2009 SAAB 9-5 check engine light

58 Instruments and controls
Indicator and warning
lights A number of indicator and warning lights will
come on when the ignition is switched on
prior to starting. Under normal conditions,
these should go out a few seconds after the
engine has started (see page 64).
Service Engine Light also
known as CHECK ENGINE
WARNING
An illuminated ”Service Engine Light also
known as CHECK ENGINE” indicator
light indicates an engine-related problem.
While your car may be able to be driven
with the ”Service Engine Light also known
as CHECK ENGINE” indicator light illumi-
nated (Limp-home mode), you are
advised to have your car serviced at an
authorized Saab dealer as soon as possi-
ble.
Continued driving without this problem
being corrected might cause serious fur-
ther damage to your car and create
unsafe driving conditions. The driver
should be prepared to take action if such
unsafe conditions arise (e.g.brake
smoothly, engage neutral, stop in a suita-
ble place, switch off the engine, etc.).
Main instrument panel 1 Tachometer
2 Indicator and warning lights
3 Speedometer
4 Indicator and warning lights
5 Pressure gauge 36 Fuel gauge
7 Engine temperature gauge
8 Odometer and trip meter
9 Trip meter reset button
IB4117
U.S. shown, Canada similar
95_US_MY09.book Page 58 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:03 AM
ProCarManuals.com

59 Instruments and controls
This light indicates a malfunction in the
fuel-injection or ignition system.
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to
fully install the cap. See Fuel cap on page
147. The diagnostic system can determine
if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly
installed. A loose or missing fuel cap will
allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly
installed should turn the light off.
The car may still be driven with care and
with somewhat diminished performance
(see page 144).
This light will come on if the engine oil pres-
sure is dangerously low. If the light flashes
or comes on while you are driving, stop the
car, switch off the engine and check the
engine oil level (see page 192).
This light will come on if the battery is dis-
charging. If it comes on while you are driv-
ing, stop the car as soon as possible and
switch off the engine.
Check the alternator drive belt (see page
199). If the belt has broken:
 the engine may overheat (cooling system
will not function properly)
 the battery will not be charged
 the A/C compressor will not run and
 power assistance for the steering will be
lost.This light will come on if there is insufficient
brake fluid in the reservoir (see pages 194).
If the ABS warning light is on at the same
time, the ABS system may be inoperative
because of a fault (see ”Anti-lock brake
warning”, page 60).
NOTICEThe car should be checked immediately
at a workshop to prevent more serious
faults from arising. We recommend that
you contact an authorized Saab dealer.
Warning, oil pressure
(engine oil)
NOTICEUnder no circumstances must the car be
driven when this warning light is on. Low
oil pressure can result in serious engine
damage.
Warning, charging
Brake warning light
WARNING
 Never drive the car when this warning
lights is on. Danger of brake failure!
 If the level of brake fluid in the reser-
voir is below the MIN mark, the car
should be towed to a workshop. We
recommend that you contact an
authorized Saab workshop.
 Have the brake system checked at
once by a workshop. We recommend
that you contact an authorized Saab
dealer.
95_US_MY09.book Page 59 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:03 AM
ProCarManuals.com

61 Instruments and controls
This light will come on if a potentially serious
fault has occurred in the airbag system. The light will come on for about three sec-
onds when the ignition switch is turned to
the Start or Drive position. It should go out
after the engine has started.This light comes on when there is less than
about 2.5 gallons (10 liters) of fuel left in the
tank. This light indicates that there is a fault in the
Xenon headlight system, which consists of
xenon headlights and an automatic levelling
system.
If a fault arises in the Xenon headlight sys-
tem, the headlights will be angled down to
avoid impairing the vision of drivers in
oncoming traffic. Adjust your speed accord-
ingly as visibility will be reduced.
Airbag warning light
WARNING
 If the airbag readiness light stays on
after you start your vehicle, it means
the airbag system may not be working
properly.
 To help avoid injury to yourself or
others, have your vehicle serviced
right away if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
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.
Xenon headlight fault
indicator3
NOTICE
If the Xenon headlight fault indicator lights
up, have your car checked as soon as
possible a workshop. We recommend
that you contact an authorized Saab
dealer.
If you do not rectify the problem, nighttime
visibility will be poor since the range of the
headlights is reduced.
95_US_MY09.book Page 61 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:03 AM
ProCarManuals.com

62 Instruments and controlsThis light shows when the cruise-control
system is active (see page 159).
This light shows when the headlights are on
high beam (see page 73).
This light shows when the rear fog light is on
(see page 74).
The rear fog light is switched off automat-
ically when the engine is switched off. When
the fog light is next needed, it will have to be
switched on manually again.
The rear fog light consists of one light so it
should not be mistaken for brake lights.If a door has not been closed properly, the
pictogram will indicate the door concerned
(or tailgate).
This light will come on in cars with automatic
transmission when the S (SPORT) button
on the selector lever has been pressed
(position N or D) see page 158.
In this mode, the gear changes occur later,
at higher engine revs, giving the engine and
transmission a sportier feel.
To cancel the SPORT mode, press the S
button on the selector lever again. The
mode is also deselected automatically
when the selector lever is moved to P, R, M
or L, or when the ignition is switched off.On a car with an automatic transmission,
this warning symbol is illuminated if a fault
has been detected in the transmission.
Switch the ignition off and on again to check
if the fault persists.
Even if the fault persists, it is still possible in
most cases to drive the car (see page 154).
Have the automatic transmission checked
by an authorized Saab dealer as soon as
possible.

Indicator, cruise control
Indicator, high beam
Indicator, rear fog light
Indicator, open door
Indicator, SPORT-mode
automatic transmission3
Automatic transmission3,
fault indicator
NOTICE
If the control module has actuated the
Limp-home function for the automatic
transmission, the car will remain in 5th
gear when D is selected, making it very
sluggish. To overcome this, select posi-
tion L to prevent unnecessary wear on the
transmission. The transmission then
starts in 2nd gear. When the car is moving
you can select position D.
When the indicator light is on, the car
must not be driven with a trailer attached.
95_US_MY09.book Page 62 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:03 AM
ProCarManuals.com

63 Instruments and controls
The ESP
® indicator light is located in the
tachometer and will be illuminated when the
ESP
® regulation is occurring, i.e. when
there is insufficient traction between the
tires and the road surface to provide the grip
required for the acceleration called for. The
driver can also sense that the engine is not
responding normally to the accelerator.
Operation of the ESP
® indicates reduced
traction between the tires and the road, and
that extra care should be taken by the driver.
In normal driving, the ESP
® system will help
to improve both ride comfort and safety, but
must not be regarded as a system to enable
the driver to drive at or maintain a higher
rate of speed. The same precautions for
safe cornering and driving on slippery roads
must still be applied (see page 163).The indicator light goes on when the system
is switched off with the ESP
® button.
IMPORTANT: the system is automatically
engaged every time the engine is started
(see page 163).
The indicator light also goes on when there
is a fault in the system. In this case the light
cannot be turned off by means of the ESP
®
button. If a fault is indicated, have the
system checked by an authorized Saab
dealer.
See also Electronic Stability Program
(ESP
®) on page 163.The lamp illuminates if the tire pressure in
one or more tires is too low or if a fault has
arisen in the system, see page 232.
Below is an example of the message simul-
taneously shown on the SID:
ESP
® system, indicator
ESP
® system, OFF-indica-
tor
Warning, tire pressureLow tire pressure front
left. Make a safe stop.
95_US_MY09.book Page 63 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:03 AM
ProCarManuals.com

64 Instruments and controlsAutochecking of lights,
main instrument panel The above warning and indicator lights
should come on when the ignition is
switched on prior to starting. They should go
out after about 3 seconds.
The following lights light up until the engine
is started, presuming that no fault exists:
 Oil pressure warning light .
 Warning, charging .
InstrumentsTachometerThe tachometer indicates the engine speed
in thousands of revolutions per minute. The
needle may be allowed to enter the broken
red zone on the dial only for an instant.
A safety cut-out function (in the fuel system)
prevents the engine speed from exceeding
approximately 6,000 rpm.
Odometer and trip meter The odometer records the distance traveled
in miles on U.S. vehicles and on Canadian
vehicles the distance indicated is in kilome-
tres, and the trip meter in miles and tenths
(kilometres and tenths of kilometres on
Canadian vehicles). Reset button The reset button has two functions, deter-
mined by whether the ignition is ON or OFF.
 When the ignition is ON, pressing the
button will reset the trip meter.
 When the ignition is OFF, the display
lights up enabling you to read the odome-
ter and trip meter. Pressing the button a
second time will reset the trip meter.
IB4468
1 Cars with automatic transmission
IB3847
IB4157
95_US_MY09.book Page 64 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:03 AM
ProCarManuals.com

71 Instruments and controls
CHECK messages When the engine is started, CHECKING will
appear on the display for about 4 seconds
while the SID CHECK functions are being
performed.
When a CHECK message is activated while
driving, a chime sounds and the message
appears in SID. The number of possible
CHECK messages varies depending on the
car’s specifications.
If more than one CHECK message has
been generated, the
+ symbol will appear to
the left of the text on the display. The mes-
sages appear in order of priority.
If a new fault occurs whilst another message
is being displayed, the message relating to
the new one will appear for 10 seconds,
after which the display will return to the ear-
lier one.
Briefly press the CLR button to acknowl-
edge a message from the display. After
acknowledgement, the message is dis-
played each time the ignition is re-started
until remedied.The following messages may be displayed:
1) This message will be displayed approximately
600 miles (1,000 km) before the next scheduled
service is due, or when 365 days have elapsed
since the last service. The message should be
cleared at the time of that service (see the Saab
Warranties & Service Record Booklet).
This message can also be deleted by pressing
the CLR button for at least eight seconds until a
chime sounds. The message can only be deleted
when it is shown on the SID.
*) 9-5 SportCombi: the high-mounted stop light is
not included in the autocheck of lights.
Message See page
Use your seatbelts. 12
Front light failure. 202
Rear light failure. 206
Fog light failure. 203
Brake light failure.
*)
206
Washer fluid level low.
Refill. 201
Coolant level low.
Refill. 193
Remote control battery
low. Replace battery. 49
Key not accepted.
Contact service. 54
Theft protection failure.
Contact service. 54
Gearbox too hot.
Make a safe stop. 154
Tire pressure low,
front left. Check tires. 232
Tire pressure low,
front right. Check tires. 232
Tire pressure low,
rear left. Check tires. 232
Tire pressure low,
rear right. Check tires. 232
Low tire pressure front
left. Make a safe stop. 232
Low tire pressure front
right. Make a safe stop. 232
Low tire pressure, rear
left. Make a safe stop. 232
Low tire pressure, rear.
right. Make a safe stop. 232
Tire pressure system
failure. Contact service. 232
Time for service.
1)
252
95_US_MY09.book Page 71 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:03 AM
ProCarManuals.com

72 Instruments and controlsNIGHT PANELTo improve night-driving conditions inside
the car, the Night Panel mode can be
selected. In this mode, the amount of infor-
mation displayed is reduced, and only the
most important instruments and displays
will be illuminated.
When the NIGHT PANEL button is pressed,
only the speedometer will be illuminated, all
the other instruments illumination being
extinguished and their needles moved to
zero. The SID display will be extinguished
and the backlighting for switches and other
controls will be dimmed. Note: All indicator
and warning lights, together with the display
of CHECK messages, will operate as nor-
mal, except ”Outdoor temperature”, see
page 68.The following conditions will wake up the
respective displays in the Night-Panel
mode:
 Setting of the Audio system or, SID
(display comes on for ten seconds).
 CHECK message generated in the SID.
 High engine revs cause the rev counter to
be illuminated until the engine speed has
fallen again.
 If the quantity of fuel remaining falls below
4 gallons (15 liters), the fuel gauge will be
illuminated.
 If the engine temperature rises above
normal, the temperature gauge will be illu-
minated.
 In cars with automatic transmission, if the
selector lever is moved from D to position
M or L, the selector indication on the main
instrument panel will be illuminated.
To restore the displays and lighting to the
normal mode, press the NIGHT PANEL but-
ton.
Units and language versionsThe SID has four sets of units: CHECK messages can be displayed in six
language options: English, Swedish,
German, French, Italian and Spanish. Selecting units and language 1 Switch off the engine.
2 Briefly press i/SETbutton. Repeat this
until LANGUAGE/UNITS is displayed.
3 Hold i/SET depressed until a chime
sounds. Then select language using
or .
4 Briefly press the i/SET button. Then
select the units using or .
5 Briefly press the i/SET button. METRIC US GB IMPERIAL
km miles miles miles
km/h mph mph mph
liters US gal gallon gallon
°C °F °C °F
24-hour 12-hour 12-hour 12-hour
95_US_MY09.book Page 72 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:03 AM
ProCarManuals.com