2007 SAAB 9-7X brake

Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your
vehicle will slow down to the cruise control speed
you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills
depends upon your speed, load and the steepness
of the hills. When going up steep hills, you may
want to step on the accelerator pedal to maintain
your speed. When going downhill, you may
have to brake or shift to a lower gear to keep your
speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers nd
this to be too much trouble and do not use
cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
To turn off the cruise control, do one of the
following:
Step lightly on the brake pedal,
move the cruise control switch to off, or
shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N).
If your vehicle has the StabiliTrak®feature,
cruise control will turn off if road conditions
cause StabiliTrak
®to activate.
If the accelerator pedal is held longer than
60 seconds, cruise control will turn off.
The cruise control will turn off automatically if the
traction control system or StabiliTrak
®system
activate, if your vehicle is equipped with either
feature.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
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When the engine is running, the gage shows the
condition of the charging system. The gage
may transition from a higher to lower or a lower to
higher reading. This is normal. Readings
between the low and high warning zones indicate
the normal operating range. The voltmeter
gage may also read lower when in fuel economy
mode. This is normal.
Readings in the low warning zone may occur
when a large number of electrical accessories are
operating in the vehicle and the engine is left
idling for an extended period. This condition
is normal since the charging system is not able to
provide full power at engine idle. As engine
speeds are increased, this condition should correct
itself as higher engine speeds allow the charging
system to create maximum power.
You can only drive for a short time with the
reading in either warning zone. If you must drive,
turn off all unnecessary accessories.
Readings in either warning zone indicate a
possible problem in the electrical system. Have
the vehicle serviced as soon as possible.Brake System Warning Light
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will come on when you set your parking
brake. The light will stay on if your parking brake
does not release fully. If it stays on after your
parking brake is fully released, it means your
vehicle has a brake problem. A chime may also
sound when the light comes on.
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If one part is not working, the other
part can still work and stop you. For good
braking, though, you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a
brake problem. Have your brake system inspected
right away.
United StatesCanada
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This light should come on briey when you turn
the ignition key to RUN. If it does not come
on then, have it xed so it will be ready to warn
you if there is a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. You may notice
that the pedal is harder to push or the pedal may
go closer to the oor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed
for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on
page 302.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light
is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after you have pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the Anti-Lock
Brake System (ABS),
this light will come
on when you start your
engine and may
stay on for several
seconds, that is normal.
A chime may also sound when the light comes on.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you are
driving, your vehicle needs service. If the regular
brake system warning light is not on, you still have
brakes, but you do not have anti-lock brakes. If the
regular brake system warning light is also on, you
do not have anti-lock brakes and there is a problem
with your regular brakes. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 183earlier in this section.
The ABS warning light should come on briey
when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the light
does not come on then, have it xed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
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SERVICE AIR BAG
This message displays if there is a problem with
the airbag system. Have your dealer inspect
the system for problems. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 178andAirbag System on page 64
for more information. Press any of the DIC
buttons, or the trip stem, to acknowledge this
message and clear it from the DIC display.
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
This message displays if a problem occurs with
the brake system. If this message appears, stop as
soon as possible and turn off the vehicle. Restart
the vehicle and check for the message on the
DIC display. If the message is still displayed, or
appears again when you begin driving, the
brake system needs service. See your dealer.
SERVICE CHARGING SYS (System)
This message displays if there is a problem with the
battery charging system. Under certain conditions,
the charging system light may also turn on in the
instrument panel cluster. SeeCharging System
Light on page 182. The battery will not be charging
at an optimal rate and the vehicle will lose the ability
to enter the fuel economy mode. The vehicle is safe
to drive, however you should have the electrical
system checked by your dealer. Press any of the
DIC buttons, or the trip stem, to acknowledge this
message and clear it from the DIC display.
SERVICE STABILITRAK
If this message displays, it means there may be a
problem with the StabiliTrak®system. If this
message appears, try to reset the system by
performing the following: stop; turn off the engine;
then start the engine again. If this message still
comes on, it means there is a problem. You should
see your dealer for service. The vehicle is safe
to drive, however, you do not have the benet of
StabiliTrak
®, so reduce your speed and drive
accordingly. Press any of the DIC buttons, or the
trip stem, to acknowledge this message and
clear it from the DIC display.
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SERVICE TIRE MONITOR
This message displays if a part on the Tire
Pressure Monitor (TPM) system is not working
properly. If you drive your vehicle while any of the
four sensors are missing or inoperable, the
warning comes on in about 20 minutes. A sensor
would be missing, for example, if you put
different wheels on your vehicle without
transferring the sensors. If the warning comes on
and stays on, there may be a problem with the
TPM. See your dealer.
STABILITRAK ACTIVE
This message displays anytime the StabiliTrak®
system activates to maintain vehicle stability.
Any combination of engine speed management,
brake traction control, and stability control displays
this message.
STABILITRAK NOT READY
This message may display if driving conditions
delay StabiliTrak®system initialization. This
is normal. Once the system initializes, this
message will no longer be displayed on the DIC.
STABILITRAK OFF
This message displays when you press the
StabiliTrak®button for more than ve seconds or
when stability control has been automatically
disabled. The StabiliTrak
®button is located on the
transmission shift handle. To limit wheel spin
and realize the full benets of the stability
enhancement system, you should normally leave
StabiliTrak
®on. However, you should turn
StabiliTrak®off if your vehicle gets stuck in sand,
mud, ice, or snow and you want to rock your
vehicle to attempt to free it, or if you are driving in
extreme off-road conditions and require more
wheel spin. SeeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 295. To turn the
StabiliTrak
®system back on, press the
StabiliTrak®button again.
The message may display if the brake system
warning light is on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 183.
The message turns off as soon as the conditions
that caused the message to be displayed are
no longer present.
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TIGHTEN FUEL CAP
This message may display and a chime may sound
if the vehicle’s fuel cap is not tightened properly.
Fully reinstall the fuel cap. SeeFilling the Tank on
page 326. The diagnostic system can determine if
the fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed.
A loose or missing fuel cap allows fuel to evaporate
into the atmosphere. This message remains on until
it is acknowledged and cleared from the DIC display
by pressing any of the DIC buttons or the trip stem.
The DIC message is also cancelled if the ignition is
turned off.
The DIC message and the Service Engine Soon
light may come on again during a second trip if
the fuel cap is still not tightened properly. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 187for
more information.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF
This message displays when you momentarily
press the StabiliTrak®button located on the
transmission shift handle. In this mode, stability
control and the brake-traction control are
functional. Engine speed management will be
modied and the driven wheels can spin more
freely. For more details on this mode, see
StabiliTrak
®System on page 271.
TURN SIGNAL ON
This message displays and a chime sounds if a
turn signal is left on for 3/4 of a mile (1.2 km).
Move the turn signal/multifunction lever to the off
position. Press any of the DIC buttons, or the
trip stem, to acknowledge this message and clear
it from the DIC display.
DIC Vehicle Customization
Your vehicle may have customization capabilities
that allow you to program some features to
one setting based on your preference. All of the
customizable options listed may not be available
on your vehicle. Only the options available display
on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
The default settings for the customization features
were set when your vehicle left the factory, but
may have been changed from their default
state since then.
To change feature preferences, make sure the
ignition is on and the vehicle is in PARK (P).
To avoid excessive drain on the battery, it is
recommended that the headlamps are turned off.
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Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle.... 264
Defensive Driving...................................... 264
Drunken Driving........................................ 265
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 268
Braking...................................................... 268
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 269
Braking in Emergencies............................. 271
Limited-Slip Rear Axle............................... 271
StabiliTrak
®System................................... 271
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.................. 275
Steering.................................................... 276
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 278
Passing..................................................... 278
Loss of Control.......................................... 280
Off-Road Driving........................................ 281
Driving at Night......................................... 281
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 282City Driving............................................... 285
Freeway Driving........................................ 286
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................. 287
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 288
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 288
Winter Driving........................................... 291
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow ................................. 295
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 296
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 296
Towing........................................................ 302
Towing Your Vehicle ................................. 302
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 302
Electronically Controlled Air
Suspension System................................ 303
Towing a Trailer........................................ 305
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
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Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your
vehicle go where you want it to go. They are the
brakes, the steering, and the accelerator. All
three systems have to do their work at the places
where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or
ice, it is easy to ask more of those control systems
than the tires and road can provide. That means
you can lose control of your vehicle.
Adding non-Saab accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 322.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 183.
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to
bring up your foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as two or three seconds
or more with another. Age, physical condition,
alertness, coordination, and eyesight all play a part.
So do alcohol, drugs, and frustration. But even in
three-fourths of a second, a vehicle moving at
60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That
could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and
others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary
greatly with the surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of the road,
whether it is wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the
condition of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
and the amount of brake force applied.
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