2007 SAAB 9-3 maintenance

268 Car careAir conditioning (A/C)
TroubleshootingIf a fault occurs in the A/C system, there are
a number of checks you can perform your-
self. If the fault persists, however, have the
system checked at a workshop. We recom-
mend that you contact a Saab dealer.
Note:
When the A/C system is running, the intake
air is dehumidified. The resultant condensa-
tion that forms on the evaporator is drained
off under the car. When the car is parked,
this may result in a small puddle forming on
the ground. The warmer the air and the
higher the relative humidity, the more con-
densation will be produced.Inadequate coolinga Check that the condenser (in front of the
radiator) has not become clogged with
dirt and insects.
b Make sure that the compressor drive
belt does not slip (see page 216).
c Check the fuses for the ventilation fans
and compressor (see page 236).
Maintenance The compressor drive belt should be
inspected under the regular service
program.
Clean away dirt and insects from the
condenser and radiator to prevent clog-
ging. When washing the car, use the hose
to spray the radiator and condenser
(located in front of the radiator) from both
sides (both from the front of the car and
from inside the engine bay). Do not use a
pressure washer.
Caution: Do not hose down the radia-
tor and condenser while the engine is
hot.
WARNING
All repairs and adjustments to the A/C
system must be carried out at a Saab
dealer authorized for this kind of work.
The A/C system is pressurized. Do not
break any connections or undo A/C
system components.
Escaping gas can cause eye injury or
other personal injury.NOTICE The A/C system is designed for use
with R134a refrigerant.
Refrigerant handling requires special
equipment and special procedures for
charging and draining the system.
Never mix R 134a with other refriger-
ants.
NOTICEDo not use a pressure washer when
cleaning the condenser or radiator due to
the risk of damage.
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273 Customer Assistance and Information
Maintenance schedule __ 274
Owner assistance ______ 276
Reporting Safety Defects
(USA) _______________ 277
Reporting Safety Defects
to the Canadian
government__________ 277
Vehicle Data Collection
and Event Data
Recorders ___________ 278
Customer Assistance and Information
3Asterisk means: equipment not fitted in all cars
(can depend on model variant, engine variant,
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274 Customer Assistance and InformationMaintenance scheduleThe Maintenance Schedule prescribes a
service program to the purchaser/operator
of a Saab that is reasonable and necessary
to ensure the proper emission control sys-
tems function, safety and reliability of the
Saab automobile in normal use. Additional
maintenance is recommended for specific
components when the car is operated under
certain severe conditions. Proper mainte-
nance is always a good practice!
Authorized Saab dealers are equipped and
trained to meet your Saab’s service needs.
They regularly receive up-to-date Saab ser-
vice manuals and parts and technical ser-
vice bulletins from Saab and are able,
through their franchise agreement, to attend
Saab service schools, obtain Saab special
tools and technical assistance and pur-
chase original equipment service and
replacement parts.
Today’s complex automobiles should only
be entrusted to the most knowledgeable
service professionals. A Saab dealer is your
best choice.
SERVICE INTERVALSA time for service message will illuminate on
the Saab Instrument Display (SID) when the
car is due for regular maintenance.
There are three different messages that will
appear:
TIME FOR INTERMEDIATE SERVICE
indicates that an oil/filter change is required
along with several inspections. This mes-
sage is set by the engine management
system which calculates service intervals
based on several factors including driving
habits, ambient temperature, number of
cold starts, mileage driven and elapsed time
since the last service. If mileage accumula-
tion does not occur, the message will be set,
and maintenance required at a maximum of
1 year.
TIME FOR MAIN AND INTERMEDIATE
SERVICE
indicates that an oil/filter change is required
along with several inspections and addi-
tional maintenance such as air filter or spark
plug replacement.TIME FOR MAIN SERVICE
will be set when additional maintenance is
necessary, such as air filter or spark plug
replacement. When the message Time for
service. is displayed, contact your Saab
Dealer for a service appointment.
Failure to perform scheduled maintenance
in a timely manner may result in serious
damage to key components or systems. Time for service.
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275 Customer Assistance and Information
Engine oil and filter changesChanging the engine oil and filter is required
at every service point. Use only a Saab
approved long-life oil filter and engine oils
meeting the SAE viscosity ratings and API
service classifications stated in the “Techni-
cal data” section of this Owner’s Manual.
The use of extra additives in the oil is not
necessary and is not recommended, and
may be harmful to turbochargers.
More frequent oil changes are recom-
mended if your vehicle is operated under
any of the following conditions:
Most trips are less than 5–10 miles (8–
16 km). This is particularly important
when outside temperatures are below
freezing.
Most trips include extensive idling
(frequent stop-and-go traffic).
Most trips are through dusty areas (such
as construction zones).
If the vehicle is used for delivery service,
police, taxi or other commercial applica-
tions.
If your driving habits match this description,
have the engine oil and filter changed in-
between normal services. These conditions
cause the engine oil to break down faster.
The Warranties and Service Record Book-
let has provisions to record extra oil
changes.
Service record retentionIt is the owner’s responsibility to retain ser-
vice records. If possible, you should keep
copies of all shop work orders for all service
and repairs, whenever performed. As indi-
cated in the new car and emission control
system warranties, it is important to docu-
ment that all necessary maintenance has
been done.
HOW THE SERVICE RECORD IS ORGA-
NIZED
The service record is comprised of a series
of coupons on which to record services as
they are performed. There are additional
coupons for documenting extra engine oil
and filter changes, extra automatic trans-
mission fluid services necessary for severe
service conditions, and brake fluid changes.
HOW TO USE THE SERVICE RECORD
COUPONS
When the car is brought to a Saab dealer for
scheduled maintenance, present the War-
ranties & Service Record Booklet to the ser-
vice manager. When the technician has
completed the service, the technician will
sign the maintenance record. The person
responsible for quality assurance at the
dealership will also sign and stamp the
record with the dealer identification stamp.
Service costsDealer pricing practices and labor for ser-
vice work vary. Saab’s recommended ser-
vice times for each service point do not
include the labor required to replace wear
items, such as wiper blades, brake pads or
tires. Nor is labor to perform other service or
repairs found to be necessary as a result of
the inspections included in these times.
Additional labor and parts will be charged
for such work when necessary, except as
covered under an applicable Saab warranty
or any optional extended service contract.
Transmission fluid changes or suspension
alignment, when necessary, are also addi-
tional.
Dealer charges for general shop material,
regulated hazardous waste removal, recy-
cling expenses or other operation costs may
also be applied to service and repair
invoices and are apt to vary by dealer and
location.
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301 Index
Headlight flasher
________________ 100
Headlight levelling ________________ 99
Headlights
______________________ 99
Hood
_________________________ 204
Horn _________________________ 120
Horn button
____________________ 120
IIf a tire goes flat
________________ 250
Ignition switch
__________________ 152
Immobilizer
_____________________ 57
Important considerations for driving
_ 156
Important information, petrol-engined
cars with catalytic converters
_____ 157
Indicator lights
___________________ 84
Inflation, tires __________________ 243
Information about fuel
____________ 161
Instrument illumination, adjusting
___ 100
Interior lighting, Convertible
________ 80
Interior lighting, Sport Sedan and
SportCombi
___________________ 133
Interior rearview mirror
___________ 125
Intermittent malfunctioning, central
locking
_______________________ 52
JJump starting
__________________ 200
KKey
___________________________ 50
Kick-down
_____________________ 166
LLATCH (child safety)
______________ 25
Labeling, tire sidewall ____________ 251
Labels and plates, location
________ 293
Lashing eyes, Sport Sedan ________ 141
Lashing eyes, SportCombi ________ 146
Laying the car up
_______________ 181
Leather upholstery, cleaning
_______ 263
Lighting in luggage compartment,
Convertible
____________________ 81
Limp-home
____________________ 157
Limp-home, automatic transmission
_167
Load carriers, roof
_______________ 194
Load indices, tires _______________ 252
Loading your vehicle _____________ 253
Load-through hatch, Sport Sedan
___ 140
Load-through hatch, SportCombi ___ 145
Locking a car with flat battery
_______ 53
Locks
__________________________ 50
Long-term parking
_______________ 181
Luggage compartment
___________ 138
Luggage compartment lighting,
Convertible
____________________ 81
Luggage compartment lighting,
Sport Sedan ______________ 134
, 142Luggage compartment lighting,
changing
_____________________ 233
MMAXI fuses
____________________ 237
Main instrument panel
_____________ 84
Main/dipped beam
_______________ 100
Maintenance schedule
___________ 274
Manual gear selection ____________ 170
Manual gearbox
_________________ 164
Manual tripping of car alarm
________ 60
Materials used in the car,
reclamation
___________________ 269
Memory, driver’s seat
_____________ 21
Messages on SID, Convertible
______ 73
Milometer
_______________________ 92
Moonroof ______________________ 130
Mug holder ____________________ 134
NNew tires, buying
________________ 246
Night driving
___________________ 197
Number plate lighting, changing
____ 233
OORVR
________________________ 206
Oil capacity, engine
______________ 285
Opening handles
_________________ 50
Opening the soft top, Convertible
____ 66
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