warning SAAB 9-5 2003 Owners Manual

208 Car care and technical informationPower steering fluidCheck the level of the power steering fluid in
the reservoir regularly, in accordance with
the service program.
The wheels should point forward during the
check.
Clean around the cap before it is
unscrewed. Clean the dipstick. Screw in the
cap completely again before checking the
level.
The oil should lie between the MAX and MIN
marks when the oil temperature is about
70°F (+20°C). If the oil is colder the level can
be lower, and in higher temperatures the
level can be higher, both of which are
acceptable.
Top up with ”Power Steering Fluid
CHF 11S”.
Air filter
WARNING
Do not fill the power steering fluid to
above the MAX mark. Too much fluid can
result in leakage.
Power steering fluid on hot engine com-
ponents constitutes a fire risk.
WARNING
For Service and Repair, parts equivalent
to those used by Saab should be used.
Be aware that some non standard
replacement parts may put you in an
unsafe condition, even if they might fit.
IB501
Power steering fluid reservoir
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209 Car care and technical information
BatteryThe battery is provided with a cover to pro-
tect it from radiated heat. If the battery is
exposed to high temperatures, its life will be
shortened. To remove the cover, release
the two clips along its long sides.
The cover fits the standard battery installed
in the car. If a new battery is to be fitted,
make sure that its dimensions are the same
as the standard one.
The battery is maintenance free and should
be changed if the electrolyte level is too low. The indicator on the top side of the battery
will be white if the battery needs replacing.
The fluid level and the charge level should
be checked regularly.

If frequent short journeys are made, the bat-
tery may need to be given a booster charge.
This can be done either using a battery
charger or by taking the car for a long run.
A car with a standard equipment specifica-
tion 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 car phone, the charge may
only be sufficient for about 15 days.
WARNING
 Work on the battery may entail an
explosion hazard, since the battery
gives off hydrogen which forms an
explosive mixture with the oxygen in
the air.
For this reason, always avoid sparks
or open flames when working near the
battery.
 The battery contains corrosive sulfuric
acid. Always wear a face mask or
goggles when working on the battery.
 If battery acid gets into the eyes or
splashes the 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.
NOTICEA discharged battery can freeze and frac-
ture. Batteries should therefore always be
stored away from frost.
IB1779
Electrolyte level indicator
IB1780
Battery
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211 Car care and technical information
Drive belts The alternator is situated on the right-hand
side of the engine, adjacent to the bulkhead.
It is driven via a Poly-V-belt from the crank-
shaft pulley.
The Poly-V-belt also drives the water pump,
the A/C compressor and the steering servo
pump. The belt tension is critical and is adjusted
automatically by the belt tensioner.
See also page 57, ”Warning, charging”.
WARNING
 Keep hands and clothing well clear of
drive belts when engine is running.
 Always stop engine before inspecting
drive belts.
 The fan 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.
IB542
Routing of the Poly-V-belt:
4-cylinder engine
IB543
Routing of the Poly-V-belt:
3.0t V6
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213 Car care and technical information
Use a small screwdriver to adjust the
washer jet on the rear window wiper of the
9-5 Wagon, as illustrated.
WashersThe washer-fluid reservoir holds 6.4 quarts
(6 liters). When "WASHER FLUID LEVEL
LOW" comes up on the SID, the reservoir is
down to about 1 quart (1 liter) of fluid. Add
at least 50 % of washer- fluid to water to pre-
vent freezing and for effective cleaning.
WARNING
Take care not to spill washer fluid
concentrate onto hot surfaces. Washer
fluid concentrate contains flammable
ingredients such as alcohol.
IB1784
Washer-fluid filler cap
IB1783
The headlights have high-pressure
washers
Adjusting the washer jet on the rear
window wiper, 9-5 Wagon
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214 Car care and technical informationChanging bulbsCheck that the new bulb is working when finished.
Use only "Long Life" bulbs.
Headlight aiming, see page 250.
Bi-Xenon headlight (certain models only)Bi-Xenon headlights produce roughly twice as much light as halo-
gen 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 comprises two sensors on the front axle, one on the rear axle
and a control unit under the headlight housing. Headlight alignment
is regulated automatically to prevent dazzling oncoming traffic.
Alignment is also adjusted during braking.
WARNING
Before changing a bulb in the engine bay, switch off the engine to
avoid danger of fingers and hands being injured by moving parts.
The radiator fan can start up even when the engine is switched off.
Bi-Xenon headlights are high voltage and must therefore be
changed at an authorized Saab workshop. Work involving
high-voltage components is potentially lethal.NOTICE Since the headlight lenses are made of plastic, rinse dried-on
dirt with water and allow it time to soften up before cleaning
the lenses. Avoid rubbing the lenses when dry and never use
solvents.
 Use de-icer spray instead of scraping the ice off.
NOTICE Do not fit bulbs with a higher rating than 55 W, since the head-
light reflector and the wiring of the car are not designed for a
higher wattage.
 Switch off the ignition before changing a bulb, to avoid possi-
ble short-circuiting.
 Do not touch the glass of the bulbs with your fingers. The oil
on your skin can shorten the life of the bulb.
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217 Car care and technical information
Parking-light bulb (cars with halo-
gen low beam)The parking-light bulb is adjacent to the bulb
for low beam.
1 Unscrew the cover from the back of the
lamp unit.
2 Withdraw the bulb holder.
3 Change the bulb.
Parking-light bulb (cars with
Bi-Xenon low beam)The parking light bulb is adjacent to the
Bi-Xenon lamp.
1 Unscrew the cover from the back of the
lamp unit.
2 Take hold of the lamp leads and pull out
the bulb holder. The lamp leads are rein-
forced to facilitate changing bulbs.
3 Change the bulb. Look through the
headlight lens to help fit the bulb cor-
rectly.
Front fog lights 1 From under the front bumper, grip the
bulb holder and twist counterclockwise.
2 Unplug the connector.
3 Change the bulb.
Refit in the reverse order.
WARNING
 Never crawl under a car that is sup-
ported only by a jack.
 Always use axle stands. Refer to the
information on jacks on page 237.
IB1787
Parking-light bulb (cars with halogen low
beam)
IB1788
Front fog lights
IB1909
Parking-light bulb (cars with Bi-Xenon low
beam)
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226 Car care and technical informationFusesThe fuses are housed in two fuse panels:
one at the end of the instrument panel on the
driver’s side, and one under the hood.
To check if a fuse has blown, first remove it
from the panel (see below). If the filament is
broken, the fuse has blown.
A special tool for removing fuses is provided
at the bottom of the fuse panel. Simply push
the tool onto the fuse, squeeze and remove
the fuse.

WARNING
To avoid the risk of short-circuiting and/or
fire breaking out in the electrical system,
the following advice should be heeded:
 Always consult an authorized 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/lower rating than specified
(see page 228). The color of the fuse
indicates its amperage.
 If the same fuse blows repeatedly,
have the electrical system checked by
an authorized Saab dealer.
 If a MAXI fuse blows, it means that
there is a major fault in the electrical
system. Have the car checked by an
authorized Saab dealer.
IB527
Fuse panel in instrument panel
IB1794
Fuse box under the hood
IB144
Sound fuse / Blown fuse
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227 Car care and technical information
Maxi fusesThe Maxi fuses are housed in the fuse box
under the hood. These fuses can be
checked in the same way as the other fuses.
The Maxi fuses are designed to protect the
car’s electrical system from being dam-
aged. Each Maxi fuse protects a number of
electrical circuits and functions and there-
fore has a higher rating (amperage) than the
standard fuses. No spare Maxi fuses are
supplied with the car.
DICE / TWICEDICE = Dashboard Integrated Central Elec-
tronics
TWICE = Theft-Warning Central Electronics
DICE and TWICE are electronic control
modules that monitor and control a variety
of functions, including:
DICE controls (among other things):
 Front lights and interior lighting
 Instrument illumination
 Intermittent wiper operation
 Electric heating of rear window and door
mirrors
 Cooling fans
TWICE controls (among other things):
 Central locking.
 Car alarm (Anti-theft system)
 Engine immobilizer
 Autochecking of lights.
 Electric heating of rear seat
 Safety belt reminder
 Electrically adjustable passenger seatThe DICE and TWICE control modules are
linked to a data bus, which is basically an
information carrier that allows information to
be exchanged between all the control mod-
ules and components connected to the bus.
If a fault occurs in any of these components,
diagnostic faults codes are set in the rele-
vant control module, which facilitates fault
diagnosis at the Saab dealer.
The scan tool connector for fault diagnosis
is located under the instrument panel on the
drivers side.
NOTICEIf a Maxi fuse blows, it means that there is
a major fault in the electrical system.
Have the car checked without delay by an
authorized Saab dealer.
IB1795
Maxi fuses under the hood
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232 Car care and technical informationWheels Alternative wheels and tiresIf you wish to fit other tires or wheels than
those supplied with the car, consult your
Saab dealer first as to the possibilities avail-
able.
Wheels/tires combinations that are not
approved by Saab can negatively affect the
car´s directional stability, steering and brak-
ing in both wet and dry conditions.
Do not assume that a wheel/tire combina-
tion will function properly just because it will
bolt on.
The 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.
To ensure that the speedometer is as accu-
rate as possible it should be reprogrammed
if wheels of a different dimension are fitted.
Contact an authorized Saab workshop.
Tire pressureTires need to be inflated to suit the load car-
ried and the maximum speed the car will be
driven (see the recommended tire pres-
sures page 268). Note that all values apply
to cold tires. For tires with an aspect ratio
less than /60, increase the tire pressure by
3 psi (20 kPa) for rough roads with potholes
to minimize the risk of rim damage.
Never reduce the pressure of a hot tire. If the
tires are hot when you check them, only
increase the pressure, if necessary.
Soft tires will cause faster wear than
over-pressurized tires. They also increase
fuel consumption.
If a valve is leaking, simply unscrew it and fit
a new one.
NOTICEAlways consult your Saab dealer before
changing the wheels and tires on your
Saab.
Wide wheels and tyres with sidewalls that
are too low can:
 be damaged in potholes etc.
 cause springs, shock absorbers and
wheel bearings and body mountings
can be overloaded.
 cause that the wheels can come into
contact with chassis and body compo-
nents.
 can affect the function of the Elec-
tronic Stability Program (ESP).
The speed and load limits for the tires
must not be exceeded; see page 233.
Wheels larger than 17” must not be fitted.
The maximum permissible offset is
49 mm.
WARNING
Check the tire pressure at least once a
month and before long journeys. Under-
inflation can result in:
 Punctures
 Separation of the tire and tread
 Damage to the sidewalls
 Damage to the rims on poor roads
 Poor handling characteristics
 Premature tire wear
 Increased fuel consumption.
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233 Car care and technical information
Important! Remember to adjust the tire
pressures if you change the load in the car
or intend to cruise at a substantially higher
or lower speed than normal.Rotating tiresBecause the car has 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.
The tread should be at least 3 mm deep.
The wheels should be marked, L (left) and
R (right), when changing between summer
and winter (snow) tires. This ensures that
the direction of rotation of the wheels is the
same when they are refitted. Fit the tires in
best condition to the rear wheels.
Store wheels lying flat or hanging – never
standing upright.
Tire markingsAn example of the meaning of the different
markings in a tire size is given below for a
tire size of:
205/65 R15 94 V
Winter 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 as to the correct size
tire for your car (if different from the original
size) and also supply Saab approved winter
tires.Tire quality grading (cars sold in
U.S.)New tires must be graded and labeled in
accordance with new Federal regulations.
Standard tests are conducted to measure
performance in the areas of traction and
temperature resistance. Refer to the tire
sidewall for the specific quality grades of the
tires provided on your new Saab. Compact
spare tires are exempt.
DOT QUALITY GRADES
 Treadwear
 Traction AA, A, B, C
 Temperature A, B, C
All passenger car tires must conform to Fed-
eral safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
WARNING
When fitting just one new pair of tires,
these should be fitted to the rear wheels,
as these are more critical to the direc-
tional stability of the car (e.g. on braking
or in a skid). The existing rear wheels
should therefore be moved to the front.
Always move left rear to left front and right
rear to right front, so that the direction of
rotation remains the same.
205 Tire section width, mm
65 Aspect ratio, i.e. the section height
is 65 % of the section width
R Radial ply
15 Wheel rim diameter 15 in at bead
seats
94 Tire load code
V Speed marking
Tyre load index91 max 1366 lbs (615 kg)
93 max 1433 lbs (650 kg)
94 max 1477 lbs (670 kg)
Speed ratings S up to 100 mph (180 km/h)
T up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V up to 150 mph (240 km/h)
W up to 167 mph (270 km/h)
Y up to 186 mph (300 km/h)
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