2006 SAAB 9-5 catalytic converter

61 Instruments and controls
This light will come on if a potentially serious
fault has occurred in the airbag system. The light will come on for about three sec-
onds when the ignition switch is turned to
the Start or Drive position. It should go out
after the engine has started.This light comes on when there is less than
about 2.5 gallons (10 liters) of fuel left in the
tank. 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
oncoming traffic. Adjust your speed accord-
ingly as visibility will be reduced.
Airbag warning light
WARNING
 If the airbag readiness light stays on
after you start your vehicle, it means
the airbag system may not be working
properly.
 To help avoid injury to yourself or
others, have your vehicle serviced
right away if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
Indicator, fuel
NOTICE
If the car runs out of fuel, air can be drawn
in with the fuel, which, in turn, can cause
the catalytic converter to be damaged by
overheating.
Xenon headlight fault
indicator





NOTICE
If the Xenon headlight fault indicator lights
up, have your car checked as soon as
possible a workshop. We recommend
that you contact an authorized Saab
dealer.
If you do not rectify the problem, nighttime
visibility will be poor since the range of the
headlights is reduced.
95usM06.book Page 61 Thursday, November 17, 2005 8:59 AM
ProCarManuals.com

145 Starting and driving
Useful tips on cold climate
startingIf the engine has failed to start after several
attempts in very cold weather, press and
hold the accelerator down to the floor and
run the starter for 5–10 seconds. This will
prevent the engine being flooded (exces-
sively rich fuel-air mixture).
Now start the engine in the normal way – do
not touch the accelerator.
If the engine stalls immediately after starting
(e.g. if the clutch was released too quickly),
do not touch the accelerator when restarting
the engine.
Limp-home modeThe engine management system has a
diagnostic feature that continually checks a
number of internal functions.
If, for example, a fault is detected in the
throttle valve, the engine management
system will go into Limp-home mode.This
limits:
 idling control,
 disables the cruise-control system and
 limits the capacity of the A/C compressor.
If the limp-home mode is in operation
(”Engine malfunction (CHECK ENGINE)”
light on, see below) and the outside temper-
ature is close to or below freezing, you may
need to use some throttle on starting (some
pressure on the accelerator).
If the diagnostic system has detected a fault
in the engine-management system, the
”Engine malfunction (CHECK ENGINE)”
light on the main instrument panel will
come on (see page 58), indicating that you
should have the car checked as soon as
possible by a workshop. We recommend
that you contact an authorized Saab dealer.
NOTICEIf the CHECK ENGINE warning light
starts to flash, ease off the accelerator
slightly. If the light does not cease to flash
within 5 seconds, stop the car in a suit-
able place as soon as possible and turn
off the engine. The car must be towed to
a workshop. We recommend that you
contact an authorized Saab dealer.
If the CHECK ENGINE warning light
flashes, it indicates that the engine is mis-
firing which can result in damage to the
catalytic converter.
95usM06.book Page 145 Thursday, November 17, 2005 8:59 AM
ProCarManuals.com

147 Starting and driving
Important considerations with
catalytic convertersThe catalytic converter is an emission-con-
trol device incorporated in the car’s exhaust
system. It consists of a metal canister with a
honeycomb insert, the cells of which have
walls coated in a catalytic layer (mixture of
precious metals).
To ensure that the catalytic converter con-
tinues to function properly, and also to avoid
damage to the converter and its associated
components, the following points must be
observed:
 Have the car serviced regularly in accor-
dance with the service program. The fuel
and ignition systems are particularly
important in this context.
 Always be alert to any misfiring of the
engine (not running on all cylinders) and
any loss of power or performance. At the
first sign of a malfunction, reduce speed
and take the car to a workshop as soon as
possible. We recommend that you con-
tact an authorized Saab dealer.  If the engine fails to start (in very cold
weather or if the battery is flat), the car can
be  started (manual gearbox only) or
started using 5

 to a donor
battery. However, as soon as you have
started the engine, it is important that it
runs on all cylinders. If it is misfiring, allow
it to idle for up to five minutes to give it time
to settle and run smoothly. If, after this
time, the engine still fails to run properly,
turn off the engine and get in touch with a
workshop for advice. We recommend that
you contact an authorized Saab dealer.  Never park the car on dry grass or other
combustible material. The catalytic con-
verter gets very hot and could therefore
start a fire.
 Never drive off if the engine is misfiring.
 If you jump start the car when the engine
is already up to normal temperature, the
engine must start to run on all cylinders.
Stop jump-starting if the engine fails to
start immediately.
Failure to follow these directions could
result in the catalytic converter and associ-
ated components being damaged, and
could represent a breach of the warranty
conditions.
NOTICEUse only unleaded gasoline. Leaded gas-
oline is detrimental to the catalyst and
oxygen sensor and will seriously impair
the function of the catalytic converter.
NOTICEIf the car runs out of fuel, it is possible for
air to get into the fuel system. If this
happens, the catalytic converter may
overheat and be damaged.
IB3879
12
2
3
3
Oxygen-sensor-controlled
injection system1 Engine control module
2 Oxygen sensor (lambda probe)
3 Catalytic converters
95usM06.book Page 147 Thursday, November 17, 2005 8:59 AM
ProCarManuals.com

194 Car care and technical informationEngine familiesSaab cars imported into the United States
and Canada meet all applicable emission
control standards. The engine family and
appropriate tune-up specifications are iden-
tified on a label affixed to the left front inner
fender.
These engine families meet applicable EPA
Federal Standards, California State Stan-
dards and Canadian Federal Standards and
are equipped with the following systems:
 Sequential multiport fuel injection system
 Three way catalytic converter
 Crankcase emissions control system
 Evaporative emission control system
 On-Board diagnostic (OBD II) system.
Emission control
systemsThe systems for controlling emissions to the
atmosphere require regular checking and
adjustment at the intervals specified in the
service program.
In addition to meeting the exhaust emission
regulations and thereby helping to keep the
environment clean, a correctly tuned engine
will also give maximum fuel economy.
WARNING
Engine exhaust, some of its constituents,
and certain vehicle components contain
or emit chemicals known to the State of
CA to cause cancer and birth defects and
reproductive harm. In addition, certain
fluids contained in vehicles and certain
products of component wear contain or
emit chemicals known to the State of Cal-
ifornia to cause cancer and birth defects
or other reproductive harm.
95usM06.book Page 194 Thursday, November 17, 2005 8:59 AM
ProCarManuals.com

273 Index
Index
AA/C system, fault diagnosis
_______ 247
A/C system, maintenance
_________ 246
ABS brakes
____________________ 162
ACC
__________________________ 79
ACC functions
___________________ 82
ACC, automatic climate control
_____ 79
ACC, calibration
_________________ 86
ACC, condensation water
__________ 86
ACC, useful tips
_________________ 86
AUX input
_____________________ 104
Adjusting the steering wheel
_______ 114
Adjustment, seats
________________ 18
Air conditioning (A/C), fault diagnosis
and maintenance ______________ 246
Airbag
_________________________ 29
Alarm _________________________ 50
Alarm functions
__________________ 53
Alarm signals
________________ 50
, 53
Album information
_______________ 104
Alternator
_____________________ 204
Alternator drive belt
__________ 204
, 265
Alternator rating
________________ 265
Antennas
______________________ 109
Anticorrosion treatment
___________ 248
Antidazzle rear-view mirror
________ 121
Ashtrays
______________________ 126
Autochecking of lights on starting
____ 64Auto-dimming rear-view mirror with
garage door opener
____________ 118
Automatic climate control (ACC)
_____ 79
Automatic transmission, technical
data
_________________________ 266
Aviod theft, tip
__________________ 168
BBattery
________________________ 202
Battery charging/replacing
________ 203
Battery, boost starting
____________ 188
Before a long journey ____________ 249
Before towing a camper or trailer
___ 179
Belt guide
______________________ 12
Boost starting using jump leads
____ 188
Brake and clutch fluid
____________ 199
Brake-fluid reservoir
_____________ 199
Brakes, technical data ____________ 267
Bulbs, changing
________________ 207
Bulbs, table of
__________________ 218
Buying new tires ________________ 228
CCD changer
____________________ 100
CHECK messages
_______________ 71
CHECKING
_____________________ 71
Car alarm
______________________ 50
Car care
______________________ 191Cargo net, 9-5 SportCombi
________ 138
Carpeting, care of
_______________ 243
Catalytic converter, important
considerations
_________________ 147
Central locking ___________________ 44
Change language in SID
___________ 72
Change of address notification
_____ 256
Changing a wheel
_______________ 239
Changing bulbs
_________________ 207
Changing wiper blades
___________ 205
Charger/Jump starting ____________ 190
Charging the battery/Jump starting
__ 190
Chassis number
________________ 270
Chassis number, key to
___________ 271
Checks before towing a camper or
trailer
________________________ 179
Child safety
_____________________ 22
Child safety locks, rear doors
_______ 47
Cleaning, engine bay
_____________ 245
Clock
_________________________ 105
Color code, body
________________ 270
Color code, trim _________________ 270
Compact spare wheel
____________ 237
Compass
______________________ 122
Condensation water, ACC
__________ 86
Connecting a portable player ______ 104
Coolant
_______________________ 198
Courtesy Headlight Feature
________ 74
Crash memory, see EDR
_________ 257
Cross modulation
_______________ 110
Cruise control
__________________ 161
Cup holder
_____________________ 129
95usM06.book Page 273 Thursday, November 17, 2005 8:59 AM
ProCarManuals.com