2007 SAAB 9-7X brakes

Before you start, check all trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains, electrical connection,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer
has electric brakes, start your vehicle and
trailer moving and then apply the trailer brake
controller by hand to be sure the brakes are
working. This lets you check your electrical
connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure
that the load is secure, and that the lamps and any
trailer brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead
as you would when driving your vehicle without
a trailer. This can help you avoid situations
that require heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a
good deal longer, you’ll need to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before you can
return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one
hand. Then, to move the trailer to the left,
just move that hand to the left. To move the trailer
to the right, move your hand to the right. Always
back up slowly and, if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to come in
contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider
turns than normal. Do this so your trailer
won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs,
trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
314
ProCarManuals.com

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
The arrows on your instrument panel will
ash whenever you signal a turn or lane change.
Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also
ash, telling other drivers you’re about to
turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your
instrument panel will ash for turns even if the
bulbs on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may
think drivers behind you are seeing your signal
when they are not. It’s important to check
occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbefore
you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you
don’t shift down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
You can tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift
the transmission to THIRD (3) or a lower gear,
under heavy loads or hilly conditions.
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill
grades, consider the following: Engine coolant will
boil at a lower temperature than at normal
altitudes. If you turn your engine off immediately
after towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
your vehicle may show signs similar to engine
overheating. To avoid this, let the engine run while
parked (preferably on level ground) with the
automatic transmission in PARK (P) for a few
minutes before turning the engine off. If you do get
the overheat warning, seeEngine Overheating
on page 347.
315
ProCarManuals.com

Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your
vehicle, with a trailer attached, on a hill.
If something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured, and
both your vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill,
here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet. When parking uphill, turn your
wheels away from the curb. When parking
downhill, turn your wheels into the curb.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release
the regular brakes until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift into PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal
down while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the
chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store
the chocks.
316
ProCarManuals.com

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 overll), 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 qualied service center.
317
ProCarManuals.com

Service........................................................ 322
Accessories and Modications................... 322
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 322
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 323
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 323
Fuel............................................................. 324
Gasoline Octane........................................ 324
Gasoline Specications.............................. 324
California Fuel........................................... 324
Additives................................................... 325
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 326
Filling the Tank......................................... 326
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 328
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 329
Hood Release........................................... 329
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 330
Engine Oil................................................. 334
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 337
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 339
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 341
Engine Coolant.......................................... 344
Radiator Pressure Cap.............................. 347Engine Overheating................................... 347
Cooling System......................................... 349
Engine Fan Noise..................................... 355
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 356
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 357
Brakes...................................................... 358
Battery...................................................... 361
Jump Starting............................................ 362
All-Wheel Drive........................................... 368
Rear Axle.................................................... 369
Front Axle................................................... 370
Headlamp Aiming........................................ 371
Bulb Replacement....................................... 371
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting........ 371
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 372
Headlamps................................................ 372
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Parking Lamps....................................... 374
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps.............. 374
License Plate Lamp................................... 376
Replacement Bulbs................................... 376
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
319
ProCarManuals.com

Service
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants
you to be happy with it. We hope you will go
to your dealer for all your service and parts needs.
Accessories and Modications
When you add non-Saab accessories to your
vehicle they can affect your vehicle’s performance
and safety, including such things as, airbags,
braking, stability, ride and handling, emissions
systems, aerodynamics, durability, and electronic
systems like anti-lock brakes, traction control,
and stability control. Some of these accessories
may even cause malfunction or damage not
covered by warranty.Saab accessories are designed to complement
and function with other systems on your vehicle.
Your Saab dealer can accessorize your vehicle
using genuine Saab accessories. When you go to
your Saab dealer and ask for Saab accessories,
you will know that Saab-trained and supported
service technicians will perform the work
using genuine Saab accessories.
California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine exhaust,
many parts and systems (including some inside
the vehicle), many uids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or emit these
chemicals.
322
ProCarManuals.com

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 339.
B. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling
System on page 349.
C. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 357.
D. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 356.
E. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick (Out of
View). See “Checking the Fluid Level” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid on page 341.
F. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 334.G. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure
Cap on page 347.
H. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 334.
I. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (Marked GND).
SeeJump Starting on page 362.
J. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 358.
K. Battery. SeeBattery on page 361.
L. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 435.
331
ProCarManuals.com

A. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling
System on page 349.
B. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 339.
C. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 357.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 334.
E. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick. See
“Checking the Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transmission Fluid on page 341.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 334.G. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure
Cap on page 347.
H. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (Marked GND).
SeeJump Starting on page 362.
I. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 356.
J. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 358.
K. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 435.
L. Battery. SeeBattery on page 361.
333
ProCarManuals.com