2008 SAAB 9-5 warning lights

59 Instruments and controls
This light indicates a malfunction in the
fuel-injection or ignition system.
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to
fully install the cap. See Fuel cap on page
147. The diagnostic system can determine
if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly
installed. A loose or missing fuel cap will
allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly
installed should turn the light off.
The car may still be driven with care and
with somewhat diminished performance
(see
page 144).
This light will come on if the engine oil pres-
sure is dangerously low. If the light flashes
or comes on while you are driving, stop the
car, switch off the engine and check the
engine oil level (see page 194).
This light will come on if the battery is dis-
charging. If it comes on while you are driv-
ing, stop the car as soon as possible and
switch off the engine.
Check the alternator drive belt (see page
201). If the belt has broken:
the engine may overheat (cooling system
will not function properly)
the battery will not be charged
the A/C compressor will not run and
power assistance for the steering will be
lost.This light will come on if there is insufficient
brake fluid in the reservoir (see pages 196).
If the ABS warning light is on at the same
time, the ABS system may be inoperative
because of a fault (see ”Anti-lock brake
warning”, page 60).
NOTEThe car should be checked immediately
at a workshop to prevent more serious
faults from arising. We recommend that
you contact an authorized Saab dealer.
Warning, oil pressure
(engine oil)
NOTEUnder no circumstances must the car be
driven when this warning light is on. Low
oil pressure can result in serious engine
damage.
Warning, charging
Brake warning light
WARNING
Never drive the car when this warning
lights is on. Danger of brake failure!
If the level of brake fluid in the reser-
voir is below the MIN mark, the car
should be towed to a workshop. We
recommend that you contact an
authorized Saab workshop.
Have the brake system checked at
once by a workshop. We recommend
that you contact an authorized Saab
dealer.
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60 Instruments and controlsThis light will show when the parking brake
is on (see page 165).
The parking brake is mechanical and oper-
ates on the rear wheels. This light will come on if a fault has occurred
in the ABS system.
On certain variants and can light
up to indicate a fault in the electronic brake
force distribution system (distribution of the
brake pressure between the front and rear
wheels).
Conventional braking without the ABS func-
tion will still be available.
For safety reasons, stop the car and check
the level of the brake fluid (see page 196).
If the level is normal, depress the brake
pedal firmly two or three times. Now check
the level again. If the level is still normal, you
may drive the car, with considerable cau-
tion, to the nearest authorized Saab dealer
to have the brake system checked.This light indicates that the headlights or the
parking lights are on.
Parking brake warning
light
WARNING
Always apply the parking brake when
parking, see page 165.
Always apply the parking brake
before removing the ignition key.
Do not apply the parking brake while
the car is moving.
Anti-lock brake warning
WARNING
If the ABS is inoperative, there is a
danger of the rear wheels locking up
on hard braking.
If the level of brake fluid in the reser-
voir is below the MIN mark, the car
should be towed to an authorized
Saab dealer.
Headlight and parking
light indicator
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61 Instruments and controls
This light will come on if a potentially serious
fault has occurred in the airbag system. The light will come on for about three sec-
onds when the ignition switch is turned to
the Start or Drive position. It should go out
after the engine has started.This light comes on when there is less than
about 2.5 gallons (10 liters) of fuel left in the
tank. This light indicates that there is a fault in the
Xenon headlight system, which consists of
xenon headlights and an automatic levelling
system.
If a fault arises in the Xenon headlight sys-
tem, the headlights will be angled down to
avoid impairing the vision of drivers in
oncoming traffic. Adjust your speed accord-
ingly as visibility will be reduced.
Airbag warning light
WARNING
If the airbag readiness light stays on
after you start your vehicle, it means
the airbag system may not be working
properly.
To help avoid injury to yourself or
others, have your vehicle serviced
right away if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
Indicator, fuel
NOTE
If the car runs out of fuel, air can be drawn
in with the fuel, which, in turn, can cause
the catalytic converter to be damaged by
overheating.
Xenon headlight fault
indicator3
33 3
NOTE
If the Xenon headlight fault indicator lights
up, have your car checked as soon as
possible a workshop. We recommend
that you contact an authorized Saab
dealer.
If you do not rectify the problem, nighttime
visibility will be poor since the range of the
headlights is reduced.
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62 Instruments and controlsThis light shows when the cruise-control
system is active (see page 159).
This light shows when the headlights are on
high beam (see page 73).
This light shows when the rear fog light is on
(see page 74).
The rear fog light is switched off automat-
ically when the engine is switched off. When
the fog light is next needed, it will have to be
switched on manually again.
The rear fog light consists of one light so it
should not be mistaken for brake lights.If a door has not been closed properly, the
pictogram will indicate the door concerned
(or tailgate).
This light will come on in cars with automatic
transmission when the S (SPORT) button
on the selector lever has been pressed
(position N or D) see page 158.
In this mode, the gear changes occur later,
at higher engine revs, giving the engine and
transmission a sportier feel.
To cancel the SPORT mode, press the S
button on the selector lever again. The
mode is also deselected automatically
when the selector lever is moved to P, R, M
or L, or when the ignition is switched off.On a car with an automatic transmission,
this warning symbol is illuminated if a fault
has been detected in the transmission.
Switch the ignition off and on again to check
if the fault persists.
Even if the fault persists, it is still possible in
most cases to drive the car (see page 154).
Have the automatic transmission checked
by an authorized Saab dealer as soon as
possible.

Indicator, cruise control
Indicator, high beam
Indicator, rear fog light
Indicator, open door
Indicator, SPORT-mode
automatic transmission3
33 3
Automatic transmission3
33 3,
fault indicator
NOTE
If the control module has actuated the
Limp-home function for the automatic
transmission, the car will remain in 5th
gear when D is selected, making it very
sluggish. To overcome this, select posi-
tion L to prevent unnecessary wear on the
transmission. The transmission then
starts in 2nd gear. When the car is moving
you can select position D.
When the indicator light is on, the car
must not be driven with a trailer attached.
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64 Instruments and controlsAutochecking of lights,
main instrument panel The above warning and indicator lights
should come on when the ignition is
switched on prior to starting. They should go
out after about 3 seconds.
The following lights light up until the engine
is started, presuming that no fault exists:
Oil pressure warning light .
Warning, charging .
InstrumentsTachometerThe tachometer indicates the engine speed
in thousands of revolutions per minute. The
needle may be allowed to enter the broken
red zone on the dial only for an instant.
A safety cut-out function (in the fuel system)
prevents the engine speed from exceeding
approximately 6,000 rpm.
Odometer and trip meter The odometer records the distance traveled
in miles on U.S. vehicles and on Canadian
vehicles the distance indicated is in kilome-
tres, and the trip meter in miles and tenths
(kilometres and tenths of kilometres on
Canadian vehicles). Reset button The reset button has two functions, deter-
mined by whether the ignition is ON or OFF.
When the ignition is ON, pressing the
button will reset the trip meter.
When the ignition is OFF, the display
lights up enabling you to read the odome-
ter and trip meter. Pressing the button a
second time will reset the trip meter.
IB4468
1 Cars with automatic transmission
IB3847
IB4157
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72 Instruments and controlsNIGHT PANELTo improve night-driving conditions inside
the car, the Night Panel mode can be
selected. In this mode, the amount of infor-
mation displayed is reduced, and only the
most important instruments and displays
will be illuminated.
When the NIGHT PANEL button is pressed,
only the speedometer will be illuminated, all
the other instruments illumination being
extinguished and their needles moved to
zero. The SID display will be extinguished
and the backlighting for switches and other
controls will be dimmed. Note: All indicator
and warning lights, together with the display
of CHECK messages, will operate as nor-
mal, except ”Outdoor temperature”, see
page 68.The following conditions will wake up the
respective displays in the Night-Panel
mode:
Setting of the Audio system or, SID
(display comes on for ten seconds).
CHECK message generated in the SID.
High engine revs cause the rev counter to
be illuminated until the engine speed has
fallen again.
If the quantity of fuel remaining falls below
4 gallons (15 liters), the fuel gauge will be
illuminated.
If the engine temperature rises above
normal, the temperature gauge will be illu-
minated.
In cars with automatic transmission, if the
selector lever is moved from D to position
M or L, the selector indication on the main
instrument panel will be illuminated.
To restore the displays and lighting to the
normal mode, press the NIGHT PANEL but-
ton.
Units and language versionsThe SID has four sets of units: CHECK messages can be displayed in six
language options: English, Swedish,
German, French, Italian and Spanish. Selecting units and language 1 Switch off the engine.
2 Briefly press i/SETbutton. Repeat this
until LANGUAGE/UNITS is displayed.
3 Hold i/SET depressed until a chime
sounds. Then select language using
or .
4 Briefly press the i/SET button. Then
select the units using or .
5 Briefly press the i/SET button. METRIC US GB IMPERIAL
km miles miles miles
km/h mph mph mph
liters US gal gallon gallon
°C °F °C °F
24-hour 12-hour 12-hour 12-hour
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74 Instruments and controlsCourtesy Headlight FeatureA delay function allows the headlights to
remain on low beam for about 30 seconds
after the driver’s door has been closed.
To activate this function,
Switch off the ignition and remove the key
Open the driver’s door
Pull the high/low beam control stalk
towards the steering wheel like you are
flashing the high beam, see page 73. The
low beam headlights will now come on
immediately after the driver’s door has
been closed (within 30 seconds) and will
remain on for about 30 seconds.
The length of time for this function can be
adjusted by your authorized Saab dealer.
Rear fog lightPress the button to switch on the rear fog
light, which will only come on if the head-
lights are on.
The rear fog light will go off automatically
when the engine is switched off. When the
fog light is next needed, it will have to be
switched on manually again.
The rear fog light consists of one light so it
is not be mistaken for brake lights.
Make sure you are familiar with the appli-
cable provincial/state law regarding the
use of rear fog lights.

WARNING
In poor visibility, avoid following the tail
lights of the vehicle in front of you. If the
vehicle stops suddenly, you may be
unable to avoid a crash and therefore risk
injury to yourself and others.
IB3855
Rear fog light
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76 Instruments and controlsFront fog lights3
33 3The front fog lights can be activated in both
low beam headlight and parking light posi-
tions. Fog lights should only be used in poor
visibility conditions.
Make sure you are familiar with the appli-
cable provincial/state law regarding the
use of fog lights.
Hazard warning lightsWhen this button is pressed, all the turn
signal indicators and a symbol in the button
flash simultaneously. If the ignition is on,
both indicator lights on the instrument panel
will also flash.
If the hazard warning lights are left on for
some time, the flasher frequency will be
reduced to save the battery.
Hazard warning lights should only be used
if the car constitutes a hazard to other road
users.
Reversing lightsThe reversing lights come on automatically
when reverse gear is engaged or selected
with the ignition switched on.
WARNING
Switch on the hazard flashers if the car
has to be left at the roadside on account
of a crash, engine trouble or a puncture.
If you carry a warning triangle or flares,
they should be set up along the side of the
road 300 ft. (100 m) behind your vehicle.
If the car is not clearly visible (e.g. over
the brow of a hill or bridge), place the tri-
angle/flare even further back.
IB3858
IB3859
Hazard warning lights
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