tow SAAB 9-3 2007 Owner's Guide

243 Car care
certain that all wheel nuts are properly tight-
ened. See page 258.
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. If
the outdoor temperature is low it takes a
longer distance.
When It Is Time for New TiresOne way to tell when it’s time for new tires is
to check the treadwear indicators, which will
appear when your tires have only 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) or less of tread remaining.
You need a new tire if any of the following
statements are true:
You can see the indicators at three or
more places around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing
through the tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or
snagged deep enough to show cord or
fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut or other
damage that can’t be repaired well
because of the size or location of the
damage.
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
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248 Car careTire Chains
Notice:
If your vehicle does not have
235/45R17 size tires, use tire chains only
where legal and only when you must.
Contact your Saab dealer regarding suit-
able snow chains. Install them on the
front tires and tighten them as tightly as
possible with the ends securely
fastened. Drive slowly and follow the
chain manufacturer’s instructions. If you
can hear the chains contacting your
vehicle, stop and retighten them. If the
contact continues, slow down until it
stops. Driving too fast or spinning the
wheels with chains on will damage your
vehicle.
If a Tire Goes FlatIt’s unusual for a tire to “blowout” while
you’re driving, especially if you maintain
your tires properly. If air goes out of a tire,
it’s much more likely to leak out slowly. But
if you should ever have a “blowout”, here are
a few tips about what to expect and what to
do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a
drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side.
Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and
grip the steering wheel firmly. Steer to main-
tain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts
much like a skid and may require the same
correction you’d use in a skid. In any rear
blowout, remove your foot from the acceler-
ator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go.
It may be very bumpy and noisy, but you can
still steer. Gently brake to a stop – well off
the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to
use your jacking equipment to change a flat
tire safely.
WARNING
If your vehicle has 235/45 R17 size tires,
don’t use tire chains, there’s not enough
clearance.
Tire chains used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can cause
damage to the brakes, suspension or
other vehicle parts. The area damaged by
the tire chains could cause you to lose
control of your vehicle and you or others
may be injured in a crash.
Use another type of traction device only if
its manufacturer recommends it for use
on your vehicle and tire size combination
and road conditions. Follow that manu-
facturer’s instructions. To help avoid
damage to your vehicle, drive slowly,
readjust or remove the device if it’s
contacting your vehicle, and don’t spin
your wheels.
If you do find traction devices that will fit,
install them on the front tires.93_U S _M 07.book Page 248 W ednesday, April 12, 2006 9:30 AM
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253 Car care
Tread Width: The width of the tire´s tread.
UTQGS: Uniform Tire Quality Grade Stan-
dards, a tire information system that pro-
vides consumers with ratings for a tire´s
traction, temperature and treadwear. Rat-
ings are determined by tire manufacturers
using government testing procedures. The
rating are molded into the sidewall of the
tire. See “Uniform Tire Quality Grading” on
page 245.
Vehicle Capacity Weight: Is the number of
designated seating positions multipled by
150 pounds (68 kg) plus the rated cargo
load. See “” on page 251.
Vehicle Maximum Load on the Tire: Load
on an individual tire due to curb weight,
accessory weight, occupant weight and
cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard: A label permanently
attached to a vehicle showing original
equipment tire size and the recommended
cold inflation pressure. See “” on page 251.
Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit1 Locate the statement “The
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed
XXX pounds” on your vehicle´s
placard.
2 Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will
be riding in your vehicle.
3 Substract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers from
XXX kilograms or XXX pounds.
4 The resulting figure equals the avail-
able amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity. For example, if the
“XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and
there will be five 150 lb. passengers
in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capac-
ity is 650 lbs. (1400–750 (5x150) =
650 lbs.).5 Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity calcu-
lated in Step 4.
6 If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
load from your trailer will be trans-
ferred to your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your vehi-
cle.
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254 Car careWinter tiresWinter (snow) tires are recommended for
winter climates where the majority of your
driving will be done on snow and ice. Winter
tires should be fitted to all four wheels to
maintain a proper balance. Your Saab
dealer can advise you of to the correct size
tire for your car (if different from the original
size) and also supply Saab approved winter
tires pre-mounted on steel or alloy rims.
Winter tires normally use a different speed
rating compared to summer/all season tires.
Make sure not to exceed the stated speed
rating on the tires you use.Tire date 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 have a code that specifies their date of
manufacture. The first two digits denote the
week number and the last two digits the year
followed by a filled triangle.
Compact spareThe compact spare is light and easy to
handle when changing the tire. Its use is
only permitted when a standard tire has sus-
tained a puncture. The maximum life of the
tire is only just over 2,000 miles (3,500 km).
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) with the
compact spare fitted.
The tire pressure should be 60 psi
(420 kPa). Put the punctured tire in the
spare wheel well under the trunk floor.
Have the standard tire repaired and refitted
as soon as possible.The spare tire, the tools and the jack with its
crank are carried under a panel in the trunk.
Fold the carpeting forward to ease access to
the tools and spare tire.
The screwdriver handle has a “button” for
removing plastic rivets. This type of rivet
must be removed when changing the light
bulb in the trunk lid (see page 228).
Your Saab is equipped with a trip computer
and you can use its “Speed warning” func-
tion, to monitor driving speed since you
must not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h), see
page 90.
WARNING
The spare tire or punctured tire must be
stowed under the trunk floor, and secured
in place with the retaining nut.
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255 Car care
Driving with a compact wheel
fittedObserve the following when the compact
spare tire is fitted:
The compact spare is light and easy to
handle when changing a tire.
Do not drive further than necessary with
the compact spare fitted - the maximum life of the tire is only just over 2,000 miles
(approx. 3,500 km).
Refit the standard tire as soon as possi-
ble.
Important considerations when driving with
a compact spare tire:
The car’s ground clearance is reduced.
The car must not be driven with more than
one compact spare tire at a time.
Avoid driving against the curb.
Do not use snow chains.
Do not fit the wheel cover - this would
conceal the warning text.
WARNING
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h). The
tire can overheat affecting the car’s
roadholding.
Tire pressure: refer to page 290.
The spare tire or punctured tire must
be stowed under the trunk floor, and
secured in place with the retaining nut.
NOTICETo avoid damaging a alloy wheel of a
punctured tire, this can be temporarily
placed outside up in the spare wheel well
but only while driving to the closest work-
shop.
As a general rule, all heavy loads must be
well secured in the trunk (see page 139).Tools under a panel in the trunk
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258 Car careWhen the car has to be lifted, the jack must
be positioned at one of the four jacking
points (front or rear) under the sill members.
If a floor jack is used, the lifting plate must
be positioned under the normal jacking
points, see illustration. If the car is equipped
with a towbar, the jack can also be placed
under this.
1 Wind the jack up to a suitable height
before placing it under the jacking point.
Each jacking point is indicated by an
arrow on the sill (see illustration).
Make sure that the jack fully engages
the jacking point in the underside of the
sill member and that the entire foot of the
jack is steady and flat on the ground.
The jack must not stand on snow, ice or
similar.
Wind up the jack until it just begins to lift
the car.2 It is not necessary to remove the wheel
cover.
If, none the less, you wish to remove the
wheel cover, take hold of the outer edge
and pull it straight out.
Remove the plastic wheel bolt covers.
Loosen the wheel bolts half a turn.
3 Wind the jack to raise the wheel clear of
the ground. Remove the wheel bolts and
lift off the wheel.4 Clean any rust or dirt from the contact
surfaces between the wheel and brake
disc. Do not wipe away the grease in the
wheel hub.
5 Add a thin layer of grease on the bolts
before fitting, see page 260. Fit the
wheel and screw in the bolts in the
sequence shown on page 260 (opposite
pairs).
Tighten the bolts enough for the bolts
and wheel to be seated correctly.
6 Lower the car and tighten the wheel
bolts to torque in sequence as shown on
page 260.
Tightening torque:
Light-alloy wheels: 80 ft.lb. (110 Nm).
Steel wheels: 80 ft.lb. (110 Nm).
Refit the plastic wheel bolt covers.NOTICEApply the jack only to the jacking points
indicated on the body.
Jacking points
Marking of jacking points
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260 Car care
Safety beltsCheck the function of the safety belts regu-
larly as follows:
Hold the diagonal strap and pull it sharply.
The safety belt should lock and it should
not be possible to withdraw it further.
Check the anchorage points in the floor.
They must not have suffered rust 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.
Upholstery and trimTo remove fluff and hairs from the seats,
door armrests and headlining, use a
vacuum cleaner, a moist lint-free cloth, or a
clothes brush. Remove spots and dirt using
a cloth moistened with lukewarm soapy
water.
When using a stain remover, always work
from the outside towards the centre to avoid
leaving a ring. If a soiled ring or spot should
remain, it can usually be removed using
lukewarm soapy water or water alone.
Spots left by liquids, such as soft drinks or
thin oil, must be removed at once with an
absorbent material, such as kitchen towel-
ling. Then clean with a stain remover.
White spirit is recommended for removing
grease and oil stains. A medium stiff brush
may also be used.
WARNING
If the car is involved in a crash, the safety
belts, belt pretensioners and other asso-
ciated components must be inspected.
We recommend that you contact a Saab
dealer.
Never make any alterations or repairs to
the safety belts yourself. We recommend
that you contact a Saab dealer dealer.
Tightening sequence, wheel boltsGrease the surfaces indicated with a thin
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282 Technical data
WARNING
The GVW and maximum axle loads must not be exceeded.
Note that if some accessories (e.g. towbar, CD changer) are
fitted, the available load capacity is reduced by the weight of
these.
When carrying a load in the trunk, make sure that it is lashed
down securely, particularly when part or all of the rear seat is
folded down.
Trailer:
Trailer with brakes ___________________ Max. 3500 lbs.
(1588 kg)
Trailer without brakes ________________ Max. 1000 lbs.
(450 kg)
Recommended towball load ___________ 110–165 lbs.
(50–75 kg)
See also page 190.
Maximum theoretical towing speed, trailer
with brakes _______________________ 60 mph (100 km/h)
Maximum theoretical towing speed, trailer
without brakes ____________________National restrictions
apply
When towing a trailer, increase the pressure
of the rear tires by 20 kPa (3 psi).
The above speed and weight restrictions are those specified by
Saab Automobile AB.
Note that national restrictions may apply to trailer speeds and
weights (see page 188).
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299 Index
Index
AABS brakes
____________________ 173
ACC
_________________________ 107
Adjustment, steering wheel
________ 120
Air filter
_______________________ 211
Airbag
_________________________ 32
Anchorage eyes, Sport Sedan
_____ 141
Anti-corrosion treatment
__________ 267
Antilock braking system __________ 173
Anti-spin
______________________ 175
Ashtrays ______________________ 136
Autochecking of lights, warning and
indicator lights
__________________ 89
Autodimming
_______________ 125
, 126
Automatic climate control (ACC)
____ 107
Automatic closing of moonroof
_____ 131
Automatic closing of windows,
Sport Sedan and SportCombi _____ 122
Automatic transmission
___________ 165
BBattery
_______________________ 215
Bedding-in of new brake pads
_____ 163
Before towing a trailer
____________ 193
Belt height, Sport Sedan and
SportCombi
____________________ 14
Brake fluid, grade
_______________ 289Brakes
________________________ 172
Braking _______________________ 172
Bulb changing
__________________ 221
Bulb table
_____________________ 235
Buying new tires
________________ 246
CCabin lighting, Convertible
_________ 80
Cabin lighting, Sport Sedan and
SportCombi
___________________ 133
Calibrating front electric windows
with pinch protection
_____________ 80
Calibration of windows, Sport Sedan
and SportCombi
_______________ 123
Car alarm
______________________ 58
Car transport ___________________ 199
Care of air conditioning
___________ 270
Cargo guard
___________________ 150
Cargo guard, SportWagon
________ 150
Cargo net, SportCombi
___________ 147
Change of address notification
_____ 276
Changing a tire
_________________ 259
Changing bulbs _________________ 221
Changing the battery, remote control
_56
Changing wiper blades
___________ 219
Checking the number of remote
controls
_______________________ 55
Checks before towing a trailer
_____ 193
Child safety
_____________________ 24
Child safety locks, rear doors
_______ 54
Child seats
_____________________ 24Cigarette lighter
_________________ 136
Cleaning the engine bay
__________ 263
Cleaning upholstery
______________ 262
Closing the soft top manually,
Convertible
____________________ 70
Closing the soft top, Convertible
_____ 66
Clutch interlock
_________________ 164
Comfort opening of moonroof
______ 131
Comfort opening of windows,
Sport Sedan and SportCombi _____ 121
Compact spare
_________________ 256
Compact spare wheel fitted, driving
with
_________________________ 257
Compass
______________________ 129
Convertible _____________________ 63
Convertible, washing
_____________ 264
Coolant
_______________________ 211
Crash memory, see EDR
_________ 278
Cruise control
__________________ 171
Cup holder
_____________________ 134
DDate codes, tires
________________ 256
Deactivating rear windows,
Sport Sedan and SportCombi
_____ 123
Deactivating the passenger door
window button, Convertible
________ 79
Deactivating the rear window
switches
_____________________ 123
Deep water, driving through
_______ 196
Definitions and terminology, tire ____ 253
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300 IndexDetermining correct load, tires
_____ 255
Direction indicator stalk switch _____ 101
Direction indicators
______________ 101
Dome light, Convertible
__________ 232
Dome light, Sport Sedan __________ 231
Donor battery, boost starting
______ 200
Door handles
___________________ 50
Door mirrors
___________________ 124
Drive belt
______________________ 218
Drive belt, length
________________ 287
Driver’s seat with memory
_________ 21
Driving at night
_________________ 197
Driving in cold climates
___________ 187
Driving in deep water
____________ 196
Driving in hot climates ____________ 189
Driving techniques
______________ 185
Driving with a compact wheel fitted
_ 257
Driving with a heavy load on hilly
roads
________________________ 167
Driving with a load
______________ 196
Driving with a roof load ___________ 194
Driving with the trunk lid open
______ 196
EEDR (Event Data Recorders)
______ 278
ESP, anti-skid system
____________ 177
Easy entry, Convertible ____________ 75
Economical motoring
____________ 185
Electric engine heater ____________ 186
Electric heating, front seats
_______ 114
Electric windows
________________ 121Electric windows, Convertible
_______ 79
Electrical system, technical data ____ 286
Electrically adjustable seats
________ 20
Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
__ 177
Electronic steering wheel lock
______ 154
Emergency opening of the narrow
backrest, Sport Sedan
__________ 142
Emergency operation of the
moonroof
_____________________ 132
Engine bay, cleaning
_____________ 263
Engine heater
__________________ 186
Engine immobilizer
_______________ 57
Engine management system
______ 205
Engine number
_________________ 293
Engine oil, checking
_____________ 209
Engine oil, grade
________________ 284
Engine oil, volume _______________ 285
Engine temperature gauge
_________ 90
Engine, description
______________ 204
Engine, technical data ____________ 283
Engines
_______________________ 286
Event Data Recorders (EDR)
______ 278
Extra electrical socket
____________ 136
FFacilitating entry to rear seat,
Convertible
____________________ 75
Factors affecting fuel consumption
__ 185
Filler cap
______________________ 160
Filling a portable fuel container
_____ 161
Filling up
______________________ 159Flat spots, tires
_________________ 245
Floor jack
______________________ 260
Folding down the rear seat
backrest, SportCombi
___________ 143
Folding down the rear seat,
Sport Sedan
__________________ 138
Front fog lights __________________ 101
Front towing eye ________________ 197
Fuel container
__________________ 161
Fuel gauge
_____________________ 91
Fuel grade _____________________ 285
Fuel information
_________________ 161
Functions, car alarm
______________ 60
Fuse panel in luggage compartment
_ 239
Fuse table
_____________________ 238
Fuses
_________________________ 236
GGDO, garage door opener
_________ 126
Gearbox number
________________ 293
General safety instructions,
Convertible
____________________ 64
Glove box
_____________________ 136
Glovebox lighting
________________ 233
HHandbrake
_____________________ 179
Hazard warning lights
____________ 102
Head restraint, Convertible
_________ 76
Head restraints
__________________ 23
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