2000 Saab 9-3 Owner's Manual - Page 149

Starting and driving Disengaging the system The system will be disengaged: • When the brake or clutch pedal is depressed. • When the switch is moved to CANCEL. • When the switch is moved to OFF. • When the engine is switched off. • When the selector lever is moved to position N (cars with automatic transmission). 149 Braking To avoid overheating the brakes, (e.g. when negotiating long descents with a drop of several hundred feet), select a low gear to use the braking effect of the engine. If the car has automatic transmission, move the selector lever to position 1 or 2. When driving fast, you can help to prolong the life of the brakes by thinking ahead and braking harder for short periods, rather than braking more moderately over long stretches. WARNING • It is prudent to try your brakes from time to time, especially when driving in heavy rain, on roads with a lot of surface water, or in snow or slush. In such conditions, the brakes may take longer than normal to take effect. To rectify this, touch the brake pedal periodically to dry the brakes out. • The same applies after the car has been washed or when the weather is very humid. • The brakes are power assisted and it should be kept in mind that the servo unit only provides the power assistance when the engine is running. • The brake pressure required when the engine is off,( e.g. when the car is being towed) is roughly four times the normal pedal force required. The pedal also feels hard and unresponsive. Brake pad wear indicators The outboard brake pads on the front wheels incorporate pad-wear indicators. When the lining is down to 3 mm, the pad will produce a screeching, squealing or scraping noise when the brakes are applied. New pads should be installed without delay. Brake pads should only be replaced by an authorized Saab dealer. To ensure optimum brake performance, it is recommended that you use only Saab original brake pads.