2009 SAAB 9-3 maintenance

278 Customer Assistance and InformationMaintenance scheduleThe Maintenance Schedule prescribes a
service program to the purchaser/operator
of a Saab that is reasonable and necessary
to ensure the proper emission control sys-
tems function, safety and reliability of the
Saab automobile in normal use. Additional
maintenance is recommended for specific
components when the car is operated under
certain severe conditions. Proper mainte-
nance is always a good practice!
Authorized Saab dealers are equipped and
trained to meet your Saab’s service needs.
They regularly receive up-to-date Saab ser-
vice manuals and parts and technical ser-
vice bulletins from Saab and are able,
through their franchise agreement, to attend
Saab service schools, obtain Saab special
tools and technical assistance and pur-
chase original equipment service and
replacement parts.
Today’s complex automobiles should only
be entrusted to the most knowledgeable
service professionals. A Saab dealer is your
best choice.
SERVICE INTERVALSA time for service message will illuminate on
the Saab Instrument Display (SID) when the
car is due for regular maintenance.
There are three different service types:
MAIN SERVICE
Main service is performed at fixed odometer
intervals. These intervals vary between
markets and engine variants. Contact a
workshop for more information. We recom-
mend that you contact an authorized Saab
dealer.
Failure to perform scheduled maintenance
in a timely manner may result in serious
damage to key components or systems.INTERMEDIATE SERVICE
The intermediate service on the other hand,
is performed depending on e.g. number of
cold starts and the climate conditions which
the car is in. Therefore the interval can vary
for this service type.
MAIN AND INTERMEDIATE SERVICE
When the counter for these two service
types is close enough, a combined service
is performed. Time for service.
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279 Customer Assistance and Information
Engine oil and filter changesChanging the engine oil and filter is required
at every service point. Use only a Saab
approved long-life oil filter and engine oils
meeting the classifications stated in the
Warranty and Service Record Booklet. The
use of extra additives in the oil is not neces-
sary and is not recommended, and may be
harmful to turbochargers.
More frequent oil changes are recom-
mended if your vehicle is operated under
any of the following conditions:
 Most trips are less than 5–10 miles (8–
16 km). This is particularly important
when outside temperatures are below
freezing.
 Most trips include extensive idling
(frequent stop-and-go traffic).
 Most trips are through dusty areas (such
as construction zones).
 If the vehicle is used for delivery service,
police, taxi or other commercial applica-
tions.
If your driving habits match this description,
have the engine oil and filter changed in-
between normal services. These conditions
cause the engine oil to break down faster.
The Warranties and Service Record Book-
let has provisions to record extra oil
changes.
Service record retentionIt is the owner’s responsibility to retain ser-
vice records. If possible, you should keep
copies of all shop work orders for all service
and repairs, whenever performed. As indi-
cated in the new car and emission control
system warranties, it is important to docu-
ment that all necessary maintenance has
been done.
HOW THE SERVICE RECORD IS ORGA-
NIZED
The service record is comprised of a series
of coupons on which to record services as
they are performed. There are additional
coupons for documenting extra engine oil
and filter changes, extra automatic trans-
mission fluid services necessary for severe
service conditions, and brake fluid changes.
HOW TO USE THE SERVICE RECORD
COUPONS
When the car is brought to a Saab dealer for
scheduled maintenance, present the War-
ranties & Service Record Booklet to the ser-
vice manager. When the technician has
completed the service, the technician will
sign the maintenance record. The person
responsible for quality assurance at the
dealership will also sign and stamp the
record with the dealer identification stamp.
Service costsDealer pricing practices and labor for ser-
vice work vary. Saab’s recommended ser-
vice times for each service point do not
include the labor required to replace wear
items, such as wiper blades, brake pads or
tires. Nor is labor to perform other service or
repairs found to be necessary as a result of
the inspections included in these times.
Additional labor and parts will be charged
for such work when necessary, except as
covered under an applicable Saab warranty
or any optional extended service contract.
Transmission fluid changes or suspension
alignment, when necessary, are also addi-
tional.
Dealer charges for general shop material,
regulated hazardous waste removal, recy-
cling expenses or other operation costs may
also be applied to service and repair
invoices and are apt to vary by dealer and
location.
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299 Index
Headlight flasher
_________________ 99
Headlight levelling ________________ 98
Headlights
______________________ 98
Hood
_________________________ 202
Horn _________________________ 118
Horn button
____________________ 118
IIf a tire goes flat
________________ 247
Ignition switch
__________________ 150
Immobilizer
_____________________ 55
Important considerations for driving
_153
Important information, petrol-engined
cars with catalytic converters
_____ 154
Indicator lights
___________________ 82
Inflation, tires __________________ 240
Information about fuel
____________ 158
Instrument illumination, adjusting
___ 100
Interior lighting, Convertible
________ 79
Interior lighting, SportSedan and
SportCombi
___________________ 131
Interior rearview mirror
___________ 123
Intermittent malfunctioning, central
locking
_______________________ 50
JJump starting
__________________ 197
KKey
___________________________ 48
Kick-down
_____________________ 164
LLabeling, tire sidewall
____________ 248
Labels and plates, location
________ 292
Lashing eyes, SportCombi ________ 144
Lashing eyes, SportSedan ________ 139
Laying the car up
_______________ 179
LATCH (child safety) ______________ 25
Leather upholstery, cleaning
_______ 266
Lighting in luggage compartment,
Convertible
____________________ 79
Limp-home
____________________ 154
Limp-home, automatic transmission
_165
Load carriers, roof
_______________ 192
Load indices, tires _______________ 249
Loading your vehicle _____________ 250
Load-through hatch, SportCombi
___ 143
Load-through hatch, SportSedan ___ 138
Locking a car with flat battery
_______ 51
Locks
__________________________ 48
Long-term parking
_______________ 179
Luggage compartment
___________ 136
Luggage compartment lighting,
Convertible
____________________ 79
Luggage compartment lighting,
SportSedan _______________ 132
, 140Luggage compartment lighting,
changing
_____________________ 230
MMain instrument panel
_____________ 82
Main/dipped beam
________________ 99
Maintenance schedule
___________ 278
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
_________ 83
Manual gear selection
____________ 168
Manual gearbox
_________________ 161
Manual tripping of car alarm
________ 58
Materials used in the car, reclamation
272
MAXI fuses
____________________ 234
Memory, driver’s seat
_____________ 21
Messages on SID, Convertible
______ 71
Milometer
_______________________ 90
Moonroof ______________________ 128
Mug holder ____________________ 133
NNew tires, buying
________________ 243
Number plate lighting, changing
____ 229
OORVR
________________________ 205
Opening handles
_________________ 48
Opening the soft top, Convertible
____ 64
Outside mirrors
_________________ 122
Owner assistance _______________ 280
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