8-2
Driving tips
Driving tips
New vehicle break-in driving
– the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km)The performance and long life of your ve-
hicle are dependent on how you handle
and care for your vehicle while it is new.
Follow these instructions during the first
1,000 miles (1,600 km):
Do not race the engine. And do not al-
low engine speed to exceed 4,000 rpm ex-
cept in an emergency.
Do not drive at one constant engine or
vehicle speed for a long time, either fast or
slow.
Avoid starting suddenly and rapid accel-
eration, except in an emergency.
Avoid hard braking, except in an emer-
gency.
The same break-in procedures should be
applied to an overhauled engine, newly
mounted engine or when brake pads or
brake linings are replaced with new ones.
Fuel economy hintsThe following suggestions will help to
save your fuel.
Select the proper gear position for the
speed and road conditions.
Avoid sudden acceleration or decelera-
tion. Always accelerate gently until you
reach the desired speed. Then try to main-
tain that speed for as long as possible.
Do not pump the accelerator and avoid
racing the engine.
Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
Keep the engine properly tuned.
Keep the tires inflated to the correct
pressure shown on the tire label, which is
located under the door latch on the driv-
er’s side. Low pressure will increase tire
wear and fuel consumption.
Use the air conditioner only when nec-
essary.
Keep the front and rear wheels in prop-
er alignment.
Avoid carrying unnecessary luggage or
cargo.
Engine exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide)Never inhale engine exhaust gas.
Engine exhaust gas contains car-
bon monoxide, a colorless and
odorless gas which is dangerous,
or even lethal, if inhaled.
Always properly maintain the en-
gine exhaust system to prevent
engine exhaust gas from entering
the vehicle.
Never run the engine in a closed
space, such as a garage, except
for the brief time needed to drive
the vehicle in or out of it.
Avoid remaining in a parked vehi-
cle for a lengthy time while the en-
gine is running. If that is unavoid-
able, then use the ventilation fan
to force fresh air into the vehicle.
Always keep the front ventilation
inlet grille free from snow, leaves
or other obstructions to ensure
that the ventilation system always
works properly.
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11 - 3 2
Maintenance and service
Abnormally low tire pressure (tread
worn at shoulders)
Rolling resistance is high, so fuel con-
sumption is also higher.Abnormally high tire pressure (tread
worn in center)
Ride comfort is poor. Also, the tire magni-
fies the effects of road-surface bumps and
dips, possibly resulting in vehicle damage.
If the label shows tire pressures for the ve-
hicle when fully loaded and for the vehicle
when towing a trailer, adjust the tire pres-
sures to the values that match current
loading conditions.
Wheel balanceEach wheel was correctly balanced when
your vehicle was new, but the wheels will
become unbalanced as the tires become
worn during use. Wheel imbalance caus-
es the steering wheel to vibrate slightly at
certain vehicle speeds and detracts from
the vehicle’s straight-line stability. It can
also cause steering and suspension sys-
tem problems and abnormal tire wear. If
you suspect that the wheels are not cor-
rectly balanced, have them checked and
adjusted by your Saab dealer. Also have
them adjusted after tire repairs and after
tire rotation.NOTELoss of correct wheel alignment* caus-
es the tires to wear on one side and re-
duces the vehicle’s running stability.
B00051
B00052
Driving at high speeds with exces-
sively low tire pressures can cause
the tires to deform severely and to
rapidly become hot. A sharp in-
crease in temperature could cause
tread separation, and destruction of
the tires. The resulting loss of vehi-
cle control could lead to an acci-
dent.
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Maintenance and service
11 - 3 3
11
– CONTINUED –
Contact your Saab dealer if you notice
abnormal tire wear.*: The suspension system is designed to hold
each wheel at a certain alignment (relative to
the other wheels and to the road) for optimum
straight-line stability and cornering perfor-
mance.Wear indicators1) New tread
2) Worn tread
3) Tread wear indicatorEach tire incorporates a tread wear indica-
tor, which becomes visible when the depth
of the tread grooves decreases to 0.063 in
(1.6 mm). A tire must be replaced when
the tread wear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.
NOTEFor safety, inspect tire tread regularly
and replace the tires before their tread
wear indicators become visible.Tire rotation
Tire wear varies from wheel to wheel. To
maximize the life of each tire and ensure
that the tires wear uniformly, it is best to
rotate the tires every 7,500 miles (12,500
km). Rotating the tires involves switching
the front and rear tires on the right-hand
side of the vehicle and similarly switching
the front and rear tires on the left-hand
side of the vehicle. (Each tire must be kept
on its original side of the vehicle.)
Replace any damaged or unevenly worn
tire at the time of rotation. After tire rota-
tion, adjust the tire pressures and make
sure the wheel nuts are correctly tight-
ened.
After driving approximately 600 miles
(1,000 km), check the wheel nuts again
and retighten any nut that has become
loose.Tire replacementThe wheels and tires are important and in-
tegral parts of your vehicle’s design; they
cannot be changed arbitrarily. The tires fit-
ted as standard equipment are optimally
matched to the characteristics of the vehi-
cle and were selected to give the best pos-
sible combination of running performance,
ride comfort, and service life. It is essential
for every tire to have a size and construc-
tion matching those shown on the tire la-
123
B00327
When a tire’s tread wear indicator
becomes visible, the tire is worn be-
yond the acceptable limit and must
be replaced immediately. With a tire
in this condition, driving at high
speeds in wet weather can cause
the vehicle to hydroplane. The re-
sulting loss of vehicle control can
lead to an accident.
B00054
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12
Specifications
Specifications ..................................................... 12-2
Dimensions ............................................................. 12-2
Engine ...................................................................... 12-3
Electrical system .................................................... 12-3
Capacities ................................................................ 12-4
Tires ......................................................................... 12-4
Wheel alignment ..................................................... 12-5
Fuses and circuits .............................................. 12-6
Fuse panel located behind the coin tray ............. 12-6
Fuse panel located in the engine
compartment ......................................................... 12-8
Bulb chart ............................................................ 12-9
Vehicle identification ......................................... 12-103 Asterisk means: equipment not fitted in all cars (can depend
on model variant, engine variant, market specification, options
or accessories)
.
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Specifications
12-5
12
NOTEAdjust the tire pressure to 36 psi (250 kPa, 2.5 kgf/cm
2) when driving the vehicle with five people and cargo inside and at
speeds exceeding 99.4 mph (160 km/h).
Wheel alignmentItem
2.5-liter non-turbo
2.5-liter turbo
2.5i model
Aero 3
Drive system
AWD
Toe
Front
0.1 in (2 mm)
Rear
0 in (0 mm)
Camber
Front
–010’
–020’
Rear
–115’
–120’
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14-8
Index
Oil pressure .................................................................. 3-11
Seatbelt .................................................................. 1-8, 3-9
SRS airbag system ...................................................... 3-10
Warranties and maintenance ........................................... 8-13
Washing ........................................................................... 10-2
Waxing and polishing ....................................................... 10-3
Wear indicators ............................................................... 11-33
Wheel
Alignment .................................................................... 12-5
Balance ...................................................................... 11-32
Replacement .............................................................. 11-34
Windows ........................................................................... 2-17
Windshield
Washer fluid ................................................................ 11-35
Wiper and washer switches ......................................... 3-21
Wiper deicer ................................................................ 3-24
Winter driving ..................................................................... 8-6
Wiper deicer ..................................................................... 3-20
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