SAAB 9-3 2009 Owners Manual
Manufacturer: SAAB, Model Year: 2009, Model line: 9-3, Model: SAAB 9-3 2009Pages: 304, PDF Size: 44.31 MB
Page 191 of 304
191 Starting and driving
Checks before drivingMake sure that the car and trailer are in
good working order. This is essential since
towing a trailer increases the strain on the
car.
Check and if necessary adjust the tire
pressure of the car and trailer.
Make sure all wheel bolts are properly
tightened.
Make sure that the equipment joining the
car and trailer is properly secured and
adjusted.
Make sure the trailer’s electrical cable is
properly connected and is not so long that
it drags along the ground. Also, make sure
the cable is not too short and risks break-
ing when turning a corner.
Check all bulbs.
Check the car and trailer brakes.
Make sure that all items on or in the
camper or trailer are properly secured.
Make sure that the trailer’s jockey wheel is
raised and locked.
Check the distribution of the load so that
the car and trailer are well balanced.
Check that the rear view mirrors provide
the best possible rearward vision.
Make sure the trailer’s safety cable is
correctly attached.
Driving considerationsAlways take extra care when towing a
trailer, as the car’s handling will be different
and its braking performance reduced. The
trailer’s braking system and suspension
also have a considerable effect on these
characteristics. See also "Driving with a
load" on page 192.
Drive carefully:
Descending hills
On uneven roads
Over railway crossings
When meeting large vehicles.
If the car has automatic transmission, select
gear M1 when ascending or descending
steep hills.
ReversingGet someone to help you keep an eye out
behind the trailer as the door mirrors do not
always provide sufficient rearward vision
when reversing.
93_US_MY09.book Page 191 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:30 AM
ProCarManuals.com
Page 192 of 304
192 Starting and drivingDriving with a roof rack
loadThe maximum permissible roof load is
220 lbs. (100 kg). Note that the roof load
must be included in the car’s maximum per-
missible payload and axle load.
Strong, sturdy roof carriers designed spe-
cially for your car are available from your
Saab dealer. Always secure roof loads
securely.
Driving with a loadThe handling characteristics are affected by
how the car is loaded.
WARNING
A roof load will affect the car’s center
of gravity and aerodynamics. Be
aware of this when cornering and driv-
ing in crosswinds.
Adjust your speed to the prevailing
conditions.
Due to higher aerodynamics drag, fuel
economy may suffer when driving with
a roof rack.
NOTICE Place the heaviest load as far forward
and as low as possible in the trunk.
Secure the load to the lashing eyes
(see page 139).
Heavy loads mean that the car’s
center of gravity is further back. As a
result, the car will sway more during
evasive steering.
Never exceed the permissible load of
the roof box, even if there is room for
more.
Ensure that the tire pressure is correct
– slight overinflation is preferable to
underinflation.
The braking distance of a loaded car is
always greater. Keep your distance
from the vehicle in front.
Do not exceed the car’s permissible
gross vehicle weight or axle load (see
page 284).
Roof loads can negatively affect tele-
communication.
For further information on tires see
page 240.
93_US_MY09.book Page 192 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:30 AM
ProCarManuals.com
Page 193 of 304
193 Starting and driving
Driving with the trunk lid
openIf you must drive with the trunk lid open,
close all windows and the moonroof (if
equipped) and set the cabin fan to its high-
est speed setting.Driving in deep waterTowing the car
WARNING
Avoid driving with the trunk lid partly or
fully open, since exhaust fumes can be
drawn into the cabin.NOTICEDo not drive in puddles or water deeper
than 7 in. (20 cm) and do not drive faster
than 3–4 mph. Water can otherwise be
sucked into the engine. The engine will be
seriously damaged if water enters the
intake system.
WARNING
Remember that the brake servo does
not operate when the engine is off.
Much greater pressure than normal
will therefore be required to operate
the brake pedal.
Nor does the steering servo operate
when the engine is off. The steering
will therefore be much heavier than
usual.
The towing vehicle should always be
heavier than the vehicle on tow.
Never allow passengers to ride in the
car when it is on tow.
Always seek professional help if the
car needs to be recovered.
The ignition switch must be in the ON
position if the car is moved with the
engine not running.
The steering wheel lock must be dis-
engaged before towing the car.
The steering wheel lock disengages
when the remote control is inserted
into the ignition switch, if the battery
has sufficient charge.
93_US_MY09.book Page 193 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:30 AM
ProCarManuals.com
Page 194 of 304
194 Starting and drivingFront towing eyeThe front towing eye is stowed by the spare
wheel. On the left-hand side of the bumper
is a cover concealing the attachment point
(tapped hole) for the towing eye.1 Open the cover first at the lower edge
with a screwdriver for example. Watch
out for the paintwork.
2 Screw in the towing eye. The towing
eye has a left-hand thread!
3 Insert the wheel wrench into the eye to
tighten it properly.
To refit the cover: Start by inserting the top
edge of the cover. Then click in the lower
edge.
Rear towing eyeThe car has a permanent towing eye at the
rear under the bumper.
If the car is equipped with a towbar, this can
be used instead of the towing eye.
WARNING
Make sure that the towing eye is
screwed in tightly. It has a left-hand
thread!
The towing eye is only designed for
towing the car on roads. It must not
be used to pull the car out of a ditch,
for example.
Make sure that all bystanders keep a
suitable distance, in case the towing
eye or tow rope should snap. The
towing eye or tow rope could catapult
off and cause seriously injury.
Never drive with the towing eye fitted
to the front bumper. Return it to its des-
ignated storage space.
Rear towing eye
Front towing eye fitted.
The towing eye has a left-hand thread!
93_US_MY09.book Page 194 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:30 AM
ProCarManuals.com
Page 195 of 304
195 Starting and driving
Towing the carCars with manual transmission
Engage neutral. Turn on the parking lights.
Drive carefully and do not exceed the
speed limit for vehicles on tow.
Always try to keep the towrope taut by
gently applying the brake of the car on tow,
as necessary. This will avoid the towrope
being jerked violently.Cars with automatic transmission
Move the selector lever to N. Turn on the
parking lights.
Drive carefully and do not exceed the
speed limit for vehicles on tow.
Always try to keep the towrope taut by
gently applying the brake of the car on tow,
as necessary. This will avoid the towrope
being jerked violently.NOTICENever use the towing eyes to pull the
car unstuck.
If the car is to be towed with the front
wheels off the ground, make sure the
parking brake is off, as this acts on the
rear wheels.
Saab 9-3 XWD with manual transmission:
If the car is towed with all four wheels on
the ground then there are no technical
limitations for speed and distance.
If both front wheels or both rear wheels
have been raised, and if the law permits,
the maximum towing speed is 30 mph
(50 km/h). There are no limitations as to
the distance over which the car can be
towed.
NOTICENever use the towing eyes to pull the
car unstuck.
The car must be towed front first.
If the car is to be towed with the front
wheels off the ground, make sure the
parking brake is off, as this acts on the
rear wheels.
Saab 9-3 XWD with automatic transmis-
sion:
If the car is towed with all four wheels on
the ground then it may be towed at a max-
imum speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) and for
a maximum of 30 miles (50 km).
If both front wheels have been raised, and
if the law permits, the car may be towed at
a maximum speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
There are no technical limitations as to
the distance over which the car can be
towed.
Never use the towing eyes to pull the car
unstuck.93_US_MY09.book Page 195 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:30 AM
ProCarManuals.com
Page 196 of 304
196 Starting and drivingWhatever the speed limit, the car must not
be towed at speeds exceeding 30 mph
(50 km/h) nor for a distance of more than
30 miles (50 km). If the car needs to be
transported over a longer distance, a tow
truck or flatbed truck must be called out.
The engine cannot be started by towing or
pushing the car. In an emergency, the
engine can be started as described under
"Jump starting" on page 197.
Vehicle recoveryIf the car has to be transported on a flatbed
truck, or similar, it must be securely
strapped down. There are attachment
points for this purpose on the underside of
the car. The attachment points are oblong
hole that have been reinforced to cope with
the stresses that arise during this type of
transport.
Transporting the carNOTICEIf a car with sports (lowered) chassis is
transported, for example on a flat bed
truck, take extra care not to damage the
spoiler and/or underbody.
Attachment points for anchorage straps
93_US_MY09.book Page 196 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:30 AM
ProCarManuals.com
Page 197 of 304
197 Starting and driving
Jump starting
It is essential when a donor battery is to be
used to jump start the car that the jump
leads be connected correctly to prevent
arcing.
To jump start your vehicle
1 Check the other vehicle. It must have a
12-volt battery with a negative ground
system.2 Get the vehicles close enough so the
jumper cables can reach, but be sure the
vehicles are not touching each other. If a
poor connection on the negative jumper
cable should exist, it is possible for
damage to be caused to electrical
systems/components of either vehicle
should inadvertent contact be made.
You would not be able to start your car
and bad grounding could damage the
electrical systems.
3 Turn off the ignition on both vehicles.
Turn off lights that are not needed, and
radios. This will avoid sparks and help
save both batteries and it could save
your radio.
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 sulfuric
acid. Always wear a face mask or gog-
gles 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 quan-
tity makes contact with the skin, seek
medical help.
NOTICEIgnoring these steps could result in costly
damage to your vehicle that would not be
covered by your warranty.
Trying to start your car by pushing or pull-
ing it could damage your vehicle, even if
you have a manual transmission. If you
have an automatic transmission, your
vehicle cannot be started by pushing or
pulling it.
NOTICEIf the other system is not a 12-volt system
with a negative ground, both vehicles can
be damaged.
WARNING
You could be injured if the vehicles roll.
Set the parking brake firmly on each vehi-
cle. Put an automatic transmission in P
(Park) or a manual transmission in Neu-
tral.
93_US_MY09.book Page 197 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:30 AM
ProCarManuals.com
Page 198 of 304
198 Starting and driving4 Open the hood and locate the battery.
Find the positive (+) and negative (–) termi-
nals on the battery.5 Check that the jumper cables do not
have loose or missing insulation. If they
do, you could get a shock and also the
vehicles could be damaged.
Before you connect the cables, here are
some basic things you should know.
Positive (+) will go to positive (+) and
negative (–) will go to negative (–). Do
not connect (+) to (–) or you will get a
short that could injure you or would
damage the battery and maybe other
parts as well.
6 Connect the red positive (+) cable to the
positive (+) terminal of the vehicle with
the discharged battery.7 Do not let the other end touch metal.
Connect it to the positive (+) terminal of
the good battery. Use a remote positive
(+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
8 Now connect the negative (–) cable to
the good battery’s negative terminal.
9 Attach the cable to the discharged
battery’s negative terminal.
10 Start the vehicle with the good battery
and run the engine for a while.
11 Try to start the vehicle with the
discharged battery. If it does not start
after a few tries, it probably needs
service.
Note. If the current in the low battery is
too low it might be necessary to wait
several minutes with the cables
connected before you can start the
engine with the low battery.
12 Remove the cables in reverse order to
prevent electrical shorting. Take care
that they do not touch each other or any
other metal.NOTICEIf you leave your radio on, it could be
badly damaged. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
WARNING
An electric fan can start up even when the
engine is not running and can injure you.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from
any under hood electric fan.
WARNING
Using a match or flame of any kind near a
battery can cause battery gas to explode.
You can suffer burns or be blinded. Use a
flashlight if you need more light.
Be sure the electrolyte in the battery is not
frozen. Discharged batteries will freeze.
When connecting jumper cables to a
frozen battery, gas from the chemical
reaction inside the battery can build up
under the ice and cause an explosion.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn
you. Do not get it on you. If you acciden-
tally get it in your eyes or on your skin,
flush the area with water and get medical
help immediately.
Jump starting93_US_MY09.book Page 198 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:30 AM
ProCarManuals.com
Page 199 of 304
199 Starting and driving
Using a battery charger3/starter
unitTo avoid damaging the car’s electrical
system and electronics, the following rules
must be followed when charging the battery
or jump starting the car.
If the charger or starter unit can be set to
different voltages (6 V/12 V/18 V/24 V),
12V must be selected.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions
supplied with the charger or starter unit.
No other apparatus that are grounded or
connected to the mains must be
connected to the car during charging or
jump starting.
The charger or starter unit must under no
conditions produce a voltage greater
than:
16 V continuous
18 V for 60 minutes.
If you are unsure about the charge rating of
the unit, disconnect the battery clamp from
the positive terminal before connecting the
unit to the battery.
For long tripsBefore starting off on a long journey, it is
advisable to have your car inspected by
your Saab dealer.
Obtain a few important items to take along
on your journey, such as spare bulbs, wiper
blades, fuses, a drive belt (poly-V-belt) and
the like.
You can check some points yourself before-
hand:
Check that no oil or fuel leaks out of the
engine or gearbox/transmission.
Check the coolant and power steering
fluid levels. Check also for leaks.
Inspect the drive belt (poly-V-belt) and
replace if it shows any signs of wear.
Check the battery charge.
Check the tires for tread pattern and air
pressure, including the compact spare
tire.
Take an extra remote control and keep it
separate.
Check the brakes.
Check all bulbs.
Check for the presence of the tool kit and
jack in the car.
93_US_MY09.book Page 199 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:30 AM
ProCarManuals.com
Page 200 of 304
200 Starting and driving(This page has been left blank.)93_US_MY09.book Page 200 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:30 AM
ProCarManuals.com