My understanding is that the key on the console was originally an ergonomic thing. Start the car, hand goes immediately to the shift lever. SAAB engineers (originally Aircraft engineers) would go study crashes of SAABs in Sweden and they discovered that having the ignition on the console meant that your thighs weren't impaled by the keys hangin from the steering wheel in a collision. As for Night Panel, for the few times I get to drive at night out on country roads, I definitely use it and it works amazingly well. On a freeway with plenty of oncoming traffic, not so much. I love Winter mode on my OG9-3 here in Wisconsin. And Sport mode changes both the throttle response and the transmission shift points. Love your videos by the way.
The reason for the manual gearboxes having to be in reverse to get the key out is part security but mainly ... in Sweden during the winter the handbrakes freeze on if you use them so by having to put the car into reverse you can leave the handbrake off and the car won’t move, same effect as the “p” on the auto versions.
Correct. The knee protection reason must be something they came up with at a later stage. The 95-96's that had the gear shifter at the steering column had the same setup where you could only take the gearbox out of reverse with the ignition key in the lock. So the setup had two plusses, not having to use the handbrake and making the car harder to steal.
2:52 I definitively use the night panel. I often use to drive in a European highway at around 150 km/h during the night, and completely dark. So, it helps me get concentrated on the way instead of anything else. Something that also it does is it switches off the navigator screen.
My ex-girlfriend had her 1988 SAAB stolen from a shopping center in Beverly Hills. Newer SAABs can’t be stolen because once the key is out of the ignition the current to the fuel pump is cut off. Hot wiring can’t override this. The only way to steal a SAAB is with a flatbed truck.🤣 You really have to be motivated to steal a SAAB.🥳
I love using my Night Panel! It's definitely easier on the eyes at night and allows your vision to quickly adjust. The "quirkiest" thing about my 2002 9-5 is the radio code reset after removing the battery. It's a pain in the ass! But overall I love my 9-5 and it has made me a Saab guy for life!
Night panel is sweet. Speaking of lights, I also like how the fog lights turn off when you flash or turn on the high beams. I have a manual 9-5 now, like most of my SAAB cars I’ve owned. The two I had with automatics had Winter mode, including a 2005 9-5 Aero much like the 2004 in this video. The wheels even looked the same. I never used Winter mode, not even in deep snow early in the morning at 0F in Lake Tahoe. I have no idea how well that works. Maybe I missed a useful aid, but I already knew how to drive on snow and ice so I never tried it. That may be my loss. I use my 9-5 cupholder all the time. True, you can’t put a typical giant American drink in it nor something narrower like a glass Coke bottle. It holds my Peet’s (and other) coffee cups perfectly. Be careful if it’s a full cup because quick acceleration - forward, stopping, or turning - can cause a spill through the sippy top onto the console or the passenger. You can mitigate that with positioning of the cup top’s drinking slot away from the passenger, but it’s better to drink some first or drive conservatively. Another feature I like is also on Volvo cars and looks exactly the same. Maybe it’s a Swedish thing. MY ex’s 2011 BMW 535i that she bought instead of a NG 9-5 in 2010 didn’t have it so I doubt it’s a a European thing. My son (Volvo owner) and I call them the Swedish paper clips. Low on the A pillar in front of the driver is an amazingly handy transparent clip for holding passes and parking receipts that other people hang from the mirror, lay on the dash, or maybe even permanently affix to the windshield. SAAB was usually at least slightly ahead of Volvo on safety. This was borne out by the Euro NCAP tests when SAAB still produced cars. Volvos were good, but they never surpassed and often performed somewhat less well that the same class of SAAB. If a mark consistently matched SAAB for safety, it was the usually substantially more expensive Mercedes-Benz in the same size class, e.g. MB E class versus SAAB 9-5 and MB C class versus SAAB 9-3.
I live in sweden and really is a saab lover. I had alot of saabs, maybe 12-15 cars of saabs. Now I have a -05 Vector sport 9-5.. Its like a dream to drive this old car.
DIC incorporates built-in knock detection via constant measuring of the ionisation voltage required to get electricity flowing over the spark plug gap. High-voltage circuitry for this measurement technique is shared between cylinders/individual ignition coils, hence the one large cassette.
The holy grail of saabs right there. An 04 aero, the year they finally sorted the pcv system and gm didn't completely take over yet. I also believe theyre one of the better looking 9-5 aeros. For me the perfect 9-5 aero be an 04 or 05 wagon with the manual transmission. Almost bought one once but the body was in too rough of shape and it would have drove me crazy but costed way too much to fix. Finding a manual aero wagon thats in good shape becoming harder and harder. Plenty of autos though
Aspiring to Inspire, absolutely. I miss my 2005 9-5 Aero. (I still have a plain 1999 9-5.) 2004 and ‘05 are definitely the sweet spot for 9-5, and Aero is all the better. I prefer the sedans, but my son prefers the wagons. He has a point. They might be the best looking wagons of any mark ever. We both prefer the manuals, but my Aero was automatic and quite good until the automatic failed at around 88,000 miles, quite early for a catastrophic SAAB failure when the SAAB-designed and built engines just seem to go and go and go.
Auto Autopsy i honestly don’t mean to keep saying shit on your videos but you are clueless when it comes the this. Every saab enthusiast knows which saabs are the best ones. Looks are an opinion but build quality? No, it is a straight fact that the saabs from the 80-90s have a much much better quality standard than anything 2000 onwards. Sorry to be an asshole buts its the truth. I love the 9-5 especially with the shark tooth bumper but it doesn’t compare to a 9000. Btw i own both 90s and 00s saabs so i can compare
@@boostedsaab2757 it really is a matter of opinion based off what your personal criteria for what is considered "the best". The old ones may have better build quality but they also lack many modern features and amenities and the convince of owning a newer car. It's not as viable, easy or cheap to daily a vintage Saab nor are they even as comfortable I'd imagine. That being said I like most of the saabs especially the ones before gm took over completely. Personally though the one I think to be the best daily in this current year is the 04-05 9-5 aero. Fast, reliable, comfortable, luxurious, easy to work on and parts are plentiful and reasonably priced.
I had a 2002 9-3 SE and currently drive a 2008 9-3 Aero. I never use the night panel light. Never felt comfortable with all my gauges being off. Glad you clarified fuel gage and speedometer do work when needed. Also I'll use it and try to use some of the panel functions.
The 3 jet window washer is a quirk plus the access from the boot so that you can store your snow skis. The double visor for sun glare is also unique to Saab.
I enjoy your vids ! It's a bit obscure but fhe night panel button also disables the internat alarm so you can leave the Wife/Kids/Dog in the car when its locked without the alarm going off when they move about
Good looking 9-5 😎 👍🏼 I miss my ‘04 9-5 AERO Manual I SOLD back in Feb. 🙈🤣 FYI ... it’s called The ELK test and the cool dash mounted cup holder is perfect for older iPhones 👌🏼
My 1999 9-5 Wagon has a sport mode but the '99 does not have a turbo gauge on the dash or a winter mode. I just replaced the throttle body and the driver front wheel bearing on it and it is running like a dream!
I always used night panel back in my Saab days. I can't believe more manufacturers don't offer this. I can turn off my display of course, but it's burried in a menu somewhere.
With covid and daylight savings time, i haven't been out in the dark in a car for months. Otherwise i only use it for the cool factor. It has no practical value for me
Cool channel for Saab fans. I love the placement of the ignition switch, nothing like a Saab, very unique cars. I think Saab cars were mostly fwd, so there's a winter mode to take on winter in Sweden, interesting. You had your 9-3 repainted?
From when I started driving Saabs, I had thought that by locking the transmission in reverse, it kept a thief from stealing the car. With the American style ignition lock, you could insert a screwdriver, break the lock, which in turn unlocked the steering wheel. I have no idea what happens if someone tried that with the Saab ignition, but since I haven't heard of it done, would it disable the shifter?
@@AutoAutopsy it's because other cars with the ignition on the steering column had the possibility of locking the steering wheel mechanically with the key. Since the Saabs had their key between the seats, the steering couldn't be locked so they had to lock something else, the transmission being the closest to the ignition :)
maybe a video (if you haven't already) about the timeline of the 9-5 as there are many interesting versions like yours which is a pre facelift shark tooth bumper so 04, but it has the shift buttons on the wheel which I have never seen before and I didn't think was on any of the previous various and trim levels. Also the first 9-5 with the split bumper and headlight wipers is cool, Yes it starts it in 3rd
I do a lot of road trips and when I'm driving at night I'll use the night panel with the dimmer switched all the way down. I'll also use it if I'm on a back road with no street lights.
On that 9-5 have your dad ever had some front light problem? Meaning sometimes a side (passenger or driver) went off temporarily or one side is flickering. I have the model that comes with a Xenon light
Out of all the Saab’s, Which has been your favorite and why? I had an ‘07 9-3 2.0T. I like the look of them but am also a fan of the 9-3 Viggen, 04 - 05 9-5 Aero and of course the face lift 9-3s.
I forgot about the engine heater system for very cold starting. You can plug the engine into your mains to preheat the engine block. The socket is below the front grill.
Yes I use the night panel a lot, you'll notice that the steering wheel functions have no lights, that's also a feature to minimise night time distraction. Yes the key is in the console to prevent knee injury in an accident. When Saab colated accident data it was apparent that knee injuries caused by the key was a significant factor. I also use the cup holder but don't find any real problems with the size or integrity. One of the reasons for the 'reverse before key out feature' is because the key being in the console means that a steering lock isn't possible so a gear lock is incorporated instead. Another quirk is that the turn signal sound is artificially generated through the centre speaker so you will always hear that it's on, windows will only go down with one touch, not up, another safety feature to prevent trapped fingers. If you keep the central locking key depressed it will start the the horn sounding, it's a 'panic button' feature. There's also a feature that will keep the headlights on after you've stopped the engine and locked it which is useful if you park facing your garage or front door so that you have some lighting to look for your keys and open the door. Fantastic cars, the manual Aero is supercar quick from 3rd gear. P.s- Your 2004 model has a Saab/Scania badge, it's the wrong one for the year. :-)
A note. On my 01 Viggen manual, it does not need to be in reverse to take out the key. Not sure if the previous owner disabled the feature, or if the feature discontinued on the OG9-3's in later years? Very curious. I can confirm that in my 89 SPG, that annoying feature was very much in-place. Got sticky there toward the end and drove me nuts. Repeatedly jiggling and shifting into reverse while the blood pressure rises...."Give me my $#@% key!!!"
Another secret benefit of having to put into reverse to take the key out: If you have OCD or something similar to it and it relates to locks of all kinds, it's a damn good feeling to know that if you have the key on you, it's one less thing to check in those assblasted anexity "rituals" and it gives you insurance that the car will not roll away. I'm sure they did not think about it, but it is a very positive side effect.
I am not sure about your pre-2006 model, but on newer 9-5's the night panel light can also be gradually adjusted! (Yes, I have one of the last 9-5 wagons ever made. Model year 2010. A little more than 100000 km's (65000 miles).
DIC is the predecessor to individual coil-on-plug system that every modern car uses now. Saab were the first to use this system instead of a distributor and coil setup.
Besides they could get ‘knock-detection’ from ionisation which was a first on a production car and could also sense misfires. iirc a DIC could provide some extra information to the motormanagement AND was more fuel efficient. Koenigsegg developed the freevalve camless engine after this principle and uses ‘valve coils’. their first test car was a 9-5
Quirky feature No 6 - It "MAY" get you home without making the doorbell sound and discovering ANOTHER light was on the dash. The reason Saab's don't get stolen is that no car thief owns a Tech-2. Love my '01 wagon but it reminds me of my ex wife; beautiful, classy and bipolar.
Thanks to a bad detailer my “Econ” letters and now my “Off” letters are wearing off. Is there a good fix? It looked like the letters in your dad’s 9-5 were still perfect.
That last thing you said about the gears and keys were another safety they done the bad thing is the safety neutral switch fails and stops the car starting or locks your keys in
Oh, about the ignitions: There's the safety and security (jaaa!), but because some drivers, especially Americans, like to load up keyrings with lots of ridiculous stuff, the weight wears out the ignition itself (or so I've heard...)
In early 2020, I started using the cup holder for alcogel ("handsprit") instead. The common 500 ml bottle with pump fits perfectly. Nice to see an American 🇺🇲 chap who likes Saab so much. If we Swedes 🇸🇪 had been a little more nationalistic and Wallenberg had made a little more effort, we might have still had Saab today.
The cup-holder is perfect for fountain drinks or iced coffees. The problem is when they sweat. I put a napkin underneath to keep water from dripping on the console. Oh yeah, and i drive with a package of napkins not box of kleanex[sic] in my cars. They are more useful, don't leave lint, and last twice as long
DI cassette is not just something to gather the spark plug leads together and make the engine bay look better, there is a knock sensor and spark plug cleaning feature integrated into it.
Ugh, i just took the key out of the ignition and squeezed the lock button on the key fob. This makes the lock switch on the console inoperable. I had to unlock my doors from the keyfob. This is obbiosly an alarm situation. But still, the console switch should disable the alarm
Saab 900 has such a lot of fun quirky things, for example putting the car on reverse is easier, if you first put it to second and then reverse. 900 gearbox was the weakness of the car and that is one of those "features" it comes with.
@@gabrielgomez2483 gearbox is the first thing that breaks in the 900 and its known for it🙂. First sign is that it makes a sound when shifting from 3rd to 5th. Luckily the car is pretty much bulletproof otherwise.
Did this guy really say that Saabs dont get stolen? They're actually high profile targets. Specifically high level 9-3 Aero's (B284 like mine and his TX) are worth quite a bit to chop shops and grey market.
I have this exact car. Actually like it as much as my 9-3 Aero. Yes, there are some quirks, but overall, excellent car really. Night mode, yes, when I'm tired and it's later at night, calms my eyes. The one thing that I've been trying to figure out over the years is who actually makes a solid transmission upgrade to this existing auto transmission? I'm stage 5+ and it's at the max....and in some ways, there's some TQ converter slip too under high load and revs. Would love to find someone who actually does REAL verifiable upgrades to this Aisin AW55-XXXX trans. I have a lot of power left on the table, but can't tune for it until I have a stronger trans in there. Manual swap is not something I really want to invest in on this one. Anyhow, would be interesting to know more about options there. Also, any good shops fix the HVAC control display, my numbers are fading out on the right side, makes it hard to know what's going on, haha.
@@matteponken1 Car has about 57k miles on this stage 5 setup. Oil is 3309 spec and oil been changed often and done a number of fill and drains to insure that. Saab specialist in town I use often, a few years back, said I had the best shifting and performing 9-5 trans he's been in. Would venture to say the last 30-50k caused some additional wear on TQ converter and clutches. Forums also say this trans isnt much good over 330-350hp.... Hence looking for upgrades. Might just end up doing a manual swap.... Will be cheaper than a full rebuild on this auto .... Glad yours is handling all that power yours has tho!
Another quite hidden feature of The night panel is that it only lights The speedometer, but if you floor The accelator pedal The turbo gauge turns on and revving high
Another quirk is if u put the gear in revers and push the small tiny button where u have the mirror buttons the outside mirror turns down so u see the back wheels more .. not all saab have this option.
Actually older Saabs got stolen a lot in Sweden, apparently the OG 900 and 99 had really shity door locks, I mean Volvos of the time where not much better. The 9-5 along with the P2 Volvos where the first to pass a lock/brake in test done by some insurance company.
900 can often be started with an other 900 key. I have tried. Also the reverse lock becomes loose and the key can be pulled out even when not in reverse.
Well, most saabs that dont have W mode on gearbox do have TCS which makes W mode useless... And yes, have saab, been driving saabs for last 27 years...
My understanding is that the key on the console was originally an ergonomic thing. Start the car, hand goes immediately to the shift lever. SAAB engineers (originally Aircraft engineers) would go study crashes of SAABs in Sweden and they discovered that having the ignition on the console meant that your thighs weren't impaled by the keys hangin from the steering wheel in a collision. As for Night Panel, for the few times I get to drive at night out on country roads, I definitely use it and it works amazingly well. On a freeway with plenty of oncoming traffic, not so much.
I love Winter mode on my OG9-3 here in Wisconsin. And Sport mode changes both the throttle response and the transmission shift points.
Love your videos by the way.
ah yes! ergonomics makes sense as well. thanks for the comment
Another reason for the key placement is that it is really cool :D
The reason for the manual gearboxes having to be in reverse to get the key out is part security but mainly ... in Sweden during the winter the handbrakes freeze on if you use them so by having to put the car into reverse you can leave the handbrake off and the car won’t move, same effect as the “p” on the auto versions.
Correct. The knee protection reason must be something they came up with at a later stage. The 95-96's that had the gear shifter at the steering column had the same setup where you could only take the gearbox out of reverse with the ignition key in the lock. So the setup had two plusses, not having to use the handbrake and making the car harder to steal.
thanks for sharing!
2:52 I definitively use the night panel. I often use to drive in a European highway at around 150 km/h during the night, and completely dark. So, it helps me get concentrated on the way instead of anything else. Something that also it does is it switches off the navigator screen.
👍🏼 great use of that feature!
My ex-girlfriend had her 1988 SAAB stolen from a shopping center in Beverly Hills.
Newer SAABs can’t be stolen because once the key is out of the ignition the current to the fuel pump is cut off. Hot wiring can’t override this. The only way to steal a SAAB is with a flatbed truck.🤣
You really have to be motivated to steal a SAAB.🥳
What do you mean by newer saabs? From 1999 to 2011 or just the last 9-5?
Or a mexican in a wrecker!
true!!
What year did that start??
I love using my Night Panel! It's definitely easier on the eyes at night and allows your vision to quickly adjust. The "quirkiest" thing about my 2002 9-5 is the radio code reset after removing the battery. It's a pain in the ass! But overall I love my 9-5 and it has made me a Saab guy for life!
for sure!
Your cup's are much much bigger in the USA, in Europe the holder is the perfect size.
Also, the classic beverage cans fit in there perfectly.
@@zezek75 That's true, but 'classic' in the USA is bucket size!
lol
The Chinese must have small hands?
Well yes, as an American, I can confirm. It’s why so many people here are morbidly obese. It’s terrifying.
Night panel is sweet. Speaking of lights, I also like how the fog lights turn off when you flash or turn on the high beams.
I have a manual 9-5 now, like most of my SAAB cars I’ve owned. The two I had with automatics had Winter mode, including a 2005 9-5 Aero much like the 2004 in this video. The wheels even looked the same. I never used Winter mode, not even in deep snow early in the morning at 0F in Lake Tahoe. I have no idea how well that works. Maybe I missed a useful aid, but I already knew how to drive on snow and ice so I never tried it. That may be my loss.
I use my 9-5 cupholder all the time. True, you can’t put a typical giant American drink in it nor something narrower like a glass Coke bottle. It holds my Peet’s (and other) coffee cups perfectly. Be careful if it’s a full cup because quick acceleration - forward, stopping, or turning - can cause a spill through the sippy top onto the console or the passenger. You can mitigate that with positioning of the cup top’s drinking slot away from the passenger, but it’s better to drink some first or drive conservatively.
Another feature I like is also on Volvo cars and looks exactly the same. Maybe it’s a Swedish thing. MY ex’s 2011 BMW 535i that she bought instead of a NG 9-5 in 2010 didn’t have it so I doubt it’s a a European thing. My son (Volvo owner) and I call them the Swedish paper clips. Low on the A pillar in front of the driver is an amazingly handy transparent clip for holding passes and parking receipts that other people hang from the mirror, lay on the dash, or maybe even permanently affix to the windshield.
SAAB was usually at least slightly ahead of Volvo on safety. This was borne out by the Euro NCAP tests when SAAB still produced cars. Volvos were good, but they never surpassed and often performed somewhat less well that the same class of SAAB. If a mark consistently matched SAAB for safety, it was the usually substantially more expensive Mercedes-Benz in the same size class, e.g. MB E class versus SAAB 9-5 and MB C class versus SAAB 9-3.
Oh yes! That clip is certainly something you don't see every day. good addition to this list
I live in sweden and really is a saab lover. I had alot of saabs, maybe 12-15 cars of saabs. Now I have a -05 Vector sport 9-5.. Its like a dream to drive this old car.
:)
Talk About A/C in the glove compartment as an oddity. Have a cold soda.
I drove all summer with ac on and never thought of using that. If i have a can of soda it goes in the cup holder so i can drink it.
Totally forgot this one! Smh 🤦🏻♂️
It really works
really?
DIC incorporates built-in knock detection via constant measuring of the ionisation voltage required to get electricity flowing over the spark plug gap. High-voltage circuitry for this measurement technique is shared between cylinders/individual ignition coils, hence the one large cassette.
thanks for sharing
The holy grail of saabs right there. An 04 aero, the year they finally sorted the pcv system and gm didn't completely take over yet. I also believe theyre one of the better looking 9-5 aeros. For me the perfect 9-5 aero be an 04 or 05 wagon with the manual transmission. Almost bought one once but the body was in too rough of shape and it would have drove me crazy but costed way too much to fix. Finding a manual aero wagon thats in good shape becoming harder and harder. Plenty of autos though
Holy grail?? You mean 9000 aero?
04-05 are the best years! yep!
Aspiring to Inspire, absolutely. I miss my 2005 9-5 Aero. (I still have a plain 1999 9-5.) 2004 and ‘05 are definitely the sweet spot for 9-5, and Aero is all the better. I prefer the sedans, but my son prefers the wagons. He has a point. They might be the best looking wagons of any mark ever. We both prefer the manuals, but my Aero was automatic and quite good until the automatic failed at around 88,000 miles, quite early for a catastrophic SAAB failure when the SAAB-designed and built engines just seem to go and go and go.
Auto Autopsy i honestly don’t mean to keep saying shit on your videos but you are clueless when it comes the this. Every saab enthusiast knows which saabs are the best ones.
Looks are an opinion but build quality? No, it is a straight fact that the saabs from the 80-90s have a much much better quality standard than anything 2000 onwards. Sorry to be an asshole buts its the truth.
I love the 9-5 especially with the shark tooth bumper but it doesn’t compare to a 9000.
Btw i own both 90s and 00s saabs so i can compare
@@boostedsaab2757 it really is a matter of opinion based off what your personal criteria for what is considered "the best". The old ones may have better build quality but they also lack many modern features and amenities and the convince of owning a newer car. It's not as viable, easy or cheap to daily a vintage Saab nor are they even as comfortable I'd imagine. That being said I like most of the saabs especially the ones before gm took over completely. Personally though the one I think to be the best daily in this current year is the 04-05 9-5 aero. Fast, reliable, comfortable, luxurious, easy to work on and parts are plentiful and reasonably priced.
I had a 2002 9-3 SE and currently drive a 2008 9-3 Aero. I never use the night panel light. Never felt comfortable with all my gauges being off. Glad you clarified fuel gage and speedometer do work when needed. Also I'll use it and try to use some of the panel functions.
interesting, thanks for sharing
Yes when I drove my beloved 9-3 on a highway, I always pressed the night panel button after I adjusted everything ready for cruising.
The 3 jet window washer is a quirk plus the access from the boot so that you can store your snow skis. The double visor for sun glare is also unique to Saab.
yeah of course! Thanks for the additions
I enjoy your vids ! It's a bit obscure but fhe night panel button also disables the internat alarm so you can leave the Wife/Kids/Dog in the car when its locked without the alarm going off when they move about
I always use night panel when it's dark. I find it helps a lot to reduce distracting light and focus on the outside
:)
IIRC the Direct Ignition Cassette was first introduced with the Saab 9000 in the 80's. Since you were wondering =)
ah!
Good looking 9-5 😎 👍🏼 I miss my ‘04 9-5 AERO Manual I SOLD back in Feb. 🙈🤣 FYI ... it’s called The ELK test and the cool dash mounted cup holder is perfect for older iPhones 👌🏼
lol!
Need a video on fixing the missing plastic piece on the shifter. Very common issue with the OG9-5
That dumb thing got messed up on mine too, tired of looking at it, fixing that in a week! haha
You can actually DIY a replacement. I used a long strip of black textured plastic from an old screwdriver case.
Mine was missing at purchase. Bought a jalousie 2 years ago never installed it. Just real careful about dropping food or drink in there
Alan ^ my dad did something like this on our other 9-5; Im sure hell do the same with this one
My 1999 9-5 Wagon has a sport mode but the '99 does not have a turbo gauge on the dash or a winter mode. I just replaced the throttle body and the driver front wheel bearing on it and it is running like a dream!
i'm going to assume its a NA car if there's not turbo gauge
I always used night panel back in my Saab days. I can't believe more manufacturers don't offer this. I can turn off my display of course, but it's burried in a menu somewhere.
Yeah, kinda sad!
Yep. I always use nightpanel. Too cool not to.
With covid and daylight savings time, i haven't been out in the dark in a car for months. Otherwise i only use it for the cool factor. It has no practical value for me
@@thingserik7269 Exactly
Right on
Cool channel for Saab fans. I love the placement of the ignition switch, nothing like a Saab, very unique cars. I think Saab cars were mostly fwd, so there's a winter mode to take on winter in Sweden, interesting. You had your 9-3 repainted?
it's in the process right now, yep
Yes I like the nightpanel! And the cupholder is great for the cola!
I think so too!
I use nightpanel,and if I buy an other car...I will mis it a lot.
me too!
From when I started driving Saabs, I had thought that by locking the transmission in reverse, it kept a thief from stealing the car. With the American style ignition lock, you could insert a screwdriver, break the lock, which in turn unlocked the steering wheel. I have no idea what happens if someone tried that with the Saab ignition, but since I haven't heard of it done, would it disable the shifter?
Yes, the car is locked in reverse if someone were to try and steal it :)
Makes sense
@@AutoAutopsy it's because other cars with the ignition on the steering column had the possibility of locking the steering wheel mechanically with the key. Since the Saabs had their key between the seats, the steering couldn't be locked so they had to lock something else, the transmission being the closest to the ignition :)
maybe a video (if you haven't already) about the timeline of the 9-5 as there are many interesting versions like yours which is a pre facelift shark tooth bumper so 04, but it has the shift buttons on the wheel which I have never seen before and I didn't think was on any of the previous various and trim levels. Also the first 9-5 with the split bumper and headlight wipers is cool, Yes it starts it in 3rd
good idea! I might have to!
I do a lot of road trips and when I'm driving at night I'll use the night panel with the dimmer switched all the way down. I'll also use it if I'm on a back road with no street lights.
nice!
BTW Saab 9-5 was the first model range in the world to have only turbocharged engines. Now it is common, but 9-5 came out in 1998!
correct!
On that 9-5 have your dad ever had some front light problem?
Meaning sometimes a side (passenger or driver) went off temporarily or one side is flickering. I have the model that comes with a Xenon light
We haven’t, but maybe there’s some more information on forums/google as well as Facebook groups
@@AutoAutopsy thanks
Saab is a undercover high performance race car when it's on the highway
You know it
Out of all the Saab’s, Which has been your favorite and why? I had an ‘07 9-3 2.0T. I like the look of them but am also a fan of the 9-3 Viggen, 04 - 05 9-5 Aero and of course the face lift 9-3s.
Turbo X
I forgot about the engine heater system for very cold starting. You can plug the engine into your mains to preheat the engine block. The socket is below the front grill.
not needed out here in AZ, but a useful tip for those in cold climates!
Yes I use the night panel a lot, you'll notice that the steering wheel functions have no lights, that's also a feature to minimise night time distraction. Yes the key is in the console to prevent knee injury in an accident. When Saab colated accident data it was apparent that knee injuries caused by the key was a significant factor. I also use the cup holder but don't find any real problems with the size or integrity. One of the reasons for the 'reverse before key out feature' is because the key being in the console means that a steering lock isn't possible so a gear lock is incorporated instead. Another quirk is that the turn signal sound is artificially generated through the centre speaker so you will always hear that it's on, windows will only go down with one touch, not up, another safety feature to prevent trapped fingers. If you keep the central locking key depressed it will start the the horn sounding, it's a 'panic button' feature. There's also a feature that will keep the headlights on after you've stopped the engine and locked it which is useful if you park facing your garage or front door so that you have some lighting to look for your keys and open the door. Fantastic cars, the manual Aero is supercar quick from 3rd gear.
P.s- Your 2004 model has a Saab/Scania badge, it's the wrong one for the year. :-)
yep!
A note. On my 01 Viggen manual, it does not need to be in reverse to take out the key. Not sure if the previous owner disabled the feature, or if the feature discontinued on the OG9-3's in later years? Very curious.
I can confirm that in my 89 SPG, that annoying feature was very much in-place. Got sticky there toward the end and drove me nuts.
Repeatedly jiggling and shifting into reverse while the blood pressure rises...."Give me my $#@% key!!!"
weird...our 03 9-3 vert (OG) we used to have required it to be in reverse. Maybe it's a viggen specific thing, not sure
Winter mode starts you off in second gear. My information coming straight from the owner's manual when I was thumbing through it one day.
thanks!
Opel had same W button in early 90's up to 2000's .yes,no Vectra or Astra in USA markets but i had few Opels back then and it was there.
We did have the Saturn Astra between 08 and 09 which were direct rebadged Opel Astras straight from Belgium.
Another secret benefit of having to put into reverse to take the key out:
If you have OCD or something similar to it and it relates to locks of all kinds, it's a damn good feeling to know that if
you have the key on you, it's one less thing to check in those assblasted anexity "rituals" and it gives you insurance that the car will not roll away.
I'm sure they did not think about it, but it is a very positive side effect.
oh.
@@AutoAutopsy This is because even if you go into derp mode about "did I really put a gear in????", simply having the key on me reassures me.
I am not sure about your pre-2006 model, but on newer 9-5's the night panel light can also be gradually adjusted! (Yes, I have one of the last 9-5 wagons ever made. Model year 2010. A little more than 100000 km's (65000 miles).
oh nice! I would love to do a quirks video on a newer 9-5 lol
Night panel is definitely the best example of quirkiness and the OCD nature of Saab engineers. Imagine the endless flow chart meetings.
lmao i would love to be a fly on the wall for one
Hey do you know anywhere I could get your bumper? I love in LA
Live in LA
The 9-5 bumper? Second hand from a facebook group or new would be your best bet
DIC is the predecessor to individual coil-on-plug system that every modern car uses now. Saab were the first to use this system instead of a distributor and coil setup.
thanks for sharing
Besides they could get ‘knock-detection’ from ionisation which was a first on a production car and could also sense misfires. iirc a DIC could provide some extra information to the motormanagement AND was more fuel efficient. Koenigsegg developed the freevalve camless engine after this principle and uses ‘valve coils’. their first test car was a 9-5
Quirky feature No 6 - It "MAY" get you home without making the doorbell sound and discovering ANOTHER light was on the dash.
The reason Saab's don't get stolen is that no car thief owns a Tech-2. Love my '01 wagon but it reminds me of my ex wife; beautiful, classy and bipolar.
T7 is very sensitive to minor faults
LOL
Thanks to a bad detailer my “Econ” letters and now my “Off” letters are wearing off. Is there a good fix? It looked like the letters in your dad’s 9-5 were still perfect.
you can replace them from ones at a junkyard; that's what i've done for my 9-3 on some buttons.
That last thing you said about the gears and keys were another safety they done the bad thing is the safety neutral switch fails and stops the car starting or locks your keys in
thanks for sharing
I have a 2001 SAAB 9-5 2.3T SE. Whats the differences between SE models and AERO models other than the engine power?
Styling, seats, interior, etc
Oh, about the ignitions: There's the safety and security (jaaa!), but because some drivers, especially Americans, like to load up keyrings with lots of ridiculous stuff, the weight wears out the ignition itself (or so I've heard...)
ah yes, another possible explanation
In early 2020, I started using the cup holder for alcogel ("handsprit") instead. The common 500 ml bottle with pump fits perfectly.
Nice to see an American 🇺🇲 chap who likes Saab so much. If we Swedes 🇸🇪 had been a little more nationalistic and Wallenberg had made a little more effort, we might have still had Saab today.
:)))
I'm seeing so many shared parts with Vauxhall (UK) on the astra/cavalier
Well Saab was owned by GM at 1 point
:/
The cup-holder is perfect for fountain drinks or iced coffees. The problem is when they sweat. I put a napkin underneath to keep water from dripping on the console. Oh yeah, and i drive with a package of napkins not box of kleanex[sic] in my cars. They are more useful, don't leave lint, and last twice as long
yep :/
DI cassette is not just something to gather the spark plug leads together and make the engine bay look better, there is a knock sensor and spark plug cleaning feature integrated into it.
yep
How do you get the headlights clear?
Sand, wax, polish. Plenty of tutorials out there
Ugh, i just took the key out of the ignition and squeezed the lock button on the key fob. This makes the lock switch on the console inoperable. I had to unlock my doors from the keyfob. This is obbiosly an alarm situation. But still, the console switch should disable the alarm
no, because if someone does break into your car then they can just press the console switch to disable the alarm lol
@@AutoAutopsy If they know their way around a saab then they know the car isn't worth breaking in to. 🤣
Could you please tell me what D. E. T mean on my 9-5 tid thanks?
There is winter mode, there is sport mode, but don't forget about the hidden "limp mode" too!
Lmfao pain
@@AutoAutopsy lol
You got a link for where your dad got those door cupholders??
I'm not sure, sorry! he bought it years ago
Saab 900 has such a lot of fun quirky things, for example putting the car on reverse is easier, if you first put it to second and then reverse. 900 gearbox was the weakness of the car and that is one of those "features" it comes with.
Not a weakness, every older car does this, it's becuase there is no reverse gear synchroniser.
interesting...thanks for sharing
@@gabrielgomez2483 gearbox is the first thing that breaks in the 900 and its known for it🙂. First sign is that it makes a sound when shifting from 3rd to 5th. Luckily the car is pretty much bulletproof otherwise.
Thank you for sharing this upload.
Glad you enjoyed it
I use night mode when I’m driving on the highway at night. It keeps your eyes from wondering.
nice!
And for the record, night panel is to reduce sources of light with impact on your night vision.
Did this guy really say that Saabs dont get stolen? They're actually high profile targets. Specifically high level 9-3 Aero's (B284 like mine and his TX) are worth quite a bit to chop shops and grey market.
Depends where you live. Sweden? Sure. In Arizona? No one knows what it is.
I have this exact car. Actually like it as much as my 9-3 Aero. Yes, there are some quirks, but overall, excellent car really. Night mode, yes, when I'm tired and it's later at night, calms my eyes. The one thing that I've been trying to figure out over the years is who actually makes a solid transmission upgrade to this existing auto transmission? I'm stage 5+ and it's at the max....and in some ways, there's some TQ converter slip too under high load and revs. Would love to find someone who actually does REAL verifiable upgrades to this Aisin AW55-XXXX trans. I have a lot of power left on the table, but can't tune for it until I have a stronger trans in there. Manual swap is not something I really want to invest in on this one. Anyhow, would be interesting to know more about options there. Also, any good shops fix the HVAC control display, my numbers are fading out on the right side, makes it hard to know what's going on, haha.
really good question; I'm not sure about building the auto trans. Maybe contact maptun?
how much power do you have??
@@matteponken1 Limited at around 330 crank HP... TQ is higher but not sure on value.
@@ryannylander1819 well.. i have about 100hp more without problems.. somethings wring with your gearbox... worn out/wrong oil...
@@matteponken1 Car has about 57k miles on this stage 5 setup. Oil is 3309 spec and oil been changed often and done a number of fill and drains to insure that. Saab specialist in town I use often, a few years back, said I had the best shifting and performing 9-5 trans he's been in. Would venture to say the last 30-50k caused some additional wear on TQ converter and clutches. Forums also say this trans isnt much good over 330-350hp.... Hence looking for upgrades. Might just end up doing a manual swap.... Will be cheaper than a full rebuild on this auto .... Glad yours is handling all that power yours has tho!
Another quite hidden feature of The night panel is that it only lights The speedometer, but if you floor The accelator pedal The turbo gauge turns on and revving high
cool feature for sure
The key down there locks the gear box apparently, also theres a relay hack on pcs which can unlock and start saabs no bother youtube it it scary
oof
Another quirk is if u put the gear in revers and push the small tiny button where u have the mirror buttons the outside mirror turns down so u see the back wheels more .. not all saab have this option.
right! i'm not sure the 9-5 has that (this one at least) but I know my 9-3's do
With the key inserted into the ignition switch press the trunk button om the fob and the sid will show how many keys are programmed to the car.
really? i will have to try that out
On a side note, did you see that Saab 9-5 in that Tenet trailer? We still in the building lol
I noticed that....how dare they destroy a Saab 🤨
Did a whole video on it months ago lol
th-cam.com/video/BALMEOFRyio/w-d-xo.html
@@AutoAutopsy Checking it out now. I was on vacation back then.
@fastasfox I know right. They couldn't just use CGI?
My 04 chime stays on after taking the key off. Wonder if anybody has had the same problem?
I’m not sure.
Actually older Saabs got stolen a lot in Sweden, apparently the OG 900 and 99 had really shity door locks, I mean Volvos of the time where not much better.
The 9-5 along with the P2 Volvos where the first to pass a lock/brake in test done by some insurance company.
I was referring to the 9-5 lol!
900 can often be started with an other 900 key. I have tried. Also the reverse lock becomes loose and the key can be pulled out even when not in reverse.
The S makes the gear box change slightly later
Believe stronger shift pressures too? I only drive mine in Sport mode, it drives lethargic in regular mode.
It also changes the throttle response.
yep.
I discovered on my old NG 9-3 Aero whilst driving up an icy hill that the car wouldn’t rev past 2000rpm.
No one know why Saab did the things they did. Ihave 5 Saabs and I find new things every day.
lol
one other quirky feature that I recently found out is the front reverse light.
My parents had that on their 9000. It was great
interesting
You can’t really steal a Saab. My 04 95 is a manual. So you have to it it in Reverse to remove the key.
yep
The coil pack was a GM thing.
oy
It was not a GM thing! Saab was the first OEM to have it, now days it's common in many cars!
Thank you
Glad you enjoyed.
@@AutoAutopsy allways do
P.s mines a 05 and it doesnt have W button
My 2006 lacks it too, thought they removed it with the facelift, but obviously already earlier on
@@bernhardjost i got told its there underneath you just need the button mech
@@un-_-known688 Got to know, I have just a blind switch
@@bernhardjost ,what ?
Well, most saabs that dont have W mode on gearbox do have TCS which makes W mode useless...
And yes, have saab, been driving saabs for last 27 years...
Do you know that must not have it upside down before mount it it is oil inside it😃😃😃
what? haha
I dont use night pannel
a shame
put a boost gauge in your 9-3
thought about it, but no need for it with the eSID2
I like more 9-7x content :)
if we ever get one, i'll have plenty of content don't worry!
Saab were the first to use d.i.c it there invention
And every Saab owner loves them for it...especially at $700 to replace.
oof
You never drink in a saab 😆😆
Cup holder is useful if you are European and don't drink big gulps
It's a poor design either way. I wouldn't trust a 16oz water bottle either. Looks cool; not practical.