3-12
Instruments and controls
AT OIL TEMPerature
warning light (AT vehi-
cles)The AT oil temperature warning light
comes on when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ON” position and goes out
after approximately two seconds.
If this light comes on when the engine is
running, it may indicate that the automatic
transmission fluid temperature is too hot.
If the light comes on while driving, it is un-
necessary to stop the vehicle, but avoid
driving up steep grades or in stop and go
traffic.
Automatic transmission control
system warning
If the light flashes after the engine starts,
it may indicate that the automatic trans-
mission control system is not working
properly. Contact your nearest Saab deal-
er for service immediately.
ABS warning light The ABS warning light comes on when the
ignition switch is turned to the “ON” posi-
tion and goes out after approximately two
seconds.
This is an indication that the ABS system
is working properly.
With a vehicle equipped with an Electronic
Brake Force Distribution (EBD) system,
the ABS warning light comes on together
with the brake system warning light if the
EBD system becomes faulty. For further
details of the EBD system fault warning,
refer to “Brake system warning light”.NOTEIf the warning light behavior is as de-
scribed in the following, the ABS sys-
tem may be considered normal.
The warning light comes on right af-
ter the engine is started but goes out
immediately, remaining off.
The warning light remains on after
the engine has been started, but it goes
out when the vehicle speed reaches
approximately 8 mph (12 km/h).
The warning light comes on during
driving, but it goes out immediately
and remains off.
When driving with an insufficient battery
voltage such as when the engine is jump
started, the ABS warning light may come
on. This is due to the low battery voltage
and does not indicate a malfunction. Do not operate the engine with the
oil pressure warning light on. This
may cause serious engine damage.
When the warning light is on, the
ABS function shuts down; however,
the conentional brake system con-
tinues to operate normally.
If the warning light behaves as fol-
lows, the ABS system may not work
properly.
The warning light does not come
on when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ON” position.
The warning light comes on when
the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” position, but it does not go
out even when the vehicle speed
exceeds approximately 8 mph (12
km/h).
The warning light comes on dur-
ing driving.
(U.S.)
(Canada)
If any of these conditions occur,
have the ABS system repaired at the
first available opportunity by your
Saab dealer.
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Instruments and controls
3-13
3
– CONTINUED –
When the battery becomes fully charged,
the light will go out.Brake system
warning lightThis light has the following three func-
tions:
Parking brake warning
The light comes on with the parking brake
applied while the ignition switch is in the
“ON” position. It goes out when the park-
ing brake is fully released.
Brake fluid level warning
This light comes on when the brake fluidlevel has dropped to near the “MIN” level
of the brake fluid reservoir with the ignition
switch in the “ON” position and with the
parking brake fully released.
If the brake system warning light should
come on while driving (with the parking
brake fully released and with the ignition
switch positioned in “ON”), it could be an
indication of leaking of brake fluid or worn
brake pads. If this occurs, immediately
stop the vehicle at the nearest safe place
and check the brake fluid level. If the fluid
level is below the “MIN” mark in the reser-
voir, do not drive the vehicle. Have the ve-
hicle towed to the nearest Saab dealer for
repair.
Electronic Brake Force Distribution
(EBD) system warning (vehicles
with ABS)
The brake system warning light also illu-
minates if a malfunction occurs in the EBD
system. In that event, it comes on together
with the ABS warning light.
The EBD system may be malfunctioning if
the brake system warning light and ABS
warning light illuminate simultaneously
during driving.
Even if the EBD system fails, the conven-
tional braking system will still function.
However, the rear wheels will be more
prone to locking when the brakes are ap-plied harder than usual and the vehicle’s
motion may therefore become somewhat
harder to control.
If the brake system warning light and ABS
warning light illuminate simultaneously,
take the following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle in the nearest safe, flat
place.
2. Shut down the engine, then restart it.
3. Release the parking brake. If both
warning lights go out, the EBD system
may be faulty. Drive carefully to the near-
est Saab dealer and have the system in-
spected.
4. If both warning lights come on again
and stay illuminated after the engine has
been restarted, shut down the engine
again, apply the parking brake, and check
the brake fluid level.
5. If the brake fluid level is not below the
“MIN” mark, the EBD system may be
faulty. Drive carefully to the nearest Saab
dealer and have the system inspected.
6. If the brake fluid level is below the
“MIN” mark, DO NOT drive the vehicle. In-
stead, have the vehicle towed to the near-
est Saab dealer for repair.
Door open warning light The door open warning light comes on if
any door or the rear liftgate is not fully
closed. Driving with the brake system
warning light on is dangerous.
This indicates your brake system
may not be working properly. If
the light remains on, have the
brakes inspected by a Saab dealer
immediately.
If at all in doubt about whether the
brakes are operating properly, do
not drive the vehicle. Have your
vehicle towed to the nearest Saab
dealer for repair.
(U.S.)
(Canada)
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Audio
5-11
5
only by pressing the corresponding num-
ber on one of the “Disc select” buttons
(15). If you are to listen to the 5th disc in
the CD changer, press the “5” button of
the “Disc select” buttons (15). All other
discs in the CD changer can also be se-
lected in a similar way.NOTENo disc change takes place if the
button corresponding to the storage
tray in which no disc is loaded is
pressed.
If the disc select button correspond-
ing to the disc now in playback is
pressed again, the disc will be replayed
from its beginning.
To select a song from its beginning
Forward direction
Briefly press the “ ” side of the button
(12) to skip to the beginning of the next
track. Each time this side of the button is
pressed, the indicated track number will
increase.
Backward direction
Briefly press the “ ” side of the button
(12) to skip to the beginning of the current
track. Each time this side of the button is
pressed, the indicated track number will
decrease.Fast-forwarding and fast-reversing
Fast-forwarding
Press the “ ” side of the button (12)
continuously to fast-forward the disc.
Release the button to stop fast-forward-
ing.
If you continue fast-forwarding to the end
of the disc, the CD changer will automati-
cally stop fast-forwarding and start play-
back beginning with the first track on the
current disc.
Fast-reversing
Press the “ ” side of the button (12)
continuously to fast-reverse the disc.
Release the button to stop fast-reversing.
If you continue fast-reversing to the begin-
ning of the disc, the CD changer will auto-
matically stop fast-reversing and start
playback beginning with the first track on
the current disc.
Repeat playback
Use this to play a certain track repeatedly.
During playback, press the “RPT/RDM”
button (14) and release it in less than 2
seconds. The “RPT” indicator will come on
and the song will be played continuously.
To cancel the repeat mode, press the but-
ton again. Then the “RPT” indicator goes
out, and normal playback mode is re-
stored.Random playback
Use this to play the tracks on the disc in
random order. During playback, press the
“RPT/RDM” button (14) and hold it in for
more than 2 seconds. The “RDM” indica-
tor will come on and all songs on the disc
will be played in a random order.
To cancel the random mode, press the
button again. Then the “RDM” indicator
goes out, and normal playback mode is
restored.
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Audio
5-17
5
– CONTINUED –
during the period. The disc will be then au-
tomatically drawn in, and the player will
begin to play back the first track of the
disc.
To insert more discs in succession, re-
peat Steps 1 and 2. The magazine will be
loaded with discs in the ascending order
of position number.
If you do not insert any disc in 15 seconds
after you have pressed the “LOAD” but-
ton, the player will begin to play back the
first track of the last disc you have insert-
ed.
The disc indicator steadily lights up if a
disc is already inserted in the correspond-
ing position of the magazine.
While the player is in the loading mode,
if you press any of the other mode buttons
“FM” (1), “AM” (2), the player will enter the
standby mode. Press the “CD” button (14)
to start playback.
Inserting a disc in a desired position
1. Press the “LOAD” button (9). If the
magazine in the player has an open posi-
tion where you can insert a disc, the
“DISC” indicator associated with the open
position will blink.
The positions in the magazine the indica-
tor of which steadily lights up are already
loaded with discs.
2. Press the “Disc select” button (17) atthe position where you want to insert a
disc. The associated “DISC” indicator will
blink, and the “LOAD” will be displayed.
3. If you insert a disc during the 15-sec-
ond period while the “LOAD” is on display,
the disc will be automatically drawn in,
and the player will start playback of the
disc, beginning with the first track.
To insert more discs in succession, re-
peat Steps 1 and 2.
While the player is in the loading mode,
if you press any of the other mode buttons
“FM” (1), “AM” (2), the player will enter
standby mode. Press the “CD” button (14)
to start playback.
Loading the magazine (Full disc
loading mode)
1. If you continue to press the “LOAD”
button (9) for more than 1.5 seconds, the
player will produce a beeping sound and
will enter the full disc loading mode.
2. A “DISC” indicator will blink, and the
“ALL LOAD” will be on display for a period
of 15 seconds. If a disc is successfully
loaded during this period, the “DISC” indi-
cator will stop blinking and will steadily
light.
3. When the loading of a disc is complete,
the next “DISC” indicator will blink. Then
repeat Step 2.
4. When the magazine is filled with discsby repeating Steps 2 and 3, the player will
start playback of the discs, beginning with
the one inserted first.
If you fail to insert any disc during each 15
seconds interval, the full disc loading
mode will be canceled, and the player will
start playback of the disc inserted first.
How to play back a CD or make a
pause
When there is no CD inserted:
Insert a CD by referring to “How to Insert
a CD(s)”.
When a CD is loaded, the player will start
playback of the CD, beginning with the
first track.
When there are CDs loaded:
Press a desired one of the “Disc select”
buttons (17) the “DISC” indicator of which
steadily lights up. The player will then start
playback of the selected CD, beginning
with the first track.
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7
Starting and operating
Fuel ...................................................................... 7-2
Fuel requirements .................................................. 7-2
Fuel filler lid and cap .............................................. 7-3
State emission testing (U.S. only)/Canadian
Provincial Emission Testing .......................... 7-5
Preparing to drive .............................................. 7-6
Starting the engine ............................................. 7-7
Manual transmission vehicle ................................. 7-7
Automatic transmission vehicle ............................ 7-7
Stopping the engine ........................................... 7-8
Manual transmission – 5 speeds ...................... 7-8
Shifting speeds ....................................................... 7-9
Driving tips .............................................................. 7-9
Automatic transmission .................................... 7-10
Selector lever for automatic transmission ........... 7-11
Shift lock release .................................................... 7-13
Limited slip differential (LSD)
3 ........................ 7-14
Power steering ................................................... 7-15
Braking ................................................................ 7-15
Braking tips ............................................................. 7-15
Brake system .......................................................... 7-15
Disc brake pad wear warning indicators .............. 7-16
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) .......................... 7-16
ABS system self-check .......................................... 7-16
ABS warning light ................................................... 7-17
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
system .............................................................. 7-18
Steps to take if EBD system fails .......................... 7-18
Parking your vehicle .......................................... 7-19
Parking brake .......................................................... 7-19
Parking tips ............................................................. 7-19
Cruise control ..................................................... 7-21
To set cruise control .............................................. 7-21
To temporarily cancel the cruise control ............. 7-22
To turn off the cruise control ................................. 7-22
To change the cruising speed ............................... 7-22
3 Asterisk means: equipment not fitted in all cars (can depend
on model variant, engine variant, market specification, options
or accessories)
.
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7-4
Starting and operating
1) Open
2) Close2. Remove the fuel filler cap by turning it
slowly counterclockwise.
3. Stop filling the tank after the fuel filler
pump automatically stops. Do not add any
more fuel.
4. Put the cap back on, turn it clockwise
until you hear a clicking noise. Be certain
not to catch the tether under the cap while
tightening.
5. Close the fuel filler lid completely.
If you spill any fuel on the painted surface,
rinse it off immediately. Otherwise, the
painted surface could be damaged.NOTEIf the fuel filler cap is not tightened until
it clicks or if the tether is caught under
the cap, the CHECK ENGINE warning
light may come on. Refer to the “Warn-
ing and indicator lights” section locat-
ed in chapter 3.
(Turbo model only) Promptly put fuel in
the tank whenever the low fuel warning
light comes on. Engine misfires as a re-
sult of an empty tank could cause dam-
age to the engine.
Gasoline vapor is highly flamma-
ble. Before refueling, always first
stop the engine and make sure
that there are no lighted ciga-
rettes, open flames or electrical
sparks in the adjacent area.
12
700330
When opening the cap, do not re-
move the cap quickly. Fuel may be
under pressure and spray out of
the fuel filler neck especially in
hot weather, which may cause in-
jury.
Never add any cleaning agents to
the fuel tank. The addition of a
cleaning agent may cause dam-
age to the fuel system.
Make sure that the cap is tight-
ened until it clicks to prevent fuel
spillage in the event of an acci-
dent.
Do not let fuel spill on the exterior
surfaces of the vehicle.
Fuels may cause paint damage,
which is not covered under the
Saab Limited Warranty.
Always use a genuine Saab fuel
filler cap. If you use the wrong
cap, it may not fit or have proper
venting, and your fuel tank and
emission control system might be
damaged.
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7-6
Starting and operating
A vehicle fails
the OBD inspection if the
“CHECK ENGINE” warning light/MIL is
not properly operating or there is one or
more diagnostic trouble codes stored in
vehicle’s computer with the “CHECK EN-
GINE” warning light/MIL illuminated.
A state emission inspection may reject
(not pass or fail) a vehicle if the number of
OBD system readiness monitors “Not
Ready” is greater than one. Under this
condition, the vehicle operator should be
instructed to drive his/her vehicle for a few
days to set the monitors and return for an
emission re-inspection.
Owners of rejected or failing vehicles
should contact their Saab Dealer for ser-
vice.
Preparing to driveYou should perform the following checks
and adjustments every day before you
start driving.
1. Check that all windows, mirrors, and
lights are clean and unobstructed.
2. Check the appearance and condition of
the tires. Also check tires for proper infla-
tion.
3. Look under the vehicle for any sign of
leaks.
4. Check that the hood, trunk and rear lift-
gate are fully closed.
5. Check the adjustment of the seat.
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and
outside mirrors.
7. Fasten your seatbelt. Check that your
passengers have fastened their seatbelts.
8. Check the operation of the warning and
indicator lights when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ON” position.
9. Check the gauges, indicator and warn-
ing lights after starting the engine.NOTEEngine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid,
washer fluid and other fluid levels
should be checked daily, weekly or at
fuel stops.
Starting the engineManual transmission vehicle1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and acces-
sories.
3. Press the clutch pedal to the floor and
shift the shift lever into neutral. Hold the
clutch pedal to the floor while starting the
engine.
The starter motor will only operate when
the clutch pedal is pressed fully to the
floor.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON” po-
sition and check the operation of the warn-
ing and indicator lights. Refer to the
“Warning and indicator lights” section
(chapter 3).
5. Turn the ignition switch to the “START”
position without depressing the accelera-
tor pedal. Release the key immediately af-
ter the engine has started.Do not operate the starter motor
continuously for more than ten sec-
onds. If the engine fails to start after
operating the starter for five to ten
seconds, wait for ten seconds or
more before trying again.
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7-8
Starting and operating
“N” position and that the parking brake is
applied.NOTEThe engine may be difficult to start
when the battery has been disconnect-
ed and reconnected (for maintenance
or other purposes). This difficulty is
caused by the electronically controlled
throttle’s self-diagnosis function. To
overcome it, keep the ignition switch in
the “ON” position for approximately 10
seconds before starting the engine.
Stopping the engineThe ignition switch should be turned off
only when the vehicle is stopped and the
engine is idling.
Manual transmission – 5 speedsThe manual transmission is a fully syn-
chromeshed, 5-forward-speed and 1-re-
verse-speed transmission.
The shift pattern is shown on the shift le-
ver knob. When shifting from 5th gear to
reverse gear, first return the shift lever to
the neutral position then shift into reverse
gear.
To change gears, fully depress the clutch
pedal, move the shift lever, and gradually
let up on the clutch pedal.
If it is difficult to shift into gear, put the
transmission in neutral, release the clutch
pedal momentarily, and then try again. If you restart the engine while the
vehicle is moving, shift the selector
lever into the “N” position. Do not
attempt to place the selector lever of
a moving vehicle into the “P” posi-
tion.
Do not stop the engine when the ve-
hicle is moving. This will cause loss
of power to the power steering and
the brake booster, making steering
and braking more difficult. It could
also result in accidental activation
of the “LOCK” position on the igni-
tion switch, causing the steering
wheel to lock.
1
3
52
4
R
N
13524R
700032
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