2004 Saab 9-3 Owner's Manual - Page 256

256 Car care Maintenance NOTICE Do not use a pressure washer when cleaning the condenser or radiator due to the risk of damage. • The compressor drive belt should be inspected under the regular service program. • Clean away dirt and insects from the condenser and radiator to prevent clogging. When washing the car, use the hose to spray the radiator and condenser (located in front of the radiator) from both sides (both from the front of the car and from inside the engine bay). Do not use a pressure washer. Caution: Do not hose down the radiator and condenser while the engine is hot. Other than in extremely cold weather, do not screen the radiator, e.g. with netting, as this will greatly diminish its cooling capacity. • Applicable to the manual climate control system - During cold months the air conditioning should be switched on once or twice a month and run for 5-10 minutes during highway driving once the engine is warm. This action saves the gaskets in the compressor from being spoiled. The compressor uses a lubricant that circulates with the coolant. Note: The A/C system cannot be switched on when the outside temperature is below 32°F (0°C). Turn on the A/C system when the car is standing in a warm place. Simplest is to always have the A/C button pressed in. The A/C system will then cut in automatically when the outside temperature is high enough. Inadequate cooling a Check that the controls for temperature and air distribution are correctly set; see "Manual climate-control system" on page 98. b Check that the condenser (in front of the radiator) has not become clogged with dirt and insects. c Make sure that the compressor drive belt does not slip (see page 205). d Check the fuses for the ventilation fans and compressor (see page 224).