2008 SAAB 9-5 parking sensors

161 Starting and driving

ABS brakes
ABS (antilock braking system) modulates
the brake pressure to the respective
wheels. Wheel sensors detect if a wheel is
about to lock, and the control module
reduces the pressure to that wheel and then
increases it once more until the tendency is
detected again.
The brake system is equipped with an Elec-
tronic Brake-force Distribution device
(EBD), which distributes the brake pressure
between the front and rear wheels, in such
a way as to achieve optimum braking perfor-
mance irrespective of the car’s speed and
load.
WARNING
It is prudent to try your brakes from
time to time, especially when driving in
heavy rain, through water collected on
the road, in snow, on a wet road sur-
face or in salty slush. In such condi-
tions, the brakes may take longer than
normal to take effect. To rectify this,
touch the brake pedal periodically to
dry the brakes out.
The same applies after the car has
been washed or when the weather is
very humid.
Avoid parking the car with wet brakes.
Before parking, and if the traffic condi-
tions allow, brake quite heavily so that
the brake discs and pads warm up and
dry.
The brakes are power assisted and it
should be kept in mind that the servo
unit only provides the power assis-
tance when the engine is running.
The brake pressure required when the
engine is off,(e.g. when the car is
being towed) is roughly four times the
normal pedal force required. The
pedal also feels hard and unre-
sponsive.
WARNING
The additional safety afforded by the
ABS system is not designed to allow
drivers to drive faster but to make
normal driving safer.
To stop as quickly as possible, without
loss of directional stability, whether
the road surface is dry, wet or slippery,
press the brake pedal down hard-
without letting up (do not pump the
pedal), declutching simulta-
neously, and steer the car to safety.
95_US_M08.book Page 161 Friday, May 11, 2007 1:06 PM
ProCarManuals.com

168 Starting and drivingSaab Parking
Assistance3
33 3The parking aid system facilitates parking
and reversing. There are four sensors in
the rear bumper that detect objects up to
6 feet (1.8 metres) behind the car.The system uses four sensors in the rear
bumper. These emit ultrasound signals that
bounce back to the sensors off any objects
behind the car. The system, however,
cannot always detect small or narrow
objects or objects that do not reflect ultra-
sound back towards the car, such as pipes,
or the corner of a house or rectangular post.The system is activated automatically when
reverse is engaged or selected. When the
sensors detect an object within the moni-
tored area, the SID will display the text
"PARK ASSIST" and pulses of sound
(- - - - -) will be heard. The frequency of the
pulses increases as the car comes closer to
the object.
When the distance to the object is less
than 12 in. (30 cm), a continuous tone
will be heard.
WARNING
Responsibility always lies with the driver
when reversing.
Saab Parking Assistance can facilitate
reversing at low speeds, such as when
reverse parking.
Bear in mind that small and/or narrow
objects cannot always be detected by
the system.
IB1299
Area monitored by the sensors seen from
the side
IB1300
Area monitored by the sensors seen from
above
95_US_M08.book Page 168 Friday, May 11, 2007 1:06 PM
ProCarManuals.com

244 Car care and technical informationWashing the carWash your car frequently. To facilitate
cleaning, a suitable detergent can be added
to the water, which should be lukewarm.
Saab offers a full line of car care products,
including car wash, for the care of your vehi-
cle. See your dealer for available products
or visit www.saabcatalog.com (U.S. resi-
dents only).
Do not use a pressure washer at close
range on stone chip damage, scratches or
other damage to the paintwork. The paint
can otherwise start to flake.
Remove any bird droppings without delay,
as these can discolor the paintwork and
prove difficult to polish out.
Use a soft cloth moistened with methyl alco-
hol to remove splashes of tar or asphalt. Do
not use strong cleaners, as these can dry
out the paintwork.
The underside of the car also needs wash-
ing regularly, and this should be done extra
thoroughly at the end of winter. Clean the
underside of the car by hand if the car is
usually washed in an automatic car wash
without special facilities for underbody
cleaning.
Never wash or leave the car to dry in the
sun, but wipe it dry with a chamois leather
immediately after washing to avoid smears
and streaks.
Clean the window glass inside and out using
a high quality window cleaner. This is partic-
ularly important when the car is new, as
upholstery and trim have a tendency to
sweat a little at first.
Keep the glass well cleaned, as this helps to
prevent misting.

NOTEAvoid using any alcohol-based cleaners
on the front and rear light clusters, as
these can cause cracking of the lenses.
NOTEThe door mirrors must be fully
retracted before the car enters an
automatic car wash.
Remove fixed antennas, e.g. for
mobile phone, before putting car
through an automatic car wash.
Try your brakes on leaving a car wash.
Wet brake discs may reduce the per-
formance of the brakes.
Cars with Saab Parking Assistance:
Do not spray the sensors or closer
than 8 in. (20 cm) to the sensors with
a pressure washer, as this can
damage them.
95_US_M08.book Page 244 Friday, May 11, 2007 1:06 PM
ProCarManuals.com