airbag SAAB 9-5 2004 User Guide

35 Safety
Side airbags
The side airbags, which help protect the
upper body are integrated in the outside
edges of the front seat backrests.
In a side impact, only the airbag on that side
will be activated, and only then if certain
predetermined conditions are met such as
the force and angle of the impact, the speed
of the car on impact, and at which point on
the car’s side the impact occurs.
The sensors, which are fitted in the front
doors, sense the rise in pressure caused by
the door panel being pressed in during an
impact condition. The side airbag trigger will
be commanded based on the characteris-
tics of this pressure rise.
WARNING
 This car is equipped with side airbags
and no extra interior trim should be
fitted. Failure to observe this warning
could result in the side airbags not
inflating as intended and thus not
providing the intended protection
either.
 Never place any object in the area that
would be occupied by the inflated
airbag.
 For optimum protection, sit upright in
the seat, with your safety belt correctly
fastened.
 The sensors for the side airbags are
fitted in the front doors. We advise
against doing any work on the doors
that could affect the moisture barrier in
the door or the airbag sensors. It is
essential that the moisture barrier
(thick plastic film) in the front door is
not damaged in any way.
 Improvement of the anticorrosion
treatment of the doors should only be
carried out by an authorized Saab
dealer. Otherwise there is a risk that
the side impact sensor and the mois-
ture barrier in the front door could be
damaged.
 The side airbags will inflate only in the
event of a side impact; not in the event
of a front or rear-end crash or of the
car’s rolling over.
 Damage or wear to the seat cover, or
the seat seam, in the area of the side
airbag must immediately be repaired
by an authorized Saab dealer.
 Do not modify the speaker installation
in the front doors or install speakers
other than those specifically approved
by Saab.
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36 Safety
AIR BAG warning light
AIRBAG servicingThe AIRBAG must be inspected as part of
the normal service program but otherwise
may be regarded as maintenance-free.
WARNING
 If the airbag readiness light stays on
after you start your vehicle, it means
the air bag system may not be working
properly. See page. 56. The airbags
in your vehicle may not inflate in a
crash, or they could even inflate with-
out a crash.
 To help avoid injury to yourself or
others, have your vehicle serviced
right away if the air bag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
IB1182
Side airbag inflated
IB1707
Side airbag components 1 Side airbag
2 Sensor
3 Moisture barrier
4 Text on seat
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37 Safety
Scrapping or working on airbags
and belt pretensioners Frequently asked questions on func-
tion of airbags
Do you still need to wear a
safety b
elt if
airbags are fitted?
Yes, always! The airbag merely supple-
ments the car’s normal safety system.
Moreover, the airbag will only be actuated in
a moderate to severe frontal, or near-frontal
crash, which means, of course, that it
provides no protection in minor frontal
crashes, major rear-end or side-on crashes
or if the car rolls over.
The safety belts help reduce the chance of
the car occupants from being thrown around
and injured or killed inside the car.
But they also ensure that, if a crash occurs
in which the airbags are inflated, the airbag
will make the optimum contact with the
occupant, i.e. square on from the front. If the
occupant meets the airbag in an offset posi-
tion, the protection afforded will be reduced.
In addition, airbags provide no protection
against a secondary impact occurring in the
same incident. So there is no doubt about
the benefit of wearing safety belts at all
times.
Do not sit too close to the airbag: it needs
room to inflate.
The airbag inflates very quickly and power-
fully in order to protect an adult person,
before they are thrown forward, in a serious
frontal crash.
How do I position the seat to leave room for
the airbag to inflate?Don’t have your seat too far forward.
Recline the seat back to increase the
distance between you and the airbag. For
short drivers, special accessory pedal
extensions are available through your Saab
dealer.
Airbags inflate extremely rapidly and with
great force – to be fast enough to protect an
adult in the seat. When do the front airbags inflate? The airbag will only be inflated under certain
predetermined conditions in a moderate to
severe frontal, or near-frontal crash,
depending on such factors as the force and
angle of the impact, the speed of the car on
impact, and the resistance to deformation of
the impacting object.
The airbag can only be activated once in the
same incident.
Do not attempt to drive the car after an
airbag has been inflated, even if it is possi-
ble.
WARNING
 Under no circumstances should any
modifications be made that affect the
steering wheel or the airbag’s electri-
cal circuitry.
 Before starting any welding work on
the car, always disconnect the nega-
tive (–) battery lead and cover the
conductor.
 Airbags and belt pretensioners must
be deployed under controlled condi-
tions before the car is scrapped or any
of the system’s components are
removed. Airbags or belt pretension-
ers that have been deployed as a
result of a crash must be replaced by
new ones.
 Airbag-system components must
never be transferred for use in another
vehicle.
 All work involving the scrapping or
replacement of airbags or belt preten-
sioners must only be carried out by
knowledgeable personnel.
 The headlining and roof pillar trim
must not be modified in any way. Work
on these areas must only be carried
out at a Saab dealer.
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38 SafetyWhat won’t trigger the front airbags? The airbag will not be activated in all
front-end crashes. For instance, if the car
has hit something relatively soft and yielding
(e.g. a snow drift or a hedge) or a solid
object at a low impact speed, the airbag will
not necessarily be triggered. How loud is the inflation? The noise of the inflation is certainly loud,
but it is very short-lived and will not damage
your hearing. For a short time afterwards
you could experience a buzzing noise in
your ears.
Most people who have experienced it
cannot remember the noise of the inflation
at all – all they remember is the noise of the
crash. Can you still use a child seat in the front if a
passenger airbag is installed? Definitely not!
Children 12 and under or shorter than
55 inches (140 cm) can be killed by the
airbag.
The BACK SEAT is the SAFEST place for
children.
NEVER put a child seat in the front.
Sit as far back as possible from the air bag.
Always use safety belts and child restraints.
Are the smoke and fumes given off when the
airbag operates at all harmful? Most people who have remained in a car
with little or no ventilation for several
minutes complained only of minor irritation
of the throat and eyes. Avoid as far as possi-
ble getting dust on your skin as there is a risk
of skin irritation.
If you suffer from asthma, the incident may
bring on an attack, in which case you should
follow the normal procedure advised by
your doctor. It is advisable to consult a
doctor afterwards.
What should I do if the AIR-BAG warning
light comes on? If the warning light is on, it means that a fault
has been detected in the system. The
airbag cannot be relied on to operate as
intended and it might even be activated
erroneously. You should therefore take the
car to an authorized Saab dealer as soon as
possible.
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56 Instruments and controls

Anti-lock brake warning
This light will come on if a fault has occurred
in the ABS system.
On certain variants and as well
as can light up to indicate a fault in the
electronic brake force distribution system
(distribution of the brake pressure between
the front and rear wheels).
Conventional braking without the ABS func-
tion will still be available.
For safety reasons, stop the car and check
the level of the brake fluid (see page 208).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 authorized Saab dealer
to have the brake system checked.


Airbag warning light
This light together with will come on if
a potentially serious fault has occurred in
the airbag system.
The light will come on for about three sec-
onds when the ignition switch is turned to
the Start or Drive position. It should go out
after the engine has started.
WARNING
 If the ABS is inoperative, there is a
danger of the rear wheels locking up
on hard braking.
 If the level of brake fluid in the reser-
voir is below the MIN mark, the car
should be towed to an authorized
Saab dealer.
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
others, have your vehicle serviced
right away if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
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57 Instruments and controls
CHECK message indicator
This light indicates that there is a message
in the Saab Information Display (SID). A
chime will also sound
(see page 67).
Central warning light
This light will come on and a chime will
sound if a fault has been detected in any
system that is critical to safety. Any of the
following can activate the central warning
light and alarm:
 Airbag system.
 Low oil pressure in engine.
 Parking brake is on (when car is moving).
 Brake fluid level low.
 Fault detected in ABS system.
 Electronic brake force distribution (distri-
bution of brake pressure between front
and rear wheels).
 Engine overheating.
 Alternator not charging properly.
Engine malfunction
(CHECK ENGINE)
This light indicates a malfunction in the
fuel-injection or ignition system. The car
may still be driven with care and with some-
what diminished performance (see page
151).
Indicator, fuel
This light comes on when there is less than
about 2.5 gallons (10 liters) of fuel left in the
tank.
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
further 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.).
NOTICEThe car should be checked immediately
at an authorized Saab dealer to prevent
more serious faults from arising.NOTICEIf 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.
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105 Saab 9-5 Audio System
Antennas The Audio System has three antennas
incorporated in the rear window; two for FM
diversity and one for AM.
The car has a factory-fitted roof antenna for
a mobile phone/OnStar. Roof loads may
negatively affect telecommunication.
Multipath propagation Multipath propagation occurs when radio
waves from an FM transmitter are reflected
by, e.g. large buildings, causing them to
arrive slightly later than the direct waves.
This can create interference to radio recep-
tion. To avoid this problem as much as pos-
sible the system is equipped with two FM
antennas, so called FM diversity.
NOTICERefrain from placing hard or sharp
objects on the rear parcel shelf, to avoid
damaging the antenna leads.
Do not use sun protective film which con-
tains metal particles on the rear window,
this can be the cause of radio interfer-
ence.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of head injuries in the
event of a crash, the headliner and pillar
trims incorporate energy absorbing mate-
rial. These areas must not be modified in
any way. Work on these areas must only
be carried out at an authorized Saab
dealer.
IB386
IB389
IB1743
Accessories and other equipment must
not be fitted to the surfaces marked as
these are where the airbags inflate in the
event of a crash
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110 OnStar - TelematicsThe OnStar CenterConnecting to the OnStar centerIn addition to using the 3-button system
found in your Saab, there are two other
ways to connect to the OnStar Center.
Toll-Free Call
To take advantage of your OnStar services
from outside your Saab, you can call OnStar
toll-free at 1-888-4-OnStar
(1-888-466-7827). Remember to have your
Personal Identification Number (PIN)
handy.
Automatic Notification
A priority signal will be sent to the OnStar
Center with your exact location if an airbag
deploys.(Vehicle electrical system and cellular service
must be operable.)
Your personal identification number
(PIN)When you signed up with OnStar, you were
asked to provide a Personal Identification
Number (PIN). You’ll need your PIN to
access many of OnStar’s services. If, for
example, your vehicle has been stolen, an
OnStar advisor will ask for your PIN in order
to provide assistance.
Changing your PIN is easy. Call the OnStar
Center and provide the advisor with your
current number, and he or she will assist
you in setting up a new number. If you have
forgotten your PIN, just call the OnStar Cen-
ter. For security reasons, we will send your
PIN to you in the mail.
The OnStar Safe &
Sound PlanThe OnStar Safe and Sound Plan is one of
three plans you can purchase.* With it, you
have access to a complete range of ser-
vices providing you with an unsurpassed
level of safety and security — 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week. And you have it all at
the touch of a button.
So whether you’re on a lonesome country
road or stuck in highway traffic, you have at
your disposal a complete range of services
providing you with unsurpassed security.
And you have it all at the touch of a button.Automatic notification of air bag
deploymentShould your front air bags deploy, a priority
signal will be sent to the OnStar Center with
your Saab´s location (as long as cellular
service and the vehicle’s electrical system
are operable). An advisor will attempt to
contact you to assess the nature of your
emergency, and then notify the appropriate
emergency services provider.Emergency servicesShould you require emergency assistance,
press the red emergency button and On
Star or an advisor will contact the nearest
emergency services provider with your
exact location and your request for help.* New retail deliveries only.
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230 Car care and technical informationRelay panel under instrument panel Relay panel under instrument panel (cont.)27 10 Engine-management system; SID; main instrument
28 7.5 Airbag
29 7.5 ABS/TCS/ESP
30 7.5 Starter motor
31 7.5 Cruise control; water valve; fog lights, front; rain sen-
sor
32 15 Ventilated front seats
33 7.5 Direction-indicator switch
34 30 Cigarette lighter (front/rear)
35 15 Daytime running light
36 30 Electric windows, left
37 30 Windshield wipers
38 30 Electric heating, front seats
39 20 Limp-home solenoid (automatic transmission);
OnStar; telematics
# Function
A –
B Electric heating of rear seat
C1 –
C2 –
D –
E Main relay (engine management system)
F Fuel filler flap
G Fuel pump
H Ignition switch
I Rear-window / door mirrors heating
J–
KStarter relay
L1 Limp-home function
L2 Bootlid
IB1796
A
BC1
C2
L2 L1 D
GE
F
H
I
K J
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267 Customer Assistance and Information
Vehicle Data Collection and Event
Data RecordersYour vehicle, like other modern motor vehi-
cles, has a number of sophisticated com-
puter systems that monitor and control sev-
eral aspects of the vehicle’s performance.
Your vehicle uses on-board vehicle comput-
ers to monitor emission control components
to optimize fuel economy, to monitor condi-
tions for airbag deployment, to provide
anti-lock braking and to help the driver con-
trol the vehicle in difficult driving situations.
Some information may be stored during reg-
ular operations to facilitate repair of
detected malfunctions; other information is
stored only in a crash or near crash event by
computer systems commonly called event
data recorders (EDR).
In a crash or near crash event, computer
systems, such as the Airbag Sensing and
Diagnostic Module (SDM) in your vehicle
may record information about the condition
of the vehicle and how it was operated, such
as engine speed, throttle position, vehicle
speed, seat belt usage, airbag readiness,
airbag performance data, and the severity
of a collision. These data have been used to
improve vehicle crash performance and
may be used to improve crash performance
of future vehicles and driving safety. These
on-board systems are somewhat like the
data recorders on many airplanes, but they
do not record sounds, such as conversation
of vehicle occupants.To read this information, special equipment
is needed and access to the vehicle or the
SDM is required. Saab will not access infor-
mation about a crash event or share it with
others other than
(a) with the consent of the vehicle owner or,
if the vehicle is leased, with the consent of
the lessee,
(b) in response to an official request of
police or similar government office,
(c) as part of Saab’s defense of litigation
through the discovery process, or
(d) as required by law.
In addition, once Saab collects or receives
data, Saab may
(a) use the data for GM research needs,
(b) make it available for research where
appropriate confidentiality is to be main-
tained and need is shown, or
(c) share summary data which is not tied to
a specific vehicle with non-Saab organiza-
tions for research purposes.
Others, such as law enforcement, may have
access to the special equipment that can
read the information if they have access to
the vehicle or SDM.Please check the OnStar subscription ser-
vice agreement or manual for information
on its operations and data collection.
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