Saab 2007 owner manual Useful tips on cold climate starting, Limp-home mode

Starting and driving 143

Useful tips on cold climate starting

If the engine has failed to start after several attempts in very cold weather, press and hold the accelerator down to the floor and run the starter for 5–10 seconds. This will prevent the engine being flooded (exces- sively rich fuel-air mixture).

Now start the engine in the normal way – do not touch the accelerator.

If the engine stalls immediately after starting (e.g. if the clutch was released too quickly), do not touch the accelerator when restarting the engine.

Limp-home mode

The engine management system has a diagnostic feature that continually checks a number of internal functions.

If, for example, a fault is detected in the throttle valve, the engine management system will go into Limp-home mode.This limits:

•idling control,

•disables the cruise-control system and

•limits the capacity of the A/C compressor.

If the limp-home mode is in operation (”Engine malfunction (CHECK ENGINE)” light on, see below) and the outside temper- ature is close to or below freezing, you may need to use some throttle on starting (some pressure on the accelerator).

If the diagnostic system has detected a fault in the engine-management system, the ”Engine malfunction (CHECK ENGINE)”

light on the main instrument panel will come on (see page 58), indicating that you should have the car checked as soon as possible by a workshop. We recommend that you contact an authorized Saab dealer.

NOTICE

If the CHECK ENGINE warning light starts to flash, ease off the accelerator slightly. If the light does not cease to flash within 5 seconds, stop the car in a suit- able place as soon as possible and turn off the engine. The car must be towed to a workshop. We recommend that you contact an authorized Saab dealer.

If the CHECK ENGINE warning light flashes, it indicates that the engine is mis- firing which can result in damage to the catalytic converter.