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179 Starting and driving
Driving with a roof rack
loadThe maximum permissible roof load is
220 lbs. (100 kg).
Note that the roof load is included in the
car’s maximum permissible load (see
page 258).
Strong, sturdy roof carriers3 designed spe-
cially for the car are available from your
Saab dealer. Always secure the roof load
safely.
Fitting the roof carriers3,
9-5 Sedan and 9-5 SportCombi
without roof railsThe carrier feet are marked with a top view
of the car and arrow indicating their posi-
tions.
1 Slip the plastic cover onto the adjustable
foot of the carrier (foot with knob for
tightening) to protect the paintwork
during assembly.
2 Open all the doors.
Fold back the rubber strip and find the
fixing holes. 3 Start on the left-hand side of the car.
Rest the carrier carefully across the roof,
with the rigid foot towards you. Hold the
foot clear of the roof to avoid damaging
the paintwork.
Fold back the rubber strip and insert the
pins on the foot into the fixing holes.
Make sure that the rubber strip comes
inside the plastic cover on the carrier.
Repeat the procedure with the other
carrier.
WARNING
A roof load will affect the car’s center
of gravity and aerodynamics. Be
aware of this when cornering and driv-
ing in crosswinds.
Suit your speed to the prevailing con-
ditions.
Due to higher aerodynamic drag, fuel
economy may suffer when driving with
a roof rack.
IB480
IB481
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180 Starting and driving4 Close the doors on the left-hand side of
the car gently, to hold the carrier feet in
place.
5 Now go around to the other side of the
car and remove the plastic cover from
the carrier’s adjustable foot. Fold back
the rubber strip and insert the pins on the
foot into the fixing holes. Do the same
with the other carrier and close the doors
gently.
6 Tighten each carrier by turning the knob
clockwise (by hand). Tighten just
enough to bring the foot up against the
edges of the fixing holes.
Remove the carriers when not in use, as
they increase fuel consumption.
The instructions that accompany the carri-
ers also include advice on driving with a roof
load – we strongly recommend that you
read them carefully.
Fitting the roof carriers3,
9-5 SportCombi with roof rails1 Clean the car’s roof rails.
2 Check the markings on the cross mem-
bers to see which is the front and which
is the rear roof carrier.
3 Place the cross members on the roof
rails, on their respective sides of the
center supports. The cross members
must not be placed beyond the front or
rear joint on the rail. Ensure that the dis-
tance between the cross members is at
least 28 inches (700 mm).
If a roof box is to be fitted, the cross
members must be positioned so that the
tailgate can be opened fully without hit-
ting the roof box.
4 Using your thumb, press the bracket so
that it lies snugly against the outside of
the roof rail. Make sure that the roof car-
riers are seated centrally on the rubber
spacers and that these sit correctly on
the roof rail. Pull the spacers down
slightly on the inside of the roof rail.
5 Center the roof carriers so that they pro-
trude equally on both sides.
6 Tighten the roof carriers by hand.
Ensure that the tightening knobs are
upright once the roof carriers have been
tightened.
7 Make sure the roof carriers are securely
in place.
IB1294IB1295
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181 Starting and driving
Driving at nightBear in mind the following points when
driving at night:
Nighttime driving requires your full con-
centration.
Do not rush. Count on your journey taking
slightly longer.
The number of drivers under the influence
of drugs is likely to be greater at night than
during the day.
Do not stare at the headlights of oncom-
ing vehicles.
Avoid driving at night if you have poor
eyesight. Night vision deteriorates with
age.
Keep your car's headlights, windows and
mirrors clean. Also, if you wear glasses,
make sure they are clean.
Make sure you are well rested before
starting a long journey. Take a break
every other hour.
Only eat light meals. Heavy meals have a
tendency to induce tiredness.
Driving with a loadThe driving characteristics of the car are
affected by the way it is loaded.
Place heavy loads as far forward and as
low as possible in the trunk.
Secure the load to the tie downs, see
page 131.
The load should be such that the car´s
total weight or axle weight are not
exceeded, see page 258.
Heavy loads mean that the car’s center of
gravity is further back. As a result, the car
will sway more during evasive steering.
Never exceed the permissible load in the
roof box3, even if there is room for more.
Ensure that the tire pressure is correct –
slight overinflation is preferable to under-
inflation.
The braking distance of a loaded car is
always greater. Keep your distance from
the vehicle in front.
Roof loads can negatively affect tele-
communication.
Tire pressure, see page 268 and back
cover.
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Page 184 of 288

184 Starting and drivingFront towing eye
The front towing eye is stored with the spare
wheel.
The attachment point (tapped hole) for the
towing eye is midway along the engine sub-
frame at the front of the car.
Remove the plastic plug and screw in the
towing eye securely.
To ensure that the towing eye is in far
enough, insert the handle of the wheel
wrench through the eye for additional
leverage.
Rear towing eyeThe car has a permanently mounted towing
eye at the back. If the car is equipped with a
trailer hitch, this can be used instead of the
towing eye.
WARNING
Make sure that the towing eye at the
front is screwed in tightly.
The towing eye is only designed for
use when the car is being towed on the
road. It must not be used to pull the
car out of a ditch, for example.
Make sure that all bystanders keep a
suitable distance, in case the towing
eye or tow rope should break. The
towing eye or tow rope could catapult
off and cause serious injury.NOTICE Do not drive the car with the front
towing eye in position. If it catches the
curb, for example, the engine sub-
frame could be damaged.
Refit the plastic plug in the hole when
the towing eye has been removed, to
keep dirt and moisture out of the
threads.
IB3885
Front towing eye
IB3886
Rear towing eye
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Page 190 of 288
190 Car care and technical informationHood The hood release handle is located under-
neath the instrument panel. To open the
hood:
1 Pull the release handle.
2 The front of the hood will now spring up,
providing access to the secondary
safety catch.
3 Push the catch upwards, pushing the
hood downward a little bit at the same
time. The hood can now be lifted right
up.
To close the hood, release it from a height
of about 8 - 16 in (20-40 cm). Do not press
down on it.
Check that the hood is now closed securely.
WARNING
Never hold your fingers between the hood
and safety catch if lowering but not clos-
ing the hood.
IB3890
IB3889
Hood release handle Hood secondary safety catch
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206 Car care and technical information
Headlight bulb for low beam (Halogen)1 Take off the cover from the back of the lamp unit. To improve
accessibility to the right-hand headlight, hold aside the induction
air hose. To improve accessibility to the left-hand headlight,
remove the battery cover. Release the two clips along the long
sides of the cover.
2 Unplug the connector.
3 To remove the spring clip, push it in and then move it to the right.
4 Remove the bulb.
5 Without touching the glass with your fingers, insert the new bulb.
6 Line up the bulb with the guide in the reflector and secure it with
the spring clip.
7 Plug in the connector.
8Fit the cover.
Low beam bulb3On certain variants the low beam bulb is fitted in the same way as
the high beam bulb, without spring clips, see previous page.
IB3896
IB3898
Contact an
authorized
Saab workshop
if a Xenon
headlight
requires
replacement
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208 Car care and technical informationRear light cluster, 9-5 SedanThe bulbs for the lamps in the rear light clus-
ter are accessed from the luggage compart-
ment.
1 Lower the flap (secured with catches).
2 Squeeze the plastic lugs and remove the
bulb holder.
3 The bulb has a bayonet fitting. Press in
the bulb and twist it counterclockwise.
4 Change the bulb.
IB3906
IB3907
12
4
5
1
3
2
IB3908
1
1
2
4
5
3
3
2
Rear light clusters, 9-5 SportCombi1 Direction indicators
2 Stop lights and taillights
3 Reversing lights
4 Rear fog light
5 High-mounted brake light
Rear light clusters, 9-5 Sedan1 Direction indicators
2 Stop lights and taillights
3 Reversing lights
4 Rear fog light
5 High-mounted brake light
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210 Car care and technical informationHigh-mounted stop lights,
9-5 SedanThe bulbs can be accessed after the panel
in the rear headlining has been removed.
1 Remove the panel by carefully pushing
in the two clips, one at the time.
2 Release the bulb holder, which is
retained by a clip at either end.
3 Withdraw the bulb gently straight back.
4 Push in the new bulb.
5 Refit the bulb holder.
6 Replace the panel by carefully pushing
the panel towards the headlining so that
the two clips engage their respective
slot.
Rear lights clusters,
9-5 SportCombi1 Open the tailgate.
2 Remove the two screws securing the
light cluster to the body.
3
2
2
3
1
IB519
High-mounted stop lights1 Panel
2 Retaining clips
3 Bulbs
IB3911
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