
81 Instruments and controls
Temperature control The cabin is divided into two temperature
zones:
The driver’s zone
The passenger zone (front and rear
seats)
The desired temperature can be set
between 60 and 80°F.
The displayed temperature is not the abso-
lute temperature but corresponds to the
comfort level normally experienced at that
temperature after allowance has been
made for the air flow, relative humidity, solar
radiation, etc., currently prevailing inside
the car.
The most usual temperature setting is
64–76°F, depending on personal prefer-
ence and what clothing is worn.
To allow the system time to adjust,
changes in the temperature setting shall
only be made in steps of 2°F.
Once the desired climate has been
achieved, the rear center vents can be
closed to prevent warm air being distributed
at face height.
When the ignition is switched off, only the
temperature control affects the system the
next time the engine is started. The system
will warm up/cool down to the temperature
to which the control is set.MAX heat, red indication
The MAX heat setting is obtained by turning
the temperature control to the first position
past 80 (to the red LED). The driver’s side
selection regulates air distribution and recir-
culation status. Temperature, however, can
be adjusted on the passenger side.
Settings when MAX heat is selected:
Maximum heat
Air distribution to windshield and floor
Recirculation OFF (even if manually
selected before)
Fan: high speed
MAX cooling, blue indicator
The MAX cooling setting is obtained by turn-
ing the temperature control to the first posi-
tion past 60 (to the blue LED). The driver’s
side selection regulates air distribution and
recirculation status. Temperature, however,
can be adjusted on the passenger side.
Settings when MAX cooling is selected:
Maximum cooling (A/C compressor will
run even if AC OFF manually selected
before)
Air distribution through panel vents
Fan: maximum speed
Recirculation ON
IB369
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83 Instruments and controls
Air distribution
One press: When the defroster is chosen manually,
all the windows (except the rear side windows,
where the air flow is off) are demisted by:
Fan: high speed.
The air is directed to the defroster vents.
Temperature increases somewhat.
Recirculation OFF.
Activation of rear window/door mirror heating.
The defroster function remains active until another
selection is made. Note, however, that rear win-
dow/door mirror heating will deactivate automati-
cally after a set time, depending on the outside
temperature.
Two presses: Air is directed to the windscreen
without the fan speed being increase or the rear
window heating being switched on.
To revert to a previous setting, press the AUTO
button.
IB3862
Defroster and floor vents
Floor vents and rear side windows
Floor and panel vents
IB3863IB3864IB3865
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84 Instruments and controlsStarting in cold weather
To start with, the system will automatically select the defroster set-
ting, maximum heat and low fan speed.
As the engine warms up, air will also be distributed through the floor
vents and the fan speed will be increased.
As the temperature inside the car nears the selected value, both the
fan speed and the heat will be decreased to a level determined by
the system.
Starting in hot weather
The system will automatically distribute air through the panel vents
at high fan speed and will switch on the A/C compressor (unless the
AC OFF switch has been pressed).
If the outdoor temperature is above 77°F (25°C), the system might
select recirculation after 0-15 seconds if this is required in order to
reach the desired temperature.
As the temperature inside the car nears the selected value, the fan
speed will be decreased to a value determined by the system. Panel (and center rear vent)
IB3866
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107 Saab 9-5 Audio System
Sound systemThe sound system is called harman/kar-
don® Sound System. Loudness is con-
trolled automatically by the audio system,
boosting the highest and lowest frequency
ranges to enhance the sound image when
the volume is set to a low level. Sound
reproduction is therefore excellent what-
ever the volume setting.
The 9-5 SportCombi has 8 speakers as
there is only one subwoofer in the luggage
compartment.harman/kardon® Sound System
The harman/kardon® Sound System
system has 9 speakers: three mounted in
the instrument panel fascia (the center
speaker further enhances the sound
image), one in each door and two subwoof-
ers in the parcel shaft. The subwoofers
enhance reproduction of the lowest bass
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128 Interior equipment and trunkCup holders Cup holders are provided in the instrument
panel fascia, in the center console compart-
ment between the front seats, and in the
rear-seat armrest (certain variants only).
To access the cup holder in the instrument
panel, press the symbol and release.
To access the cup holder in the rear seat
armrest, lower the armrest and press the
front edge of the holder. Close in the same
way.
The number of cup holders provided may
vary between models.
WARNING
The cup holder should not be used to
hold cups made of china, glass or hard
plastic as these can cause injury in the
event of a crash.
Use only for paper cups or aluminium
cans.
Avoid spillage, particularly of hot
drinks.
Avoid putting oversized cups in the
cup holder.NOTICETake care not to spill any liquid on the
audio system, ignition switch or the like
when using the cup holders. Soft drinks in
particular can cause malfunction.
IB1153
1
2
Cup holder in center console
3
IB443
Cup holder in rear armrest
3
Press the edge to open/close.
IB444
Cup holder in fascia 1 Press symbol to open
2 Lift bottom to close 95_U S _M 07.book Page 128 Friday, June 9, 2006 8:58 AM
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143 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.
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151 Starting and driving
Towing Towing of cars with manual transmission,
see page 183.
Automatic transmission3
The electronic control module for the auto-
matic transmission receives information on
engine torque and road speed, and also
controls the hydraulic pressure in the trans-
mission to ensure that gear changing is as
smooth as possible.
The position of the selector lever is shown
by the symbols adjacent to the lever and
also by a symbol on the main instrument
panel. If manual mode (M) is selected, the
current gear is also displayed on the main
instrument panel.
The ignition key can only be removed when
the selector lever is in the P position.
NOTICEWhen the reverse gear is to be engaged
the car must be at a standstill with the
accelerator fully released. Lift the reverse
lock-out collar and push the gear lever
firmly to the right in neutral before easing
it into reverse.
WARNING
Make it a habit to keep your foot on the
brake when selecting a drive position,
to prevent the car from creeping for-
ward (or backward if reverse is
selected).
The car must be at a standstill before
P, R or N is selected. You have to have
your foot on the brake pedal to move
the lever out of P. If the car is still
moving when a drive position is subse-
quently selected, this could cause a
crash or damage the automatic trans-
mission.
Never park the car with the selector
lever in a drive position, even if the
parking brake is on.
If you want to leave the car with the
engine running, move the selector
lever to P or N and apply the parking
brake.
Selector lever
IB471
13
25
R
4
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152 Starting and drivingWhen the car is stationary, the engine must
be at idling speed when the selector lever is
moved.
You must have your foot on the brake
pedal to move the lever out of park.
If the accelerator is depressed while the
lever is moved, this will result in abnormal
wear in the transmission.
The detent button on the selector lever has
to be pressed before the selector can be
moved between certain positions. Three modes for the automatic transmis-
sion can be selected: Normal, Manual and
Sport.
Normal mode
The Normal mode, which provides the best
fuel economy, is the default setting when
the engine is started.
Manual mode (Sentronic): see page 156.
Sport mode
When the Sport mode is selected, the trans-
mission changes up later than in Normal
mode to provide higher performance. In this
mode, the SPORT indicator will appear on
the main instrument panel (see page 158).
Adaptive gear-change pattern
Adaptive gear-change pattern is a transmis-
sion function in the Normal and Sport
modes which matches gear changing to
current driving conditions. The transmission
control module senses the load on the
engine and temperature of the transmis-
sion. A suitable gear change pattern is then
selected automatically to avoid unneces-
sary gear changes and undesired tempera-
ture increases in the transmission.
NOTICEAfter selecting a drive position, pause
briefly to allow the gear to engage (the car
starts to pull a little) before you accel-
erate.
Detent positions for selector movement
IB3853
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