SAAB 9-3 2007 Owners Manual

211 Car care
Brake/clutch fluid and
brake padsCheckingBrake fluid should be changed according to
the service program. Refer to the Warranty
and Service Book.
The brake and clutch fluid reservoir is trans-
parent to facilitate checking of the fluid level.
The fluid level should lie between the MAX
and MIN marks.If the level drops too low, the following
message appears on the SID:
Top up as necessary with DOT 4 brake
fluid. Do not use DOT 5 fluid.
Use only new brake fluid from a sealed
container.
The brake fluid level will fall somewhat as
the brake pads wear. The MAX level in the
reservoir corresponds to the amount of
brake fluid required with new brake pads. If
the fall in fluid level is moderate, due to
normal brake pad wear, topping up is not
necessary.
If the brake fluid should require chang-
ing, this must be carried out at a Saab
dealer. We recommend that you contact
a Saab dealer.
The foot brake and parking brake are self-
adjusting.
It is not possible to detect, through abnormal
pedal or parking brake lever travel, whether
the brake pads are worn and need replac-
ing. It is therefore essential that brake pads
be checked regularly, as specified in the
service program.Brake pads should only be changed at a
workshop. We recommend that you con-
tact a Saab dealer.
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
regularly, as specified in the service
program.
Brake fluid level low.
Make a safe stop.
NOTICEAvoid 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.Brake fluid reservoir
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212 Car carePower steeringCheck the level of the power steering fluid in
the reservoir regularly, in accordance with
the service program.
The wheels should point directly forwards
during this check.
Clean round the cap before unscrewing it.
Wipe the dipstick. To check the level, screw
down the cap completely and then remove
it again.
The oil level should lie between the MAX
and MIN marks when the oil temperature is
about 68°F (+20°C). If the oil is colder, the
level will be lower, and at a higher tempera-
tures the level will be higher.
Top up with CHF 11S or CHF 202 power
steering fluid.
WARNING
Power steering fluid on hot engine
components constitutes a fire risk.
Power steering fluid reservoir, 4-cyl
engine
Power steering fluid reservoir, V6 engine
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213 Car care
Battery
Check the charge state and electrolyte level
of the battery regularly.If frequent short journeys are made, the
battery may need extra charging. This can
be done with a battery charger or by taking
the car for a long run.
If the battery is not being charged while the
engine is running, the following message
will appear on the SID:
Check the drive belt (see page 216). If the
belt is damaged, the engine may overheat,
the battery may not be charged and the A/C
compressor may not work.
WARNING
When working on the battery, highly
explosive gas can build up. A spark
could ignite this gas that collects
around the battery.
Therefore, always avoid sparks and
open flames in the vicinity of the
battery.
The battery contains corrosive sulphu-
ric acid. Always wear a face mask or
goggles when working on the battery.
If battery acid gets into the eyes or
splashes onto skin or clothing, wash
the affected area liberally with water.
If acid gets into the eyes or a large
quantity makes contact with the skin,
seek medical help.
Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds. Wash your hands after
handling
NOTICEA discharged battery can freeze and frac-
ture. Batteries should therefore always be
stored away from sub-zero temperatures.
Battery not charging.
Make a safe stop.
Checking the battery electrolyte level.
Level correct if level indicator dark.
Battery should be changed if indicator is
light
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214 Car careAlways connect the positive (red) cable to
the battery’s positive (+) terminal, and the
negative (black) cable to the negative (-)
terminal of the battery. Always disconnect
both battery leads when boost charging the
battery.
A car with standard equipment specifica-
tions and a fully charged battery can be left
for up to 40 days and still have a sufficient
charge for starting. If extra equipment is fit-
ted, such as a mobile phone, the charge
may only be sufficient for about 15 days.NOTICE If boost charging never use anything
but a 12-volt charger, see page 198.
Do not connect the battery termi-
nals, + and –, incorrectly.
Serious damage can occur to the car’s
electrical system if a battery or alterna-
tor lead is disconnected while the
engine is running.
Exercise special care when removing
and fitting the positive (+) cable so as
not to damage the battery disconnect
switch.
Turn the two retainers a quarter turn to
unlock the battery cover.
Battery bracket
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215 Car care
Battery disconnect switch3A collision could cause a short circuit in the
alternator or starter motor. A disconnect
switch by the battery’s positive terminal cuts
off the battery from the alternator and starter
motor when the airbags and seatbelt pre-
tensioners are detonated.
WARNING
If the battery disconnect switch has
tripped, do not reset it until you have visu-
ally inspected the car’s electrical system.
If there are visible signs of damage, have
the car checked at a workshop before
resetting the disconnect switch. We
recommend that you contact an author-
ised Saab workshop.NOTICEExercise special care when removing and
fitting the positive (+) cable so as not to
damage the battery disconnect switch.
Battery disconnect switch with reset
button
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216 Car careDrive beltThe alternator is situated on the right-hand
side of the engine. It is driven by a
poly-V-belt from the crankshaft pulley.A slipping or broken poly-V-belt can
result in:
no charge to the battery
no A/C compressor function.
The belt tension is critical and is adjusted
automatically by the belt tensioner.
WARNING
Keep hands and clothing clear of drive
belts when engine is running.
Always stop the engine before
inspecting the drive belt.
The radiator fan is electric and can
start even when the engine is
switched off.NOTICESerious damage can be done to the car’s
electrical system if an alternator lead is
disconnected while the engine is running.
Drive belt, 4-cyl engine
Drive belt, V6 engine
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217 Car care
Wipers and washersWiper bladesCheck and clean all wiper blades regularly.
If poor wiper performance is experienced,
clean the windshield with washer fluid. This
is particularly important if the car has been
through an automatic car wash, as these
sometimes leave a wax coating on the wind-
shield.
If wiper performance is still unsatisfactory,
fit new blades.
Windshield1 Press in the catch (1).
2 Pull the complete wiper blade down-
wards so that it comes away from the
wiper arm. Slide the entire blade out
from the arm.
Rear window, SportCombi1 Detach the blade from the arm by press-
ing on the mounting for the blade from
below.
2 Fit the new blade by pressing the shaft
of the blade into the arm's mounting.
The washer jet, which is located next to the
high-mounted brake light, is not adjustable.
Change of wiper blades, windshield
Change of wiper blades, rear window,
SportCombi
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218 Car careWashersThe reservoir capacity is approx. 6 qts.
(5.8 litres).
When the washer fluid level drops below
1 quart (1 litre), the headlight washers (if
equipped) are deactivated. This is in order
to prioritize the windshield. The following
message is displayed on the SID:
Headlight washers are only available on
certain markets.
Fill with a mixture of washer fluid and water
as recommended by the table on
the packaging to reduce the risk of freezing
and to ensure effective cleaning (see also
page 102).
Washer jetsThe washer jets, which are adjustable, can
be cleaned with a pin if necessary.
WARNING
Take care not to spill washer fluid concen-
trate onto hot surfaces. Washer fluid
concentrate can contain flammable ingre-
dients such as alcohol.
Washer fluid level low.
Refill.
Washer fluid reservoir
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219 Car careChanging bulbs
Autochecking 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 dis-
played on the SID.
Example of SID message:
The following bulbs are not checked: park-
ing lights, front fog lights, reversing lights,
license plate lighting, side marker lights and
side direction indicators.
SportCombi
The tail lights and brake lights consist of
LEDs. If approx. 3/4 of the LEDs on one side
are broken then this is indicated in the SID.
If a stop light bulb fails
Sport Sedan: If a stop light bulb fails, the
adjacent taillight will act as a stop 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 low 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 269.
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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220 Car care
Xenon headlight, low beam3Xenon 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 xenon headlights have automatic
levelling. The levelling system is comprised
of two sensors, one on the front suspension
and one on the rear suspension, and a
control unit by the engine bay fuse box.
Headlight alignment is adjusted automati-
cally to the car’s load to prevent dazzling
drivers in oncoming traffic.
If a fault is detected in the system, the fol-
lowing message will be displayed on the
SID:
WARNING
Xenon headlights are high tension. All
work on xenon headlights, including
changing bulbs, must be carried out by
dealer personnel.
Headlight levelling
malfunction.
We recommend you to contact a Saab
dealer to have a xenon headlight changed
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