tires SAAB 9-3 2001 User Guide

219 Car care
Uniform Tire Quality Grading (US)Quality grades can be found where applica-
ble on the tire sidewall between tread shoul-
der and maximum section width. For exam-
ple:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature ATreadwearThe treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled conditions on
a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one half (1 1/2) times as well on the gov-
ernment course as a tire graded 100. The
relative performance of tires depends upon
the actual conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road character-
istics and climate.
TractionThe traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B and C. These grades represent
the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
TemperatureThe temperature grades are A (the highest),
B, and C, representing the tire’s resistance
to the generation of heat and its ability to dis-
sipate heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life. Excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to a tire is
based on straight-ahead braking, traction
test and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning or peak traction
characteristics.
WARNING
The temperature grade for a tire is estab-
lished for a tire that is properly inflated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading,
either separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire fail-
ure.
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220 Car careDate 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 two
digits the year. The ”<” symbol points to the
year.
Accordingly, a date code of 0200 signifies
that the tire was manufactured in week 02,
2000.
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 190.
The spare wheel, the tools and the jack with
its crank are carried under a panel in the
trunk.
IB1564
Date code
IB998
Wear indicators
IB921
Spare wheel (under the carpet in the
trunk)
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224 Car care
Flat spottingAll tires get hot, especially on long journeys
or when the car is driven hard. After the car
has been parked with hot tires and the tires
have cooled down, a flat spot can form in the
tire, where it is in contact with the ground.
The same can occur if the car has not been
moved for a long time.
Flat spots can cause vibration that can be
felt through the steering wheel, similar to
that experienced when the wheels need bal-
ancing. Flat spots of this type disappear
once the tires get hot again, usually after
10–15 miles (20–25 km) of driving at cruis-
ing speed.
Safety beltsA check should be made periodically to
ensure that the safety belts are working
properly.
 Hold the diagonal strap and pull it sharply.
The safety belt should lock and it should
not be possible to withdraw it further.
A sharp tug on the belt should cause the
inertia reel to lock. Check the floor anchor-
age points for corrosion damage. If a belt is
worn or has any fraying edges, it should be
replaced.
Safety belts must not come into contact with
substances such as polishes, oil or chemi-
cals. If the belts get dirty, wash them with
warm water and a detergent or have them
replaced.
WARNING
Safety belts and belt pretensioners that
were in use in a serious collision must be
replaced even if they are not visibly
damaged.
No attempt must be made to repair, or
modify the function of, safety belts.
IB923
Removing the wheel cover
IB925
Tightening sequence, wheel bolts
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233 Car care
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
cover the radiator, e.g. with screen netting,
as this will greatly diminish its cooling capac-
ity.
Note: The A/C system will only operate
when the outdoor temperature is above the
freezing point (0°C, 32°F). Switch on the
A/C system when the car stands in a warm
place.
Headlight aimingThe vehicle is equipped with vertical and
horizontal aim indicators. The aim has been
preset at the factory and should normally not
need further adjustments. This is true even
though your vertical and horizontal aim indi-
cators may not fall exactly on the "0" (zero)
marks on their scales.
If your headlight is damaged in an accident,
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: Place the vehicle on a level pad or surface
 The vehicle should be unladen and fuel
tank full, and one person or 160 lbs.
(75 kg) on the drivers seat
 The vehicle should not have any snow, ice
or mud attached to it
 Tires should be inflated to the prescribed
pressure
 Rock the vehicle to stabilize the suspen-
sion
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.
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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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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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243 Technical data
Technical dataGeneral particulars .......... 244
Engine ............................... 247
Engine oil .......................... 247
Fuel.................................... 249
Engine variants ................ 249
Electrical system.............. 250
Drive belts......................... 250
Manual transmission ....... 250
Automatic transmission .. 250
Suspension....................... 251
Steering............................. 251
Brake system.................... 251
Rims and tires .................. 252
Plates and labels .............. 253
IB993
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252 Technical dataRims and tires

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 7.5 x 17
Contact an authorized Saab dealer if you
wish to fit other wheels than those fitted
as standard.
Tire sizes (summer tires):
6.5 x 15 (not Viggen) _______________ 195/60 R15
6.5 x 16 __________________________ 205/50 R16 or
205/55 R16
7.5 x 17 Viggen only ________________ 215/45 R17
Tire sizes (winter tires):
6 x 15 (not Viggen) _________________ 185/65 R15 M+S or
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 _____________________________ T115/70 R16
Rim _____________________________ 4.0 x 16
Maximum life _____________________ 2000 miles
(3500 km)
Maximum speed __________________ 50 mph (80 km/h)
NOTESnow chains
Snow chains must not be fitted to the rear wheels and must be
used on the following tire/wheel combinations:
Wheel Tire
6 x 15 _________ 185/65 R15 M+S (not Viggen),
195/60 R15 (not Viggen) or
195/60 R15 M+S (not Viggen)
6.5 x 15________ 195/60 R15 (not Viggen)
6.5 x 16________ 205/50 R16, 205/55 R16 or 205/50 R16 M+S
Max. speed is 30 mph (50 km/h).
Consult your authorized Saab dealer of approved snow chains.NOTECoupé/5-door/Convertible: Bigger rims than 17” must not be
used. The offset of the rims must not exceed 49 mm.
Viggen: Bigger rims than 17” must not be used.
The offset of the rims must not exceed 42 mm.
Front-wheel angles:
Toe-in, measured on the wheel rim ____ 1.5±0.5 mm
Viggen __________________________ 1.3±0.3 mm
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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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