Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-35
1
– CONTINUED –
NOTEWhen you sell your vehicle, we urge
you to explain to the buyer that it is
equipped with SRS airbags by alerting
him or her to the applicable section in
this owner’s manual. Put children aged 12 and under in
the rear seat properly restrained
at all times. The SRS airbag de-
ploys with considerable speed
and force and can injure or even
kill children, especially if they are
12 years of age and under and are
not restrained or improperly re-
strained. Because children are
lighter and weaker than adults,
their risk of being injured from de-
ployment is greater.
100082
Consequently, we strongly rec-
ommend that ALL children (in-
cluding those in child seats and
those that have outgrown child re-
straint devices) sit in the REAR
seat properly restrained at all
times in a child restraint device or
in a seatbelt, whichever is appro-
priate for the child’s age, height
and weight.
Secure ALL types of child re-
straint devices (including forward
facing child seats) in the REAR
seats at all times.
According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating posi-
tions than in the front seating po-
sitions.
For instructions and precautions
concerning the child restraint sys-
tem, see the “Child restraint sys-
tems” section in this chapter.
NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD
FACING CHILD SEAT IN THE
FRONT SEAT. DOING SO RISKS
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO
THE CHILD BY PLACING THE
CHILD’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO
THE SRS AIRBAG.
Never allow a child to stand up, or
to kneel on the front passenger’s
seat, or never hold a child on your
lap or in your arms. The SRS air-
bag deploys with considerable
force and can injure or even kill
the child.
When the SRS airbag deploys,
some smoke will be released. This
smoke could cause breathing
problems for people with a history
of asthma or other breathing trou-
ble. If you or your passengers
have breathing problems after
SRS airbag deploys, get fresh air
promptly.
A deploying SRS airbag releases
hot gas. Occupants could get
burned if they come into direct
contact with the hot gas.
A1910BE-A-GSAAB.book Page 35 Tuesday, September 6, 2005 8:37 AM
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3-20
Instruments and controls
Wiper and washer
NOTEThe wiper operates only when the ig-
nition switch is in the “ON” or “ACC”
position.
Clean your wiper blades and window
glass periodically with a washer solu-
tion to prevent streaking, and to re-
move accumulations of road salt or
road film. Keep the washer button de-
pressed at least for 1 second so that
washer solution will be sprinkled all
over the windshield or rear window.
Grease, wax, insects or other materi-
al on the windshield or the wiper blade In freezing weather, do not use the
windshield washer until the wind-
shield is sufficiently warmed by the
defroster.
Otherwise the washer fluid can
freeze on the windshield, blocking
your view.
Do not operate the washer contin-
uously for more than ten seconds,
or when the washer fluid tank is
empty. This may cause overheat-
ing of the washer motor. Check
the washer fluid level frequently,
such as at fuel stops.
Do not operate the wipers when
the windshield or rear window is
dry. This may scratch the glass,
damage the wiper blades and
cause the wiper motor to burn out.
Before operating the wiper on a
dry windshield or rear window, al-
ways use the windshield washer.
In freezing weather, be sure that
the wiper blades are not frozen to
the windshield or rear window be-
fore switching on the wipers. At-
tempting to operate the wiper with
the blades frozen to the window
glass could cause not only the
wiper blades to be damaged but
also the wiper motor to burn out. If
the wiper blades are frozen to the
window glass, be sure to operate
the defroster, windshield wiper
deicer 3 or rear window defogger
before turning on the wiper.
If the wipers stop during opera-
tion because of ice or some other
obstruction on the window, the
wiper motor could burn out even if
the wiper switch is turned off. If
this occurs, promptly stop the ve-
hicle in a safe place, turn the igni-
tion switch to the “LOCK”
position and clean the window
glass to allow proper wiper opera-
tion.
Use clean water if windshield
washer fluid is unavailable. In ar-
eas where water freezes in winter,
use windshield washer fluid with
adequate freeze protection. (See
the “Windshield washer fluid”
section in chapter 11.)
Also, when driving the vehicle
when there are freezing tempera-
tures, use non-freezing type wiper
blades.
Do not clean the wiper blades with
gasoline or a solvent, such as
paint thinner or benzene. This will
cause deterioration of the wiper
blades.
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7-2
Starting and operating
Starting and operating
FuelFuel requirements2.5-liter non-turbo models
The 2.5-liter non-turbo engine is designed
to operate using unleaded gasoline with
an octane rating of 87 AKI or higher.
2.5-liter turbo models 3
The 2.5-liter turbo engine is designed to
operate using premium unleaded gasoline
with an octane rating of 91 AKI or higher.
If premium unleaded gasoline is not avail-
able, regular unleaded gasoline with an
octane rating of 87 AKI or higher may be
temporarily used. For optimum engine
performance and driveability, it is required
that you use premium grade unleaded
gasoline.NOTEBe sure to use premium unleaded gas-
oline of 91 AKI or higher for a 2.5-liter
turbo engine model. If other gasoline
(lower than 91 AKI) is used, knocking,reduced output and poor accelerator
response will result.
Fuel octane rating
This octane rating is the average of the
Research Octane and Motor Octane num-
bers and is commonly referred to as the
Anti Knock Index (AKI).
Using a gasoline with a lower octane rat-
ing can cause persistent and heavy
knocking, which can damage the engine.
Do not be concerned if your vehicle some-
times knocks lightly when you drive up a
hill or when you accelerate. See your
dealer or a qualified service technician if
you use a fuel with the specified octane
rating and your vehicle knocks heavily or
persistently.
Unleaded gasoline
The neck of the fuel filler pipe is designed
to accept only an unleaded gasoline filler
nozzle. Under no circumstances should
leaded gasoline be used because it will
damage the emission control system and
may impair driveability and fuel economy.
Gasoline for California-certified LEV
Your vehicle was certified to California’s
low emission vehicle (LEV) standards as
indicated on the underhood tune-up label,
it is designed to optimize engine and
emission performance with gasoline thatmeets the clean burning low-sulfur Califor-
nia gasoline specifications. If you live in
any other state than California, your vehi-
cle will operate on gasoline meeting Fed-
eral specifications. Gasoline sold outside
California is permitted to have higher sul-
fur levels, which may affect the perfor-
mance of your vehicle’s catalytic convert-
er and may produce a sulfur exhaust odor
or smell. Saab recommends that you try a
different brand of unleaded gasoline hav-
ing lower sulfur to determine if the prob-
lem is fuel related before returning your
vehicle to an authorized dealer for service.
MMT
Some gasoline contains an octane-en-
hancing additive called MMT (Methylcy-
clopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl). If
you use such fuels, your emission control
system performance may deteriorate and
the CHECK ENGINE warning light/Mal-
function indicator lamp may turn on. If this
happens, return to your authorized Saab
Dealer for service. If it is determined that
the condition is caused by the type of fuel
used, repairs may not be covered by your
warranty.
Gasoline for cleaner air
Your use of gasoline with detergent addi-
tives will help prevent deposits from form-
ing in your engine and fuel system. This Use of a fuel which is low in quality
or use of an inappropriate fuel addi-
tive may cause engine damage.A1910BE-A-GSAAB.book Page 2 Tuesday, September 6, 2005 8:37 AM
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Driving tips
8-17
8
– CONTINUED –
The use of a genuine Saab trailer hitch is
recommended. A genuine Saab hitch is
available from your Saab dealer.If use of a non-genuine hitch is unavoid-
able, be sure the hitch is suited to your ve-
hicle and trailer. Consult with a profes-
sional hitch supplier to assist you in
choosing an appropriate hitch for your ve-
hicle. Be sure to follow all of the hitch man-
ufacturer’s instructions for installation and
use.
Never use a hitch that mounts only to the
rear bumper. The bumper is not designed
to handle that type of load.
For all types of hitches, regularly check
that the hitch mounting bolts and nuts are
tight.
Connecting a trailerTrailer brakes
If your trailer’s total weight (trailer weight
plus its cargo weight) exceeds 1,000 lbs
(453 kg), the trailer is required to be
equipped with its own brake system. Elec-
tric brakes or surge brakes are recom-
mended, and must be installed properly.
Check that your trailer’s brakes conform
with Federal, state/province and/or other
applicable regulations. Your Saab’s brake
system is not designed to be tapped into
the trailer’s hydraulic brake system.Please ask your Saab dealer and profes-
sional trailer supplier for more information
about the trailer’s brake system.
Trailer safety chains
In case the trailer hitch connector or hitch
ball should break or become disconnect-
ed, the trailer could get loose and create a
traffic safety hazard.
For safety, always connect the towing ve-
hicle and trailer with trailer safety chains.
Pass the chains crossing each other un-
der the trailer tongue to prevent the trailer
from dropping onto the ground in case the
trailer tongue should disconnect from the
hitch ball. Allow sufficient slack in the
chains taking tight-turn situations into ac- Never drill the frame or under-body
of your vehicle to install a commer-
cial trailer hitch. If you do, danger-
ous exhaust gas, water or mud may
enter the passenger compartment
through the drilled hole. Exhaust
gas contains carbon monoxide, a
colorless and odorless gas which is
dangerous, or even lethal, if inhaled.
Also, drilling the frame or under-
body of your vehicle could cause
deterioration of strength of your ve-
hicle and cause corrosion around
the drilled hole.
Do not modify the vehicle exhaust
system, brake system, or other
systems when installing a hitch or
other trailer towing equipment.
Do not use axle-mounted hitches
as they can cause damage to the
axle housing, wheel bearings,
wheels or tires.Adequate size trailer brakes are
required when the trailer and its
cargo exceed 1,000 lbs (453 kg)
total weight.
Do not directly connect your trail-
er’s hydraulic brake system to the
hydraulic brake system in your
vehicle. Direct connection would
cause the vehicle’s brake perfor-
mance to deteriorate and could
lead to an accident.
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Appearance care
10-5
10
Cleaning the interiorUse a soft, damp cloth to clean the climate
control panel, audio equipment, instru-
ment panel, center console, combination
meter panel, and switches. (Do not use or-
ganic solvents.)Seat fabricRemove loose dirt, dust or debris with a
vacuum cleaner. If the dirt is caked on the
fabric or hard to remove with a vacuum
cleaner, use a soft blush then vacuum it.
Wipe the fabric surface with a tightly
wrung cloth and dry the seat fabric thor-
oughly. If the fabric is still dirty, wipe using
a solution of mild soap and lukewarm wa-
ter then dry thoroughly.
If the stain does not come out, try a com-
mercially-available fabric cleaner. Use the
cleaner on a hidden place and make sure
it does not affect the fabric adversely. Use
the cleaner according to its instructions.NOTEWhen cleaning the seat, do not use
benzine, paint thinner, or any similar
materials.
Leather seat materials (seat-
ing surfaces)The leather used by Saab is a high quality
natural product which will retain its distinc-
tive appearance and feel for many years
with proper care.
Allowing dust or road dirt to build up on the
surface can cause the material to become
brittle and to wear prematurely. Regular
cleaning with a soft, moist, natural fiber
cloth should be performed monthly, taking
care not to soak the leather or allow water
to penetrate the stitched seams.
A mild detergent suitable for cleaning
woolen fabrics may be used to remove dif-
ficult dirt spots, rubbing with a soft, dry
cloth afterwards to restore the luster. If
your Saab is to be parked for a long time
in bright sunlight, it is recommended that
the seats and headrests be covered, or
the windows shaded, to prevent fading or
shrinkage.
Minor surface blemishes or bald patches
may be treated with a commercial leather
spray lacquer. You will discover that each
leather seat section will develop soft folds
or wrinkles, which is characteristic of gen-
uine leather.
Synthetic leather upholsteryThe synthetic leather material used on the
Saab may be cleaned using mild soap or
detergent and water, after first vacuuming
or brushing away loose dirt. Allow the
soap to soak in for a few minutes and wipe
off with a clean, damp cloth. Commercial
foam-type cleaners suitable for synthetic
leather materials may be used when nec-
essary.NOTEStrong cleaning agents such as sol-
vents, paint thinners, window cleaner
or gasoline must never be used on
leather or synthetic interior materials.Climate control panel, audio
panel, instrument panel, con-
sole panel, and switchesUse a soft, damp cloth to clean the climate
control panel, audio equipment, instru-
ment panel, center console, combination
meter panel, and switches.NOTEDo not use organic solvents such as
paint thinners or gasoline, or strong
cleaning agents that contain those sol-
vents.
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Maintenance and service
11 - 1 5
11
– CONTINUED –
6. Pour the coolant and fill to the reservoir
tank’s “FULL” level mark.
7. Put the radiator cap back on and tight-
en firmly. At this time, make sure that therubber gasket in the radiator cap is cor-
rectly in place.
8. Start and run the engine for more than
five minutes at 2,000 to 3,000 rpm.
9. Stop the engine and wait until the cool-
ant cools down (122 to 140F [50 to
60C]). If there is any loss of coolant, add
coolant to the radiator’s filler neck and to
the reserve tank’s “FULL” level.
10.Put the radiator cap and reservoir cap
back on and tighten firmly.
Air cleaner elementThe air cleaner element functions as a fil-
ter screen. When the element is perforat-
ed or removed, engine wear will be exces-
sive and engine life shortened.
The air cleaner element is a viscous type.
It is unnecessary to clean or wash the ele-
ment.
Be careful not to spill engine cool-
ant when adding it. If coolant
touches the exhaust pipe, it may
cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or
a fire. If engine coolant gets on the
exhaust pipe, be sure to wipe it
off.
Do not splash the engine coolant
over painted parts. The alcohol
contained in the engine coolant
may damage the paint surface.
B00018
Do not operate the engine with the
air cleaner element removed. The air
cleaner element not only filters in-
take air but also stops flames if the
engine backfires. If the air cleaner
element is not installed when the en-
gine backfires, you could be burned.
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11 - 3 6
Maintenance and service
Washer fluid level gaugeRemove the washer tank filler cap, then
check the fluid level indicated by the level
gauge (attached to the inside of the cap).
If the level is near the “Low” mark, add flu-id until it reaches the “Hi” level on the level
gauge or the “Full” mark on the tank.
Use windshield washer fluid. If windshield
washer fluid is unavailable use clean wa-
ter.
In areas where water freezes in winter,
use an anti-freeze type windshield washer
fluid.
If you fill the reservoir tank with a fluid with
a different concentration from the one
used previously, purge the old fluid from
the piping between the reservoir tank and
washer nozzles by operating the washer
for a certain period of time. Otherwise, if
the concentration of the fluid remaining in
the piping is too low for the outside tem-
perature, it may freeze and block the noz-
zles.
Replacement of wiper bladesGrease, wax, insects, or other material on
the windshield or the wiper blade results in
jerky wiper operation and streaking on the
glass. If you cannot remove the streaks af-
ter operating the windshield washer or if
the wiper operation is jerky, clean the out-
er surface of the windshield (or rear win-
dow) and the wiper blades using a sponge
or soft cloth with a neutral detergent or
mild-abrasive cleaner. After cleaning,
rinse the windshield and wiper blades with
clean water. The windshield is clean if
beads do not form when you rinse the
windshield with water.If you cannot eliminate the streaking even
after following this method, replace the
wiper blades using the following proce-
dures:Windshield wiper blades as-
sembly1. Raise the wiper arm off the windshield.
Hi
Low
300172
FULL
300524
Adjust the washer fluid concen-
tration appropriately for the out-
side temperature. If the concen-
tration is inappropriate, sprayed
washer fluid may freeze on the
windshield and obstruct your
view, and the fluid may freeze in
the reservoir tank.
Never use engine coolant as
washer fluid because it could
cause paint damage.
Do not clean the wiper blades with
gasoline or a solvent, such as paint
thinner or benzene. This will cause
deterioration of the wiper blades.
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Specifications
12-3
– CONTINUED –
12 Engine
Electrical system
AT: Automatic transmission
MT: Manual transmissionEngine model
EJ253 (2.5-liter, SOHC, non-turbo)
EJ255 (2.5-liter, DOHC, turbo)
Engine type
Horizontally opposed, liquid cooled 4 cylinder, 4-stroke gasoline engine
Displacement cc (cu-in)
2,457 (150)
Bore Stroke in (mm)
3.9 3.1 (99.5 79.0)
Compression ratio
10.0 : 1
8.4 : 1
Firing order
1 – 3 – 2 – 4
Battery type and capacity (5HR)
MT
55D23L (12V-48AH)
AT
75D23L (12V-52AH)
Alternator
Turbo engine
12V-110A
Non-turbo
engine
12V-90A
Spark plugs
Turbo
engine
ILFR6B (NGK)
Non-turbo engine
FR5AP-11 (NGK)
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