SAAB 9-3 2008 Manual Online

81 Instruments and controls
Warning and indicator
lights _______________ 82
Instruments ___________ 87
Saab Information Display
(SID) ________________ 89
Switches _____________ 97
Wipers and washers ____ 103
Automatic climate-
control system (ACC)__ 107
Instruments and controls
3Asterisk means: equipment not fitted in all cars
(can depend on model variant, engine variant,
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82 Instruments and controls
Warning and indicator
lightsThe warnings and indications that can be
shown depend on the engine variant and
equipment level.
This warning light illuminates when a fault
arises in the antilock brake system.
The following message is shown on the
Saab Information Display (SID):
The brake system will continue to function
but without ABS modulation. See also
page 172.
Antilock braking warningAntilock brake malfunc.
Contact service.
Main instrument panel1 Tachometer
2 Speedometer
3 Turbo gauge
4 Fuel gauge5 Engine temperature gauge
6 Information display
7 Trip meter reset button
Main instrument panel
U.S. shown, Canada similar
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83 Instruments and controls
This light comes on when the battery is not
being charged by the alternator. If the light
comes on during driving, stop as soon as
possible and switch off the engine.
The following message is shown on the
Saab Information Display (SID):
Check the drive belt, see page 219.
The light illuminates if the tire pressure in
one or more tires is too low, see page 257.
Below is an example of the message simul-
taneously shown on the SID:This light will come on if the engine oil pres-
sure is too low. If the warning light flashes or
comes on while you are driving, stop imme-
diately in a safe place, switch off the engine
and check the oil level (see page 210).
The following message is shown on the
Saab Information Display (SID):
This light indicates a malfunction in the fuel
or ignition system.
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to
fully install the cap. See Fuel cap on
page 160. The diagnostic system can deter-
mine if the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel
cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the
Charge warning lightBattery not charging.
Make a safe stop.Warning, tire pressureTire pressure low,
rear left. Check tires.
Warning, oil pressure
(engine oil)
NOTE
Never drive the car when the oil pressure
warning lamp is on. Low oil pressure can
cause serious engine damage.
Oil pressure low.
Make a safe stop.
Engine malfunction
(CHECK ENGINE)
WARNING
An illuminated “Engine malfunction
(CHECK ENGINE)” indicator light indi-
cates an engine-related problem. While
your car may be able to be driven with the
“Engine malfunction (CHECK ENGINE)”
indicator light illuminated (limp-home
mode), you are advised to have your car
serviced at an authorized Saab dealer as
soon as possible.
Continued driving without this problem
being corrected might cause serious fur-
ther damage to your car and create
unsafe driving conditions. The operator
should be prepared to take action if such
unsafe conditions arise (e.g. brake
smoothly, engage neutral, stop in a suita-
ble place, switch off the engine, etc.)
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84 Instruments and controlsatmosphere. A few driving trips with the cap
properly installed should turn the light off.
If the light is still on the car may still be driven
with care but the performance of the engine
will be somewhat diminished (see
page 156).
The following message is shown on the
Saab Information Display (SID):
This light shows when the high beam is on
(see page 99).This light indicates when the front fog lights
are on (see page 100).
The front fog lights are switched off auto-
matically when the engine is switched off.
When the fog lights are next needed, they
will have to be switched on manually.
This light should come on briefly when you
turn the ignition key to ON. If it doesn’t come
on, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn
you if there is a problem. This light indicates
when the brake fluid level is too low (see
page 214).
The following message is shown on the
Saab Information Display (SID):For safety reasons, stop the car and check
the level of the brake fluid (see page 214).
If the level is normal, depress the brake
pedal firmly two or three times. Now check
the level again. If the level is still normal, you
may drive the car, with considerable cau-
tion, to the nearest workshop to have the
brake system checked. We recommend
that you contact a Saab dealer. Reduced engine power.
Contact service.NOTEThe car should be checked immediately
at a Saab dealer to prevent more serious
faults from arising.
High beam Indicator
Front fog lights3
33 3
Brake warning lightBrake fluid level low.
Make a safe stop.
WARNING
Never drive the car if these two lights
are on at the same time. Danger of
brake failure!
If the level of brake fluid in the reser-
voir is below the MIN mark, the vehicle
should be transported on a recovery
vehicle.
Have the brake system checked
immediately at a Saab dealer.
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85 Instruments and controls
The brake system provides Electronic
Brakeforce Distribution (EBD). This distrib-
utes the brake pressure between the front
and rear wheels, in such a way as to achieve
optimum braking performance irrespective
of the car’s load.
If a fault arises in the EBD function, the ,
and lights will come on. Also, the
following message will appear on the Saab
Information Display (SID):
If this is the case, drive carefully and contact
a workshop as soon as possible. We recom-
mend that you contact a Saab dealer. Refer
to Brake warning light on page 84, Antilock
braking warning on page 82 and ESP
® OFF
indicator on page 86.
This light reminds the driver to buckle up,
see page 12.This light comes on when the parking brake
is applied (see page 179).
The parking brake is mechanical and oper-
ates on the rear wheels.
If the parking brake is applied when the car
starts off, the following message will appear
on the Saab Information Display (SID):
This light comes on if a potentially serious
fault has occurred in the airbag system, see
also page 32.The following message is shown on the
Saab Information Display (SID):
This light will come on for about four sec-
onds when the ignition switch is turned to
the Start or Drive position. Brake malfunction.
Make a safe stop.
Safetybelt reminder
Parking brake warning
lightRelease park brake.
WARNING
Always apply the parking brake when
parking, see page 179.
Always apply the parking brake
before removing the remote control.
Do not apply the parking brake while
the car is moving.
Airbag warning light
Airbag malfunction.
Contact service.
WARNING
If the airbag readiness light stays on
after you start your vehicle, it means
the airbag system may not be working
properly. One or more of the following
conditions may occur:
–Non-deployment of the airbags in the
event of a crash.
–Deployment of the airbags without a
crash.
–Deployment of the airbags in crashes
less severe than intended.
To help avoid injury to yourself or oth-
ers, have your vehicle serviced right
away if the airbag readiness light stays
on after you start your vehicle.
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86 Instruments and controlsThis light comes on when there is less than
about 2.5 gallons (10 litre) of fuel left in the
tank.
This light indicates that the headlights or
parking lights are on.
This light comes on when the system is
engaged.This symbol lights up when the system is
operative.
Operation of the ESP
® indicates reduced
cohesion between the tires and the road,
and that extra care should be taken by the
driver.This symbol lights up when the system is
disengaged, see page 178.
If there is a malfunction, the symbol cannot
be turned off by pressing the ESP
® button.
The following message is shown on the
Saab Information Display (SID):
If so, have the system checked at a Saab
dealer.
See also Electronic Stability Program ESP
®
on page 177.
Indicator, fuel
NOTE
If the car runs out of fuel, air can be drawn
in with the fuel, which, in turn, can cause
the catalytic converter to be damaged by
overheating.
Headlight and parking
light indicator
Cruise control indicator
light
ESP
® indicator
ESP® OFF indicatorWARNING
The system improves stability and
maneuverability under slippery road and
extreme driving conditions. It must how-
ever not be regarded as a system
to enable the driver to maintain higher
speeds. The same precautions as
normal for safe cornering and driving
on slippery roads must be adopted (see
pages 175/ 177).
Stability control failure.
Contact service.
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87 Instruments and controls
Autochecking of lights, main
instrument panelThe warning and indicator lights shown
above should come on when the ignition
switch is turned to ON. They should go out
after about 4 seconds once the engine has
started or after the fault-free self-diagnosis
of each system or function.
InstrumentsTachometerThe tachometer displays the engine speed
in thousands of revolutions per minute.
A protective function (interruption of the fuel
supply) limits the engine speed within the
red zone.
Speedometer (U.S. speedometer shown)
Cars sold in U.S.: The speedometer dis-
plays the speed of the car in miles per hour
(mph).
Cars sold in Canada: The speedometer
displays the speed of the car in kilometres
per hour (km/h).
It receives information about vehicle speed
from the ABS’s wheel sensors.
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88 Instruments and controlsTemperature gaugeThe temperature gauge shows the temper-
ature of the coolant. The needle should be
in the middle of the scale when the engine
is at normal operating temperature.
If the needle goes into the red zone (which
can occur at high outside air temperatures
or under heavy engine loads), choose the
highest possible gear ratio and the lowest
possible engine speed, and avoid shifting
down.If the needle repeatedly enters the red zone,
stop the car as soon as it is safe to do so and
check the coolant level (see page 212).
Turbo gaugeThe turbo gauge indicates the air volume
used for combustion, which is equivalent to
the engine load.
At low loads and when the engine is used for
braking, the needle will move within the
white zone.
Under certain barometric conditions the
needle may enter the first part of the red
zone without necessarily indicating that a
fault has arisen.
NOTEIf the needle, despite the above action,
enters the red zone, stop the car in a suit-
able place and allow the engine to idle. If
the needle continues to rise, switch off the
engine.
WARNING
Never open the cap of the expansion tank
completely when the engine is hot, open
with care. The pressure in the cool-
ing-system can cause hot coolant and
steam to be released. Failure to heed this
warning may result in personal injury.
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89 Instruments and controls
If the needle repeatedly enters the red zone
and the engine at the same time loses
power, because the monitoring system is
limiting the boost pressure, you should
contact a Saab dealer as soon as possible.
If the speed of the car exceeds 143 mph
(230 km/h), acceleration is limited by reduc-
ing the boost pressure. The pressure gauge
then moves towards the middle of the white
field, indicating a drop in engine power and
consequently the car’s speed.
Fuel gaugeWhen less than about 2.5 gallons (10 litre)
of fuel is left in the tank, a warning light on
the main instrument panel comes on.
Refueling, see page 159.
Saab Information
Display (SID)Various types of information are shown on
the SID: warnings, indications, trip
computer information and information
from the car’s Infotainment System.
Selected gear is shown on the left-hand
side of the display. When gears are
selected manually, the letter M (manual)
and the selected gear are displayed (see
page 170) (cars with automatic transmis-
sion).
In the first row trip computer information is
displayed and in the second row odome-
ter and tripmeter is displayed.
When a message is displayed
The odometer and tripmeter is temporarily
turned off when a two row message is dis-
played. The icon is displayed in the left part
of the display.
The warnings and indications that can be
shown on the SID are listed on page 300.
If there is more than one message on the
SID, a plus sign will be displayed to the left
of the first message. Each message will be
displayed for 10 seconds.
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90 Instruments and controlsPress the CLR button to acknowledge a SID
message. If you acknowledge a message
but do nothing about it, the message will be
displayed again the next time you start the
car.
When the engine is switched off the warn-
ing/indicator lights still active are displayed,
this is to remind the driver. At this point the
warning/indicator lights previously acknowl-
edged with the CLR button are also dis-
played.
You can adjust the settings of several of the
car’s systems, such as the alarm3, rain
sensor3 and climate control system. These
are known as Settings se page 94.Odometer and trip meterThe odometer records the distance trav-
elled in miles on U.S. vehicles and on Cana-
dian vehicles the distance indicated is in
kilometres, and the trip meter in miles and
tenths (kilometres and tenths of kilometres
on Canadian vehicles).
Reset buttonThe reset button is positioned immediately
to the left of the speedometer.
Press once to resets the trip meter, the igni-
tion shall be in position ON.
Trip computer function of the SID
WARNING
It is strongly recommended that the SID
settings be changed only when the car is
stationary. The driver’s attention can oth-
erwise easily be distracted from the road.
SID contains the following functions:
TempOutdoor temperature
D.T.E.Estimated range (distance to
empty fuel tank).
When the possible range is
less than 18 miles (30 km)
then the text Refill fuel now
is displayed.
FuelØAverage fuel consumption
since function last reset
DistDistance to destinations.
Function can also be used as
a trip meter
SpeedØAverage speed since function
last reset
Speed WSpeed warning (chime)
SettingsSettings of features such as
alarm clock, language and
rain sensor3
SID, control unit and display
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