2009 SAAB 9-3 belt

244 Car care
Uniform Tire Quality GradingQuality grades can be found where applica-
ble on the tire sidewall between tread shoul-
der and maximum section width. For exam-
ple:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates to the
system developed by the United States
National Highway Traffic Safety Administra-
tion, which grades tires by treadwear, trac-
tion and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United
States.) The grades ar e molded on the side-
walls of most passenger car tires. The Uni-
form Tire Quality Grading system does not
apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12
inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-pro-
duction tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary
with respect to these grades, they must also
conform to federal safety requirements and
additional General Motors Tire Perfor-
mance Criteria (TPC) standards.
NOTICEWide wheels and tires with side walls that
are too low can:
 Be damaged in potholes, etc.
 Cause springs, shock absorbers and
wheel bearings and body mountings
to be overloaded
 Affect the function of the ESP
®.
The speed and load limits of the tires
must not be exceeded; see page 249.
Wheels larger than 18" must not be fitted
on the Saab 9-3 for reasons above. The
permissible offset is 1.61 inch (41 mm).
WARNING
Mixing tires could cause you to lose con-
trol while driving. If you mix tires of differ-
ent sizes or types (radial and bias-belted
tires), the vehicle may not handle prop-
erly, and you could have a crash. Using
tires of different sizes may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use
the same size and type tires on all wheels.
It’s all right to drive with your compact
spare temporarily, it was developed for
use on your vehicle. See “Compact
spare” on page 256.
WARNING
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle,
the wheel rim flanges could develop
cracks after many miles of driving. A tire
and/or wheel could fail suddenly, causing
a crash. Use only radial-ply tires with the
wheels on your vehicle.
93_US_7carcare_MY09.fm Page 244 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:26 AM
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248 Car careTire Sidewall LabelingUseful information about a tire is molded
into it´s sidewall.
Tire size: The tire size ia a combination of
letters and numbers used to define a partic-
ular tire´s width, height, aspect ratio, con-
struction type and service description.
Department of Transportation (DOT):
The Department of Transportation (DOT)
code indicates that the tire is in compliance
with the U.S. Department of Transportation
Motor Vehicle Safety standards.
Tire Identificati on Number (TIN): The let-
ters and numbers following DOT code are
the Tire Identification Number (TIN). The
TIN shows the manufacturer and plant
code, tire size, and da te the tire was manu-
factured. The TIN is molded onto both sides
of the tire.
Tire Ply Material: The type of cord and
number of plies in the sidewall and under
the tread. Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG):

Tire manufacturers are required to grade
tires based on the performance factors:
treadwear, traction and temperature resis-
tance. For more information see “Uniform
Tire Quality Grading” on page 244.
Maximum Cold Infl ation Load Limit: Max-
imum load that can be carried and the max-
imum pressure needed to support that load.
For information on recommended tire pres-
sure see “Recommended lowest tire pres-
sure, cold tires” on page 291 and “Loading
Your Vehicle” on page 250.
Tire SizeThe following illustration shows an example
of a typical passenger car tire size.
Tire Width: The three-digit number indi-
cates the tire section width in millimeters
from sidewall to sidewall. 215
/55 R 16 93 H
||||||
abcdef
aTire Width
b Aspect Ratio
c Belt Rating
d Rim diameter
e Load range
f Speed rating
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249
Car care
Aspect ratio: A two-digit number that indi-
cates the tire height-to-width measure-
ments. For example, if the tire size aspect
ratio is “55”, as shown in item “C” of the illus-
tration, it would mean that the tire´s sidewall
is 55% as high as it is wide.
Belt Rating: A letter code is used to indicate
the type of ply construction in the tire. The
letter “R” means radial ply construction; the
letter “D” means diagonal or bias ply con-
struction; and the letter “B” means
belted-bias ply construction.
Rim Diameter: Diameter of the wheel in
inches.
Load range: The load range represents the
load carry capacity a tire is certified to carry.
Speed Rating: The maximum speed that a
tire is certified to carry a load. Speed ratings
range from “A” to “Z”.
Tire markingsAn example of the meaning of the different
markings in a tire size is given below for a
tire size of 225/45 R17 94H:
225 Tire section width, mm
45 Aspect ratio, i.e. the section height
as a percentage of the section
width
R Radial ply
17 Wheel rim diameter 17 in at bead
seats
94 Tire load index
H Speed rating
Tire load indices
91 Tire approved for max. 1355 lbs.
(615 kg)
93 Max. 1433 lbs. (650 kg)
94 Max. 1477 lbs. (670 kg)
95 Max. 1521 lbs. (690 kg)
97 Max. 1609 lbs. (730 kg)
98 Max. 1653 lbs. (750 kg) Speed ratings
Q Tire approved for speeds up to
100 mph (160 km/h)
S Max. 112 mph (180 km/h)
T Max. 118 mph (190 km/h)
H Max. 130 mph (210 km/h) V Max. 149 mph (240 km/h)
W Max. 168 mph (270 km/h) Y Max. 186 mph (300 km/h)
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250 Car care
Loading Your VehicleThis is an example of what your vehicle´s
Tire-Loading Information/Certification label
might look like. It is located on the B-pillar
and shows how much weight your vehicle
may properly carry. The label tells you the
proper size, and recommended inflation
pressures for the tires on your vehicle. It
also gives you important information about
the number of people that can be in your
vehicle and the total weight that you can
carry. This weight is called the Vehicle
Capacity Weight, and includes the weight of
all occupants, cargo and all nonfac-
tory-installed options.
Tire Terminology and DefinitionsAir Pressure: The amount of air inside the
tire pressing outward on each square inch of
the tire. Air pressure is expressed in pounds
per square inch (psi) or kilo pascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight: This means the com-
bined weight of optional accessories, for
example, automatic transmission, power
steering, power brakes, power windows,
power seats, radio and air conditioning.
Aspect Ratio: The relationship of a tire´s
height to its width.
Belt: A rubber coated layer of cords that is
located between the plies and the tread.
Cords may be made from steel or other rein-
forcing materials.
Bias Ply Tire: A pneumatic tire in which the
ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at
alternate angles substantially less than 90
degrees to the centerline of the tread.
Cold Inflation Pressure: The amount of air
pressure in a tire, measured in pounds per
square inch (psi) or ki lo pascal (kPa), before
a tire has built up heat from driving. See
“Inflation - Tire Pressure” on page 240.
Curb weight: This means the weight of a
motor vehicle with standard and optional
equipment including the maximum capacity
of fuel, oil and coolant, without passengers
and cargo.
This label can only be found on vehicles
sold in the U.S.
Vehicles sold in Canada have the tire
information label in the glove box, see
page 292.
TIN-codea Manufacturer´s Identification Mark
b Tire Size
c Tire Type Code
d Date of Manufacture93_US_7carcare_MY09.fm
Page 250 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:26 AM
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266 Car careSafety 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 co me 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 toward s 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.
Cleaning and caring for leather
upholsteryThe principal reason for treating leather
upholstery is to maintain its elegant appear-
ance and to provide it with a protective film.
Discolor at ion caused by dust and wear
mainly affects the lighter shades, although
this is not detrimental to the leather, indeed,
the patina resulting from use is often consid-
ered desirable in leather. But if the leather is
allowed to become too grubby, it can start to
look shabby. Vacuum the leather regularly
with a soft brush attachment to remove
loose dirt and dust.
The leather upholstery should be cleaned
and reconditioned twice a year in conjunc-
tion with spring and autumn inspections. In
very warm, dry climates the leather may
need more regular reconditioning. Use con-
ventional leather care products. Follow the
instructions on the packaging.
Do not use harsh polishing agents, cleaning
agents, sprays, coarse soap or hot water.
Semi-Anilin is a leather that is colored
throughout which only has a thin protective
finish and is accordingly more sensitive than
a surface colored l eather and therefore
need more care to keep the protection and
ageing properties.
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 your self. We recommend
that you contact a Saab dealer.93_US_7carcare_MY09.fm Page 266 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:26 AM
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273
Car care
Air conditioning (A/C)
TroubleshootingIf a fault occurs in the A/C system, there are
a number of checks you can perform your-
self. If the fault persists, however, have the
system checked at a workshop. We recom-
mend that you contact a Saab dealer.
Note
When the A/C system is running, the intake
air is dehumidified. The resultant condensa-
tion that forms on the evaporator is drained
off under the car. When the car is parked,
this may result in a small puddle forming on
the ground. The warmer the air and the
higher the relative humidity, the more con-
densation will be produced.Inadequate cooling1 Check that the condenser (in front of the radiator) has not become clogged with
dirt and insects.
2 Make sure that the compressor drive belt does not slip (see page 215).
3 Check the fuses for the ventilation fans and compressor (see page 235).
Maintenance The compressor drive belt should be inspected under the regular service
program.
 Clean away dirt and insects from the condenser and radiator to prevent clog-
ging. When washing the car, use the hose
to spray the radiator and condenser
(located in front of the radiator) from both
sides (both from the front of the car and
from inside the engine bay). Do not use a
pressure washer.
Caution: Do not hose down the radia-
tor and condenser while the engine is
hot.
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 mo nths 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
WARNING
 All repairs and adjustments to the A/C system must be carried out at a Saab
dealer authorized for this kind of work.
 The A/C system is pressurized. Do not break any connections or undo A/C
system components.
 Escaping gas can cause eye injury or other personal injury.NOTICE The A/C system is designed for use with R134a refrigerant.
 Refrigerant handling requires special equipment and special procedures for
charging and draining the system.
 Never mix R 134a with other refriger- ants.
NOTICEDo not use a pressure washer when
cleaning the condenser or radiator due to
the risk of damage.
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282 Customer Assistance and InformationVehicle Data Collection and
Event Data RecordersYour vehicle, like other modern motor vehi-
cles, has a number of sophisticated com-
puter systems that monitor and control sev-
eral aspects of the vehicle’s performance.
Your vehicle uses on-board vehicle comput-
ers to monitor emission control components
to optimize fuel economy, to monitor condi-
tions for air bag deployment and, if so
equipped, to provide anti-lock braking and
to help the driver control the vehicle in diffi-
cult driving situations. Some information
may be stored during regular operations to
facilitate repair of detected malfunctions;
other information is stored only in a crash
event by computer systems commonly
called event data recorders (EDR).
In a crash event, computer systems, such
as the Air Bag Sensing and Diagnostic
Module (SDM) in your vehicle may record
information about the condition of the vehi-
cle and how it was operated, such as data
related to engine speed, brake application,
throttle position, vehicle speed, steering
wheel angle, lateral acceleration, safety belt
usage, air bag readiness, air bag perfor-
mance, and the severity of a collision. This
information has been used to improve vehi-
cle crash performance and may be used to
improve crash performance of future vehi-
cles and driving safety. Unlike the data
recorders on many airplanes, these
on-board systems do not record sounds,
such as conversation of vehicle occupants.To read this information, special equipment
is needed and access to the vehicle or the
SDM is required.
Saab will not access information about a
crash event or share it with others other than
 With the consent of the vehicle owner or,
if the vehicle is leased, with the consent of
the lessee,
 In response to an official request of police
or similar government office,
 As part of Saab’s defense of litigation
through the discovery process, or
 As required by law.
In addition, once Saab collects or receives
data, Saab may
 Use the data for Saab research needs,
 Make it available for research where
appropriate confidentiality is to be main-
tained and need is shown, or
 Share summary data which is not tied to
a specific vehicle with non-Saab organi-
zations for research purposes.
Others, such as law enforcement, may have
access to the special equipment that can
read the information if they have access to
the vehicle or SDM.
If your vehicle is equipped with OnStar
®,
please check the OnStar
® subscription ser-
vice agreement or manual for information
on its operations and data collection.
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297 Index
IndexAABS brakes
____________________ 171
ACC
_________________________ 107
Adjustment, steering wheel
________ 118
Air filter
_______________________ 209
Airbag
_________________________ 32
All-wheel drive (XWD)
____________ 173
Anchorage eyes, SportSedan
______ 139
Anti-corrosion treatment
__________ 271
Antilock braking system __________ 171
Anti-spin
______________________ 173
Ashtrays ______________________ 134
Autochecking of lights, warning and
indicator lights
__________________ 87
Autodimming
___________________ 123
Automatic climate control (ACC)
____ 107
Automatic closing of moonroof
_____ 129
Automatic closing of windows,
SportSedan and SportCombi _____ 120
Automatic transmission
___________ 162
Automatic transmission, Sport mode

163
BBattery
_______________________ 214
Bedding-in of new brake pads
_____ 160
Before towing a trailer
____________ 191
Belt height, SportSedan and
SportCombi
____________________ 14Brake fluid, grade
_______________ 287
Brakes
________________________ 170
Braking _______________________ 170
Bulb changing
__________________ 218
Bulb table
_____________________ 232
Buying new tires
________________ 243
CCabin lighting, Convertible
_________ 79
Cabin lighting, SportSedan and
SportCombi
___________________ 131
Calibrating front electric windows with
pinch protection
________________ 78
Calibration of windows, SportSedan
and SportCombi _______________ 121
Car alarm
______________________ 56
Car transport ___________________ 196
Care of air conditioning
___________ 273
Cargo guard
___________________ 148
Cargo guard, SportWagon
________ 148
Cargo net, SportCombi
___________ 145
CHECK ENGINE light _____________ 83
Change of address notification
_____ 280
Changing a tire
_________________ 258
Changing bulbs _________________ 218
Changing the battery, remote control
_54
Changing wiper blades
___________ 216
Checking the number of remote
controls
_______________________ 53
Checks before towing a trailer
_____ 191
Child safety
_____________________ 24Child safety locks, rear doors
_______ 52
Child seats
______________________ 24
Cigarette lighter
_________________ 134
Cleaning the engine bay
__________ 267
Cleaning upholstery
______________ 266
Closing the soft top manually,
Convertible
____________________ 68
Closing the soft top, Convertible
_____ 64
Clutch interlock
_________________ 161
Comfort opening of moonroof
______ 129
Comfort opening of windows,
SportSedan and SportCombi _____ 119
Compact spare
_________________ 256
Compact spare wheel fitted, driving
with
_________________________ 258
Compass
______________________ 127
Convertible _____________________ 61
Convertible, washing
_____________ 268
Coolant
_______________________ 210
Cornering headlights
______________ 99
Crash memory, see EDR
_________ 282
Cruise control
__________________ 169
Cup holder
_____________________ 133
DDate codes, tires
________________ 253
Deactivating rear windows,
SportSedan and SportCombi
_____ 121
Deactivating the passenger door
window button, Convertible
________ 78
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