2009 SAAB 9-3 snow chains

185 Starting and driving
Driving in cold weatherIn cold weather, special attention should be
paid to the following:
 Before driving off, make sure that the
wiper blades have not frozen to the wind-
shield.
 Remove any snow from the heating
system air intakes between the hood and
the windshield.
 If necessary, inject oil into the locks to
prevent them from freezing. Use molyb-
denum-sulfide oil (MoS
2). If the locks
freeze, exercise care when unlocking the
car (manual unlocking) to avoid breaking
the key. Warm up the key or use a de-icer.
 It is particularly important when the roads
are slippery that the brakes and tires are
in good condition.
 For how to check the level of antifreeze in
the engine coolant, see page 210. Add gasoline anti-freeze when refueling
several times before the onset of winter.
This will prevent condensation water in
the fuel tank from freezing and causing
interruptions in the fuel supply. The likeli-
hood of condensation is lowest when the
fuel tank is full.
If the car is parked outside and the
temperature is below zero, gasoline anti-
freeze is of little use as it cannot remove
water that has already frozen. Park the
car in a warm place so that any ice that
may have built up melts, then add gaso-
line anti-freeze when refueling.
Condensation is caused by temperature
fluctuations, either in the outside temper-
ature alone or when the car is alternately
parked outdoors and in a garage.
Convertible: Avoid operating the soft top
at temperatures below 23 °F (–5 °C). The car is equipped with tires designed to
provide optimum grip on both wet and dry
roads, although this has been achieved at
the expense of somewhat reduced grip on
snow and ice. For regular driving on snow
and ice, we therefore recommend that
winter tires be fitted. However, winter tires
achieve this extra grip at the expense of
grip on bare road surfaces.
Winter tires, particularly studded tires, gen-
erally make driving safer on snow and ice.
Acquaint yourself with the legal provi-
sions governing the use of different
types of winter tires and snow chains.
Studded tires are not allowed in some
countries. If winter tires are fitted, the same
type must be fitted to all four wheels. Your
Saab dealer will be pleased to advise you on
the best tires for your car.
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186 Starting and drivingRemember that tires age: it may therefore
be necessary to change winter tires before
they reach the legal wear limit, as they grad-
ually lose their friction properties with age.
If you get into a front wheel skid and the car
has a manual transmission, the best
response is to freewheel, which means
declutching so that the wheels neither drive
nor brake, and to cautiously steer in the
desired direction.
If the car has automatic transmission, ease
off the accelerator slightly and steer cau-
tiously in the desired direction.
If you get into a rear wheel skid, steer in the
same direction as the movement of the rear
of the car.
Driving with tire chains3Snow chains must only be fitted to the wheel
and tire dimensions that Saab recommends
in "Technical data" on page 283.
We recommend that you contact a Saab
dealer regarding approved tire chains. See
also page 247.
WARNING
 Do not drive at speeds above 30 mph
(50 km/h) when tire chains are fitted.
 Tire chains can reduce directional sta-
bility.
 Do not fit tire chains to the car’s rear
wheels.
NOTICE Check the links frequently for wear.
 Check that the chains do not foul the
wheel arch liner at full lock.
 Refer to the "Technical data" section
on page 283, for information on wheel
and tire dimensions approved for the
fitting of tire chains.
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247
Car care
Tire Chains
Notice: If your vehicle does not have
235/45R17 size tires, use tire chains only
where legal and only when you must.
Contact your Saab d ealer regarding suit-
able snow chains. Install them on the
front tires and tighten them as tightly as
possible with the ends securely
fastened. Drive slowly and follow the
chain manufacturer’s instructions. If you
can hear the chains contacting your
vehicle, stop and reti ghten them. If the
contact continues, slow down until it
stops. Driving too f ast or spinning the
wheels with chains on will damage your
vehicle.
If a Tire Goes FlatIt’s unusual for a tire to “blowout” while
you’re driving, especially if you maintain
your tires properly. If air goes out of a tire,
it’s much more likely to leak out slowly. But
if you should ever have a “blowout”, here are
a few tips about what to expect and what to
do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a
drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side.
Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and
grip the steering wheel firmly. Steer to main-
tain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts
much like a skid and may require the same
correction you’d use in a skid. In any rear
blowout, remove your foot from the acceler-
ator pedal. Get the vehi cle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go.
It may be very bumpy and noisy, but you can
still steer. Gently brake to a stop – well off
the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to
use your jacking equipment to change a flat
tire safely.
WARNING
If your vehicle has 235/45 R17 size tires,
don’t use tire chains, there’s not enough
clearance.
Tire chains used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can cause
damage to the brakes, suspension or
other vehicle parts. The area damaged by
the tire chains could cause you to lose
control of your vehicle and you or others
may be injured in a crash.
Use another type of traction device only if
its manufacturer recommends it for use
on your vehicle and tire size combination
and road conditions. Follow that manu-
facturer’s instructions. To help avoid
damage to your vehicle, drive slowly,
readjust or remove the device if it’s con-
tacting your vehicle, and don’t spin your
wheels.
If you do find traction devices that will fit,
install them on the front tires.93_US_7carcare_MY09.fm Page 247 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:26 AM
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258 Car careDriving with a compact wheel
fittedObserve the following when the compact
spare tire is fitted:
 The compact spare is light and easy to handle when changing a tire.
 Do not drive further than necessary with the compact spare fitted - the maximum
life of the tire is only just over 2,000 miles
(approx. 3,500 km).
 Refit the standard tire as soon as possi- ble.
 Fitting a spare tire/wheel without pressure sensor will trigger a malfunction
message, see page 255.
Important considerations when driving with
a compact spare tire:
 The car’s ground clearance is reduced.  The car must not be driven with more than
one compact spare tire at a time.
 Avoid driving against the curb.
 Do not use snow chains.
 Do not fit the wheel cover - this would conceal the warning text.
Changing a tire
WARNING
 Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h). The
tire can overheat affecting the car’s
road holding.
 Tire pressure: refer to page 291.
 The spare tire or punctured tire must be stowed under the trunk floor, and
secured in place with the retaining nut.
WARNING
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. The jack provided with your
vehicle is designed only for changing a
flat tire. If it is used for anything else, you
or others could be badly injured or killed if
the vehicle slips off the jack. Use the jack
provided with your vehicle only for chang-
ing a flat tire.
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The
vehicle can slip off the jack and roll over
or fall on you or other people. You and
they could be badly injured or even killed.
Find a level place to change your tire. To
help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1 Set the parking brake firmly.
2 If you have an automatic transmis- sion, put the shift lever in PARK (P).
For a manual transmission, leave the
car in gear (1st or REVERSE (R)).
3 Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle is raised.
4 Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
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259
Car care
When the car has to be lifted, the jack must
be positioned at one of the four jacking
points (front or rear) under the sill members.
If a floor jack is used, the lifting plate must
be positioned under the normal jacking
points, see illustration. If the car is equipped
with a towbar, the jack can also be placed
under this.
To be even more certain the vehicle won't
move, you should put blocks at the front
and rear of the tire farthest away from the
one being changed. That would be the
tire, on the other side, at the opposite end
of the vehicle.
 The car jack is designed solely for use
in changing a tire or fitting snow
chains. It must not be used to sup-
port the car during repair work or
servicing.
 Never crawl under a car that is sup-
ported only by a jack. Always use axle
stands.
 Raising your vehicle too high or with the jack improperly positioned can
damage the vehicle and even make
the vehicle fall. To help avoid personal
injury and vehicle damage, be sure to
fit the jack lift head into the proper
location before raising the vehicle, and
raise the vehicle only far enough off
the ground so there is enough room for
the spare tire to fit (no more than
25 mm or 1 inch clearance between
the ground and the bottom of the tire).
 Switch on the hazard warning lights if the car is on a road.
 The jack should be stored correctly under the carpeting in the trunk. If it
lies loose in the car, it could thrown for-
ward and cause personal injury in the
event of a crash or if the car rolls over.
 Grit, salt and rust can clog the inner threads of the wheel bolts if the car has
been driven for several years exclu-
sively with alloy wheels.
If steel wheels are being installed, the
bolt hole threads in the brake hubs
should be cleaned before the thinner
steel wheels are fitted. It may other-
wise not be possible to achieve the
correct clamping force, despite tight-
ening the wheel bolts to the correct
torque.
NOTICEApply the jack only to the jacking points
indicated on the body.Jacking points for floor jack
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289 Technical data
NOTICESnow chains
Snow chains must not be fitted to the rear wheels, and may only
be used with the following wheel-tire combinations:
Wheels Tires
6.5x16"_______ 215/55 R16 M+S or
215/55 R16
Before you purchase winter wheels we recommend that you obtain
information on the sizes suitable for your car. We therefore recom-
mend that you contact an authorised Saab dealer.
Contact your Saab dealer regarding suitable snow chains.
Snow chains must not protrude more than 0.35 in. (9 mm) from the
tire’s tread and its inside.
Snow chains must not be fitted to wheels larger than 16".
Snow chains must be tensioned after a short distance.
Max. permissible speed with snow chains fitted is 30 mph
(50 km/h).
Snow chains must not be fitted to wheels larger than 16".NOTICEWheels larger than 18" must not be fitted for reasons stated on
page 244.
Exercise care when driving on uneven roads or against the curb
if the car is heavily laden. This particularly applies to cars with
17" and 18" wheels.
Permitted wheel offset is 41 mm.
NOTICESnow chains
For all-wheel-drive models:
Wheel Tires
6.5x16_________225/55 R16 M+S
7x17__________ 215/50 R17 95 RF/XL M+S
Cars with the bigger brake discs (front brake disc diameter
13.58 in. (345 mm), must use 17"-wheels.
Before you purchase winter wheels we recommend that you obtain
information on the sizes suitable for your car. We therefore recom-
mend that you contact an authorised Saab dealer.
Contact your Saab dealer regarding suitable snow chains.
Snow chains must not protrude more than 0.35 in. (9 mm) from the
tire’s tread and its inside.
Snow chains must be tensioned after a short distance.
Max. permissible speed with snow chains fitted is 30 mph
(50 km/h).
Snow chains must not be fitted to the rear wheels, and may only
be used with the following wheel-tire combinations:
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290 Technical dataRecommended tire/engine combinations
2.0 Turbo V6 engine all-wheel-
drive
models
All season tires
215/55 R16 93 H
3
––
225/50 R17 94 V – –
3
235/45 R17 94 V
33
–
Summer tires
235/45 R18 94 Y –
3 *)
3
Winter (snow) tires
215/55 R16 93 Q
33
–
215/60 R16 95 Q –
3 *)
3
225/55 R16 95 Q
33
–
215/50 R17 95 Q RF/XL – –3 **)
225/50 R17 94 Q – –3 ***)
Wheel sizes
6.5x16"
33
–
7.5x17"
33
–
7x17 – –3
7.5x18 – –
3
RF/XL = Reinforced (or Extra Load) tire.
*) with XWD
**) with snow chains
***) no snow chains
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300 IndexPPanic function, car alarm
__________ 58
Park Brake Shift Lock
____________ 163
Park Brake Shift Lock, temporary
override
______________________ 166
Parking
_______________________ 177
Parking aid ____________________ 180
Parking brake __________________ 177
Parking on a hill ________________ 178
Pinch protection, electric windows,
SportSedan and SportCombi
_____ 120
Pinch protection, moonroof
________ 130
Plates and labels, location ________ 292
Polishing and waxing
____________ 270
Poly-V-belt
____________________ 215
Portable fuel container
___________ 158
Position lights
___________________ 98
Power steering fluid, checking
_____ 213
Pressure gauge
_________________ 88
Pressure, tires
__________________ 240
Profiles, customized settings
_______ 94
QQuality grading, tires
_____________ 244
Quick guide, remote control
________ 49
RRain sensor
____________________ 103
Raising the soft top manually,
Convertible ____________________ 68Reading lights, Convertible
_________ 79
Rear fog light
___________________ 101
Rear seat, folding down, SportCombi
141
Rear seat, safety belts
____________ 17
Rear seats, folding down, SportSedan
136
Rear towing eye
________________ 194
Rear windows, deactivating,
SportSedan and SportCombi
_____ 121
Rearview mirrors
________________ 122
Recommendations for automatic
transmission, towing a trailer
_____ 189
Recommendations for manual gearbox,
towing a trailer
________________ 190
Recommended snow chains
_______ 288
Refueling
______________________ 156
Reinstalling the fuel cap
__________ 157
Remote control
__________________ 48
Remote locking malfunction
________ 50
Replacement, wheel
_____________ 246
Reporting safety defects __________ 281
Rev counter
_____________________ 87
Reversing lights
________________ 102
Rollover Pop-up Bars, Convertible
___ 76
Roof lighting, SportSedan and
SportCombi
___________________ 131
Roof lighting, changing
___________ 228
Running-in
_____________________ 160
SSaab Information Display
__________ 89
Saab Parking Assistance _________ 180Safety belts
_____________________ 12
Safety belts, rear seat, SportSedan
and SportCombi
________________ 17
SAHR, head restraint _____________ 23
SDM
_________________________ 282
SID
___________________________ 89
SPA __________________________ 180
Seat belts
______________________ 12
Seat belts in rear seat, Convertible
___ 75
Seat belts, care
_________________ 266
Seat belts, checking
_____________ 266
Seats
__________________________ 18
Securing a load
_________________ 139
Sentronic, manual gear selection
___ 168
Service Engine Lamp
_____________ 83
Service costs
___________________ 279
Service information
______________ 280
Service intervals
________________ 278
Service record retention
__________ 279
Signalling, horn
_________________ 118
Ski hatch, SportCombi
____________ 143
Ski hatch, SportSedan ____________ 138
Spare wheel
___________________ 256
Speed ratings, tires
______________ 249
Speedometer
____________________ 87
Sport mode, automatic transmission
_163
Starting the engine
______________ 152
Steering wheel adjustment
________ 118
Steering wheel lock
______________ 151
Steps for determining correct load
limit
_________________________ 252
Storage compartments
___________ 134
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