warning SAAB 9-3 2004 Owners Manual

208 Car careChanging bulbsAutochecking of lightsThe bulbs that are most important from the point of view of traffic
safety are monitored by the car’s electrical system. If one of these
bulbs should fail, a message will be displayed on the SID.
Example of SID message:
The following bulbs are not checked: parking lights, front fog lights,
reversing lights, license plate lighting, side marker lights and side
direction indicators.If a brake light bulb fails
If a brake light bulb fails, the adjacent taillight will act as a brake light
to ensure traffic safety. Change the broken bulb when possible.
All rear light bulbs are of the same type and rated 21 W, with the
exception of the license plate lighting which is rated 5 W.
Wrong bulb fitted
If a dipped or main beam bulb of too high a rating is fitted, a bulb
failure message will be shown on the SID (a too high wattage bulb
can damage the reflector).
If the following message is displayed but the bulb shines, it is most
likely that an incorrect bulb has been fitted.
Note:
When changing bulbs, fit the same type of bulb (e.g. Long-Life)
as that removed.
Headlight aiming, page 257.
WARNING
Before changing a bulb in the engine bay, switch off the engine
to avoid the danger of fingers and hands being injured by moving
parts.
The radiator fan can cut in even when the engine is switched off.NOTICESwitch off the ignition before changing a bulb, to avoid possible
short-circuiting.
Left low beam failure.
Right high beam failure.
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209 Car care
Bi-Xenon headlight, main and dipped beam (certain
variants only)Bi-xenon headlights produce roughly two times as much light as
halogen bulbs and have a significantly longer service life.
The lamp units consist of a gas discharge lamp containing xenon.
When the lights are switched on a very high voltage activates the
xenon gas. The lamps soon reach full intensity.
Cars with Bi-Xenon headlights have automatic levelling. The level-
ling system is comprised of two sensors, one on the front suspen-
sion and one on the rear suspension, and a control unit by the engine
bay fuse box. Headlight alignment is adjusted automatically to the
car’s load to prevent dazzling drivers in oncoming traffic.
If a fault is detected in the system, the following message will be dis-
played on the SID:
WARNING
Bi-Xenon headlights are high tension. All work on Bi-Xenon head-
lights, including changing bulbs, must be carried out by dealer
personnel.
Headlight levelling
malfunction.
Contact Saab dealer.
Contact a Saab dealer to have a Bi-Xenon
headlight changed
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213 Car care
Side-mounted turn signal bulbs1 Slide the lamp fitting forward so that its
rear end can be pulled out.
2 Turn the bulb holder counterclockwise
and withdraw it from the lamp fitting.
Change the bulb.
3 To fit, engage the two catches on the
rear edge of the lamp fitting with the
edge of the opening. Then press in the
front edge of the lamp fitting so that the
groove in the spring engages the plastic
edge.
Front fog lights
1 Undo one screw in the wheel housing.
Lower the air shield.
2 Remove the protective cover. Release
the two spring clips securing the bulb.
3 Unplug the connector.
4 Change the bulb. Try not to touch the
glass part of the bulb with your fingers.
The height of the beam can be adjusted
using a screwdriver inserted through the
hole in the lower grille adjacent to the lens.
WARNING
Never crawl under a car that is
supported only by a jack.
 Always use axle stands. Refer to
the information on jacks on pages 245
and 246.
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222 Car careFuses
The fuses are housed in three fuse panels:
one behind a hatch on the left-hand end of
the dash, one in the engine bay (additional
small unit in front of battery) and one on the
left-hand side of the trunk. There is space
for spare fuses in the hatch on the left-hand
end of the dash.
To check if a fuse has blown, first remove it
from the panel. If the filament is broken, the
fuse has blown.
WARNING
To avoid the risk of short-circuiting and/or
fire breaking out in the electrical system,
the following should be heeded:
 Always consult an Saab dealer before
modifying or adding any electrical
equipment. Failure to do so can result
in the electrical system being
damaged.
 Never replace a fuse with one having
a higher rating than specified (see
page 224). The color of the fuse indi-
cates its amperage.
 If the same fuse blows repeatedly,
have the electrical system checked by
an Saab dealer.
 If a MAXI fuse blows, it means that
there is a major fault in the electrical
system. Have the car checked without
delay by an Saab dealer.
Sound fuse / Blown fuse
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229 Car care
Automatic tire pressure
monitoring(option, certain variants only)
The pressure monitoring system consists of
a sensor in each wheel, a detector in three
wheel housings and a receiver. The sensors
are located inside the wheels directly adja-
cent to the air valves.Tire pressure information is sent wirelessly
to the receiver.
The system checks the tire pressure when
the car is travelling over 18 mph (30 km/h).
The system is “self-learning”, which means
that the position of the wheels can be
changed without requiring adjustments to
the monitoring system. The spare wheel
does not have a sensor.
The sensor batteries have an average life of
10 years. The batteries cannot be changed
but require the sensor units to be replaced.
The system does not warn if a tire is overin-
flated.
If the tire pressure drops
If the tire pressure drops 0.3 bar (4 psi)
below the recommended pressure, the SID
will issue a warning as to which tire is
affected.
Adjust the tire pressure as soon as possible.
WARNING
The system is intended to aid the driver.
The driver is always ultimately responsi-
ble for ensuring that the tire pressure is
correct.NOTICEGreat care must be taken when changing
tires so as not to damage the sensors that
are integrated in the valves.
Tire pressure low,
front left.
Check tires.
Valve with sensor
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230 Car careIf the tire pressure continues to drop, the
SID will issue a warning alarm when the
pressure is 0.6 bar (9 psi) below the recom-
mended value.
Reduce speed (avoid heavy braking and
violent steering wheel movements) and
stop the car as soon as it is safe to do so.
Change the wheel.Malfunction
The message shown above will be dis-
played on the SID if:
 a wheel without pressure sensor is fitted
(e.g. spare wheel)
 one, two, three or four pressure sensors
are broken or missing
 two or more detectors are missing or
broken
 the receiver malfunctions
 a fault arises in the system.
The message shown above is not displayed
if none of the wheels have sensors, such as
if winter wheels without sensors are fitted.
Flat tire front left.
Make a safe stop.
Tire pressure
system failure.
Contact Saab dealer.
Valve without sensor
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231 Car care
TiresYour new vehicle comes with high-quality
tires made by a leading tire manufacturer. If
you ever have qestions about your tire war-
ranty and where to obtain service, see your
Saab Warranty and Service Record Booklet
for details.
Inflation - Tire PressureThe Tire-Loading Information label, which is
on the inside of the trunk lid, shows the cor-
rect inflation pressures for your tires when
they’re cold. “Cold” means your vehicle has
been sitting for at least three hours or driven
no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).Notice:
Don’t let anyone tell you that
underinflation or overinflation is all
right. It’s not. If your tires don’t have
enough air (underinflation), you can get
the following:
 Too much flexing
 Too much heat
 Tire overloading
 Bad wear
 Bad handling
 Bad fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (overinfla-
tion), you can get the following:
 Unusual wear
 Bad handling
 Rough ride
 Needless damage from road hazardsAdjust the tire pressure to match the current
load and speed of the car (see page 277).
The stated tire pressures apply to cold tires,
i.e. tires that are the same temperature as
the outside air temperature. Tire pressure
increases as the tires become warm (e.g.
during highway driving) by approximately
0.3 bar (4 psi). When the temperature of the
tires changes by 50°F (10°C), the tire pres-
sure will change 0.1 bar (2 psi).
Never reduce the pressure of a hot tire. If the
tires are hot when you check them, only
increase the pressure, if necessary.
WARNING
Poor maintained and improperly uswed
tires are dangerous.
 Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and
a serious accident. See “Loading Your
Vehicle” on page 240.
 Underinflated tires pose the same
danger as overloaded tires. The
resulting accident could cause serious
injury. Check all tires frequently to
maintain the recommended pressure.
Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
 Overinflated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured or broken by a sudden
impact – such as when you hit a
pothole. Keep tires at the recom-
mended pressure.
 Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If
your tread is badly worn, or if your tires
have been damaged, replace them.
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232 Car careWhen to checkCheck your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It
should be at 60 psi (420 kPa).How to CheckUse a good quality pocket-type gage to
check tire pressure. You can’t tell if your
tires are properly inflated simply by looking
at them. Radial tires may look properly
inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the
valve stems. They help prevent leaks by
keeping out dirt and moisture.Tire Inspection and RotationTires should be rotated every 7,500 miles
(12 500 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate
your tires as soon as possible and check
wheel alignment. Also check for damaged
tires or wheels. See “When It Is Time for
New Tires” on page 233 and “Wheel
Replacement” on page 236 for more infor-
mation.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve
more uniform wear for all tires on the vehi-
cle. The first rotation is the most important.
When rotating your tires, always use the
correct rotation pattern. Left front tire to left
rear. Left rear tire to right front. Right front to
right rear. Right rear to left front.
Don’t include the compact spare tire in your
tire rotation.After the tires have been rotated, adjust the
front and rear inflation pressures as shown
on the Tire-Loading Information label. Make
certain that all wheel nuts are properly tight-
ened. See page 246.
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 cruising speed.
WARNING
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel
could come off and cause an accident.
When you change a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency,
you can use a cloth or a paper towel to do
this; but be sure to use a scraper or wire
brush later, if you need to, to get all the
rust or dirt off. See “Changing a tire” on
page 245.
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234 Car careThe wheels and tires have been carefully
matched to the characteristics of the car and
play a key role in its outstanding roadhold-
ing and handling.
Do not take it for granted that a wheel/tire
combination will work in the best possible
way, just because it can be fitted to the car.
To ensure that the speedometer is as accu-
rate as possible it should be reprogrammed
if wheels of a different dimension are fitted.
Contact a Saab dealer.
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.
Store wheels lying flat or hanging – never
standing upright.
NOTICEAlways consult your Saab dealer before
changing the car’s wheels or tires on your
Saab.
Wide wheels and tires with side walls that
are too low can:
 be damaged in potholes, etc.
 cause springs, shock absorbers and
wheel bearings and body mountings
to be overloaded
 affect the function of the Electronic
Stability Program (ESP).
The speed and load limits of the tires
must not be exceeded; see page 239.
Wheels larger than 17" must not be fitted
on the Saab 9-3 for reasons above. The
permissible offset is 1.61 inch (41 mm).
WARNING
Mixing tires could cause you to lose
control while driving. If you mix tires of
different sizes or types (radial and bias-
belted tires), the vehicle may not handle
properly, and you could have a crash.
Using tires of different sizes may also
cause damage to your vehicle. Be sure to
use the same size and type tires on all
wheels. It’s all right to drive with your
compact spare temporarily, it was devel-
oped for use on your vehicle. See
“Compact spare tire” on page 243.
WARNING
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle,
the wheel rim flanges could develop
cracks after many miles of driving. A tire
and/or wheel could fail suddenly, causing
a crash. Use only radial-ply tires with the
wheels on your vehicle.
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235 Car care
Uniform Tire Quality GradingQuality 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
A
The following information relates to the
system developed by the United States
National Highway Traffic Safety Administra-
tion, which grades tires by treadwear, trac-
tion and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United
States.) The grades are molded on the side-
walls of most passenger car tires. The Uni-
form Tire Quality Grading system does not
apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12
inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-pro-
duction tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary
with respect to these grades, they must also
conform to federal safety requirements and
additional General Motors Tire Perfor-
mance Criteria (TPC) standards.Treadwear
The 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 a half (1.5) times as well on the govern-
ment course as a tire graded 100. The rela-
tive 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 prac-
tices and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades repre-
sent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pave-
ment as measured under controlled condi-
tions on specified government test surfaces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance. Warn-
ing: The traction grade assigned to this tire
is based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.Temperature – A, B, C
The 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, and excessive temper-
ature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of perfor-
mance 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 temperature grade for this tire
is established 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 failure.
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