Saab 9-5 Aero Programming Options

Compiled by Steven Roth, 12/31/2003 Last updated 2/1/2004

This is a list of programming options for a 2004 Saab 9-5 Aero (most of which apply to other Saab models and years as well). Except where noted, these options are controlled through the dealer's Tech II service tool.

To answer some frequent questions:

• no, you can't change them without that tool
• no, an OBD II scanner is not sufficient
• yes, you have to go to the dealer to get these things changed (or to an independent Saab mechanic who's spent the $4,000 for the Tech II service tool)
• yes, most dealers have a fee for changing these options (except at the 30-day service, when they are supposed to be free)

This list was generated by reading the archives of various Saab bulletin boards on the Internet (see links below). As such, it is not a definitive list, and it certainly contains errors and omissions. Use at your own risk. If you notice errors or omissions, please send corrections to Steven Roth <steve@rothskeller.net>.

Note: Dealers who are unfamiliar with some of these options have been known to claim that they are impossible and/or illegal. Treat such claims with skepticism. All of the options listed here are known to be possible. While some of them may actually be illegal in some places, there are also known instances of dealers claiming illegality incorrectly. If necessary, the legality of an option can be checked by having the dealer call Saab's legal department.

Locking and Alarm System

• Number of "chirps" (0-7) during alarm enable / disable
• Volume of "chirps" (L,M,H) during alarm enable / disable
• Number of light flashes (0-7) during alarm enable / disable
• Doors unlocked by first press of "unlock" button (driver's door or all doors)
• Doors lock automatically when car exceeds 7.5 mph (on/off)
• Driver's door unlocks automatically when key removed (on/off)
• Trunk locks automatically when car exceeds set speed (1-8 mph) (on/off)
• Allow trunk to be unlocked when car is moving (on/off)
• Automatic locking of trunk if it isn't opened within a specified time (1 sec - 4 min) (on/off)
• Automatic locking of trunk when closed (on/off)
• Automatic locking of car if left unlocked for a specified time (on/off)

Lighting Systems

• Daytime Running Lights:
  Controlled by presence/absence of fuse 35 (not a Tech II option). This dictates the behavior of the lighting system when (a) the car is on, and (b) the light switch is in the leftmost (off) position. With fuse 35 present, the lighting is the same as with the switch in the middle position (see below for details). With fuse 35 absent, no lights are turned on.

• Headlights:
  There are several options, but only two are described on the bulletin boards: option 1 ("Euro") and option 3 ("US"). They differ only in the behavior of the lights when the light switch is in the middle position, as follows:

  • Option 1 ("Euro"): Parking lights and city lights. (City lights are the tiny 7 watt bulbs next to the main lights.)
  • Option 3 ("US"): Parking lights and (if the car is on) low beam headlights at reduced brightness. (Xenon headlights cannot reduce brightness, so full low beams are used in cars with Xenon headlights.)

  Some other notes on lighting behavior:

  • On cars with Xenon headlights, the halogen lamp inboard of the Xenons is used only when the driver pulls the turn signal lever to flash the headlights while the headlights are otherwise off and Daytime Running Lights are disabled.
  • There is no way to get full headlights to stay on when the car is off (except for the brief "Follow Me Home" feature, see below). Parking lights stay on with the car off if the light switch is in the middle position.

• Fog lights:
  

  • Option 1 ("Euro"): fog lights can be on when light switch in middle or right position, including when high beams on
  • Option 3 ("US"): fog lights can be on only with light switch in right position, and only when low beams selected

• "Follow Me Home" feature:
  When turn signal lever is pulled after car is turned off, main headlights will come on for a short time. The time is configurable through Tech II (20-50 sec; default 30).

• Front marker lights on when car in reverse (on/off)

Indicators and Warnings

• Disable "Shift Up" indicator (on/off)
• Disable "Check Brake Light" warning on startup (on/off)
• Disable seat belt alarm on startup (on/off)
• Disable alarm when door open with key inserted (on/off)
• Range of temperatures for temperature gauge. There are actually five Tech II settings that control the behavior of the temperature gauge. Normally anything between 83°C and 115°C is shown as horizontal on the gauge. The most common change to this option is to set both "horizontal low temp" and "horizontal high temp" to the same value (typically 90°C), thus eliminating the "dead zone" around horizontal and causing the gauge to more accurately reflect the true temperature.
• Range of pressures for the turbo boost gauge. (Sorry, no detail available on how this works, but it's probably similar to the temperature gauge above.)
• Fuel level at which "low fuel" light comes on (can be set up to ¼ tank).
• Fuel level defined as "empty" (defaults to 2 gallons). This is used by both the fuel gauge and the trip computer.
• Calibration of outside temperature display.
• Adjust speedometer for different size tires. (Yes, this needs to be changed if you change your tire size.)
• Night mode:
  • Level at which to re-illuminate gas gauge. (Typically same as low fuel light threshold.)
  • Speed at which to re-illuminate upper end of speedometer (typically 85 mph).
  • Temperature at which to re-illuminate temperature gauge (typically the beginning of the high temperature range).

Climate Control

• Zones: can be forced to single zone, forced to dual zone (the default), or set to choose between single and dual zones based on whether someone's sitting in the front passenger seat.
• Remember last climate control setting on startup (on/off)
• Heated seats cycle duration (default 14 minutes)

The following climate control configuration choices are not dealer Tech II settings; they are driver-controllable (see details in owner's manual):

• Pre-programmed settings to be used when car is started after being off for 10 minutes or more.
• Minimum outside temperature for use of A/C compressor (default 41°F, can be set to 55°F).
• Automatic use of recirculation at low speeds (on/off).
• Automatic use of rear window defroster in cold temperatures (on/off).
• Metric or imperial units.

Audio System

These are not dealer Tech II settings; they are driver-controllable (see details in owner's manual):

• Maximum starting volume
• Maximum volume when telephone/OnStar in use
• Speed-dependent volume (on/off)
• Loudness feature (on/off)

Miscellaneous

• Extra wiper sweep after wash (on/off) (not possible with rain-sensing wipers)

Sources

• www.saabnet.com, 9-5 Bulletin Board
• Saab 9-5 Owners Manual (2004 model year)
• Feedback from "Lanceber", Al Stroberg, M. Hilvers

The most current version of this page is posted at http://www.rothskeller.net/steve/saab_options.html. The information on this page is not guaranteed in any way. Use at your own risk. This page may be freely copied and redistributed, as long as any textual changes are clearly marked as being made by someone other than Steven Roth. Please send any corrections or additions to Steven Roth <steve@rothskeller.net>.

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