wheel SAAB 9-5 2005 Owner's Guide

160 Starting and drivingIf winter tires are fitted, the same type must
be fitted on all wheels. Your Saab dealer will
be pleased to advise you on the best tires for
your car.
Remember that tires age. It may therefore
be necessary to change them before they
reach the legal wear limit, as they gradually
lose their friction properties.
The best response if the car gets into a front-
wheel skid is to freewheel (manual gearbox
only), i.e. disengage the clutch (so that the
wheels are neither driven or retarded by the
engine.
If the car has automatic transmission, ease
up on the accelerator and steer carefully in
the desired direction.
In a rear-wheel skid, steer in the same direc-
tion that the rear of the car is moving.
Tire chainsIf you want to fit tire chains (where legally
permitted) they should only be fitted to the
tires recommended under ”Specifications”
(see page 260).
Consult your Saab dealer for details of
approved tire chains.
Driving in hot weather Always check the coolant level before
starting a journey. The level should be just
below the MAX mark.
 At the end of a journey, if the engine has
worked hard, allow it to idle for two or
three minutes before switching it off.
If the needle on the temperature gauge
enters the red zone:
1 Bring the car to a standstill but leave the
engine running. Do
not
remove the cap
on the expansion tank even if the tank is
empty. If the needle on the temperature
gauge continues to rise while the engine
is idling, switch off the engine.
WARNING
 Do not exceed 30 mph (50 km/h)
when tire chains are fitted.
 Tire chains can reduce the directional
stability of the car.
 Tire chains must not be used on the
rear wheels. NOTICE Check the links frequently for wear.
 Check that the chains do not contact
the wheel-arch liner at full lock.
 See section ”Specifications”,
page 260, for information on allowable
wheel dimensions for the fitting of tire
chains.
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161 Starting and driving
2 Wait until the needle has dropped back
to indicate normal temperature (roughly
midway, in the white zone) before stop-
ping the engine. If the coolant needs top-
ping up, unscrew the cap on expansion
tank
carefully
.
Top up, as necessary, ideally with a
50/50 mixture of Saab-approved coolant
and water. If only water is available, use
that, but remember to have the coolant
mixture checked as soon as possible.
3 As soon as possible, have the cooling
system checked by an authorized Saab
dealer.
Towing a trailer
Trailer hitch attachmentTrailer hitch attachments are available as
accessories. These are designed for a max-
imum trailer weight of 3500 lbs. (1588 kg),
see also page 253.
Use only the electrical trailer hitch socket
provided in the trailer hitch kit.
Saab recommends:
 Use a Saab original hitch kit attachment
which is designed and tested by Saab.
 Consult your Saab dealer regarding the
appropriate hitch kit for your car.
WARNING
 Exercise care when opening the hood
if the engine is overheated. Never
remove the expansion tank cap com-
pletely when the engine is hot.
 The cooling system is pressurized -
hot coolant and vapor can escape.
These can cause injury to your eyes
and burns. Open the cap slowly to
release the pressure before
removing it.
WARNING
 When towing a trailer, do not attempt
to negotiate a hill having a gradient in
excess of 15 %. The weight distribu-
tion over the front wheels of the car will
be insufficient to prevent wheelspin,
making further progress impossible.
 In addition, the parking brake may not
always be able to hold the car and trai-
ler securely, with the result that the
wheels can start to slide downhill.
 Always apply the trailer’s handbrake
when unhitching it. There is otherwise
a risk of personal injury or damage to
the bumper should the trailer start to
roll.
NOTICEUse only a genuine Saab trailer hitch and
wiring, since other wiring methods can
cause expensive damage to the car’s
body and electrical system.
Consult an authorized Saab dealer for
guidance on how to connect the trailer
hitch electrical system.
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164 Starting and drivingRecommendations for cars with manual
gearboxRises in coolant temperature are indicated
by the temperature gauge in the main instru-
ment panel.
The following steps are taken in order as the
temperature of the engine increases:
 A/C compressor is switched off.
 engine torque is reduced.
When continuing your journey, select a gear
in which the engine speed is about
3,000 rpm until the incline eases.
Driving considerations Always take extra care when towing a
trailer, as the car’s handling will be different
and its braking effect reduced. The trailer’s
braking system and suspension also have a
considerable effect on these characteris-
tics, see also ”Driving with a load” page 168.
If the car has automatic transmission, select
position D when ascending steep hills. This
ensures that the adaptive gear change pat-
terns are operational, see page 150. Use
position D or L for steep descents.
Checks before drivingMake sure that the car and camper or trailer
are in good working order. This is essential
since towing a camper or trailer increases
the strain on the car.
 Check and if necessary adjust the tire
pressure of the car and camper or trailer.
 Make sure all wheel bolts are properly
tightened.
 Make sure that the equipment joining the
car and camper or trailer is properly secu-
red and adjusted.
 Make sure the camper or trailer’s electri-
cal 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 breaking when turning a corner.
 Check all bulbs.
 Check the car and camper or trailer bra-
kes.
 Make sure that all items on or in the cara-
van or trailer are properly secured.
 Make sure that the camper or trailer’s
jockey wheel is raised and locked.
 Check the distribution of the load so that
the car and camper or trailer are well
balanced.
 Check that the rearview mirrors provide
the best possible rearward vision.
 Make sure the camper or trailer’s safety
cable is correctly attached.
WARNING
Utilize the braking effect of the engine
(1st, 2nd or 3rd gear) when you are
descending long or steep hills to spare
the brakes.
Brake failure can result from overheated
brakes!
NOTICEIf the ”Automatic transmission, fault indi-
cator” indicator comes on, cease
towing until the problem has been recti-
fied.
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165 Starting and driving
Trailer hitch loadThe weight distribution on the trailer makes
a lot of difference to the handling properties
of the car and trailer combination. As
regards single-axle trailers, whenever pos-
sible, concentrate the load over the wheels
and keep it as low as possible.
The trailer should be loaded so that the
maximum load on the towbar ball is 5 % to
7 % of the trailer weight with a maximum
permissible tongue weight of 110–165 lbs.
(50–75 kg).
Note that this load must be added to the total
load for the car. If this now exceeds the
specified load capacity, the load in the lug-
gage compartment will have to be reduced
by a corresponding amount.
WARNING
When you connect the trailer be sure to
attach its safety chains to the holes as
illustrated.
IB106
Distribution of load in trailer aLight
b Moderate
cHeavy
Attach the safety chains to the holes as
illustrated.
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170 Starting and drivingSpare wheel and toolsThe spare wheel, together with the jack and
jack handle, front towrope attachment eye
and toolkit, are stowed away underneath
the trunk.
Driving considerations
with compact spare
wheel/tire fitted
The following should be observed when the
compact spare wheel (T115/70 R16) is
fitted:
 The compact spare is light and easy to
handle when changing the wheel.
 Do not drive further than necessary with
the compact spare fitted – the maximum
life of the wheel is only just over
2000 miles (3,500 km).
 Refit the standard tire as soon as pos-
sible.
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 tire at a time.
 Avoid driving against a curb.
 Do not use snow chains.
 Do not fit the wheel cover - this would con-
ceal the warning text.
WARNING
Stow all tools carefully away after use, so
that they cannot get loose and cause
injury in the event of a crash.
WARNING
 Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) as
the tire can overheat and adversely
affect the handling of the car.
 Tire pressure: refer to page 261.
 The spare wheel or punctured tire
must be stowed under the trunk floor,
and secured in place with the retaining
nut.
NOTICETo avoid damaging a punctured alloy
wheel it can be placed outside up in the
spare-wheel well but
only
while driving to
the closest workshop.
A general rule is that all heavy loads must
be well secured in the luggage compart-
ment, see page 123 and 126.
IB3232
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172 Starting and drivingFront towing eye
The front towing eye is stored with the spare
wheel.
The attachment point (tapped hole) for the
towing eye is midway along the engine sub-
frame at the front of the car.
Remove the plastic plug and screw in the
towing eye securely.
To ensure that the towing eye is in far
enough, insert the handle of the wheel
wrench through the eye for additional
leverage.
Rear towing eyeThe car has a permanently mounted towing
eye at the back. If the car is equipped with a
trailer hitch, this can be used instead of the
towing eye.
WARNING
 Make sure that the towing eye at the
front is screwed in tightly.
 The towing eye is only designed for
use when the car is being towed on the
road. 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 break. The
towing eye or tow rope could catapult
off and cause serious injury.
NOTICE Do not drive the car with the front
towing eye in position. If it catches the
curb, for example, the engine sub-
frame could be damaged.
 Refit the plastic plug in the hole when
the towing eye has been removed, to
keep dirt and moisture out of the
threads.
IB2427
Front towing eye
IB483
Rear towing eye
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173 Starting and driving
Towing the car Gear lever in neutral (in cars with automatic
transmission: selector lever at N (neutral))
Turn on the parking lights.Drive carefully and do not exceed the
speed limit for vehicles being towed. Always try to keep the towrope taut by
gently applying the brake, as necessary.
This will avoid the towrope being jerked
violently.
The local regulations on towing speeds
must be followed.
The highest permissible towing speed is
30 mph (50 km/h), unless the legal limit is
lower. The longest permissible towing dis-
tance is 30 miles (50 km). If the car has to
be transported farther than that, summon a
tow truck. A flat bed tow truck is the pre-
ferred method to tow.
Failure to follow these guidelines can result
in damage.
Cars with automatic transmissionThe car cannot be push started. In an emer-
gency, it is possible to start the engine using
jump leads (see the section, ”Jump starting”
on page 174).
Transporting the car
NOTICENever
use the towing eyes to pull the
car unstuck.
NOTICE 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.
NOTICEIf a car with a sport (lowered) chassis is
transported, for example on a flat bed
truck, take extra care not to damage the
spoiler and/or underbody.
Never use the towing eyes to pull the car
unstuck
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179 Starting and driving
Parking brake

The parking brake is situated between the
front seats and acts on the rear wheels.
When the parking brake is on, the indicator
light on the main instrument panel will
be on. To release the parking brake, lift the
lever slightly, press the release button and
release the lever by pushing down on it.
Parking
WARNING
Always
apply the parking brake when
you park the car.

Always
apply the parking brake
before removing the ignition key.
 Do not use the parking brake while
driving.
WARNING
 Do not leave children or pets unatten-
ded in the car. In warm, sunny
weather, the temperature inside the
car can reach 160–180°F (70–80°C).
 Park where the vehicle will not create
an obstruction or a hazard to other
road users.
 Do not park on dry grass or other com-
bustible material. The catalytic con-
verter gets very hot and could start a
fire.
 Apply the parking brake.
 Shift to Reverse for manual transmis-
sion (automatic transmission: move
selector lever to P (Park)), and remove
the ignition key. Lock the car.
NOTICEEmpty the car yourself and bear in mind:
 Never leave a mobile phone, camera,
computer or similar object visible in
your car.
 Clothing, packages and bags attract
thieves.
 Do not leave small objects such as
CDs, sunglasses and coins visible.
 If possible, park in a well-lit,
conspicuous parking space.
 Thieves strike whenever and where-
ver they are given the opportunity.
IB360
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180 Starting and drivingParking on a hillWhen parking on a steep hill, turn the front
wheels so that they will be blocked by the
curb if the car should move. Long-term parkingIf the car is not going to be used for some
time, e.g. 3–4 months, the following steps
are recommended:
 Run the engine to normal temperature
before long-term parking.
 Drain the washer-fluid reservoir and
hoses.
 Wash and wax the car. Clean the rubber
seals on the hood, luggage compartment
lid and doors, and lubricate them with gly-
cerol (glycerin).
 After washing the car, dry the brake discs
by taking the car out on the road and app-
lying the brakes a few times.
 Fill the fuel tank with fuel to prevent con-
densation forming in it.
 Top up the coolant and check the anti-
freeze before the onset of winter.
 Park the car in a dry, covered and well-
ventilated building. Leave the parking
brake OFF!
 Disconnect the negative (–) battery lead.
If frost is likely to occur during the long-
term parking, remove the battery and
store it away from the frost.
 Ideally, the car should be put up on blocks,
with the wheels off the ground. If this is not possible, inflate the tires to about 43 psi
(300 kPa).
 Leave all the windows open a crack and
cover the car with a fabric tarpaulin – not
one made of plastic.
123
IB485
1Pointing downhill and
against the curb– Turn the wheels into
the curb and edge the
car forward until the
wheels touch the curb.2
Pointing uphill and
against the curb– Turn the wheels away
from the curb and edge
the car back until the
wheels touch the curb.3
Pointing uphill or
downhill – no curb– Turn the wheels
towards the edge of the
road. If the car should
start rolling, it will not run
into the road.
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186 Car care and technical informationEngineThe 2.3-liter model is a transverse, 4-cylin-
der in-line engine with twin overhead cams-
hafts and 4 valves per cylinder.
This engine is equipped with balance shafts
that reduce engine vibration to a minimum.
The balance shafts are chain driven and
rotate at twice the speed of the crankshaft.
They produce forces and torques that are
opposed to those generated by the pistons
and connecting rods, an effect that occurs
twice for each revolution of the engine.
Engine noise is also reduced as the coun-
ter-rotating shafts counteract the vibration
from the moving parts of the engine.
The transmission, located on the right (vie-
wed from the front), is integrated with the
engine. All models have front-wheel drive.
Engine oilChecking the oil level Check the engine-oil level regularly. This
should be done after the engine has been
run to normal temperature and then allowed
to cool for 2–5 minutes, with the car stan-
ding on level ground. Remove the dipstick
and wipe it clean before checking the level.
The oil level must not be allowed to drop
below the MIN mark on the dipstick, nor
should oil be filled beyond the MAX mark, as
this can lead to excessive oil consumption.
The distance between the MIN and MAX
marks on the dipstick corresponds to a
volume of approximately 1.05 qts (1 liter).
When necessary, add oil of the recommen-
ded grade via the dipstick tube.
IB601
Balance shafts
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