seat,
9-5 Sedan _____________ 121
Folding the rear seat,
9-5 SportWagon_________ 124
Upholstery and trim _______ 236
Side airbags ____________ 32
Interior lighting ________________ 116
Sunroof _____________________ 114
Dome light, front ______________ 209
ProCarManuals.com
6Engine compartment
IB3636
Engine ______________________ 186
Checking the oil level ___________ 186
Changing engine oil ____________ 187
Engine oil, specification _________ 255
Braking______________________ 152
ABS brakes __________________ 153
Brake and clutch fluid ___________ 189
Brake system _________________ 259
Brake pads ___________________ 259
Fuses _________________ 211
Changing a fuse _________ 213
Relays ________________ 215
Table of fuses ___________ 211Temperature gauge ______ 59
Driving in hot weather_____ 160
Driving in cold weather ____ 159
Coolant________________ 188
Coolant capacity_________ 254
Power steering fluid _______ 191
Steering, technical data ___ 259
Wipers and washers ______ 71
Washers _______________ 196
Washer jets ____________ 196
Jump starting _________________ 174
Battery ______________________ 192
Charging/replacing the battery____ 193
Manual transmission ___________ 142
Automatic transmission _________ 143
Automatic transmission,
technical data ________________ 258
Manual gearbox, technical data ___ 258
Important considerations for driving 136
Turbo unit ___________________ 183
Engine, technical data __________ 254Ignition switch ___________ 132
Drive belts ______________ 194
Spark plugs _____________ 257
Catalytic converter _______ 137Warning labels __________ 7
V.I.N. number ___________ 262
Engine number __________ 262
Gearbox number _________ 262
Color code______________ 262
Tire and Loading Information
Label _________________ 226
ProCarManuals.com
7
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.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN Brake fluid
CLEAN FILLER CAP BEFORE
REMOVING. USE ONLY DOT 4
FLUID FROM SEALED CONTAI-
NER. Radiator fan
Radiator fan may start at any
time.
IB336
A/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
authorized personnel only. For instructions consult
workshop manual.
The A/C system complies with SAE J639.
Charge: 825 g of R134a.
Compressor oil: PAG oil SP-10 alt.
Saab oil 4759106
Oil amount: See workshop manual.
Warning labels
AVOID SPARKS AND OPEN FLAMES,
NO SMOKING
WEAR EYE PROTECTION
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
ACID
SEE OWNER’S MANUAL
FLAMMABLE GAS
Coolant:
Never open when engine hot!
ProCarManuals.com
9
No sparks, fla-
mes or smo-
king.Buckle up
Use protective
gogglesAirbag
Keep out of
reach of
children.Never place a
rear-facing
child seat in
this seat.
Battery acid
contains
sulfuric acid.Electric
windows
Refer to the
Owner’s
Manual.Deactivating
of rear window
switches
Risk of
explosive gas.Central
locking, lock
.Central
locking,
unlock
Tr u n k
lid/tailgate,
opening
HeadlightsWindshield
wipers
Direction
indicatorsWindshield
washers
Parking lights Defroster
Hazard
warning lightsRear window
heating
Front fog
lightsVentilation fan
Rear fog
light
Coolant
temperatureRadiator fan
Battery
chargingFuel
Foot brake
Coolant level
Engine oil
pressure
ABS brakes
Examples of symbols that can be found in your car
ProCarManuals.com
45 Security
Check to ensure that all the doors, plus
trunk lid/tailgate and hood, are closed pro-
perly.
If the fault persists (LED flashing when
another attempt is made to activate the car
alarm by remote control), lock the car using
the key instead. The car alarm will not have
been activated and you should contact an
authorized Saab dealer.
To avoid inconvenience caused by the
alarm being triggered inadvertently, make
sure that anyone else using the car is fami-
liar with how both the car alarm and the lock-
ing system work.
If the alarm is tripped (the direction indica-
tors are flashing and the horn is on) it can be
turned off by unlocking the car using the
button.
Activating the car alarm The car alarm cannot be activated if the dri-
ver’s door is open or if the ignition switch is
in ON position.
If one of the other doors or the trunk or hood
is open or opened and not closed again
during the 10-second delay period, it will be
excluded from the alarm function.
If it is then closed, a new delay period of ten
seconds will start, and the door (or trunk or
hood) will once again be secured by the
alarm system.
As usual, the LED will be on continuously
during the new delay period and will start to
flash once every other second after the
10-second period has elapsed.
Electronic starting interlock
(immobilizer) When the key is inserted in the ignition, a
signal is sent to the receiver. If the signal is
verified, the engine can be started.
Each time the key is removed from the igni-
tion, the electronic immobilizer is activated.
This means that the car cannot be started
without the correct key inserted in the igni-
tion and the immobilizer thus deactivated.
If a fault is detected (e.g. in the transmitter)
”Key not accepted.
Contact service.”
will appear on the Saab Information Display
(SID).
In this case, you can still start the car if you
turn the ignition key to ON and press one of
the buttons on the key (providing that the
receiver gets the right signal from the key).
Take the car to an authorized Saab dealer
to have the system checked.
The LED double-flashes when the car is
immobilized.
ProCarManuals.com
48 SecurityOverview of LED signals and SID messagesSome signals may differ between model variants for different
countries. Status LED signal
Activation (during 10-second delay). Comes on for 10 seconds.
Alarm activated (after delay). Flashes once every other
second.
Deactivation. Comes on for 2 seconds.
Alarm not activated. Off.
Door, trunk lid/tailgate or hood open
or opened during delay period.Flashes three times per
second for 10 seconds.
Unlocking the trunk lid/tailgate. Flashes three times per
second for 10 seconds.
Closing of door, trunk lid/tailgate or
hood after delay period.Comes on for 10 seconds.
Car immobilized but not locked.
Car alarm not activated.Flashes twice at three
seconds intervals.
Fault in a switch serving doors, hood
or trunk lid.Flashing (instead of being
on continuously) during
delay period.
SID message Reason/action
Theft protection failure.
Contact service.Probably a fault in one of the sensors
or the horn.
Have the car checked by an authori-
zed Saab dealer.
Key not accepted.
Contact service.Fault in key transmitter or in igni-
tion-switch receiver.
Turn ignition switch to ON and press
the unlock button on the key. Start
the engine.
Have the car checked by an authori-
zed Saab dealer.
Remote control battery
low. Replace battery.Fit a new battery in the key, see
page 41.
REMOTE KEY
TRANSPONDRTurn the ignition key to position ON
and then press the button for ope-
ning the trunk lid. Saab Information
Display (SID) displays the number of
keys and transmitters (transponders)
coded to the car.
ProCarManuals.com