SAAB 9-5 2006 Owners Manual
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241 Car care and technical information
Tighten the bolts enough for the bolts 
and wheel to be seated correctly.
7 Lower the car and tighten the wheel 
bolts to the correct torque in the 
sequence shown (opposite pairs).
Tightening torque
Light-alloy wheels: 80 ft.lbs. (110 Nm)
Steel wheels: 80 ft.lbs. (110 Nm).
 
8 Check-tighten the wheel bolts after a few 
miles.
Tightening torque
Light-alloy wheels: 80 ft.lbs. (110 Nm)
Steel wheels: 80 ft.lbs. (110 Nm)
NOTICE When refitting wheel covers (where 
applicable), make sure that the valve 
protrudes through the marked hole in 
the wheel cover.
 Do not overtighten the bolts using an
impact wrench: not only can this 
damage the wheels but it can also 
make it impossible to undo the bolts 
using the wheel wrench in the car’s 
toolkit. Clean any rust or dirt from the contact sur-
faces between the wheel and brake disc
IB2428
Do not wipe away the grease in the hub.
IB1130
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242 Car care and technical information
Safety beltsRegularly check the function of the safety 
belts as follows:
 Hold the diagonal strap and pull it sharply. 
The safety belt should lock and it should 
not be possible to withdraw it further.
Check the anchorage points in the floor. 
They must not have suffered rust damage. 
There must be no frayed threads in the web-
bing.
Safety belts must not come into contact with 
substances such as polishes, oils or other 
chemicals. If the straps are dirty, wash them 
with warm water and a detergent or have 
them replaced.
WARNING
If the car is involved in a crash, the safety 
belts, belt pretensioners and other com-
ponents must be inspected by a work-
shop. We recommend that you contact an 
authorized Saab dealer.
Never make any alterations or repairs to 
the safety belt yourself.
IB1800IB1800
Removing the wheel cover
IB539
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243 Car care and technical information
Upholstery and trimTo remove lint or hairs from the seat uphol-
stery or headlining, use a moist, lint-free 
cloth or a special lint remover (brush or 
roller). Remove any dirty marks using a 
cloth moistened with lukewarm soapy 
water.
When using a stain remover, always work 
from the outside towards the center to avoid 
leaving a ring. If a soiled ring or spot should 
remain, it can usually be removed using 
lukewarm soapy water or water alone.
Wet patches left by spilled soft drinks or thin 
oil must be wiped off immediately using an 
absorbent material, such as a paper towel, 
and treated with stain remover.
Alcohol is recommended for removing 
grease or oil stains, and a semi-stiff brush 
may also be used.
Cleaning and caring for 
leather upholsteryThe principal reason for treating leather 
upholstery is to maintain its elegant appear-
ance and to provide it with a protective film. 
Discoloration caused by dust and wear 
mainly affects the lighter shades, although 
this is not detrimental to the leather – 
indeed, the patina resulting from use is often 
considered desirable in leather. But if the 
leather is allowed to become too grubby, it 
can start to look shabby.
It is a good idea to clean and recondition the 
leather twice a year – in conjunction with a 
general spring-cleaning of the car – after the 
winter and in the autumn, for instance. In 
hot, dry climates, the leather will need to be 
treated more frequently. Use conventional 
leather care products. Follow the instruc-
tions on the packaging.
Do not use harsh polishing agents, cleaning 
agents, sprays, coarse soap or hot water.
Textile carpetingVacuum clean the carpeting regularly. Car-
pets can also be cleaned using a brush, or 
carpet shampoo applied with a sponge. Do 
not use vacuum cleaners outdoors unless 
they are properly grounded.
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244 Car care and technical informationWashing the carWash your car frequently. To facilitate 
cleaning, a suitable detergent can be added 
to the water, which should be lukewarm. 
Saab offers a full line of car care products, 
including car wash, for the care of your vehi-
cle. See your dealer for available products 
or visit www.saabcatalog.com (U.S. resi-
dents only).
Do not use a pressure washer at close 
range on stone chip damage, scratches or 
other damage to the paintwork. The paint 
can otherwise start to flake.
Remove any bird droppings without delay, 
as these can discolor the paintwork and 
prove difficult to polish out.
Use a soft cloth moistened with methyl alco-
hol to remove splashes of tar or asphalt. Do 
not use strong cleaners, as these can dry 
out the paintwork. 
The underside of the car also needs wash-
ing regularly, and this should be done extra 
thoroughly at the end of winter. Clean the 
underside of the car by hand if the car is usu-
ally washed in an automatic car wash with-
out special facilities for underbody cleaning.
Never wash or leave the car to dry in the 
sun, but wipe it dry with a chamois leather 
immediately after washing to avoid smears 
and streaks.
Clean the window glass inside and out using 
a high quality window cleaner. This is partic-
ularly important when the car is new, as 
upholstery and trim have a tendency to 
sweat a little at first.
Keep the glass well cleaned, as this helps to 
prevent misting.
 
NOTICEAvoid using any alcohol-based cleaners 
on the front and rear light clusters, as 
these can cause cracking of the lenses. 
NOTICE The door mirrors must be fully 
retracted before the car enters an 
automatic car wash.
 Remove fixed antennas, e.g. for 
mobile phone, before putting car 
through an automatic car wash.
 Try your brakes on leaving a car wash. 
Wet brake discs may reduce the per-
formance of the brakes.
 Cars with Saab Parking Assistance: 
Do not spray the sensors or closer 
than 20 cm to the sensors with a pres-
sure washer, as this can damage 
them.
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245 Car care and technical information
Waxing and polishingOther than in exceptional cases, do not use 
abrasive polishes containing a cutting agent 
on a new car. Always wash the car thor-
oughly before waxing or polishing.Engine compartmentClean the engine compartment using an 
engine detergent and rinse with hot water. 
Cover the headlights. Do not use high-pres-
sure washer. Avoid spraying the hood liner, 
as this can become heavy and hang down 
and touch the engine when the hood is 
closed.
Do not use gasoline as a cleaning agent or 
solvent when carrying out repairs or mainte-
nance. Saab recommends the use of envi-
ronmentally safe degreasing agents.
Touching up the paintDamaged paintwork should be treated as 
soon as it is discovered: the longer it is left, 
the greater the risk of corrosion. The 
anti-perforation warranty does not cover 
corrosion resulting from untreated defects.
Paintwork damage sustained in a crash is 
usually extensive and can only be properly 
restored by professionals.
However, you can repair small scratches 
and stone-chip damage yourself. The nec-
essary tools and materials, such as primer, 
touch-up paint and brushes, are available 
from your Saab dealer.
In the case of minor flaws in the paintwork, 
where the metal has not been exposed and 
an undamaged layer of paint remains, 
touch-up paint can usually be applied 
directly, after any dirt has been scraped 
away using a pointed knife.If corrosion has already set in, e.g. as a 
result of stone-chip damage, use a pointed 
knife to scrape off all surface rust. If possi-
ble, the damaged area should be taken 
back to the bare metal. The metal should 
then be primed with two thin coats of primer 
applied by brush.
After the primer has dried, apply several thin 
layers of topcoat enamel until the surface of 
the repaired area is flush with the surround-
ing paintwork.
Stir both primer and touch-up enamel thor-
oughly before use and allow each coat to 
dry before applying the next.
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246 Car care and technical informationTwo-coat enamelAs the name implies, two-coat enamel is 
applied in two operations. The first coat, the 
base color, contains the pigment, metal 
flakes and binder. The second coat consists 
of a clear enamel, which provides the final 
gloss for the paintwork and protects the 
base from moisture and environmental con-
taminants.
Touch-up stone-chip damage as follows:
1 Thoroughly clean the damaged area.
2 Apply the primer, base color and finally, 
the enamel. To achieve the best finish, 
apply two or three coats of primer.
Air conditioning 
(ACC)
WARNING
 All repairs and adjustments on the A/C 
system must be carried out by a work-
shop authorized for this kind of work.
 The A/C system is pressurized. Do not 
break any connections or undo A/C 
system components.
 Escaping refrigerant gas can cause 
visual impairment or other injury.NOTICE The A/C system is designed for use 
with R134a refrigerant.
 Refrigerant handling requires special 
equipment and special procedures for 
charging and draining the system.
 Never mix R134a and R12 refriger-
ants.
IB1334
Surface-treatment composition 1 Body panel 
2 Zinc (certain panel sections only) 7.5 µm 
3 Phosphate coating 
4 Cathodic ED 23 µm 
5 Intermediate coat 35 µm 
6 Metallic base 15 µm 
7 Clear enamel /solid enamel 40 µm 
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247 Car care and technical information
Fault diagnosisIf a fault occurs in the A/C system, there are 
a number of checks you can perform your-
self. If the fault persists, however, have the 
system checked by a workshop. We recom-
mend that you contact an authorized Saab 
dealer.
Important!
When the A/C system is running, the intake 
air is dehumidified, and the resultant con-
densation is drained off through two outlets 
underneath the floor of the car in the vicinity 
of the front doors. It is therefore perfectly 
normal for water to be seen dripping from 
these outlets when the car is parked. The 
warmer the ambient air and the higher the 
humidity, the greater will be the amount of 
condensation formed.Inadequate cooling:
a Check that the condenser (forward of 
the radiator) has not become clogged 
with dirt and insects.
b Make sure that the drive belt for the com-
pressor is not slipping.
c Check the fuses for the ventilation fans 
and compressor.
Maintenance The drive belt for the compressor should 
be inspected under the regular service 
program.
 Clean dirt and insects away from the con-
denser and radiator to prevent clogging. 
When washing the car, use the hose to 
spray the radiator and condenser (located 
forward of the radiator) from both sides 
(both from the front of the car and from 
inside the engine bay). Do not use a pres-
sure washer.
Caution: Do not use the hose when the 
engine is hot.
Other than in extremely cold weather, do not 
screen the radiator, e.g. with netting, as this 
will greatly diminish its cooling capacity.
The A/C system will only operate 
when the outdoor temperature is above the 
freezing point (0°C, 32°F).
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248 Car care and technical informationAnti-corrosion 
treatmentThe entire car is corrosion-protected at the 
factory in different stages by an electrolytic 
immersion coating and a PVC-based pro-
tective coating to protect against corrosion 
caused by stones flung up by the wheels. A 
thin penetrating anti-rust oil is also applied 
in cavities and body members.
In addition to conventional anti-corrosion 
treatment like painting, underbody treat-
ment and cavity treatment, most of the body 
panel surfaces are galvanized. These 
include the hood, the doors and the under-
body.
The anti-corrosion treatment on the under-
side of the car and inside the wheel arches 
is particularly exposed to constant wear and 
possible damage, the degree of which will 
obviously depend on driving conditions.
What causes rust?Steel body panels of automobiles are sub-
ject to rusting whenever air and moisture 
manage to penetrate the protective finish, 
and body panels may rust through if the pro-
cess is unchecked. Rusting can occur wher-
ever water is trapped or where the car’s 
panels are continuously damp. Damage to 
paint and undercoating by stones, gravel 
and minor crashes immediately exposes 
metal to air and moisture. Road salts used 
for de-icing will collect on the bottom of the 
car and promote rusting. Areas of the coun-
try with high humidity have great potential 
for rust problems, especially where salt is 
used on roads or there is moist sea air. 
Industrial pollution (fallout) may also 
damage paint and promote rusting.
Preventive maintenanceThe following procedures are necessary to 
help protect against rusting. Refer also to 
the terms and conditions of the Sheet Metal 
Coverage described in the warranty book-
let.
1Wash the car frequently, and wax at 
least twice a year. Under adverse con-
ditions, where there is a rapid buildup of 
dirt, sand or road salt, wash your car at 
least once a week. After extreme expo-
sure to salted snow or slush, evidenced 
by a white film on the car, wash the car 
immediately. Frequent washing will pre-
vent paint damage from acid rain and 
other airborne contaminants such as 
tree sap and bird droppings. If any of 
these contaminants are noticed on the 
car the finish should be washed immedi-
ately.
 Begin washing by rinsing the entire car 
with water to loosen and flush off heavy 
concentrations of dirt (include the 
underbody).
 Sponge the car with a solution of either 
a good quality car soap or mild general 
purpose (dish washing) detergent and 
water.
 Rinse car thoroughly with clean water.
 After washing, check and clear all 
drains in doors and body panels.
 Wipe the car dry, preferably using a 
chamois.
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249 Car care and technical information
2Clean the underside of the car during 
the winter. Use high pressure water to 
clean the car’s underside (floor panels, 
wheel wells) at least at mid- winter and 
in the spring.
3Inspect the car frequently for leaks or 
damage, and arrange for needed 
repairs promptly. After washing or after 
heavy rain, check for leaks. When wash-
ing the car inspect body surfaces for 
paint damage. While checking for leaks, 
lift the floor mats and check beneath 
them. Water can collect in these areas 
and remain for prolonged periods. Dry 
any wet areas including the floor mats. 
Have leaks repaired as soon as possi-
ble.
Use touch-up paint to repair small 
scratches or minor finish damage. Areas 
where metal is exposed will rust quickly 
and MUST be repaired immediately by 
touch-up or professional repainting. 
Rust must be removed, the bare metal 
primed and painted. Major body 
damage should be repaired immediately 
and new panels or exposed areas 
should be undercoated with anti- corro-
sion material.
Repairs of this type are the owner’s 
responsibility and are not covered under 
warranty.4Inspect the undercoating and touch 
up if necessary. Pay particular atten-
tion to the fenders and wheel housings, 
which are exposed to abrasion by flying 
gravel, etc. If the composition has worn 
or flaked off, the steel must be thor-
oughly cleaned and dried before a fresh 
coat is applied. The cleaning is best 
done with a scraper and a steel wire 
brush, followed by washing with solvent. 
Apply the new coating thinly, as other-
wise it may run off or fall off when dry.
For long tripsBefore setting off on a long journey, it is 
advisable to have your car checked over by 
your Saab dealer.
Obtain a few important items to take along 
on your journey such as spare bulbs, wiper 
blades, fuses, a Poly-V-belt and the like. 
You can check some points yourself before-
hand:
 Make sure that the engine is in good con-
dition.
 Check that no oil or gasoline leaks out of 
the engine or gearbox/transmission.
 Check the coolant and power steering 
fluid levels. Check also for leaks.
 Inspect the Poly-V-belt and replace it if it 
shows any signs of hard wear.
 Check the battery charge.
 Check the tires for tread pattern and air 
pressure, including the compact spare 
wheel.
 Check the brakes.
 Check all bulbs.
 Check for the presence of the tool kit and 
the jack in the car.
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250 Car care and technical informationRecovery and/or 
recycling of automotive 
materialsA typical car consists of metals (65–75 %), 
plastics (10–15 %), rubber (5 %) and small 
quantities of glass, wood, paper and tex-
tiles. The recycling of metals has been com-
monplace for a long time now.
To facilitate sorting of other materials for 
recycling, plastic parts, for instance, have 
been marked to identify the precise nature 
of the plastic.
The quantity of materials in the car that can 
be recycled or recovered depends on the 
scrapping facilities in different countries. EU 
legislation that comes into force in 2006 will 
require a minimum of 85 % of the total 
weight of materials to be recycled. How-
ever, every major car salvage yard in each 
market will receive details from Saab of how 
the highest percentage of materials can be 
reclaimed.
Headlight aimingThe vehicle has a visual optical headlight 
aiming system equipped with vertical 
aiming device. The aim has been preset at 
the factory and should normally not need 
further adjustments.
If your headlights are damaged in a crash, 
the headlight aim may be affected. If you 
believe your headlights need to be 
re-aimed, we recommend that you take it to 
your Saab dealer for service, however, it is 
possible for you to re-aim your headlights as 
described in the following procedure.To check the aim, the vehicle should be 
properly prepared as follows:
 The vehicle shall be placed so that the 
headlights are 25 ft (7.6 m) from a light 
colored wall or other flat surface. The 
aiming area should be darkened, this will 
improve your ability to see the beam of the 
low beam headlight being aimed.
 The vehicle must have all four wheels on 
a perfectly level surface which is level all 
the way to the wall or other flat surface.
 The vehicle should be placed so it is per-
pendicular to the wall or other flat surface.
 The vehicle should be unloaded and fuel 
tank full, and one person or 160 lbs. 
(75 kg) on the drivers seat. 
WARNING
Before checking/adjusting the headlight 
aiming, switch off the engine to avoid 
danger of fingers and hands being injured 
by moving parts.
The radiator fan can start up even when 
the engine is switched off.NOTICETo make sure that your headlights are 
aimed properly read all instructions 
before beginning. Failure to follow these 
instructions could cause damage to 
headlight parts or a not correctly aimed 
headlight.
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