brake fluid SAAB 9-3 2001 User Guide

197 Car care

Transmission fluidManual transmissionCheck and top up the fluid in accordance
with the service program.
If original fluid cannot be obtained for top-
ping up, Dexron III (synthetic fluid) auto-
matic transmission fluid can be used. If so,
the car should be taken to an authorized
Saab dealer as soon as possible to have the
reason for low fluid level corrected and orig-
inal fluid installed.Automatic transmissionCheck the fluid level as follows:
1 Park the car on level ground and apply
the parking brake. The automatic trans-
mission fluid must be at normal running
temperature, approximately 175°F
NOTEChange of engine oil and oil filter may be
required more frequently (5000-mile
intervals (8,000 km)) if any one of the fol-
lowing conditions apply to the car:
 Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8
to 16 km). This is particularly important
when outside temperatures are below
freezing.
 Most trips include extensive idling
(such as frequent stop-and-go driving).
 Most trips are through dusty areas.
 You frequenty tow a trailer or use a car-
rier on top of your vehicle.
 If the vehicle is used for delivery ser-
vice, police, taxi or other commerical
applications.
WARNING
 Prolonged and repeated exposure of
the skin to engine oil can cause seri-
ous skin disorders.
 Avoid prolonged skin contact when-
ever possible. Wash the affected area
thoroughly with soap and water after
any contact.
 Keep oil out of reach of children.
 Do not touch the turbocharger or
manifold. These get very hot when the
engine has been running.
 Do not spill oil on hot parts of the
engine as this could cause a fire. Used
engine oil is particularly flammable.
 Protect the environment. Do not dis-
pose of oil in the ground or down a
drain. Dispose of all used oil and oil fil-
ters at an appropriate disposal facility.
+80°
MIN MAX
+80°
IB495
Oil dipstick, automatic transmission
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200 Car careBrake- clutch fluid and
brake padsChecking the fluid level The combined brake and clutch-fluid reser-
voir is transparent to facilitate checking of
the fluid level.
The level should be between the MAX and
MIN marks. Top up, as necessary, with
DOT 4 fluid. Do
not
use DOT 5 brake fluid.
Use only new brake fluid from a sealed con-
tainer.
Check that there are no leaks in the brake
system.
Changing of the brake fluid should be
carried out by an authorized Saab dealer.The vehicle´s regular braking system is
adjusted automatically, but the parking
brake has to be adjusted manually. This
work, involving adjustment of the parking
brake cables and brake pads, must only be
carried out by an authorized Saab dealer.
It is not possible to detect, through abnormal
pedal or parking brake-lever travel, whether
brake pads are worn and need replacing. It
is therefore essential that brake pads be
checked regularly, as specified in the ser-
vice program, see page 239.
Brake pad wear indicators The outboard brake pads on the front
wheels incorporate pad-wear indicators.
When the lining is down to 0.11 in (3 mm),
the pad will produce a screeching, squeal-
ing or scraping noise when the brakes are
applied. New pads should be installed with-
out delay.
Brake pads should only be changed by
an authorized Saab dealer. To ensure
optimum brake performance, use only
Saab original brake pads.
WARNING
Brake fluid deteriorates as it becomes
old. Because it is hygroscopic, it absorbs
water from the air and, in time, could allow
vapor to form in the brake system, thus
reducing its performance. It is therefore
important that brake fluid be changed reg-
ularly, as specified in the service pro-
gram, see page 239.
NOTEAvoid spilling brake fluid onto paintwork,
since it can cause the paint to bubble and
lift. If any brake fluid is spilled, the area
should be flushed with large quantities of
water as quickly as possible.
IB894
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205 Car care
WasherThe reservoir holds 5 quarts (4.7 litres).
When the SID message "WASHER FLUID
LEVEL LOW" appears there is about
1.5 quarters (1.4 litres) left.
Fill with quality washer fluid, available from
your Saab dealer and follow the instructions
on the package to reduce the risk of freez-
ing.
Note: If the reservoir is run dry and the car
has a rear-window wiper, then after refilling
you cannot wash the rear window until you
have first washed the windscreen.
Washer jetsThe washer jets, which are adjustable, can
be cleaned with a pin if necessary.
The jet for rear-window washing is located
in the right-hand part of the high-mounted
brake light.
IB899
Washer-fluid reservoir
IB900
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237 Maintenance and owner assistance
Service record retentionService instruction coupons and record
stubs are provided in the Saab Warranties
and Service Record Booklet which accom-
panies this Owner’s Manual. The coupons
are arranged in the order that normal ser-
vice should be performed. The edge of each
coupon is shaded to correspond to the type
of service point:
 Striped - "Check-up".
 Blue - Oil change/inspection service.
 Black - Major service.
Note that in Canada a combined service
and warranty book is used, but not service
coupons.
When scheduled services are performed,
your dealer will tear out the applicable
coupon and use it to check off the opera-
tions performed and enter it into the service
file at the dealership. The servicing dealer’s
stamp, along with the date and mileage at
which the service was done, should be
entered on the corresponding stub which
remains in your booklet. The booklet is your
permanent record of the services per-
formed. It also includes a log sheet for
unscheduled repairs.
It is advisable to retain receipts and, if pos-
sible, copies of shop work orders for all ser-
vice and repair work, wherever performed.
Service costsDealer pricing practices and labor for ser-
vice work vary. Saab’s recommended ser-
vice times for each service point do not
include the labor required to replace wear
items, such as wiper blades, brake pads or
tires. Nor is labor to perform other service or
repairs found to be necessary as a result of
the inspections included in these times.
Additional labor and parts will be charged
for such work when necessary, except as
covered under an applicable Saab warranty
or any optional extended service contract.
Transmission fluid changes or suspension
alignment, when necessary, are also addi-
tional.
Dealer charges for general shop material,
regulated hazardous waste removal, recy-
cling expenses or other operation costs may
also be applied to service and repair
invoices and are apt to vary by dealer and
location.
Owner assistanceWarranties and service problem
assistanceFor complete information about all applica-
ble warranties, including the New Car War-
ranty, Perforation Warranty, Vehicle Emis-
sion Warranty and Emission Perforation
Warranty, consult the Warranties and Ser-
vice Record Booklet which accompanies
this Owner’s Manual. It also contains owner
assistance information including Saab
Roadside Assistance. If the booklet is lost or
misplaced, a new one may be ordered
through a Saab dealer or by contacting
Saab.
In the U.S. there is a national Customer
Assistance Center at Saab Cars USA, Inc.
The toll-free number to call from all 50 states
is 1-800-955-9007.
In Canada, please call the Saab Customer
Assistance Centre at 1-800-263-1999.
A list of authorized Saab sales and service
dealers is available for those planning to
travel in the United States and Canada.
Canadian or U.S. travelers may call the
Customer Assistance Center in the country
in which they are traveling.
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240 Maintenance and owner assistance* These are the minimum required Emission Control System maintenance steps. Saab urges that all recommended maintenance procedures be performed
according to this program.
(b.) Change automatic transmission fluid at more frequent intervals (30,000; 90,000 miles, etc.) if car is driven in dense city traffic where the outside tem-
perature regularly reaches 90°F or higher, if car is used in a mountainous/high altitude area or for trailer towing.
Service Intervals **
Miles = U.S. Cars
Kilometers = Canadian Cars
30 day
10,000
(16,000 km)
20,000
(32,000 km)
30,000
(48,000 km)
40,000
(64,000 km)
50,000
(80,000 km)
60,000
(96,000 km)
70,000
(112,000 km)
80,000
(128,000 km)
90,000
(144,000 km)
100,000
(160,000 km)
Service #
1234567891011
Engine and engine compartment (cont.)
E Evaporative emission system including filler cap, vapor
lines, EVAP canister and canister purge valve""
R Fuel system; leaks and damages""""""""""
E Fuel filter!
E Engine air cleaner element!
*
!*
!*
R Exhaust system and mountings; leaks and condition""""""""""
Electrical
R Battery; state of charge and electrolyte level; clean termi-
nals if necessary"""""""""""
R Headlamp and fog lamp alignment"""""
R Head, fog, brake, tail, turn signal, warning lights instru-
ment panel, backup and marker lamps"""""""""""
Transmission
R Automatic transmission change fluid (b.)!
R Automatic transmission; oil level and condition"""""" """"
R Manual transmission; oil level""
R Outer and inner driver joint boots""""""""""
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241 Maintenance and owner assistance
(c.) Check wheel alignment if irregular or premature tire wear is apparent.
(d.) Check and clean rear pads and rear calipers in areas with heavy road salt use.
Service Intervals **
Miles = U.S. Cars
Kilometers = Canadian Cars
30 day
10,000
(16,000 km)
20,000
(32,000 km)
30,000
(48,000 km)
40,000
(64,000 km)
50,000
(80,000 km)
60,000
(96,000 km)
70,000
(112,000 km)
80,000
(128,000 km)
90,000
(144,000 km)
100,000
(160,000 km)
Service #
1234567891011
Chassis
R Ball joint clearance, outer and inner steering joints and
rubber boots""""""""""
R Shock absorbers and bushes; tightness and condition"""
R Tire pressure, tread depth and wear, including spare (c.)"""""""""""
R Rotate tires, front to rear""""""""""
R Brake pads and discs; wear and condition (d.)""""""""""
R Brake lines and hoses""""""""""
R Brake fluid level & renewal (max. 2-year intervals)"""" ! """ ! ""
R Check parking brake function"""""""""""
R Power steering fluid level"""""""""""
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251 Technical data
Suspension
SteeringBrake systemSpring type, front and rear ____________ Coil springs
Maximum deflection of springs:
front, Coupé/5-door/Convertible _______ 6.4" (163 mm)
front, Viggen ______________________ 6.5” (165 mm)
rear, Coupé/5-door/Convertible _______ 8.3" (212 mm)
rear, Viggen ______________________ 7.9” (200 mm)
Dampers, front and rear ______________ Gas-filled tele-
scopic shock
absorbers
Steering __________________________ Power-assisted
steering gear of
rack-and-pinion
type with tele-
scopic, universal
joint steering- col-
umn shaft
Number of turns, lock to lock __________ 3.0
Oil type ___________________________ Power Steering
Fluid CHF 11S 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)
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257 Index
Index
AA/C system, fault diagnosis
________ 232
A/C system, maintenance _________ 232
ACC
__________________________ 84
ACC, useful tips
_________________ 92
Adjustment, steering wheel
________ 137
Air conditioning (A/C), fault diagnosis
and maintenance
______________ 232
Airbag
_________________________ 28
Alarm __________________________ 41
Alarm functions
__________________ 44
Alarm signals
___________________ 44
Anti-corrosion treatment
__________ 228
Anti-theft system
_________________ 41
Ashtray
_______________________ 141
Audio System
___________________ 93
Automatic climate control (ACC)
_____ 84
Automatic transmission
___________ 162
BBattery
________________________ 201
Boost starting from donor battery
___ 187
Brake fluid, check
_______________ 200
Brake fluid, grade _______________ 251
Brake pad wear indicators
____ 170
, 200Brakes
________________________ 170
Braking _______________________ 170
Bulb table _____________________ 211
CCD changer
____________________ 105
CD player
_____________________ 103
CHECK messages
_______________ 72
CHECKING
_____________________ 72
Cabin lighting __________________ 139
Calibration, ACC _________________ 90
Car alarm
______________________ 41
Car phone, installation
___________ 113
Care of safety belts
______________ 224
Cassette player
_________________ 100
Central locking __________________ 36
Change of address notification
_____ 238
Changing a wheel
_______________ 221
Changing bulbs
_________________ 206
Changing the coolant
____________ 199
Changing the engine oil __________ 196
Changing the key battery __________ 39
Changing the wheels round _______ 218
Changing wiper blades
___________ 204
Chassis number
________________ 253
Child car seats
__________________ 19
Child safety
_____________________ 19
Child safety locks, rear doors
_______ 39
Child seats
_____________________ 19
Cigar lighter ____________________ 141Cleaning the soft top, Convertible
____ 57
Climate-control system, manual
_____ 80
Compact spare wheel
____________ 220
Condensation water, A/C __________ 82
Condensation water, ACC __________ 85
Convertible
_____________________ 47
Coolant
_______________________ 198
Courtesy Headlight Feature
________ 76
Cruise Control
__________________ 169
Cup holder
_____________________ 140
DDICE/TWICE
___________________ 213
Date code, tires _________________ 220
Dim low beam
___________________ 75
Dimmer
________________________ 78
Direction indicators
_______________ 76
Direction-indicator stalk
____________ 76
Dome lighting
__________________ 139
Door mirrors
___________________ 143
Drive belt
______________________ 203
Driving in deep water
_____________ 185
Driving in hot weather ____________ 179
Driving technique
________________ 176
Driving with a compact spare wheel
_ 190
Driving with a load
_______________ 184
Driving with a roof load
___________ 182
Driving with the trunk lid open
______ 185
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259 Index
Leather upholstery, care of
________ 225
Load eyes
_____________________ 148
Locks
__________________________ 36
Lowering rear seat
______________ 144
Luggage compartment ___________ 144
Luggage compartment, Convertible
__ 56
Luggage-compartment lighting
_____ 148
MMain beam
_____________________ 75
Main instrument panel
_____________ 60
Maintenance schedule ___________ 236
Manual climate-control system
______ 80
Manual raising of the soft top,
Convertible
____________________ 52
Manual transmission
_____________ 161
Manually opening the fuel filler door,
Convertible
____________________ 58
Manually opening the fuel filler door,
Coupé and 5-door
______________ 150
Maxi fuses
_____________________ 213
Memory, driver’s seat
____________ 134
Motoring abroad
________________ 190
NNight Panel
_____________________ 73
OORVR
________________________ 195
Odometer ______________________ 66
Oil specification
_________________ 247
OnStar
________________________ 117
Opening handle
__________________ 36
Owner assistance _______________ 237
PPaint touch-up
__________________ 227
Parcel shelf
____________________ 147
Park Brake Shift Lock
____________ 164
Parking brake
__________________ 174
Parking lights ____________________ 75
Plates and labels
________________ 253
Power steering fluid, check
________ 201
Power steering oil, grade
_________ 251
Pressure gauge
__________________ 67
Programmable driver’s seat
_______ 134
Programming, ACC
_______________ 90
RRadio
__________________________ 98
Raising the soft top, Convertible
_____ 51
Rear fog light
____________________ 77
Rear seat
______________________ 144
Rear seat, tipping
_______________ 144Rearview mirrors
________________ 143
Rear-window wiper _______________ 79
Recirculation
____________________ 82
Recycling
______________________ 230
Refuelling _____________________ 157
Relay table ____________________ 215
Release handle, hood
____________ 192
Remote control
__________________ 36
Remote control battery, changing
____ 39
Removing the key
_______________ 152
Reporting safety defects
__________ 238
Rev counter
_____________________ 66
Reversing lights
__________________ 77
Roof rack
______________________ 182
Rotating the tires
________________ 218
Running-in
_____________________ 161
SSAHR, head restraint
_____________ 18
SID (Side Instrument Display)
_______ 69
SRS (airbag)
____________________ 28
Saab Audio System
_______________ 93
Saab Trionic engine
management system ____________ 195
Safety belts
_____________________ 12
Safety belts, care of
______________ 224
Seat belts
______________________ 12
Seat-belt pretensioners
____________ 13
Seats
_________________________ 130
Service costs
___________________ 237
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260 IndexService information
______________ 238
Service intervals
________________ 236
Service record retention
__________ 237
Side airbags
____________________ 30
Ski hatch
______________________ 147
Snow tires _____________________ 252
Soft top storage, Convertible
_______ 56
Spare wheel
___________________ 149
Speedometer ___________________ 66
Starting the engine
______________ 153
Steering-wheel adjustment
________ 137
Storage compartments
___________ 142
Sunroof
_______________________ 138
Switches _______________________ 75
TTachometer
_____________________ 66
Technical data __________________ 243
Telematics
_____________________ 117
Temperature gauge
______________ 67
Textile carpeting, cleaning
________ 225
Through-load hatch
______________ 147
Tie-down eyes
__________________ 148
Tipping the rear seat
_____________ 144
Tire markings
__________________ 218
Tire pressure ___________________ 184
Tire pressures __________________ 217
Tires and wheels, sizes
___________ 252
Tools
_________________________ 149
Top tether
______________________ 23Touching up paintwork
___________ 227
Towing a caravan or trailer ________ 179
Towing the car
__________________ 185
Traction Control System
__________ 172
Trailer hitch attachment ___________ 179
Trailer hitch load
________________ 182
Transmission, automatic
__________ 162
Transmission, manual
____________ 161
Transporting the car
_____________ 185
Traveling abroad
________________ 190
Trip computer, SID _______________ 69
Trip meter
______________________ 66
Trunk
_________________________ 144
Trunk lid lock, Convertible
__________ 56
Trunk lighting
___________________ 139
Trunk, Convertible
________________ 56
Trunk, opening
__________________ 40
Turbo gauge
____________________ 67
Turn signal
_____________________ 76
UUpholstery and trim
______________ 225
Upholstery and trim, care of
_______ 225
Useful tips on starting
____________ 154
Useful tips, ACC
_________________ 92
VVanity mirror
___________________ 143
WWarning and indicator lights
________ 60
Warning labels
____________________ 7
Warning light, AIR BAG (SRS)
______ 32
Washer fluid
___________________ 205
Washer jets
____________________ 205
Washers
_______________________ 78
Washing ______________________ 226
Waxing and polishing
____________ 227
Wear indicators, brake pads
_______ 200
Wear indicators, tires
_____________ 220
Wheels
_______________________ 217
Wheels and tires, sizes
___________ 252
Window glass sensor, car alarm
_____ 42
Windshield washers
______________ 78
Windshield wipers
________________ 78
Winter driving
__________________ 177
Wiper blades
___________________ 204
Wipers
_________________________ 78
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