
198 Car care and technical informationPower steering fluidCheck the level of the power steering fluid in
the reservoir regularly, in accordance with
the service program.
The wheels should point forward during the
check.
Clean around the cap before it is
unscrewed. Clean the dipstick. Screw in the
cap completely again before checking the
level.
The oil should lie between the MAX and MIN
marks when the oil temperature is about
70°F (+20°C). If the oil is colder the level can
be lower, and in higher temperatures the
level can be higher, both of which are
acceptable.
Top up with ”Power Steering Fluid CHF 11S
or CHF 202”.
Air filter
WARNING
Do not fill the power steering fluid to
above the MAX mark. Too much fluid
can result in leakage.
Power steering fluid on hot engine
components constitutes a fire risk.
WARNING
For Service and Repair, parts equiva-
lent to those used by Saab should be
used.
Be aware that some non standard
replacement parts may put you in an
unsafe condition, even if they might fit.
IB501
Power steering fluid reservoir
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204 Car care and technical informationChanging bulbs
Check that the new bulb is working when fin-
ished.
Use only "Long Life" bulbs.
Headlight aiming, see page 247.
Xenon headlight3Xenon headlights produce roughly twice as
much light as halogen bulbs and have a sig-
nificantly longer service life.
The lamp units consist of a gas discharge
lamp containing xenon. When the lights are
switched on a very high voltage activates
the xenon gas. The lamps soon reach full
intensity.
Cars with xenon headlights have automatic
levelling. The levelling system comprises
two sensors on the front axle, one on the
rear axle and a control unit under the head-
light housing. Headlight alignment is regu-
lated automatically to prevent dazzling
oncoming traffic. Alignment is also adjusted
during braking.
WARNING
Before changing a bulb in the engine bay,
switch off the engine to avoid danger of
fingers and hands being injured by
moving parts.
The radiator fan can start up even when
the engine is switched off.
Xenon headlights3 are high voltage
and must therefore be changed at a
workshop. We recommend that you
contact an authorized Saab work-
shop. Work involving high-voltage
components is potentially lethal.NOTICE Since the headlight lenses are made
of plastic, rinse dried-on dirt with
water and allow it time to soften up
before cleaning the lenses. Avoid
rubbing the lenses when dry and
never use solvents.
Use de-icer spray instead of scraping
the ice off.
NOTICE Do not fit bulbs with a higher rating
than 55 W, since the headlight reflec-
tor and the wiring of the car are not
designed for a higher wattage.
Switch off the ignition before chang-
ing a bulb, to avoid possible short-cir-
cuiting.
Do not touch the glass of the bulbs
with your fingers. The oil on your skin
can shorten the life of the bulb.
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239 Car care and technical information
Safety beltsRegularly check the function of the safety
belts as follows:
Hold the diagonal strap and pull it sharply.
The safety belt should lock and it should
not be possible to withdraw it further.
Check the anchorage points in the floor.
They must not have suffered rust damage.
There must be no frayed threads in the web-
bing.
Safety belts must not come into contact with
substances such as polishes, oils or other
chemicals. If the straps are dirty, wash them
with warm water and a detergent or have
them replaced.
WARNING
If the car is involved in a crash, the safety
belts, belt pretensioners and other com-
ponents must be inspected by a work-
shop. We recommend that you contact an
authorized Saab dealer.
Never make any alterations or repairs to
the safety belt yourself.
IB1800IB1800
Removing the wheel cover
IB539
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245 Car care and technical information
Anti-corrosion
treatmentThe entire car is corrosion-protected at the
factory in different stages by an electrolytic
immersion coating and a PVC-based pro-
tective coating to protect against corrosion
caused by stones flung up by the wheels. A
thin penetrating anti-rust oil is also applied
in cavities and body members.
In addition to conventional anti-corrosion
treatment like painting, underbody treat-
ment and cavity treatment, most of the body
panel surfaces are galvanized. These
include the hood, the doors and the under-
body.
The anti-corrosion treatment on the under-
side of the car and inside the wheel arches
is particularly exposed to constant wear and
possible damage, the degree of which will
obviously depend on driving conditions.
What causes rust?Steel body panels of automobiles are sub-
ject to rusting whenever air and moisture
manage to penetrate the protective finish,
and body panels may rust through if the pro-
cess is unchecked. Rusting can occur wher-
ever water is trapped or where the car’s
panels are continuously damp. Damage to
paint and undercoating by stones, gravel
and minor crashes immediately exposes
metal to air and moisture. Road salts used
for de-icing will collect on the bottom of the
car and promote rusting. Areas of the coun-
try with high humidity have great potential
for rust problems, especially where salt is
used on roads or there is moist sea air.
Industrial pollution (fallout) may also
damage paint and promote rusting.
Preventive maintenanceThe following procedures are necessary to
help protect against rusting. Refer also to
the terms and conditions of the Sheet Metal
Coverage described in the warranty book-
let.
1Wash the car frequently, and wax at
least twice a year. Under adverse con-
ditions, where there is a rapid buildup of
dirt, sand or road salt, wash your car at
least once a week. After extreme expo-
sure to salted snow or slush, evidenced
by a white film on the car, wash the car
immediately. Frequent washing will pre-
vent paint damage from acid rain and
other airborne contaminants such as
tree sap and bird droppings. If any of
these contaminants are noticed on the
car the finish should be washed immedi-
ately.
Begin washing by rinsing the entire car
with water to loosen and flush off heavy
concentrations of dirt (include the
underbody).
Sponge the car with a solution of either
a good quality car soap or mild general
purpose (dish washing) detergent and
water.
Rinse car thoroughly with clean water.
After washing, check and clear all
drains in doors and body panels.
Wipe the car dry, preferably using a
chamois.
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246 Car care and technical information2Clean the underside of the car during
the winter. Use high pressure water to
clean the car’s underside (floor panels,
wheel wells) at least at mid- winter and
in the spring.
3Inspect the car frequently for leaks or
damage, and arrange for needed
repairs promptly. After washing or after
heavy rain, check for leaks. When wash-
ing the car inspect body surfaces for
paint damage. While checking for leaks,
lift the floor mats and check beneath
them. Water can collect in these areas
and remain for prolonged periods. Dry
any wet areas including the floor mats.
Have leaks repaired as soon as possi-
ble.
Use touch-up paint to repair small
scratches or minor finish damage. Areas
where metal is exposed will rust quickly
and MUST be repaired immediately by
touch-up or professional repainting.
Rust must be removed, the bare metal
primed and painted. Major body
damage should be repaired immediately
and new panels or exposed areas
should be undercoated with anti- corro-
sion material.
Repairs of this type are the owner’s
responsibility and are not covered under
warranty.4Inspect the undercoating and touch
up if necessary. Pay particular atten-
tion to the fenders and wheel housings,
which are exposed to abrasion by flying
gravel, etc. If the composition has worn
or flaked off, the steel must be thor-
oughly cleaned and dried before a fresh
coat is applied. The cleaning is best
done with a scraper and a steel wire
brush, followed by washing with solvent.
Apply the new coating thinly, as other-
wise it may run off or fall off when dry.
For long tripsBefore setting off on a long journey, it is
advisable to have your car checked over by
your Saab dealer.
Obtain a few important items to take along
on your journey such as spare bulbs, wiper
blades, fuses, a Poly-V-belt and the like.
You can check some points yourself before-
hand:
Make sure that the engine is in good con-
dition.
Check that no oil or gasoline leaks out of
the engine or gearbox/transmission.
Check the coolant and power steering
fluid levels. Check also for leaks.
Inspect the Poly-V-belt and replace it if it
shows any signs of hard wear.
Check the battery charge.
Check the tires for tread pattern and air
pressure, including the compact spare
wheel.
Check the brakes.
Check all bulbs.
Check for the presence of the tool kit and
the jack in the car.
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272 IndexDDICE/TWICE
___________________ 217
Dampers
______________________ 265
Date
_________________________ 105
Date code, tires
_________________ 234
Date display
___________________ 105
Definitions and terminology, tire
____ 231
Determining correct load, tires
_____ 233
Dim-dipped beam
________________ 73
Direction indicators _______________ 75
Diversity antenna
_______________ 109
Door handles
___________________ 44
Door mirrors
___________________ 116
Doors, locks & luggage compartment
_43
Drive belt
______________________ 263
Drive belt, alternator
_____________ 201
Drive belts, length
_______________ 263
Driver’s seat, programmable
________ 20
Driving at night
_________________ 181
Driving in hot weather
____________ 173
Driving with a load
______________ 181
EEDR (Event Data Recorders)
______ 255
ESP
® _________________________ 163
Electric heating of rear seat
________ 87
Electric windows
________________ 115
Electrical system, technical data
____ 263
Electronic Stability Program
_______ 163
Electronic starting interlock _________ 49Emergency operation of moonroof
__ 124
Emission control systems
_________ 192
Engine bay
____________________ 191
Engine bay, cleaning
_____________ 242
Engine number
_________________ 268
Engine oil, grade ________________ 261
Engine, description ______________ 194
Engine, technical data ____________ 260
Engine, temperature gauge
________ 65
Engine-oil level, checking
_________ 194
Error codes, Audio System ________ 112
Event Data Recorders (EDR) ______ 255
Expansion tank, coolant
__________ 195
FFilling a portable fuel container
_____ 148
Flat spots, tires
_________________ 224
Fluid level, automatic transmission
__ 195
Folding the parcel shelf,
9-5 SportCombi
________________ 133
Folding the rear seat, 9-5 Sedan
___ 129
Folding the rear seat, 9-5 SportCombi
132
Frequency band
_________________ 93
Frequently asked questions on airbag
40
Front fog lights
__________________ 76
Frost warning
___________________ 68
Fuel
__________________________ 146
Fuel consumption
________________ 68
Fuel container
__________________ 148
Fuel gauge
_____________________ 65
Fuel grade _____________________ 260Fuel information
_________________ 148
Fuse box under hood
____________ 220
Fuse panel
_____________________ 216
Fuses
_________________________ 216
GGarage door opener
_____________ 118
Gearbox number
________________ 268
Gearbox oil, checking
____________ 195
Gearbox, technical data, __________ 264
General functions
_______________ 105
Glove compartment ______________ 126
HHandbrake
_____________________ 165
Hazard warning lights
_____________ 76
Head restraint
___________________ 21
Headlight flasher _________________ 73
Headlights
______________________ 73
Heated front seats
________________ 87
Hood
_________________________ 190
Horn __________________________ 114
IIf a tire goes flat
_________________ 228
Ignition switch
__________________ 140
Immobilizer
_____________________ 49
Indicator and warning lights
_________ 58
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