2009 SAAB 9-3 catalytic converter

86 Instruments and controlsThis light comes on when there is less than
about 2.5 gallons (10 liter) of fuel left in the
tank.
This light indicates that the headlights or
parking lights are on.
This light comes on when the system is
engaged.This symbol lights up when the system is
operative.
Operation of the ESP
® indicates reduced
cohesion between the tires and the road,
and that extra care should be taken by the
driver.This symbol lights up when the system is
disengaged, see page 176.
If there is a malfunction, the symbol cannot
be turned off by pressing the ESP
® button.
The following message is shown on the
Saab Information Display (SID):
If so, have the system checked at a Saab
dealer.
See also Electronic Stability Program ESP
®
on page 175.
Indicator, fuel
NOTICE
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.
Headlight and parking
light indicator
Cruise control indicator
light
ESP
® indicator
ESP® OFF indicatorWARNING
The system improves stability and
maneuverability under slippery road and
extreme driving conditions. It must how-
ever not be regarded as a system
to enable the driver to maintain higher
speeds. The same precautions as
normal for safe cornering and driving
on slippery roads must be adopted (see
pages 173/ 175).
Stability control failure.
Contact service.
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154 Starting and drivingThe light comes on in the event of an engine
or gearbox fault (cars with automatic gear-
box), which may cause driveability prob-
lems but that does not affect exhaust emis-
sion. The car can still be driven but perhaps
with limited performance.
Contact a dealer whenever an opportunity
occurs. We recommend that you contact a
Saab dealer.
Limp-homeThe engine management system has a
diagnostic feature that checks a number of
internal functions. If a fault is detected in the
throttle valve, the engine management
system will set the throttle system to the
limp-home mode. This means:
 idling control will be poor (uneven idling
since regulated by ignition and fuel
supply)
 engine performance will be reduced
 the cruise control will not function
 the capacity of the A/C compressor will be
limited.
If the diagnosis function detects a fault in the
engine management system, the light
"Service Engine Light also known as
CHECK ENGINE" indicator light in the
instrument panel will come on (see
page 83). Have the car checked at a work-
shop as soon as possible. We recommend
that you contact a Saab dealer.
Important considerations with
catalytic convertersThe catalytic converter is an emission con-
trol device incorporated in the car’s exhaust
system. It consists of a metal canister with a
honeycomb insert, the cells of which have
walls coated in a catalytic layer (precious
metal alloy).
NOTICE If the engine sounds strange there is a
malfunction. We recommend that you
contact a Saab dealer immediately.
 The use of fuel with too low an octane
rating can cause serious engine dam-
age.
Limited performance.
NOTICEIf "Service Engine Light also known
as CHECK ENGINE" indicator light warn-
ing light starts to flash (indicating that the
engine is misfiring and the catalytic con-
verter can be damaged), ease off the
accelerator slightly. The light should go
out or start to shine constantly. If the light
continues to flash despite easing off the
accelerator, you may continue to drive the
car but at the minimum throttle permitted
by the current traffic situation. Have the
car checked as soon as possible. We rec-
ommend that you contact a Saab dealer.NOTICEUse only unleaded gasoline. Leaded gas-
oline is detrimental to the catalyst and
oxygen sensor and will seriously impair
the function of the catalytic converter.
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155 Starting and driving
To ensure that the catalytic converter con-
tinues to function properly, and also to avoid
damage to the converter and its associated
components, the following points must be
observed:
 Have the car serviced regularly in accor-
dance with the service program.
 Always be alert to any misfiring of the
engine (not running on all cylinders) and
any loss of power or performance. At the
first sign of a malfunction, reduce speed
and take the car to a workshop. We
recommend that you contact a Saab
dealer. If the engine fails to start (in severe cold or
if the battery is flat), the car can be bump
started (manual transmission only) or
started using jump leads to a donor
battery. However, as soon as you have
started the engine, it is important that it
runs on all cylinders. If it is misfiring, allow
it to idle for up to 5 minutes to give it time
to settle and run smoothly. If, after this
time, the engine still fails to run properly,
switch off the engine to avoid serious
damage to the catalytic converter. We
recommend that you contact a Saab
dealer for advice.
 Never park the car on dry grass or other
combustible material. The catalytic
converter gets very hot and could there-
fore start a fire.
 Never drive off if the engine is misfiring.
 If you bump start the car when the engine
is already at normal working temperature,
the engine must start to run on all cylin-
ders. Abort bump starting if the engine
fails to start immediately.
Failure to strictly follow these instructions
can result in damage to the catalytic con-
verter and associated components, and
could represent a breach of the warranty
conditions.
NOTICEIf the car runs out of gas, air may be drawn
in with the fuel, which, in turn, can cause
the catalytic converter to be damaged by
overheating.
WARNING
If the engine is being run with the car on a
rolling road or dynamometer, to ensure
adequate cooling, air must be blown into
the engine compartment and under the
car at a rate equivalent to the ram-air
effect that would obtain at the corre-
sponding road speed.
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163 Starting and driving
Park Brake Shift LockThe transmission has a security function
known as Park Brake Shift Lock. To move
the gear selector lever out of the P or N posi-
tion, the gear selector lever detent (catch)
must be pressed in at the same time as the
brake pedal is held depressed.
The detent button on the selector lever has
to be pressed in before the lever can be
moved between certain positions.
Temporary override of Park Brake Shift
Lock, see page 166.
Adaptive gear change patternsThe adaptive gear change pattern function
adapts gear changing to the prevailing driv-
ing conditions. The transmission control
module senses the engine load, vehicle
speed and temperature of the transmission.
A suitable gear change pattern is then
selected automatically to avoid unneces-
sary gear changes and undesired increases
in transmission temperature.
Certain variants use a special change pat-
tern for the first few minutes after a cold start
so that the catalytic converter reaches its
working temperature more quickly.
Sport modeSport mode is selected using the
button, while the word SPORT illuminates
on the SID . Changing up occurs later
and changing down occurs earlier at the
same accelerator pedal position.
Sport mode will deselected if:
 The Sport button is depressed again
 The engine is switched off.
Selector lever detent93_US_MY09.book Page 163 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:30 AM
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203
Car care
EngineTurbo 4-cylinder engineThe engine is a transverse four-cylinder
in-line engine with twin overhead camshafts
and 16 valves.
The engine is equipped with two balance-
shafts that reduce engine vibrations to a
minimum.
The balance shafts are chain-driven and
rotate at twice the speed of the crankshaft.
They produce forces and torques that are
opposed to those generated by the pistons
and connecting rods. The effect occurs
twice in each revolution of the engine, coun-
teracting the vibration from its moving parts,
and at the same time reducing unwanted
engine noise.
The gearbox, located on the right (viewed
from the front), is integrated with the engine.
Turbo V6 engineThe V6 engine is a turbocharged V6 engine
produced completely of aluminium with 60°
between the cylinder banks, 4 valves per
cylinder, 2 camshafts per bank.
The camshafts are driven via a chain trans-
mission. The engine is equipped with a
turbo whose turbine collects exhaust pres-
sure from both banks of cylinders.
To obtain optimum performance, fuel con-
sumption and low emission levels the
engine is equipped with CVCP (Continuous
Variable Cam Phasing). This means that
the engine’s intake camshafts can be
adjusted to achieve optimum functionality.
The switches are hydraulic.
Engine familiesSaab cars imported into the United States
and Canada meet all applicable emission
control standards. The engine family and
appropriate tune-up specifications are iden-
tified on a label in the engine bay.
These engine families meet applicable EPA
Federal Standards, Ca lifornia State Stan-
dards and Canadian Federal Standards and
are equipped with the following systems:
 Sequential multiport fuel injection system
 Three way catalytic converter
 Crankcase emissi ons control system
 Evaporative emission system.
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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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