4Exterior
IB3831
Driving with a roof rack load______ 179
Maximum roof load ____________ 258
Rearview mirror _______________ 118
Hood _______________________ 188
Engine compartment: washing ___ 243
Central locking __________ 44
Trunk lid lock, 9-5 Sedan __ 47
Tailgate, 9-5 SportCombi __ 48
Child safety locks ________ 47
Car alarm3____________ 50Headlights _____________ 73
High/low beam __________ 73
Turn signal and lane change
indicators______________ 75
Headlight washers3_____ 77
Changing bulbs _________ 202
Fuel gauge___________________ 65
Refueling ____________________ 146
Economical motoring ___________ 170
Fuel ________________________ 260
b Tires pressure ________________ 263
Wheels and tires ______________ 261
Braking______________________ 160
Driving in cold weather__________ 172
Compact spare tire_____________ 235
Changing a wheel _____________ 237
Trunk _______________________ 129
Folding the rear seat, 9-5 Sedan __ 129
Folding the rear seat,
9-5 SportCombi ______________ 132
Trunk Release Handle __________ 138
Driving with a spare wheel fitted __ 181
Compact spare tire ____________ 235Towing a trailer3________ 174
Towing the car ___________ 181
Rear towing eye _________ 182Headlights ______________ 73
Rear light cluster, 9-5 Sedan 206
Rear lights clusters,
9-5 SportCombi _________ 208
Changing bulbs __________ 202Moonroof3_____________ 123
Washing the car _________ 242
Waxing and polishing _____ 243
Touching up the paint _____ 243
Anti-corrosion treatment ___ 24695_US_MY09.book Page 4 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:03 AM
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9
No sparks,
flames or
smoking.Buckle up
Use protective
gogglesAirbag
Keep out of
reach of
children.Never place a
rear-facing
child seat in
this seat.
Battery acid
contains
sulfuric acid.Electric
windows
Refer to the
Owner’s
Manual.Deactivating
of rear window
switches
Risk of
explosive gas.Central
locking, lock
.Central
locking,
unlock
Tr u n k
lid/tailgate,
opening
HeadlightsWindshield
wipers
Direction
indicatorsWindshield
washers
Parking lights Defroster
Hazard
warning lightsRear window
heating
Front fog
lightsVentilation fan
Rear fog
light
Coolant
temperatureRadiator fan
Battery
chargingFuel
Foot brake
ESP
®
Coolant levelAutomatic tire
pressure
monitoring
system
Engine oil
pressure
ABS brakes
Examples of symbols that can be found in your car95_US_MY09.book Page 9 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:03 AM
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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
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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.
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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
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143 Starting and driving
Useful tips on cold climate
startingIf the engine has failed to start after several
attempts in very cold weather, press and
hold the accelerator down to the floor and
run the starter for 5–10 seconds. This will
prevent the engine being flooded (exces-
sively rich fuel-air mixture).
Now start the engine in the normal way – do
not touch the accelerator.
If the engine stalls immediately after starting
(e.g. if the clutch was released too quickly),
do not touch the accelerator when restarting
the engine.
Limp-home modeThe engine management system has a
diagnostic feature that continually checks a
number of internal functions.
If, for example, a fault is detected in the
throttle valve, the engine management
system will go into Limp-home mode.This
limits:
idling control,
disables the cruise-control system and
limits the capacity of the A/C compressor.
If the limp-home mode is in operation (”Ser-
vice Engine Light also known as CHECK
ENGINE” light on, see below) and the out-
side temperature is close to or below freez-
ing, you may need to use some throttle on
starting (some pressure on the accelerator).
If the diagnostic system has detected a fault
in the engine-management system, the
”Service Engine Light also known as
CHECK ENGINE” light on the main
instrument panel will come on (see page
58), indicating that you should have the car
checked as soon as possible by a work-
shop. We recommend that you contact an
authorized Saab dealer.
NOTICEIf the CHECK ENGINE warning light
starts to flash, ease off the accelerator
slightly. If the light does not cease to flash
within 5 seconds, stop the car in a suit-
able place as soon as possible and turn
off the engine. The car must be towed to
a workshop. We recommend that you
contact an authorized Saab dealer.
If the CHECK ENGINE warning light
flashes, it indicates that the engine is mis-
firing which can result in damage to the
catalytic converter.
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144 Starting and drivingImportant
considerations for
drivingThe engine-management system in the
Saab 9-5 is called Saab Trionic T7. The
system manages the ignition, fuel injection
and turbo boost pressure.
The Trionic T7 system developed by Saab
is an intelligent engine-management
system designed to achieve optimum driv-
ability under differing driving conditions.
The system makes adjustments automati-
cally, for instance, if the car is being driven
at altitude (oxygen-deficient air), for differ-
ent grades of fuel (AON 87–93) and for dif-
ferent load conditions.
1 Starting and driving
Refrain from using full throttle before
the engine has warmed up (before
needle in mid-range on temperature
gauge).
A safety function prevents the engine
from revving faster than 6,000 rpm by
limiting the induction air.
2 Stopping the engine
Do not rev the engine immediately
before switching it off – stop the engine
when it is idling.
3 Regulating the boost pressure One of the advantages of boost pres-
sure regulation is that the engine can
also be run safely on gasoline with a
lower octane rating, although not lower
than AON 87. However, engine perfor-
mance will fall slightly and heavy load-
ing and laboring should be avoided. For
optimum performance, use the recom-
mended grade of fuel.
The maximum boost pressure is
adjusted automatically to the knocking
or pinging tendency of the engine.
Occasional, short-lived knocking when
the engine is under a heavy load is
perfectly normal; the extent will depend
on the grade of fuel in the tank.
Isolated instances of knocking are
more likely to occur with low-octane
fuel. This controlled form of knocking,
followed by a reduction in the boost
pressure, is a sign that the wastegate is
functioning and is perfectly safe for the
engine.
NOTICE If the engine sounds strange there is a
fault in the system. Have the car
checked without delay by a workshop.
We recommend that you contact an
authorized Saab dealer.
The use of fuel with too low an octane
rating can cause serious engine
damage.
WARNING
If the engine is being run with the car on a
rolling road or dynamometer, longer than
for a standard state emission inspection,
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 be obtained at
the corresponding road speed.
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171 Starting and driving
Driving technique To obtain the best running economy, not
only regarding fuel consumption but
general wear also, regular service is
required.
High speed, unnecessary acceleration,
heavy braking and much low gear work all
gives rise to higher fuel consumption.
Frequent gear changing in traffic, starting
in cold weather, the use of studded tires
and roof racks, and towing a trailer all
increase fuel consumption.
Do not run the engine when the car is
stationary.
If idling, it will take much longer before the
engine becomes hot. Engine wear is
greatest during this warming-up phase.
Therefore drive away as soon as possible
after the engine is started and avoid high
revving. Driving in a low gear results in higher fuel
consumption than in a high gear because
of the higher engine speed for a given
road speed. Always change up to a higher
gear as soon as traffic conditions allow
and use the highest gear as much as
possible.
Check the air pressure in the tires once a
month. Incorrect pressures increase tire
wear. It is better to have slightly higher
pressure than lower.
Check fuel consumption regularly.
Increased consumption can indicate that
something is wrong and that the car
needs to be checked by a workshop. We
recommend that you contact an autho-
rized Saab dealer.
Practical trials on the roads have demon-
strated that substantial savings in fuel con-
sumption can be made if the above advice
is heeded.
Road conditionsWet roads increase fuel consumption, as do
unpaved roads and driving in hilly country
(the amount of fuel saved driving downhill is
less than the additional amount required to
climb the hill).
WARNING
Never switch the engine off while driving
as the effect of the brakes and power
steering will be greatly reduced.
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