2008 SAAB 9-3 check oil

211 Car care
Make sure you screw on the oil filler cap
properly after topping up the oil to avoid
running problems.
It is normal for an engine to consume a cer-
tain amount of oil. It is therefore often nec-
essary to top up the oil between services.
Check the engine oil level regularly.
During the Break-in Period (approx.
3,000 miles or 5,000 km) and when driving
at high speeds or with a trailer, the oil con-
sumption may be higher than normal.
Air filter
NOTEChange of engine oil and oil filter may be
required more frequently if the car is
being used under certain conditions, see
page 281.
WARNING
Prolonged and repeated exposure of
the skin to engine oil can cause seri-
ous skin disorders. Avoid prolonged
skin contact whenever possible.
Used engine oil contains chemicals
that have caused cancer in laboratory
animals. Always protect your skin by
washing thoroughly with soap and
water.
Keep oil out of reach of children.
Do not touch the turbocharger or
exhaust manifold. These get very hot
when the engine has been running.
Do not spill oil on hot parts of the
engine as this could cause a fire. Used
engine oil is particularly flammable.
Protect the environment. Do not dis-
pose of oil into the ground or down a
drain. Dispose of all used oil and
oil filters at an appropriate disposal
facility.
NOTEDo not run the engine with the oil level
too low.
Change engine oil and oil filter in
accordance with the service pro-
gramme
Only use the recommended type of oil.
Observe the above three points to avoid
serious damage to the engine.
For oil volumes and grades, refer to
page 290.
WARNING
To ensure reliable operation, only use
an air filter recommended by Saab
Automobile AB.
93_US_M08.book Page 211 Friday, May 11, 2007 11:37 AM
ProCarManuals.com

212 Car careTransmission fluidManual transmission
Check and top up the oil in accordance with
the service program.
Automatic transmission
Check and top up the oil in accordance with
the service program.Coolant
There is an overpressure in the cooling
system. Coolant temperatures can some-
times exceed 212° F (100° C).
If the coolant level drops too low, the follow-
ing message appears on the SID:
The properties of the coolant are retained
for the entire service life of the car. There-
fore, it is not necessary to change the cool-
ant.
The coolant contains 45 % antifreeze and
anti-corrosion fluid. This ratio gives the best
cooling effect. Lower concentrations should
be avoided, in view of the corrosion risk.
Coolants of a different brand could damage
the engine or cooling system. We therefore
recommend strict use of coolants that have
been approved by Saab.Note
If incorrect coolant is used or added, the
life-time properties will be affected. Even if
the coolant is flushed from the system and
replaced with life-time coolant, life-time
properties are no longer retained and the
coolant must then be drained and replaced
at regular intervals.
WARNING
Proceed with caution if the radiator is
boiling when you open the hood.
Never remove the expansion-tank
filler cap when the radiator is boiling.
The cooling system is pressurized –
hot coolant and vapor can escape
when the filler cap is released. These
can cause injury to your eyes and
burns. Loosen the cap carefully, and
let the engine cool before removing
the cap.
Exercise care when adding coolant.
Coolant on hot surfaces constitutes a
fire risk.
Coolant level low.
Refill.
NOTEIf the cooling system needs topping up,
mix the antifreeze with the appropriate
quantity of drinking water or distilled
water before adding it to the system.
If undiluted antifreeze is added, the
engine could still freeze and be damaged.
This is because the antifreeze will not mix
properly with the coolant before the ther-
mostat has opened to allow full circula-
tion.
93_US_M08.book Page 212 Friday, May 11, 2007 11:37 AM
ProCarManuals.com

215 Car care
Brake pads should only be changed at a
workshop. We recommend that you con-
tact a Saab dealer.
Power steeringCheck the level of the power steering fluid in
the reservoir regularly, in accordance with
the service program.
The wheels should point directly forwards
during this check.
Clean round the cap before unscrewing it.
Wipe the dipstick. To check the level, screw
down the cap completely and then remove
it again.
The oil level should lie between the MAX
and MIN marks when the oil temperature is
about 68°F (+20°C). If the oil is colder, the
level will be lower, and at a higher tempera-
tures the level will be higher.
Top up with CHF 11S or CHF 202 power
steering fluid.
NOTEAvoid spilling brake fluid onto paintwork,
since it can cause the paint to bubble and
lift. If any brake fluid is spilled, the area
should be flushed with large quantities of
water as quickly as possible.
WARNING
Power steering fluid on hot engine com-
ponents constitutes a fire risk.
Power steering fluid reservoir, 4-cyl
enginePower steering fluid reservoir, V6 engine
93_US_M08.book Page 215 Friday, May 11, 2007 11:37 AM
ProCarManuals.com

266 Car care
Safety beltsCheck the function of the safety belts regu-
larly as follows:
Hold the diagonal strap and pull it sharply.
The safety belt should lock and it should
not be possible to withdraw it further.
Check the anchorage points in the floor.
They must not have suffered rust damage.
If a belt is worn or has any fraying edges, it
should be replaced.
Safety belts must not come into contact with
substances such as polishes, oil or chemi-
cals. If the belts get dirty, wash them with
warm water and a detergent or have them
replaced.
Upholstery and trimTo remove fluff and hairs from the seats,
door armrests and headlining, use a
vacuum cleaner, a moist lint-free cloth, or a
clothes brush. Remove spots and dirt using
a cloth moistened with lukewarm soapy
water.
When using a stain remover, always work
from the outside towards the center to avoid
leaving a ring. If a soiled ring or spot should
remain, it can usually be removed using
lukewarm soapy water or water alone.
Spots left by liquids, such as soft drinks or
thin oil, must be removed at once with an
absorbent material, such as kitchen towel-
ling. Then clean with a stain remover.
White spirit is recommended for removing
grease and oil stains. A medium stiff brush
may also be used.
WARNING
If the car is involved in a crash, the safety
belts, belt pretensioners and other asso-
ciated components must be inspected.
We recommend that you contact a Saab
dealer.
Never make any alterations or repairs to
the safety belts yourself. We recommend
that you contact a Saab dealer.
Tightening sequence, wheel boltsGrease the surfaces indicated with a thin
layer of grease93_US_M08.book Page 266 Friday, May 11, 2007 11:37 AM
ProCarManuals.com

269 Car care
When the soft top is only slightly soiled,
follow the directions on the cleaning agent
packaging. No brushing is necessary.
Check the soft top for water penetration
from time to time by spraying a small
amount of water on it. If water does not form
droplets but disappear into the material, it is
recommended to wash normally and then
waterproof.
If the soft top is heavily soiled and normal
recommended cleaning does not produce a
noticeable improvement, carry out the fol-
lowing.
The following cleaning method must be only
used if the soft top is heavily soiled and must
not be carried out more than twice a year.
1 Stop normal cleaning.
2 Rinse off the thick dirt thoroughly with
water.
3 Spray the newly rinsed soft top with the
recommended cleaning agent and allow
it to work in for 15-20 minutes.4 Move the washing brush backwards and
forwards, not diagonally, from side to
side or in circles. Use a soft brush, like a
clothes brush or a micro fibre cloth so
that the cleaning agent foams. Never
use a wire brush.
5 Then rinse the soft top with warm water
and brush using a soft brush in the direc-
tion of the vehicle until all foam has
disappeared. Brush carefully to prevent
damaging the material.
6 Dry the soft top using a clean chamois
leather or a cloth that does not leave lint
on the soft top.
7 Allow the soft top to dry fully. Touch with
a hand after a while, if the material feels
damp, allow it to dry for longer. Never use petrochemical based sol-
vents for cleaning. Only use water with
a recommended cleaning agent. Pet-
rochemical based solvents can cause
irreparable damage to the soft top.
Never use a pressure washer to clean
the soft top. Only use normal house-
hold water pressure.
NOTEOnly operate the soft top when it is
clean and dry.
Do not lower the soft top when it is
damp. This can cause folds and pres-
sure marks. If the soft top is heavily
soiled, the dirt may cause irreparable
visible chafe marks.
Only use water, recommended clean-
ing agents and a microfibre cloth if the
soft top is already damaged, other-
wise the damage can become worse.
At creases, seams and window edges
the cleaning motion should be away
from the crease, seam or window
edge in to the soft top.
WARNING
Water hotter than 37 °C can burn the skin,
cause skin irritation and/or cause injuries.
Use suitable protection.
93_US_M08.book Page 269 Friday, May 11, 2007 11:37 AM
ProCarManuals.com

275 Car care
Other than in extremely cold weather, do not
screen the radiator, e.g. with netting, as this
will greatly diminish its cooling capacity.
Applicable to the manual climate control
system - During cold months the air condi-
tioning should be switched on once or
twice a month and run for 5–10 minutes
during highway driving once the engine is
warm.
This action saves the gaskets in the
compressor from being spoiled. The
compressor uses a lubricant that circu-
lates with the coolant.
Note
The A/C system cannot be switched on
when the outside temperature is below 32°F
(0°C). Turn on the A/C system when the car
is standing in a warm place. Simplest is to
always have the A/C button pressed in. The
A/C system will then cut in automatically
when the outside temperature is high
enough.
Headlight aimingThe vehicle has a visual optical headlight
aiming system equipped with vertical
aiming device. The aim has been preset at
the factory and should normally not need
further adjustments.
If your headlights are damaged in a crash,
the headlight aim may be affected. If you
believe your headlights need to be
re-aimed, we recommend that you take it to
your Saab dealer for service. However, it is
possible for you to re-aim your headlights as
described in the following procedure.To check the aim, the vehicle should be
properly prepared as follows:
The vehicle shall be placed so that the
headlights are 25 ft (7.6 m) from a light
colored wall or other flat surface. The
aiming area should be darkened, this will
improve your ability to see the beam of the
low beam headlight being aimed.
An optical headlamp aimer can also be
used and will than replace the wall.
The vehicle must have all four wheels on
a perfectly level surface which is level all
the way to the wall or other flat surface.
The vehicle should be placed so it is
perpendicular to the wall or other flat
surface.
The vehicle should be unloaded and fuel
tank full, and one person or 160 lbs.
(75 kg) on the drivers seat.
The vehicle should be fully assembled
and all other work stopped while headlight
aiming is being done.
The vehicle should not have any snow, ice
or mud attached to it.
Tires should be inflated to the prescribed
pressure.
Close all doors.
Rock the vehicle to stabilize the suspen-
sion.
Headlight aiming is done with the vehicle
low beam lamps. The high beam lamps will
WARNING
Before checking/adjusting the headlight
aiming, switch off the engine to avoid
danger of fingers and hands being injured
by moving parts.
The radiator fan can start up even when
the engine is switched off.NOTETo make sure that your headlights are
aimed properly read all instructions
before beginning. Failure to follow these
instructions could cause damage to
headlight parts or a not correctly aimed
headlight.
93_US_M08.book Page 275 Friday, May 11, 2007 11:37 AM
ProCarManuals.com

304 IndexDeep water, driving through
_______ 196
Definitions and terminology, tire ____ 254
Determining correct load, tires
_____ 256
Direction indicator stalk switch _____ 101
Direction indicators
______________ 101
Dome light, Convertible
__________ 232
Dome light, SportSedan __________ 232
Donor battery, boost starting
______ 200
Door handles
___________________ 48
Door mirrors
___________________ 124
Drive belt
______________________ 219
Drive belt, length
________________ 293
Driver’s seat with memory
_________ 21
Driving at night
_________________ 197
Driving in cold climates
___________ 187
Driving in deep water
____________ 196
Driving in hot climates ____________ 189
Driving techniques
______________ 185
Driving with a compact wheel fitted
_260
Driving with a heavy load on hilly
roads
________________________ 167
Driving with a load
______________ 196
Driving with a roof load ___________ 194
Driving with the trunk lid open
______ 196
EEasy entry, Convertible
____________ 73
EDR (Event Data Recorders)
______ 284
ESP®
________________________ 177
Economical motoring
____________ 185
Electrical system, technical data
____ 292Electrically adjustable seats
________ 20
Electric engine heater
____________ 186
Electric heating, front seats
________ 115
Electric windows
________________ 121
Electric windows, Convertible
_______ 77
Electronic Stability Program
_______ 177
Electronic steering wheel lock ______ 154
Emergency opening of the narrow
backrest, SportSedan
___________ 142
Emergency operation of the moonroof
132
Engine bay, cleaning
_____________ 267
Engine heater
__________________ 186
Engine immobilizer
_______________ 55
Engine management system
______ 206
Engine number
_________________ 299
Engine oil, checking
_____________ 210
Engine oil, grade
________________ 290
Engine oil, volume _______________ 291
Engine temperature gauge
_________ 88
Engine, description
______________ 205
Engine, technical data ____________ 289
Engines
_______________________ 292
Event Data Recorders (EDR)
______ 284
Extra electrical socket
____________ 136
FFacilitating entry to rear seat,
Convertible
____________________ 73
Factors affecting fuel consumption
__ 185
Filler cap
______________________ 160
Filling a portable fuel container
_____ 161Filling up
______________________ 159
Flat spots, tires
_________________ 246
Floor jack
______________________ 263
Folding down the rear seat backrest,
SportCombi
___________________ 143
Folding down the rear seat,
SportSedan ___________________ 138
Front fog lights __________________ 100
Front towing eye ________________ 197
Fuel container
__________________ 161
Fuel gauge
_____________________ 89
Fuel grade _____________________ 291
Fuel information
_________________ 161
Functions, car alarm
______________ 58
Fuse panel in luggage compartment
_240
Fuse table
_____________________ 239
Fuses
_________________________ 237
GGDO, garage door opener
_________ 126
Gearbox number
________________ 299
General safety instructions,
Convertible
____________________ 62
Glove box
_____________________ 136
Glovebox lighting
________________ 233
HHandbrake
_____________________ 179
Hazard warning lights
____________ 102
93_US_M08.book Page 304 Friday, May 11, 2007 11:37 AM
ProCarManuals.com

307 Index
Signalling, horn
_________________ 120
Ski hatch, SportCombi
___________ 145
Ski hatch, SportSedan ___________ 140
Spare wheel
___________________ 260
Speed ratings, tires
______________ 253
Speedometer
___________________ 87
Sport mode, automatic transmission

167
Starting the engine
______________ 154
Steering wheel adjustment
________ 120
Steering wheel lock
______________ 154
Steps for determining correct load
limit
_________________________ 256
Storage compartments
___________ 136
Sun visor
______________________ 134
Switches _______________________ 97
TTCS
__________________________ 175
Technical data
_________________ 286
Textile carpeting, cleaning
________ 267
Tie down eyes, SportCombi _______ 146
Tie down eyes, SportSedan _______ 141
Tightening torque, wheels
_________ 265
Tire chains
____________________ 251
Tire date code __________________ 257
Tire inspection and rotation
_______ 245
Tire markings
__________________ 253
Tire sidewall labeling
____________ 252
Tire sizes
_____________________ 296
Tire terminology and definitions
____ 254
Tire, changing
__________________ 262Tire, spare
_____________________ 260
Tires
_________________________ 244
Tools and spare wheel
___________ 260
Touching up paintwork ___________ 270
Towbar
_______________________ 190
Towbar load
___________________ 192
Towing
_______________________ 197
Towing a trailer
_________________ 190
Towing the car _________________ 198
Traction Control System (TCS)
_____ 175
Transmission oil, checking
________ 212
Transmission oil, grade
___________ 293
Transmission, automatic __________ 165
Transmission, manual
____________ 164
Transporting the car
_____________ 199
Treadwear indicators ____________ 247
Trip computer
___________________ 90
Trip meter
______________________ 90
Troubleshooting, A/C and ACC
_____ 274
Trunk lid, driving when open
_______ 196
Trunk lid, opening
________________ 51
Turbo gauge
____________________ 88
UUniform tire quality grading
________ 248
Upholstery care
_________________ 266
Upholstery, cleaning
_____________ 266
Useful tips on night driving
________ 197
Useful tips on starting
____________ 155
VVanity mirror
___________________ 134
Vehicle Data Collection
___________ 284
Vehicle identification number
______ 299
Vehicle recovery
________________ 199
WWarning labels
____________________ 8
Warning lights ___________________ 82
Warning triangle ________________ 102
Warnings and messages on SID,
Convertible
____________________ 71
Washer fluid ___________________ 221
Washer jets
____________________ 222
Washers
______________________ 103
Washing ______________________ 267
Washing a Convertible
___________ 268
Waxing and polishing
____________ 270
Wear indicators, tires _____________ 247
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inflates?
______________________ 43
Wheel replacement
______________ 250
Wheels and tires, sizes ___________ 296
When it is time for new tires
_______ 246
Windshield washers
_____________ 103
Windshield wipers
_______________ 103
Wing mirrors
___________________ 124
Winter driving __________________ 187
Winter tires
____________________ 257
93_US_M08.book Page 307 Friday, May 11, 2007 11:37 AM
ProCarManuals.com