spare tire SAAB 9-3 2000 Owners Manual

2IntroductionThis manual provides practical guidance on
driving and caring for your Saab.
The Saab 9-3 is available with a 2.0l
turbo-engine, 185 hp or 205 hp or a 2.3l
turbo-engine, 230 hp.
Although the manual describes the most
important differences between model vari-
ants, it does not include precise specifica-
tions of the different variants. Some differ-
ences also occur to meet special legal
requirements in different countries.
Importation and distribution of Saab auto-
mobiles, spare parts and accessories are
handled exclusively by General Motors of
Canada Limited in Canada and by Saab
Cars USA, Inc. in the U.S.A.
We recommend that you read through the
manual before taking the car out for the first time and that you keep it in the car for future
reference.
To find a specific item, use the overviews
given on pages 3-6. A list of contents is
given at the beginning of each section of the
manual, and there is also a comprehensive
index at the back of the book.
Supplied with the car is a Warranties and
Service Record booklet and a tire warranty
folder which specifies the regular mainte-
nance to be carried out. The book also con-
tains important warranty conditions.: Since the policy at Saab is one of continual
improvement, we retain the right to incorpo-
rate modifications and to alter specifications
during production without prior notice.
If you have any queries concerning your car,
its equipment, the warranty conditions or
the like, your Saab dealer will be pleased to
help.
Best wishes,
Saab Automobile AB
The fitting of accessories that are not approved
by Saab Automobile AB can damage other parts
of the car.
The specifications, design particulars and illus-
trations included in the manual are not binding.
WARNING
WARNING texts warn against the danger
of injury if the specified instructions are
not followed.
NOTENOTE texts warn of potential damage to
the car if the recommendations are not
followed.
IB730
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4Exterior Sunroof _______________ 120
Convertible _____________ 42
Washing the car ________ 201
Waxing and polishing ____ 202
Touching-up of paintwork _ 202
Anticorrosion treatment ___ 203
Service program ________ 215Taillights ______________ 183
Stop lights _____________ 183
Light switches ___________ 71
Changing bulbs _________ 181Towing ________________ 160
Towrope attachment eyes _ 160
Towing a trailer _________ 156Trunk lid lock ___________ 125
Lowering the rear seat ____ 125
Trunk _________________ 128
Spare wheel ___________ 130
Tools _________________ 130
Lighting _______________ 183
Driving with a roof rack load ____ 158
Mounting of roof rack __________ 158
Maximum loads ______________ 220
Hood release handle __________ 168
Engine compartment: washing __ 201
Central locking __________ 30
Interior locking buttons ____ 31
Trunk lock ______________ 33
Child safety lock catch ____ 33
Car alarm (Anti-theft alarm) 35Headlight switches _______ 71
High/low beam control stalk 71
Turn signal & lane change
indicators ______________ 72
Headlamp wipers _______ 180
Changing bulbs ________ 181Fuel filler door __________ 138
Refuelling _____________ 138
Fuel grade ____________ 224
Fuel gauge _____________ 61
Fuel economy __________ 153
Tires & Rims _____________ 192 / 227
Driving in cold weather ________ 154
Brakes and braking ___________ 149
Compact spare wheel _________ 195
Changing a wheel ____________ 196
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133 Starting and driving
IB943Starting and drivingIgnition switch ................. 134
Starting the engine .......... 135
Important considerations
for driving....................... 136
Engine Break-in Period... 140
Gear changing ................. 141
Manual transmission ...... 141
Automatic transmission . 141
Cruise Control ................. 148
Braking ............................. 149
Parking ............................. 151
Economical motoring ..... 153 Driving in cold weather ... 154
Driving in hot weather ..... 156
Towing a trailer ................ 156
Driving with a roof rack
load .................................. 158
Towing the car.................. 160
Jump starting ................... 162
Driving considerations
with compact spare
wheel/tire fitted............... 165
For long trips .................... 165
Driving with the trunk lid
open ................................ 166
Driving in deep water....... 166
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165 Starting and driving
Driving considerations
with compact spare
wheel/tire fitted The following should be observed when the
compact spare wheel (T115/70 R16) is
installed:
The compact spare is light and easy to
handle when changing the wheel. Do not
drive farther than necessary with the com-
pact spare fitted – the maximum life of the
wheel is only just over 2000 miles
(3,500 km). Have the standard wheel
repaired and reinstalled as soon as possi-
ble.
The car’s ground clearance is reduced with
the compact spare fitted. Note that only one
compact spare wheel may be used at any
time. Take care not to hit the curb and do not
fit snow chains. Leave the wheel cover off,
so that the warning text is readily visible.
For long tripsBefore starting off on a long journey, it is
advisable to have your car inspected 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-Vee-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 fuel leaks out of the
engine or gearbox/transmission.
 Inspect the Poly-Vee-belt and replace it if
it shows any signs of wear.
 Check the battery charge.
 Check the tires for tread pattern and air
pressure, including the compact spare
wheel.
 Take an extra car key/remote control and
keep it separate, see also page 30.
 Check the brakes.
 Check all bulbs.
 Check for the presence of the tool kit and
the jack in the car.
WARNING
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) as the
tire can overheat and adversely affect the
handling of the car.
The tire should be inflated to 60 psi
(420 kPa).
NOTETo avoid damaging a punctured alloy
wheel this can be placed outside up in the
spare-wheel well but only while driving to
the closest workshop.
A general rule is that all heavy loads must
be well secured in the luggage compart-
ment, see page 129.
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193 Car care
Changing the wheels round Because of front wheel drive, the front tires
tend to wear faster than the rear ones. New
tires should always be fitted in pairs, so that
tires on the same axle have the same
amount of tread.
If swapping the complete set, e.g. winter
tires for summer tires, mark the tires
removed to ensure that they go back in the
same position (e.g. FL for front left, RL rear
left, etc.).
Store wheels lying flat or hanging – never
standing upright.
Tire markingsAn example of the meaning of the different
markings in a tire size is given below for a
tire size of 195/60 R15 88V:
Winter tiresWinter (snow) tires are recommended for
winter climates where the majority of your
driving will be done on snow and ice. Winter
tires should be fitted to all four wheels to
maintain a proper balance. Your Saab
dealer can advise you of to the correct size
tire for your car (if different from the original
size) and also supply Saab approved winter
tires pre-mounted on steel or alloy rims.Tire quality grading (cars sold in
U.S.)New tires must be graded and labeled in
accordance with new Federal regulations.
Standard tests are conducted to measure
performance in the areas of traction and
temperature resistance. Refer to the tire
sidewall for the specific quality grades of the
tires provided on your new Saab. Compact
spare tires are exempt.
DOT QUALITY GRADES
 Treadwear.
 Traction AA, A, B, C.
 Temperature A, B, C.
All passenger car tires must conform to Fed-
eral safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
WARNING
When fitting just one new pair of tires,
these should be fitted to the rear wheels,
as these are more critical to the direc-
tional stability of the car (e.g. on braking
or in a skid). The existing rear tires should
therefore be moved to the front. Always
move left rear to left front and right rear to
right front, so that the direction of rotation
remains the same.
195 Tire section width, mm
60 Aspect ratio, i.e. the section height
is 60 % of the section width
R Radial ply
15 Wheel rim diameter 15 in. at bead
seats
88 Tire load code
V Speed marking
Speed ratingsS Tire approved for speeds up to
112 mph (180 km/h)
T Tire approved for speeds up to
118 mph (190 km/h)
H Tire approved for speeds up to
130 mph (210 km/h)
V Tire approved for speeds up to
150 mph (240 km/h)
W Tire approved for speeds up to
167 mph (270 km/h)
Y Tire approved for speeds up to
186 mph (300 km/h)
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195 Car care
Date codeTires should be regarded as perishable
goods. As the tires age, the rubber becomes
progressively harder, and the roadholding
ability of the tires diminishes. This is partic-
ularly true on winter tires.
Tires now have a date-code marking for the
year of manufacture. The first two digits
denote the week number and the last digit
the year. The ”<” symbol points to the year.
Accordingly, a date code of 157 signifies
that the tire was manufactured in week 15,
1997.
Wear indicatorsThe tires incorporate wear indicators in the
form of smooth, treadless strips across the
width, which become visible when only
2/32" (1.6 mm) of tread remains. As soon as
the indicators become visible, new tires
should be fitted without delay.
Make sure you are familiar with the legal
limit for minimum tread depth in your
country and also any regulations gov-
erning the use of winter tires.
Compact spare wheelThe compact spare is light and easy to
handle when changing the wheel. Its use is
only permitted when a standard wheel has
sustained a puncture. The maximum life of
the wheel is only 2000 miles (3,500 km).
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) with the
compact spare fitted.
The compact spare should be inflated to
60 psi (420 kPa). Carry the punctured tire in
the spare-wheel well under the trunk floor.
Have the standard wheel repaired and refit-
ted as soon as possible
Driving considerations with compact spare
wheel/tire fitted, see page 165.
The spare wheel, the tools and the jack with
its crank are carried under a panel in the
trunk.
IB969
Date code
IB998
Wear indicators
IB921
Spare wheel (under the carpet in the
trunk)
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227 Technical data
Brake system Rims and tires Footbrake (ABS) ___________________ Hydraulic disc
brakes with vacuum
servo, diagonally
split circuits
Parking brake ______________________ Acts on rear wheels
Brake fluid ________________________ DOT 4
Do not use DOT 5
Disc diameter:
front, Coupé/5-door/Convertible _______ 11.4" (288 mm)
front, Viggen ______________________ 12.0” (306 mm)
rear ____________________________ 11.3" (286 mm)
Total friction area of brake pads:
front, Coupé/5-door/Convertible _______ 34.4 in² (224 cm²)
front, Viggen ______________________ 35.9 in² (234 cm²)
rear ____________________________ 14.2 in² (92 cm²)Rim size:
Coupé/5-door/Convertible ___________ 6.5 x 15 or 6.5 x 16
Viggen __________________________ 7.5 x 17
Viggen must use 6.5 x 16 or 7 x 17
Tire sizes (summer tires):
6.5 x 15 (not Viggen) _______________ 195/60 R15
6.5 x 16__________________________ 205/50 R16
7.5 x 17 Viggen only ________________ 215/45 R17
Tire sizes (winter tires):
6 x 15 (not Viggen) _________________ 185/65 R15 M+S
195/60 R15 M+S
6.5 x 16 _________________________ 205/50 R16 M+S
Recommended rims for snow chains:
Coupé/5-door/Convertible ___________ 6 x 15
Viggen __________________________ 6.5 x 16
Spare wheel:
Tire:
Coupé/5-door/Convertible ___________ T115/70 R15
Viggen __________________________ T115/70 R16
Rim:
Coupé/5-door/Convertible ___________ 4.0 x 15
Viggen __________________________ 4.0 x 16
Maximum life _____________________ 2000 miles
(3500 km)
Maximum speed __________________ 50 mph (80 km/h)
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229 Technical data
Plates and labelsIn contacts with your Saab dealer it may
sometimes be necessary to quote the car’s
chassis, engine and gearbox numbers.
1 Modification identity plate (in the spare
wheel compartment). On certain model
variants, the plate is located on the
right-hand door pillar.
2 V.I.N. number inside windshield.
3 Certification label.
4 Gearbox number.
5 Engine number.
6 Label for tire pressures and color codes
(trim and body).
7 Chassis number.
8 Chassis number (stamped on body).
9 Vehicle Emission Control Information.
10 Spark ignition system information
(Canada only)
4728473IB1368
CANADA US
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233 Index
Index
AA/C system, fault diagnosis
_______ 207
A/C system, maintenance
_________ 207
ACC
__________________________ 80
ACC, useful tips
_________________ 88
Adjustment, steering wheel
________ 118
Air conditioning (A/C),
fault diagnosis and maintenance
__ 207
Airbag
_________________________ 22
Alarm _________________________ 35
Alarm functions
__________________ 38
Alarm signals
___________________ 38
Anticorrosion treatment
___________ 203
Anti-theft safety, alarm ____________ 35
Ashtray
_______________________ 123
Audio System
___________________ 90
Automatic climate control (ACC)
_____ 80
Automatic transmission
___________ 141
BBattery
_______________________ 177
Boost starting from donor battery
___ 162
Brake fluid, check
_______________ 176
Brake fluid, grade _______________ 227
Brake pad wear indicators
________ 176
Brakes
________________________ 149Braking
_______________________ 149
Bulb table _____________________ 186
CCD changer
____________________ 101
CD player
______________________ 99
CHECK messages
____________ 63
, 68
CHECKING
__________________ 63
, 68
Cabin lighting
__________________ 121
Calibration, ACC _________________ 86
Car alarm
______________________ 35
Car phone, installation
___________ 109
Cassette player
__________________ 96
Center console compartment
______ 123
Central locking
__________________ 30
Change of address notification
_____ 214
Changing a wheel
_______________ 196
Changing bulbs
_________________ 181
Changing the coolant
____________ 175
Changing the engine oil __________ 173
Changing wiper blades
___________ 179
Chassis number
________________ 229
Child car seats
__________________ 18
Child safety
_____________________ 18
Child safety locks, rear doors
_______ 33
Child seats
_____________________ 18
Cigar lighter ____________________ 123
Cleaning the soft top
______________ 51
Climate-control system, manual
_____ 76
Clock
__________________________ 69Condensation water, A/C
__________ 78
Condensation water, ACC __________ 81
Convertible
_____________________ 42
Coolant
_______________________ 174
Courtesy Headlight Feature
________ 72
Cruise Control
__________________ 148
Cup holder
_____________________ 122
DDICE/TWICE
___________________ 188
Date code, tires _________________ 195
Dim low beam
___________________ 71
Dimmer
________________________ 74
Direction indicators
_______________ 72
Direction-indicator stalk
____________ 72
Dome lighting
__________________ 121
Door mirrors
___________________ 124
Drive belt
______________________ 179
Driving in deep water
_____________ 166
Driving in hot weather ____________ 156
Driving technique
________________ 153
Driving with a compact spare wheel
_ 165
Driving with a roof load
___________ 158
Driving with the trunk lid open
______ 166
EEconomical motoring
_____________ 153
Electrical system, technical data
____ 225
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235 Index
Manual climate-control system
______ 76
Manual raising of the soft top,
Convertible
____________________ 46
Manually opening the fuel filler door,
Convertible ____________________ 52
Manually opening the fuel filler door,
Coupé and 5-door
______________ 131
Maxi fuses
_____________________ 188
Memory, driver’s seat
____________ 117
Motoring abroad
________________ 165
NNight Panel
_____________________ 69
OOdometer
______________________ 59
Oil specification
_________________ 223
OnStar
_______________________ 109
Opening handle
_________________ 30
Owner assistance _______________ 213
PPaint touch-up
__________________ 202
Parcel shelf
____________________ 128
Parking
_______________________ 151
Parking brake
__________________ 151Parking lights
___________________ 71
Plates and labels ________________ 229
Power-steering fluid, check
________ 177
Pressure gauge
__________________ 60
Programmable driver’s seat
_______ 117
Programming, ACC
_______________ 86
RRadio
__________________________ 94
Raising the soft top, Convertible
_____ 45
Rear fog light
____________________ 73
Rear seat
_____________________ 125
Rear seat, tipping
_______________ 125
Rear window wiper _______________ 75
Rearview mirrors
________________ 124
Rear-window wiper _______________ 75
Recirculation
____________________ 78
Recycling
_____________________ 205
Refuelling _____________________ 138
Relay table ____________________ 190
Remote control __________________ 30
Remote control battery, changing
____ 32
Reporting safety defects
__________ 214
Rev counter
_____________________ 59
Reversing lights
_________________ 73
Rotating the tires ________________ 193
Running-in
_____________________ 140
SSAHR, head restraint
____________ 114
SID (Side instrument display)
_______ 62
SRS (airbag)
____________________ 22
Safety belts
_____________________ 12
Safety belts, care of
______________ 199
Seat-belt pretensioners
____________ 13
Seats
_________________________ 112
Securing a load
__________________ 33
Service costs
___________________ 213
Service information
______________ 214
Service intervals
________________ 212
Service record retention
__________ 213
Side airbag
_____________________ 27
Side airbags ____________________ 27
Ski hatch
______________________ 128
Snow tires _____________________ 227
Soft-top storage, Convertible
________ 50
Spare wheel
___________________ 130
Speedometer ____________________ 59
Starting the engine
______________ 135
Steering pump oil, grade
__________ 226
Steering-wheel adjustment ________ 118
Sunroof
_______________________ 120
TTachometer
_____________________ 59
Tailgate, opening
_________________ 33
Technical data
__________________ 220
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