engine SAAB 9-5 2004 Owner's Guide
Page 111 of 288
111 OnStar - Telematics
Roadside assistance**There’s nothing worse than being stranded 
on the road with car trouble. No matter what 
the problem is (flat tire, out of gas, or engine 
trouble), just call OnStar. They will contact 
the help you need to get you quickly back on 
the road.Stolen vehicle trackingOnStar doesn’t just protect you, it protects 
your Saab, too. If your vehicle is ever stolen, 
just contact OnStar by calling 
1-888-4-ONSTAR. They will put you in 
touch with the authorities and aid them in 
locating your Saab. Ask your insurance car-
rier about possible premium discounts.Accident Assist™Accident Assist™ provides step-by-step 
guidance about what to do in case of a 
crash. Working with leading insurance com-
panies OnStar has developed a ”best prac-
tices” list to assist you through most acci-
dent situations. OnStar Accident Assist™ 
can make the process of completing a 
police report and/or insurance claim less 
stressful. **There will be no charge for Roadside Assistance as 
long as your vehicle is under warranty.
Hands-free communicationTalking to an OnStar advisor is easy and 
hands-free. Simply press the OnStar but-
ton, and a small microphone picks up your 
voice while the OnStar advisor talks to you 
through your stereo speakers. Note: Audio 
system must be switched on. You can even 
adjust the volume to your liking with the 
steering wheel controls or the radio volume 
knob. Your hands remain on the steering 
wheel, while your eyes remain on the road.Being safe on the road is important, but 
there’s more to life than security. There’s liv-
ing. That’s why we have created the OnStar 
Directions and Connections Plan. It gives 
you not only the important protections of the 
Safe and Sound Plan, but also a whole 
range of services which truly change driving 
from a chore to a luxury.
The OnStar Directions & 
Connections PlanRoute supportWith OnStar Route Support, an advisor can 
help you find your way, no matter how far off 
course you are. You can get exact street 
directions, or guidance to nearby gas sta-
tions, restaurants, hotels or ATMs.Ride AssistIf you need a lift, anytime of the day or night, 
just call OnStar. They’ll contact transporta-
tion and send it right to you.Information and Convenience ser-
vicesOnStar advisors have access to over five 
million service listings including hotels, res-
taurants, gas stations, dealerships, hospi-
tals, ATMs and airports — more than 250 
service categories in all. OnStar advisors 
can even assist you with hotel and restau-
rant reservations.
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Page 137 of 288
137 Interior equipment and trunk
Trunk pass-through hatch A trunk pass-through hatch is incorporated in the rear seat backrest 
to enable long, narrow items to be carried inside the car. 
Items should not weigh more than 33 lbs. (15 kg) nor be more than 
2 yards (2 metres) in length. See the label on the hatch. 
1 Fold down the armrest. 
2 Raise the hatch by lifting the handle. 
Before loading or unloading long items, switch off the engine and 
apply the handbrake. This averts the danger of the car moving off 
suddenly if a long item were to knock the gear or selector lever into 
gear. Tie DownsThe tie downs for securing the load are fitted inside the trunk. Place 
the load as far in as possible. 
WARNING
 Anchor the load securely (e.g. using middle safety belt) to 
avoid danger of injury resulting from displacement of load on 
hard braking. 
 Do not exceed the load capacity of the car, as this will alter its 
handling characteristics (see page 270). 
IB463IB3178
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Page 147 of 288
147 Starting and driving
Starting and driving 
IB1754
 Ignition switch ________    148 
Starting the engine ____    149 
Important considerations 
for driving ___________    151 
Refueling ____________   154 
Engine Break-In Period _    157 
Gear changing ________    158 
Cruise control ________    167 
Braking ______________   168 
Traction Control System    171 
Electronic Stability 
Program (ESP) _______    172 Economical motoring __    174 
Driving in cold weather_    176 
Driving in hot weather _    177 
Towing a trailer _______    178 
Driving with a roof rack 
load ________________   183 
Driving at night _______    185 
Driving with a load ____    185 
Driving considerations 
with compact spare 
wheel/tire fitted ______    187 Driving with the trunk 
lid/tailgate open ______    188 
Driving in deep water __    188 
Towing the car________    188 
Jump starting ________    191 
Saab Parking Assistance    194 
Parking brake ________    196 
Parking ______________   196 
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Page 148 of 288
148 Starting and drivingIgnition switchThe combined ignition switch and 
gear-lever lock is located in the center con-
sole between the front seats. The ignition 
key can only be removed when reverse is 
engaged (automatic transmission: selector 
in ”P” position). 
The key fits all the locks on the car. The key 
number is specified on the small plastic 
strap that comes with the keys when the car 
is delivered. Keep a note of the key number 
in a safe place, as you will need to quote it if 
ordering a replacement key. 
See also page 40. 
LOCK position Engage reverse and turn the key to LOCK.
Automatic transmission: select ”P”.
The gear lever is locked. This is the only position in which the key can be 
removed.
The parking lights, hazard warning lights and interior lighting all work. OFF position Gear lever no longer locked.
Certain electrical circuits operationalON position All electrical circuits working. Do not leave the key in the ON position 
when the engine is not running. Turn the key to OFF to switch off the 
electrical circuits. In the ON position certain warning and indicator lights 
come on as a check, and they normally are extinguished after about 
3 seconds.ST (starter) position The starter operates when the key is turned to this position. When 
released, the key will spring back to the ON position. If the engine fails to 
start, the key must first be turned back to the position between OFF and 
LOCK before the starter can be operated again. 
When the starter motor is running, several electrical circuits are 
disconnected to facilitate starting. 
LOCK
OFFONST
LOCK
OFFONST
LOCK
OFFONST
LOCK
OFFONST
IB1120
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Page 149 of 288
149 Starting and driving
      
If the car does not startIf the text ”Key not accepted. Contact ser-
vice.” is shown on the SID, after a failed start 
attempt, the cause could be a fault in the 
transmitter in the key, or in the receiver in 
the ignition lock. The following should be 
done:
 Turn the key back to the LOCK position.
 Turn the key to ON.
 Press one of the buttons on the remote 
control (the LED stops blinking).
 Start the engine.
Try another key. If this works, then the fault 
is in the first key.
Contact an authorized Saab dealer for 
checking and rectification.
Note:
Certain electronic items, such as cellular 
phones, may affect the starting produce-
dure. Be sure that all devices are clear of the 
key/ignition switch area.
Starting the engine 
NOTICETake care not to spill drinks or to drop 
crumbs over the ignition switch. If dirt or 
liquid gets into it, the switch may not 
operate properly. 
WARNING
 Always remove the key before leaving 
the car. 
 Always apply the parking brake before 
removing the ignition key. 
WARNING
 When starting the engine:
- Sit down in the driver’s seat.
- Depress the clutch pedal fully. If the 
gear lever is not in the neutral posi-
tion, the clutch pedal must be fully 
depressed or the car will jump for-
wards or backwards, which may 
cause a crash.
- Never start the car from outside the 
vehicle, e.g. through a wound down 
window. This could lead to serious 
personal injury.
 Engage reverse (R) (position P for 
automatic transmission) to remove the 
ignition key. The key can only be 
removed in this gear position.
 Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, 
odorless, poisonous gas. Be alert to 
the danger of CO – always open the 
garage doors before starting the 
engine in the garage. 
 There is also a danger of CO poison-
ing if the exhaust system is leaking. 
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Page 150 of 288
150 Starting and drivingIt is possible for air to enter the lubricating 
system in conjunction with an oil or oil-filter 
change, or if the car has been stored for 
some time. This air can cause the hydraulic 
cam followers to emit a ticking noise, which 
can persist for up to 15 minutes after start-
ing. Although this is quite normal and does 
not indicate any malfunction, it is advisable 
not to exceed 3,000 rpm before the noise 
has disappeared. 
The hydraulic cam lifters are completely 
service free; the valve clearance is set up at 
the factory and will not need any subse-
quent adjustment. 
Starting the engineAvoid racing the engine or putting a heavy 
load on it before it has warmed up. Drive 
away as soon as the oil warning light has 
been extinguished to enable the engine to 
attain its normal temperature as quickly as 
possible.
The engine has an automatic choke and 
should be started as follows:
Cars with manual transmission
To start the engine the clutch pedal must 
be fully depressed.
1 Depress the clutch pedal fully but do not 
touch the accelerator.
2 Start the engine. Let the ignition key 
spring back as soon as the engine has 
started and is running smoothly – at very 
low temperatures, you may need to run 
the starter for up to 25 seconds. Wait 
20–30 seconds before running the 
starter again, to give the battery time to 
recover.
Note:
On cars with manual transmission, if the 
starter fails to engage when the ignition key 
is turned to the start position, make sure the 
clutch pedal is full depressed. Misposi-
tioned floor mats or other obstructions 
under the clutch pedal may affect starting.
Let the engine idle for about 10 seconds. Do 
not open the throttle wide for at least 2–
3 minutes after starting. Cars with automatic transmission 
1 The selector lever must be in the P or N 
position. 
2 Keep your foot on the brake pedal. 
3 Start the engine. Let the ignition key 
spring back as soon as the engine has 
started and is running smoothly – at very 
low temperatures, you may need to run 
the starter for up to 25 seconds. Wait 
20–30 seconds before running the 
starter again, to give the battery time to 
recover.
Let the engine idle for about 10 seconds. Do 
not open the throttle wide for at least 
2–3 minutes after starting. 
Useful tips on cold climate starting If 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.   The tail pipe of the exhaust system 
can become very hot during driving. 
Bear this in mind when loading and 
unloading the car.
 Do not rest or sleep in the car when 
parked with the engine running. There 
is a risk of depressing the accelerator 
which could lead to engine damage.
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Page 151 of 288
151 Starting and driving
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 
(”Engine malfunction (CHECK ENGINE)” 
light on, see below) and the outside temper-
ature is close to or below freezing, 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 
”Engine malfunction (CHECK ENGINE)” 
light   on the main instrument panel will 
come on (see page 57), indicating that you 
should have the car checked as soon as 
possible by an authorized Saab dealer.
Important 
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 
 The system is optimized for fuel with an 
octane rating of AON 90. The 2.3 Turbo 
and 2.3 T are optimized for AON 93. 
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 
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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Page 152 of 288
152 Starting and driving
One of the advantages of the system is 
that it enables the engine to be run 
safely on lower-grade fuel, although not 
lower than AON 87. 
 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 per-
fectly 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.
 
Important considerations with cata-
lytic 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 (mixture of 
precious metals). 
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. The fuel 
and ignition systems are particularly 
important in this context. 
 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 an authorized Saab 
dealer as soon as possible. 
 If the engine fails to start (in very cold 
weather or if the battery is flat), the car can 
be push started (manual gearbox only) or 
started using jumper cables to a donor 
NOTICE If the engine sounds strange there is a 
fault in the system. Have the car 
checked without delay by an autho-
rized Saab dealer. 
 The use of fuel with too low an octane 
rating can cause serious engine dam-
age.
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.
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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Page 153 of 288
153 Starting and driving
battery. However, as soon as you have 
started the engine, it is important that it 
runs on all cylinders. If it is misfiring, allow 
i t  t o  i d l e  f o r  u p  t o  f i v e  m i n u t e s  t o  g i v e  i t  t i m e  
to settle and run smoothly. If, after this 
time, the engine still fails to run properly, 
turn off the engine and get in touch with 
an authorized Saab dealer for advice.  Never park the car on dry grass or other 
combustible material. The catalytic con-
verter gets very hot and could therefore 
start a fire. 
 Never drive off if the engine is misfiring. 
 If you jump start the car when the engine 
is already up to normal temperature, the 
engine must start to run on all cylinders. 
Stop jump-starting if the engine fails to 
start immediately.
 Failure to follow these directions could 
result in the catalytic converter and associ-
ated components being damaged, and 
could represent a breach of the warranty 
conditions.
Fuel filler flap(certain variants only)The fuel filler flap is opened by means of a 
button on the driver’s door. The flap is 
spring-loaded, so it opens slightly automat-
ically when released.
NOTICEIf the car runs out of fuel, it is possible for 
air to get into the fuel system. If this 
happens, the catalytic converter may 
overheat and be damaged.
IB1289
2
2
1
3
3
Oxygen-sensor-controlled 
injection system 1 Engine control module 
2 Oxygen sensor (lambda probe) 
3 Catalytic converters
B466
Button for releasing filler flap
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Page 154 of 288
154 Starting and drivingRefueling
Only fuel from well-known oil companies 
should be used.
All Saab gasoline engines can be driven on 
fuel of grade AON 87–93.
For optimum performance we recommend:
AO N 90 for 2.3t
AO N 93 for 2.3Turbo and 2.3T, (see page 
272). 
If fuel containing a mixture of alcohol is 
used, the following restrictions apply: 
Methanol: max. 5 % by volume.
Ethanol: max. 10 % by volume.
MTBE: max. 15 % by volume.
The fuel filler cap is located in the right rear 
quarter panel.
Refueling:
1 Switch off engine.
2 Open fuel door
3 Insert the fuel-pump nozzle beyond the 
flange on the filler pipe. Do not withdraw 
the nozzle while fueling is in progress. 
4Stop refueling the first time the pump 
turns off, indicating the tank is full.
 Fuel-tank capacity: 18.5 US gal. (70 liters)
Screw on the filler cap and keep turning until 
it has clicked at least three times. 
The most effective way to prevent conden-
sation forming in the tank (and thus avoid 
possible running problems) is to keep the 
tank well filled. 
Before the onset of freezing temperatures in 
winter, it may be advisable to add gasoline 
anti-freeze to the fuel a few times to dispel 
any condensation in the system. 
WARNING
 Never use fuel for any purpose other 
than as engine fuel. 
 Fuel is highly flammable and can 
cause severe burns. Never use an 
exposed flame in the vicinity of gaso-
line. Never smoke when filling the 
vehicle up with fuel. 
 Do not use the phone when refueling. 
Gasoline fuels are highly explosive. 
NOTICE Do not overfill. Fuel should not come 
right up the filler pipe as expansion 
room is needed.
 The use of fuel with too low an octane 
rating can cause serious engine dam-
age.
IB1755
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