Page 31 of 288
31 Safety
IB3840
5
1
4
2
6
3
2
6
7
7
5
AIRBAG system with belt pretensioners1 Central sensor
2 Belt pretensioners (for both front safety belts)
3 Steering wheel with integral airbag
4 Passenger airbag
5 Side-airbag sensor
6 Side airbag
7 Front sensors
IB3841
Accessories and other equipment must
not be fitted to the surfaces marked as
these are where the airbags inflate in the
event of a crash.
IB417Moment of impact.
The sensors detect
deceleration and send
a signal via the cen-
tral sensor to the gas
generator that inflates
the airbag.
The inflating airbag
cushions the driver.
Airbag now fully
inflated.
The airbag starts to
deflate.
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Page 38 of 288

38 SafetyWhat Will You See After an
Airbag Inflates?After an airbag inflates, it quickly deflates,
so quickly that some people may not even
realize the airbag inflated. Some compo-
nents of the airbag module - the steering
wheel hub for the driver's frontal airbag, the
instrument panel for the right front passen-
ger's frontal airbag or the ceiling of your
vehicle near the side windows - will be hot
for a short time. The parts of the bag that
come into contact with you may be warm,
but not too hot to touch. There will be some
smoke and dust coming from the vents in
the deflated airbags. airbag inflation does
not prevent the driver from seeing or being
able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop
people from leaving the vehicle.In many crashes severe enough to inflate an
airbag, windshields are broken by vehicle
deformation. Additional windshield break-
age may also occur from the right front pas-
senger airbag. Airbags are designed to inflate only once.
After an airbag inflates, you will need
some new parts for your airbag system. If
you do not get them, the airbag system
will not be there to help protect you in
another crash. A new system will include
airbag modules and possibly other parts.
The service manual for your vehicle
covers the need to replace other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash
sensing and diagnostic module which
records information after a crash. See
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Recorders on page 255.
Let only qualified technicians work on
your airbag system. Improper service can
mean that your airbag system will not
work properly. See your dealer for ser-
vice.
WARNING
When an airbag inflates, there is dust in
the air. This dust could cause breathing
problems for people with a history of
asthma or other breathing trouble. To
avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should
get out as soon as it is safe to do so. If you
have breathing problems but cannot get
out of the vehicle after an airbag inflates,
then get fresh air by opening a window or
a door. If you experience breathing prob-
lems following an airbag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
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39 Safety
AIRBAG servicingThe airbag must be inspected as part of the
normal service program but otherwise may
be regarded as maintenance-free.Scrapping or working on airbags
and belt pretensioners
WARNING
If you damage the covering for the driver's
or the right front passenger's airbag, or
the side impact airbag covering on the
ceiling near the side windows, the bag
may not work properly. You may have to
replace the airbag module in the steering
wheel, both the airbag module and the
instrument panel for the right front pas-
senger's airbag, or side impact airbag
module and ceiling covering for the
roof-mounted side impact airbag. Do not
open or break the airbag coverings.
WARNING
Under no circumstances should any
modifications be made that affect the
steering wheel or the airbag’s electri-
cal circuitry.
Before starting any welding work on
the car, always disconnect the nega-
tive (–) battery lead and cover the con-
ductor.
Airbags and belt pretensioners must
be deployed under controlled condi-
tions before the car is scrapped or any
of the system’s components are
removed. Airbags or belt pretension-
ers that have been deployed as a
result of a crash must be replaced by
new ones.
Airbag-system components must
never be transferred for use in another
vehicle.
All work involving the scrapping or
replacement of airbags or belt preten-
sioners must only be carried out by
knowledgeable personnel.
The headlining and roof pillar trim
must not be modified in any way. Work
on these areas must only be carried
out at a Saab dealer.
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Page 60 of 288

60 Instruments and controlsThis light will show when the parking brake
is on (see page 165).
The parking brake is mechanical and oper-
ates on the rear wheels. This light will come on if a fault has occurred
in the ABS system.
On certain variants and can light
up to indicate a fault in the electronic brake
force distribution system (distribution of the
brake pressure between the front and rear
wheels).
Conventional braking without the ABS func-
tion will still be available.
For safety reasons, stop the car and check
the level of the brake fluid (see page 196).
If the level is normal, depress the brake
pedal firmly two or three times. Now check
the level again. If the level is still normal, you
may drive the car, with considerable cau-
tion, to the nearest authorized Saab dealer
to have the brake system checked.This light indicates that the headlights or the
parking lights are on.
Parking brake warning
light
WARNING
Always apply the parking brake when
parking, see page 165.
Always apply the parking brake
before removing the ignition key.
not apply the parking brake while
the car is moving.
Anti-lock brake warning
WARNING
If the ABS is inoperative, there is a
danger of the rear wheels locking up
on hard braking.
If the level of brake fluid in the reser-
voir is below the MIN mark, the car
should be towed to an authorized
Saab dealer.
Headlight and parking
light indicator
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65 Instruments and controls
Speedometer(U.S. speedometer shown)
The speedometer receives signals from the
wheel sensors in the ABS system.
Cars sold in U.S.: The speedometer dis-
plays the speed of the car in miles per hour
(mph).
Cars sold in Canada: The speedometer dis-
plays the speed of the car in kilometres per
hour (km/h).
Fuel gauge Fuel-tank capacity, 18.5 US gal. (70 liters).
The fuel gauge shows the amount of fuel left
in the tank. When this is down to about
2.5 gal. (10 liters), a warning light on the
main instrument panel will come on (see
page 61).
Use the Saab Information display (SID) to
check the approximate distance that can be
traveled on the remaining fuel
(see page 68).
Temperature gauge The temperature gauge shows the temper-
ature of the coolant. The needle should be
in the middle of the scale when the engine
is at normal operating temperature.
If the needle approaches the red zone,
which can occur in very hot weather or when
the engine is under a heavy load, drive in the
highest gear possible, keep the engine revs
low and avoid shifting down.
IB4120
IB3850
IB3851
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74 Instruments and controlsCourtesy Headlight FeatureA delay function allows the headlights to
remain on low beam for about 30 seconds
after the driver’s door has been closed.
To activate this function,
Switch off the ignition and remove the key
Open the driver’s door
Pull the high/low beam control stalk
towards the steering wheel like you are
flashing the high beam, see page 73. The
low beam headlights will now come on
immediately after the driver’s door has
been closed (within 30 seconds) and will
remain on for about 30 seconds.
The length of time for this function can be
adjusted by your authorized Saab dealer.
Rear fog lightPress the button to switch on the rear fog
light, which will only come on if the head-
lights are on.
The rear fog light will go off automatically
when the engine is switched off. When the
fog light is next needed, it will have to be
switched on manually again.
The rear fog light consists of one light so it
is not be mistaken for brake lights.
Make sure you are familiar with the appli-
cable provincial/state law regarding the
use of rear fog lights.
WARNING
In poor visibility, avoid following the tail
lights of the vehicle in front of you. If the
vehicle stops suddenly, you may be
unable to avoid a crash and therefore risk
injury to yourself and others.
IB3855
Rear fog light
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Page 90 of 288

90 Saab 9-5 Audio SystemSaab 9-5 Audio
System3To get the best out of your Saab 9-5 Audio
System, we recommend that you read
through this entire section.
The Saab 9-5 Audio System consists of a
head unit with radio, CD player/CD
changer3 for CD and MP3 discs and CD
changer3 in the luggage compartment.
The audio system is operated using the
steering wheel controls3 or the control
panel buttons.All work on the audio system must be carried out
by a workshop. We recommend that you contact
an authorized Saab dealer.
WARNING
Safety first!Cut off power immediately and contact
your Saab dealer if the system begins to
emit smoke or smells strange.
Audio system
activation/deactivation.
Vo l u m e a d j u s t .
The tone control is used to
adjust tone and speaker set-
tings, change CD track or MP3
file and manual adjust radio
frequency.
Information on artist, album
and song title. Display of radio
text.
Setup menu.
IB3782
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91 Saab 9-5 Audio System
Steering wheel controls3l
Scroll among preset pages.
The menu option in the display
is selected with the corre-
sponding pushbutton directly
underneath.
No function on U.S./CA cars.
Select XM
TM
3 program type
when the radio is in the
XM
TM
3 mode.
Cars with CD changer3:
insert CD or MP3 disc or discs.
Cars without CD-changer3:
set time and date.
Eject CD or MP3 disc.
Activate radio and change fre-
quency band (AM,FM and
XM
TM
3).
Auto tuning down and change
track/file going back in order of
play on CD or MP3 disc.
Auto tuning up and change
track/file forward in order of
play on CD or MP3 disc.
Manual tuning and rapid play
back for a track/file on a CD or
MP3 disc.
Manual tuning and rapid play
forward for a track/file on a CD
or MP3 disc.
Activate CD media or portable
player.
"arrow up"/"arrow down":
change preset for radio stations,
change track on CD or MP3
player.
"Seek UP": auto tuning up, select
next track on CD or MP3 disc.
Activate radio station scan
SRC: press to switch between
AM, FM, XM
TM
3, CD, MP3,
CD changer or portable player.
VOL: adjust volume.
IB3935
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