traction control SAAB 9-3 2002 Owners Manual

65 Instruments and controls
Traction Control System
indicator (option)
The lamp in the tachometer lights up
when the TCS system is activated, i.e. when
the friction between the tires and road
surface is insufficient for the car to acceler-
ate as desired. You may also experience
that the engine does not respond as normal
when the accelerator is depressed.
Operation of the TCS indicates reduced
cohesion between the tires and the road,
and that extra care should be taken by the
driver.
During normal driving, the TCS will help to
improve both ride comfort and safety, but
must not be regarded as a system to enable
the driver to maintain a higher speed. The
same precautions for safe cornering and
driving on slippery roads must still be
adopted (see page 166.
Traction Control System
OFF indicator (option)
This light comes on when the traction
control system (TCS) is switched off with the
TCS button.
IMPORTANT! The traction control system is
switched on automatically each time the car
is started (see page 166).
This indicator light also comes on if a fault
has been detected in the TCS, in which case
the lamp will not be extinguished when the
TCS is switched off by means of the TCS
button. If a fault is indicated, have the
system checked at an authorized Saab
workshop.
See also the section Traction Control Sys-
tem, on page 166.
Autochecking of lights,
main instrument panel The above warning and indicator lights
should come on when the ignition is
switched on. They go out after about 3 sec-
onds.
The following lamps light up until the engine
starts, as long as no faults exist:
Central warning light .
Oil pressure warning light .
Charge warning light .
IB1922
1 Cars with automatic transmission
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145 Starting and driving
IB943
Starting and driving
Ignition switch ................. 146
Starting the engine .......... 147
Important considerations
for driving....................... 148
Refueling .......................... 151
Engine Break-in Period... 155
Manual transmission ...... 155
Automatic transmission . 156
Cruise Control ................. 163
Braking ............................. 164
Traction Control System 166
Parking ............................. 168
Economical motoring ..... 170 Driving in cold weather ... 171
Driving in hot weather ..... 173
Towing a trailer ................ 173
Driving with a roof rack
load .................................. 176
Driving with the trunk lid
open ................................ 179
Driving in deep water....... 179
Towing the car.................. 179
Jump starting ................... 181
Driving considerations
with compact spare
wheel/tire fitted............... 184
For long trips .................... 184
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166 Starting and drivingTraction Control SystemHow the system works The traction control system (TCS) is
designed to minimize wheelspin. This
enables the car to achieve the best possible
grip and, hence, maximum tractive effort,
together with greater stability.
The TCS system uses information from the
ABS system’s wheel sensors to detect
when the front (driving) wheels are rotating
faster then the rear wheels. It then monitors
whether one driving wheel is rotating faster
than the other. If so, the faster wheel is
retarded until both wheels are rotating at the
same speed.
If the two front wheels are rotating at the
same speed but are turning faster than the
rear wheels, the torque from the engine is
reduced to eliminate the difference.
The process continues until all the wheels
are rotating at the same speed. The advantages of the TCS system become
most apparent when the cohesion between
the front wheels and the road surface is so
low that one or both of the wheels would
lose their grip were the car not equipped
with the TCS, e.g.:
 When the car is pulling away or accelerat-
ing with the front wheels on different sur-
faces (e.g. one slippery and one dry). The
TCS then functions like an electronic dif-
ferential lock.
 When the car is pulling away or accelerat-
ing on a slippery road, in which case the
TCS eliminates wheelspin. The same
applies when the car is reversing.
 On cornering, if there is a tendency for the
inner front wheel to rotate faster than the
other wheels.
 On overtaking.
TCS OFF The indicator on the main instrument
panel will come on:
 If a fault has been detected and the
system has therefore been switched off.
 If there is a fault in the ABS system.
 If the system has been switched off man-
ually.
The indicator light will also come on for
4 seconds when the ignition key is turned to
ON, while an internal system check is per-
formed. TCS indicator The in the tachometer comes on when
the system is operative, i.e. when the
wheels are not rotating at the same speed.
The fact that the TCS system is operative
indicates that the limit for grip has been
exceeded and that the driver must exert
greater care.
WARNING
When driving normally, the TCS helps to
imrove the safety of the car. This does
not mean that car can be driven faster.
The same care and prudence normally
applied should be displayed on corner-
ing and when driving on slippery roads.
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213 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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250 IndexStorage compartments
___________ 136
Sunroof
_______________________ 132
Switches _______________________ 75
TTachometer
_____________________ 66
Technical data __________________ 233
Telematics
_____________________ 111
Temperature gauge
______________ 67
Textile carpeting, cleaning
________ 219
Through-load hatch
______________ 141
Tie-down eyes
__________________ 142
Tipping the rear seat
_____________ 138
Tire markings
__________________ 212
Tire pressure ___________________ 178
Tire pressures __________________ 211
Tires and wheels, sizes
___________ 242
Tools
_________________________ 143
Top tether
______________________ 23
Touching up paintwork
___________ 221
Towing a caravan or trailer ________ 173
Towing the car
_________________ 179
Traction Control System
__________ 166
Trailer hitch attachment __________ 173
Trailer hitch load
________________ 176
Transmission, automatic
__________ 156
Transmission, manual
____________ 155
Transporting the car
_____________ 179
Traveling abroad
________________ 184
Trip computer, SID _______________ 69Trip meter
______________________66
Trunk
_________________________138
Trunk lid lock, Convertible
__________56
Trunk lighting
___________________133
Trunk, Convertible
________________56
Trunk, opening
__________________40
Turbo gauge
____________________67
Turn signal
_____________________76
UUpholstery and trim
______________219
Upholstery and trim, care of
_______219
Useful tips on starting
____________148
Useful tips, ACC
_________________92
VVanity mirror
___________________137
WWarning and indicator lights
________60
Warning labels
___________________7
Warning light, AIR BAG (SRS)
______32
Washer fluid
___________________199
Washer jets ____________________199
Washers
_______________________78
Washing ______________________220
Waxing and polishing
____________221Wear indicators, brake pads
______ 194
Wear indicators, tires
____________ 214
Wheel, change
________________ 215
Wheels
______________________ 211
Wheels and tires, sizes
__________ 242
Window glass sensor, car alarm
____ 42
Windshield washers
_____________ 78
Windshield wipers
_______________ 78
Winter driving
_________________ 171
Wiper blades
__________________ 198
Wipers
________________________ 78
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