
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when
you’re pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance
Schedule for more on this. Things that are
especially important in trailer operation are
automatic transmission uid (don’t over ll), engine
oil, axle lubricant, belt(s), cooling system and
brake system. Each of these is covered in
this manual, and the Index will help you nd them
quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to
review these sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts
and bolts are tight.
Trailer Wiring Harness
Your vehicle is equipped with a seven-wire trailer
towing harness. This harness has a seven-pin
universal heavy-duty trailer connector (if equipped
with the trailering package) that is attached to a
bracket on the hitch platform. If your vehicle is not
equipped with the heavy-duty trailer connector,
you can purchase one from your Saab dealer.The seven-wire harness contains the following
trailer circuits:
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
Brown: Running Lamps
White: Ground
Light Green: Back-up Lamps
Dark Blue: Electric Brakes
Red: Battery Feed (The chassis wiring ring
terminal must be fastened to a stud on the
underhood electrical center before the
trailer feed will become active.)
If you need to tow a light-duty trailer with a standard
four-way round pin connector, an adapter connector
is available from your dealer.
If you are charging a remote (non-vehicle) battery,
turn on the headlamps to boost the vehicle
system voltage and properly charge the battery.
Your vehicle is also equipped with wiring for an
electric trailer brake controller. These wires are
located inside the vehicle on the driver’s side under
the instrument panel. These wires should be
connected to an electric trailer brake controller by
your dealer or a quali ed service center.
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Windshield Replacement............................ 377
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 377
Tires............................................................ 380
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 381
Tire Terminology and De nitions............... 385
In ation - Tire Pressure............................. 388
High-Speed Operation............................... 390
Tire Pressure Monitor System................... 391
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 396
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 397
Buying New Tires...................................... 398
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 400
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 400
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 402
Wheel Replacement.................................. 402
Tire Chains............................................... 404
Accessory In ator...................................... 404
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 406
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 406
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 408
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire......................... 410Secondary Latch System........................... 416
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...... 420
Spare Tire................................................. 423
Appearance Care........................................ 423
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 423
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 425
Leather...................................................... 426
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and
Other Plastic Surfaces........................... 426
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 427
Weatherstrips............................................ 427
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 427
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 428
Finish Care............................................... 428
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades.... 429
Aluminum Wheels...................................... 429
Tires......................................................... 430
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 430
Finish Damage.......................................... 430
Underbody Maintenance............................ 431
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 431
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 432
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
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Doing Your Own Service Work
{CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could
be damaged if you try to do service work
on a vehicle without knowing enough
about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement
parts, and tools before you attempt any
vehicle maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts,
and other fasteners. English and metric
fasteners can be easily confused. If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later
break or fall off. You could be hurt.
If you want to do some of your own service work,
you will want to use the proper service manual.
It tells you much more about how to service your
vehicle than this manual can.Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work, see
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 80.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of any service
work you perform. SeeMaintenance Record
on page 462.
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your
vehicle can affect the air ow around it. This may
cause wind noise and affect windshield washer
performance. Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
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Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part
of the proper maintenance of your vehicle.
To help keep your engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, we recommend
the use of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating
is less than 87, you may notice an audible
knocking noise when you drive, commonly referred
to as spark knock. If this occurs, use a gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible.
If you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher and you hear heavy knocking, your engine
needs service.
Gasoline Speci cations
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
speci cation D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines may
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT). We recommend against the use of
gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives on
page 325for additional information.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certi ed to meet California
Emissions Standards, it is designed to operate
on fuels that meet California speci cations.
See the underhood emission control label.
If this fuel is not available in states adopting
California emissions standards, your vehicle will
operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
speci cations, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp may turn on and your vehicle
may fail a smog-check test. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 187. If this occurs,
return to your authorized dealer for diagnosis.
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What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that
may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer. Do not let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your skin and nails
with soap and water, or a good hand cleaner.
Wash or properly dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer’s
warnings about the use and disposal of oil
products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil
from the lter before disposal. Never dispose of
oil by putting it in the trash, pouring it on the
ground, into sewers, or into streams or bodies of
water. Instead, recycle it by taking it to a place
that collects used oil. If you have a problem
properly disposing of used oil, ask your dealer,
a service station, or a local recycling center
for help.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 330for the
location of the engine
air cleaner/ lter.
When to Inspect
Inspect the air cleaner/ lter at the MaintenanceII
intervals and replace it at the rst oil change
after each 50,000 mile (83 000 km) interval.
SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 450for
more information. If you are driving in dusty/dirty
conditions, inspect the lter at each engine oil
change.
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