towing SAAB 9-5 2009 User Guide

177 Starting and driving
Recommendations for cars with manual
gearbox
Rises 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 179.
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 158. 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
secured 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
brakes.
 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 transmission3, fault
indicator” indicator comes on, cease
towing until the problem has been recti-
fied.
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181 Starting and driving
Driving with a spare
wheel fittedSee page 236.Driving with the trunk
lid/tailgate openAvoid driving with the trunk lid/tailgate partly
or fully open, since exhaust fumes can be
drawn into the cabin.
If you must drive with the trunk lid/tailgate
open, all windows and the moonroof3 must
be closed and the cabin fan on at its highest
speed setting.
Driving in deep water Towing the carNOTICEDo not drive in water deeper than
12 inches (30 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 being towed.
 Always seek professional help if the
car needs to be towed.
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182 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.
IB3885
Front towing eye
IB3886
Rear towing eye
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183 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 transmission
The 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 184).
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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231 Car care and technical information
Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit1 Locate the statement “The
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed
XXX pounds” on your vehicle´s
label.
2 Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will
be riding in your vehicle.
3 Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from
XXX kilograms or XXX pounds.
4 The resulting figure equals the avail-
able amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity. For example, if the
“XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and
there will be five 150 lb. passengers
in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capac-
ity is 650 lbs. (1400–750 (5x150) =
650 lbs.).5 Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity calcu-
lated in Step 4.
6 If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
load from your trailer will be trans-
ferred to your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your vehi-
cle.
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 of to the correct size
tire for your car (if different from the original
size) and also supply Saab approved winter
tires pre-mounted on steel or alloy rims.
Winter tires normally use a different speed
rating compared to summer/all season tires.
Make sure not to exceed the stated speed
rating on the tires you use.
Make sure that wheels with sensors for tire
pressure monitoring are fitted during
replacement if the car has automatic tire
pressure monitoring.
Tire date codeTires should be regarded as perishable
goods. As the tires age, the rubber becomes
progressively harder, and the roadholding
ability of the tires diminishes. This is partic-
ularly true on winter tires.
Tires now have a date-code marking for the
year of manufacture. The first two digits
denote the week number and the two last
digits the year followed by a filled triangle.Tire direction of rotationThe direction of rotation is important for the
majority of tires. These tires have a marking
on the side of the tire. The marking may
state "Tire rotation" together with an arrow
or the text "Facing out". The tire must rotate
in the same direction for its entire service
life.
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259 Specifications
Trailer
Luggage compartment
Luggage compartment, length, 9-5 Sedan:
Rear seat upright _________________ 43.0 in (1092 mm)
Rear seat folded down _____________ 67.5 in (1714 mm)
Luggage compartment, length,
9-5 SportCombi:
Rear seat upright _________________ 42.8 in (1087 mm)
Rear seat folded __________________ 68.2 in (1732 mm)
WARNING
 The GVW and maximum axle loads must not be exceeded.
Note that if some accessories (e.g. towbar, CD changer) are
fitted, the available load capacity is reduced by the weight of
these.
 When carrying a load in the luggage compartment, make sure
that it is tied down securely, particularly when part or all of the
rear seat is folded down.
Maximum towing speed:
Trailer with brakes _________________ 60 mph (100 km/h)
Trailer without brakes _______________ Local restrictions
apply
Maximum weight:
Trailer with brakes _________________ 3500 lbs (1588 kg)
Trailer without brakes ______________ 1000 lbs (450 kg)
Maximum load on ball hitch __________ 110–165 lbs
(50–75 kg)
The above speed and weight restrictions are those specified by
Saab Automobile AB.
Note that local restrictions may apply to trailer speeds and weights
(see page 174).
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267 Index
Index
AA/C system, fault diagnosis
________ 245
A/C system, maintenance _________ 244
ABS brakes
____________________ 160
ACC
__________________________ 79
ACC functions
___________________ 82
ACC, automatic climate control
______ 79
ACC, calibration
_________________ 86
ACC, condensation water
__________ 86
ACC, useful tips
_________________ 86
AUX input
_____________________ 104
Adjustable systems
______________ 265
Adjusting the steering wheel
_______ 114
Adjustment, seats
________________ 18
Air conditioning (A/C), fault diagnosis
and maintenance ______________ 244
Airbag
_________________________ 29
Alarm __________________________ 50
Alarm functions
__________________ 53
Alarm signals
________________ 50
, 53
Album information
_______________ 104
Alternator
_____________________ 199
Alternator drive belt
__________ 199
, 260
Alternator rating
________________ 260
Antennas
______________________ 109
Anticorrosion treatment
___________ 246
Antidazzle rear-view mirror
________ 121
Anti-skid
______________________ 163Autochecking of lights on starting
____ 64
Auto-dimming rear-view mirror with
garage door opener
____________ 118
Automatic climate control (ACC)
_____ 79
Aviod theft, tip
__________________ 166
BBattery
________________________ 197
Battery charging/replacing
________ 197
Battery, boost starting
____________ 184
Before a long journey ____________ 247
Before towing a camper or trailer
___ 177
Belt guide
______________________ 12
Boost starting using jump leads
____ 184
Brake and clutch fluid
____________ 194
Brake-fluid reservoir
_____________ 194
Brakes, technical data ____________ 261
Bulbs, changing
_________________ 202
Bulbs, table of
__________________ 213
Buying new tires ________________ 223
CCD changer
____________________ 100
CHECK messages
_______________ 71
CHECKING
_____________________ 71
Car alarm
______________________ 50
Car care
______________________ 187
Cargo net, 9-5 SportCombi
________ 137
Carpeting, care of
_______________ 241Catalytic converter, important
considerations
_________________ 145
Central locking ___________________ 44
Change language in SID
___________ 72
Change of address notification
_____ 254
Changing a wheel
_______________ 237
Changing bulbs
_________________ 202
Changing wiper blades
___________ 200
Charge mobile phone
____________ 126
Charger/Jump starting ____________ 186
Charging the battery/Jump starting
__ 186
Chassis number
________________ 264
Checks before towing a camper or
trailer
________________________ 177
Child safety
_____________________ 22
Child safety locks, rear doors
_______ 47
Cleaning, engine bay
_____________ 243
Clock
_________________________ 105
Color code, body
________________ 264
Color code, trim _________________ 264
Compact spare wheel
____________ 235
Compass
______________________ 122
Condensation water, ACC
__________ 86
Connecting a portable player ______ 105
Coolant
_______________________ 193
Courtesy Headlight Feature
________ 74
Crash memory, see EDR
_________ 255
Cross modulation
_______________ 110
Cruise control
__________________ 159
Cup holder
_____________________ 128
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270 IndexRear fog light
____________________ 74
Rear seat, 9-5 Sedan, folding
______ 129
Rear seat, 9-5 SportCombi, folding
__ 132
Rear window heating
_____________ 82
Rear-seat head restraints __________ 21
Rear-view mirror, auto-dimming
____ 121
Rearview mirrors
________________ 116
Reclamation
___________________ 248
Recommendations for cars with
automatic transmission, towing a
camper or trailer
_______________ 175
Refuelling
_____________________ 146
Relay panel ____________________ 217
Remote control __________________ 44
Remote-control battery, changing
____ 49
Remove the key
________________ 140
Removing CDs
__________________ 99
Removing CDs, CD-changer
______ 100
Removing MP3 discs
____________ 102
Replacement, wheel
_____________ 225
Reporting safety defects
__________ 254
Reprogramming of systems _______ 265
Reservoir, power-steering fluid _____ 196
Retractable door mirrors
__________ 117
Rev counter
_____________________ 64
Reversing lights
_________________ 76
Rolling advertisements
____________ 94
Roof load
______________________ 179
Rotation of tires
_________________ 231
Running-in
_____________________ 170
SSDM
_________________________ 255
SID
___________________________ 68
Saab Information Display (SID)
______ 68
Saab Parking Assistance
_________ 168
Safety belts
_____________________ 12
Safety belts, care of
_____________ 240
Safety-belt pretensioners
__________ 15
Safety-belt reminder
______________ 12
Seats
__________________________ 18
Securing a load
__________________ 47
Selecting a radio station
___________ 93
Selecting and changing tracks, CD
___ 99
Selecting/changing MP3 file
_______ 103
Selector lever indication, automatic
transmission
___________________ 67
Sentronic, manual mode
__________ 156
Service costs
___________________ 253
Service information
______________ 254
Service intervals
________________ 252
Service record retention
__________ 253
Setting the clock
________________ 105
Setting the date _________________ 105
Settings, seats ___________________ 18
Shadow effect __________________ 110
Side airbags
____________________ 36
Signalling, horn _________________ 114
Snow chains
___________________ 172
Sorting music __________________ 103
Sound system __________________ 107
Sources of AM interference
________ 111Sources of FM interference
________ 111
Spare wheel
___________________ 235
Spark plugs
____________________ 260
Speed dependent volume
compensation _________________ 106
Speedometer
_________________ 64
, 65
Starting in cold weather, ACC
_______ 84
Starting in hot weather, ACC ________ 84
Steering wheel adjustment
________ 114
Steering wheel controls
____________ 91
Steps for determining correct load
limit
_________________________ 231
Stone-chip damage, repairing
______ 243
Storage compartments
___________ 126
Storing radio stations
______________ 93
Sun visors
_____________________ 125
Switches
_______________________ 73
Symboler ________________________ 9
Systems, adjustment
_____________ 265
TTCS OFF
_______________________ 63
TP
____________________________ 99
Table of fuses
__________________ 216
Tachometer
_____________________ 64
Tailgate, opening
_________________ 47
Tank gauge
_____________________ 65
Technical data __________________ 257
Technical data, radio/audio
________ 108
Temperature control, ACC _________ 81
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271 Index
Temperature gauge, engine
________ 66
Temperature zones, ACC
__________ 81
Textile carpeting
________________ 241
Through-load hatch ______________ 131
Tie Downs
_____________________ 131
Tightening torque, wheel studs
_____ 237
Time display
___________________ 106
Tip, driving at night
______________ 179
Tip, to avoid theft
_______________ 166
Tips, ACC
______________________ 86
Tire chains ____________________ 226
Tire date code __________________ 231
Tire direction of rotation
__________ 231
Tire inspection and rotation ________ 221
Tire markings
__________________ 228
Tire pressure ___________________ 180
Tire sidewall labeling
_____________ 227
Tire terminology and definitions
____ 229
Tire, compact spare
_____________ 235
Tires
_____________________ 220
, 261
Tires, winter
___________________ 261
Touching-in the paintwork
_________ 243
Towbar attachment
______________ 174
Towbar load
___________________ 178
Towing the car _________________ 181
Towing, automatics
______________ 181
Traffic programme ________________ 99
Trailer weights
__________________ 259
Treadwear indicators
____________ 222
Trionic
________________________ 190
Trip computer
___________________ 68
Trip meter
______________________ 64Trunk
_________________________ 129
Trunk lid, opening
________________ 47
Tuning
_________________________ 93
Turbo gauge
____________________ 67
Turbo, points to note
_____________ 144
UUnder the hood
_________________ 189
Uniform tire quality grading
________ 224
Upholstery and trim
______________ 241
Upholstery and trim, care of
_______ 241
VVanity mirrors
__________________ 125
Vehicle Data Collection
___________ 255
Ventilated front seats
_____________ 87
Viscosity, engine oil
______________ 260
WWarning labels
___________________ 7
Warning light, AIR BAG
____________ 37
Warning lights
___________________ 58
Washers
______________________ 200
Washers, windshield
_____________ 201
Washing the car
________________ 242
Waxing and polishing
____________ 243
Wear indicators, tires ____________ 222What Will You See After an Airbag
Inflates?
_______________________ 38
Wheel replacement
______________ 225
Wheel, change
_________________ 237
Wheels and tires ________________ 261
Wheels and tires, sizes
___________ 261
When it is time for new tires
_______ 222
Windshield washers
______________ 77
Windshield wipers
________________ 77
Winter tires
________________ 231
, 261
Wiper blades, replacing
___________ 200
Wipers and washers
__________ 77
, 200
XXenon headlight
________________ 202
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