parking SAAB 9-3 2001 User Guide

152 Starting and drivingIgnition switchThe single lock used for both the ignition
and gear/selector lever is in the center con-
sole located between the front seats. Before
you can remove the key, the car must be in
reverse gear (manual gearbox cars) or the
Parking (P) position (cars with automatic
transmission).
The key for this lock also fits all other locks
in the car. The key number is on a small
plastic tag delivered together with the keys.
Be sure to save this plastic tab since it has
the key number on it.
IB862
LOCK position
Put the gear lever in reverse and turn the ignition key to the LOCK posi-
tion.
For cars with automatic transmission, select the Parking (P) position
and turn the ignition key to the LOCK position.
The gear lever is now locked. The key can only be removed when the
gear lever is in this position.
The parking lights, the hazard warning lights and the interior lighting can
still be illuminated.
OFF position
Gear lever is not locked (manual transmission).
Automatic transmission: gear lever is locked until brake pedal is
depressed.
ON position
The entire electrical system is operative. Do not leave the key in the
ON position while the engine is not running. Turn the key to the
LOCK position to disconnect the electrical system.
When you turn the key to the ON position, the warnings and indicators
in the main instrument light so that you can check to see that they are
functioning properly. They are extinguished after approx. 3 seconds.
Start position (ST)
The starter motor operates in this position. When you release the key,
it springs back to the ON position. Restarting the starter motor is pre-
vented. If starting is unsuccessful, you must turn the key back to a posi-
tion between OFF and LOCK before you can turn it to the start (ST)
position again.
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153 Starting and driving
If the car does not startIf the text "KEY NOT ACCEPTED" appears
on the SID when the engine refuses to start,
the trouble may be a fault in the transponder
of the key or in the receiver of the ignition
switch. Proceed as follows:
• Turn the key back to the LOCK position.
 Turn the key to the ON position.
 Press one of the buttons on the remote
control (the LED on top of the dash stops
flashing).
 Start the engine.
Try the other key. If it works, the trouble is in
the first key.
Call on an authorized Saab dealer for
inspection and correction.
Starting the engine
Do not run the starter motor for more than
25 seconds at a time. Wait 20-30 seconds
before running the starter again, to give the
battery time to recover.
Avoid racing the engine or putting a heavy
load on it before it has warmed up. Let the
engine idle for at least 10 seconds and then
drive away as long as the engine oil warning
light has gone out to enable the engine to
attain its normal temperature as quickly as
possible.
It 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.
WARNING
 Always remove the key before leaving
the car.
 Always apply the parking brake before
removing the ignition key.NOTETake 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
 When starting the engine:
– Sit down in the driver’s seat.
– Depress the clutch pedal fully. If gear
lever is not in the neutral position, the
clutch pedal must be fully depressed
or the car will jump forwards or back-
wards, which may cause an accident.
– 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.
 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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154 Starting and drivingStarting the engine The engine has an automatic choke and
should be started as follows:
Cars with manual gearbox
To start the engine the clutch pedal must
be fully depressed.
1 Depress the clutch pedal 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 50 seconds.
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
The selector lever must be in the P or N
position.
1 Keep your foot on the brake pedal.
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 50 seconds.
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 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.
Every time the engine is switched off the
spark plugs are automatically cleaned. If
your attempt to start nevertheless fails, let
go of the ignition key and allow it to spring
back. This initiates more vigorous cleaning
of the sparking plugs which goes on for
about 5 seconds. Then start in the ordinary
way. Do not touch the accelerator; if the
accelerator is pressed to the floor the fuel
supply is shut off.
Important
considerations for
drivingThe engine-management system in the
Saab 9-3 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 drive-
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 is in the mid-range on tempera-
ture gauge) to avoid unnecessary
wear. If the needle of the pressure
gauge repeatedly enters the red zone
the engine may suddenly lose power,
owing to the intervention of a monitor-
ing system which curtails the charging
pressure. Get in touch with an autho-
rized Saab dealer at once.
 A safety function prevents the engine
from revving faster than 6,200 rpm by
temporarily shutting of the fuel injec-
tors.
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162 Starting and drivingAutomatic transmission

The electronic control module for the auto-
matic transmission receives information on
engine torque and road speed. It also con-
trols the hydraulic pressure in the transmis-
sion to ensure that gear changing is as
smooth as possible.
The position of the selector lever is shown
by the symbols adjacent to the lever and
also by an indicator on the main instrument
panel.
The ignition key can only be removed when
the selector lever is in the P position.When the car is stationary, the engine must
be idling when the selector lever is moved.
You must have your foot on the brake
pedal to move the lever out of park. If the
accelerator is depressed while the lever is
moved, this will result in abnormal wear in
the transmission.
WARNING
 Make it a habit to keep your foot on the
brake when selecting a drive position,
to prevent the car from creeping for-
ward (or backwards if reverse is
selected).
 The car must be at a standstill before
P, R or N is selected. You have to have
your foot on the brake pedal to move
the lever out of park. If the car is still
moving when a drive position is subse-
quently selected, this could cause an
accident or damage the automatic
transmission.
 Never park the car with the selector
lever in a drive position, even if the
parking brake is on.
 If you want to leave the car with the
engine running, move the selector
lever to P or N and apply the parking
brake.
NOTEAfter selecting a drive position, pause
briefly to allow the gear to engage (the car
starts to pull a little) before you acceler-
ate.
IB865
Selector lever 1Catch
2 Button for SPORT position
3 Button for WINTER position
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164 Starting and drivingLock-up functionThe automatic transmission has a lock-up
function, which renders the torque con-
verter inoperative in 3rd and 4th gears. The
result is reduction in the engine speed and,
hence, fuel consumption.
When the lock-up function comes into oper-
ation, it may give the impression of an over-
drive being engaged.Kick-downWhen the accelerator is pressed down hard,
a downshift to the next lower gear will occur
to provide maximum acceleration, e.g. for
overtaking.
The change-up to the next gear again will
take place either when the accelerator is
released or when maximum engine speed
for that gear is reached.
Park Brake Shift LockThe transmission has a safety function
called Park Brake Shift Lock. For the selec-
tor lever to be moved out of the P position,
the brake pedal must be depressed at the
same time as the detent button is lifted.
Park Brake Shift Lock override
1 Apply the parking brake.
2 Make sure the key is in the ON position.
3 Use a small tool such as a screwdriver
and push the lever downwards so that
the detent button can be pressed
approx. 10 mm.
4 Move the selector out of position P to N.
5 Remove the tool.
6 Release the parking brake if the car is to
be moved immediately; otherwise keep
it applied.Check fuse No. 12 (see page 214). If the
fuse is OK, check the battery voltage.
If the problem was cured by changing the
fuse or battery, you do not have to contact a
Saab dealer.
If the fuse blows again as soon as the Shift
Lock feature is activated you should contact
your Saab dealer.NOTEIf a problem arises with the shift lock
mechanism, it may not be possible to
move the selector out of the park position,
even if the ignition is ON. If for some
reason the selector has to be moved out
of the park position (i.e. to tow the car a
short distance) do as described below.
IB947
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166 Starting and drivingSelector positions
P
To shift out of the P position you must depress
the brake pedal and the ignition must be ON.
The parking position (P) must only be selected
when the car is at a complete standstill. The selec-
tor lever is locked and the transmission is
mechanically immobilized. Always apply the park-
ing brake after parking the car.
The engine can be started.
R
The reverse (R) position must only be selected
when the car is at a complete standstill. The
detent-release button must be pressed before the
selector lever can be moved to R. Wait until
reverse gear has engaged (car starts to creep)
before touching the accelerator.
N
In the Neutral position (N), the transmission is dis-
engaged from the engine. The engine can be
started, but first ensure that the parking brake is
on, to prevent the car from moving off unexpect-
edly.
To prevent the engine and transmission from
becoming hotter than necessary, select N for
stops other than brief ones, e.g. if stuck in a traffic
jam.
The normal drive position (D) is recommended for
waiting at traffic lights.
D
The Drive position (D) is the position for normal
motoring. Gear changes between 1st and 4th will
take place automatically, the timing of which is
determined by the throttle (accelerator) position
and the speed of the car.
After moving the selector lever to D, pause to give
the gear time to engage (car starts to pull).
3
In position 3, 4th gear is locked out. The car will
start in 1st gear and normal gear changing (up
and down) will take place automatically between
gears 1, 2 and 3.
Moving the selector lever from D to 3 will cause a
downshift to 3rd gear, which will give better
engine-braking.
Do not move the selector to position 3 at speeds
in excess of 90 mph (150 km/h).
2
Position 2 is recommended in hilly country as it
provides effective engine-braking. Normal gear
changing (up and down) between 1st and 2nd
gear will take place automatically. Third and 4th
gears are locked out.
Do not move the selector to position 2 at speeds
in excess of 70 mph (110 km/h).
1
Position 1 should be used when maximum
engine-braking is required on steep downhill
slopes.
Do not move the selector to position 1 at speeds
in excess of 30 mph (50 km/h).
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170 Starting and drivingDisengaging the system The system will be disengaged:
 When the brake or clutch pedal is
depressed.
 When the switch is moved to CANCEL.
 When the switch is moved to OFF.
 When the engine is switched off.
 When the selector lever is moved to posi-
tion N (cars with automatic transmission).
BrakingTo avoid overheating the brakes, (e.g. when
negotiating long descents with a drop of
several hundred feet), select a low gear to
use the braking effect of the engine. If the
car has automatic transmission, move the
selector lever to position 1 or 2.
When driving fast, you can help to prolong
the life of the brakes by thinking ahead and
braking harder for short periods, rather than
braking more moderately over long
stretches. Brake pad wear indicatorsThe outboard brake pads on the front
wheels incorporate pad-wear indicators.
When the lining is down to 3 mm, the pad
will produce a screeching, squealing or
scraping noise when the brakes are applied.
New pads should be installed without delay.
Brake pads should only be replaced by
an authorized Saab dealer.
To ensure optimum brake performance,
it is recommended that you use only
Saab original brake pads.

WARNING
 It is prudent to try your brakes from
time to time, especially when driving in
heavy rain, through water collected on
the road, in snow, on a wet road sur-
face or in salty slush. In such condi-
tions, the brakes may take longer than
normal to take effect. To rectify this,
touch the brake pedal periodically to
dry the brakes out.
 The same applies after the car has
been washed or when the weather is
very humid.
 Avoid parking the car with wet brakes.
Before parking, and if the traffic condi-
tions allow, brake quite heavily so that
the brake discs and pads warm up and
dry.
 The brakes are power assisted and it
should be kept in mind that the servo
unit only provides the power assis-
tance when the engine is running.
 The brake pressure required when the
engine is off,( e.g. when the car is
being towed) is roughly four times the
normal pedal force required. The
pedal also feels hard and unrespon-
sive.
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174 Starting and drivingParking brakeThe parking brake lever is located between
the front seats. The brake acts on the rear
wheels. When the parking brake is on, the
indicator lamp on the main instrument panel
will be lit.
To release the brake, lift the lever slightly,
press the pawl button, and let the lever
down.
Parking
WARNING
 Always apply the parking brake when
the car is parked.
 Always apply the parking brake before
removing the ignition key.
 Never use the parking brake while the
car is moving.
WARNING
 Park where the vehicle will not create
an obstruction or a hazard to other
road users.
 Do not park on dry grass or other com-
bustible material. The catalytic con-
verter gets very hot and could start a
fire.
 Do not leave children or pets unat-
tended in the car. In warm, sunny
weather, the temperature inside the
car can reach 160–180°F (70–80°C). NOTE Apply the parking brake.
 Shift into Reverse for manual trans-
mission; for automatic transmission:
move selector lever to P (Park)), and
remove the ignition key.
 Lock the car.
NOTESaab 9-3 Viggen: The body design
together with the relatively low ground
clearance of the car means that great
care must be taken during parking to
avoid damage to the under part of the
bumper.
IB1269
IB982
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175 Starting and driving
Parking on a hillWhen parking on a steep hill, turn the front
wheels so that they will be blocked by the
curb if the car should move.
Long-term parkingIf the car is not going to be used for some
time, e.g. 3–4 months, the following steps
are recommended:
 Run the engine to normal temperature
before long-term parking.
 Drain the washer-fluid reservoir and
hoses.  Wash and wax the car. Clean the rubber
seals on the hood, trunk lid and doors,
and lubricate them with glycerol (glyc-
erin).
 After washing the car, dry the brake discs
by taking the car out on the road and
applying the brakes a few times. If the traf-
fic conditions allow, brake quite heavily
just before parking.
 Fill the fuel tank with fuel to prevent con-
densation forming in it.
 Top up the coolant and check the anti-
freeze before the onset of winter.
 Park the car in a dry, covered and
well-ventilated building. Leave the park-
ing brake OFF!
 Disconnect the negative (-) battery lead.
If freezing temperatures are likely to occur
during the long-term parking, remove the
battery and store it away from freezing
temperatures.
 Ideally, the car should be put up on
blocks, with the wheels off the ground. If
this is not possible, inflate the tires to
about 43 psi (300 kPa).
 Leave all the windows open a crack and
cover the car with a fabric tarpaulin - not
one made of plastic which will not breath.
IB879
1Pointing downhill and
against the curb
– Turn the wheels into the
curb and edge the car for-
ward until the wheels touch
the curb. 2Pointing uphill and
against the curb
– Turn the wheels away
from the curb and edge the
car back until the wheels
touch the curb. 3Pointing uphill or down-
hill – no curb
– Turn the wheels towards
the edge of the road. If the
car should start rolling, it
will not run into the road.
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180 Starting and driving
Trailer weightMaximum recommended trailer weights for
different gradients, for best comfort and
driveability for manual and automatic cars,
are shown in the drawing.
Make sure you are familiar with the law
regarding speed limits for towing, maxi-
mum trailer weights, trailer-braking
requirements, and also any special
driving-license provisions
(see also page 246).
The specified trailer weights and gradients
assume you are operating in hilly terrain and
therefore apply only to short trips.
NOTESaab 9-3 Viggen cannot be equipped
with a trailer hitch because of the design
of the body and chassis.
WARNING
When towing a trailer, do not attempt to
negotiate a hill having a gradient in
excess of 15%. The weight distribution
over the front wheels of the car will be
insufficient to prevent wheelspin, making
further progress impossible.
In addition, the parking brake may not
always be able to hold the car and trailer
securely, with the result that the wheels
can start to slide downhill.
IB1691
Maximum recommended caravan weights
for different gradients
IB1270
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