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Sunday, April 24, 2011

Window calibration in Saab 9-3 convertible

Situation : the front windows are not closing completely. After they come up, they go 30% again down while the soft-top roof is up. This is the pinch protection and it normally happens, when someone has the fingers in the wrong place (between the glass and the roof).

If this happens without any fingers or other hurdle, the pinch protection doesn't work correctly, it needs a reset and afterwards the windows need to be recalibrated. But the process in the Owner's manual doesn't work. What now ?

Before going to the dealer (recommended in the manual) I've found this advise which worked.

Reason : The pinch protection is going crazy and needs a reset.

Solution : Some advises are saying about disconnecting electricity in the door or disconnecting battery which most people wouldn't like to do and/or don't know how to do. No need for games with cables. It is possible to pull out the correct fuse, which takes the door control module out of electricity. Actually it's easy.

How-to : 

First open the fuse box. To open the case, it must be pushed a bit in direction to the front wheels and than opened as the white part of the picture in shows :



































It's the fuse #5 (description in manual : Control module in front doors; Park Brake Shift Lock (automatic transmission)) in the left row, you see the position in the second photo. Pull it out with the orange tool, which you see in the lower right corner of the photo. You will find it on the inner side of the fuse box case.

The fuse is going hard out of the tool, but it is doable without destroying the tool :)

Afterwards I waited 2 minutes and pushed the fuse back to its place.





















You should have now the pinch protection after reset. Now do what the Owner's manual says :

1. Make sure the soft top is raised (up).
2. Make sure the doors are closed.
3. Let the engine idle. (running on neutral)
4 Press and hold the soft top button up until a chime ("ding") sounds.

My windows were opening and closing 2 or 3 times. And than everything worked fine. You've spared a lot of time to going for a reset to the dealer and probably a small amount of money.

Enjoy the ride.

56 comments:

  1. Thanks so much! I just get my windows calibrated by your guidance!

    Mine is a 07 diesel Cadillac BLS, at the moment I opened the case for fuses, I see 4 big letters -"SAAB". It is merely a copy of saab 9-3 in my opinion.

    BTW, my car is a UK car and is right handed, but the case for fuses is the same on the left side; When I tried to put the fuse back to its place, it sent out few sparks, I shivered and drop the fuse down into the inside of the floor. I spent not a bit time to take the floor apart and get it back to find the fuse, which was indeed laboured.

    I am wondering, what is the number for on the fuse, are they each for exlusive use?

    Thank you again for your elaborated guidance, it is indeed helpful!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi muzhi,

    i am very glad it helped, that was the intention. Yes, Saabs and Cadillacs had some things in common, when they both were under the GM umbrella.

    The number at the fuses are Amperes, measurement of electric current, the fuse is like this one.

    My fuse didn't falled out, but needed time to push it out of the orange "pulling tool".

    Thanks for the feedback, it always gives a good feeling, that I don't write the blog just for myself :) And enjoy the car !

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  3. Thank you for the info. It sounds pretty user friendly. I guess I’ll pick one up for fun. thank u

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  4. Brilliant worked a treat. This was on SAAB 9-3 Sportswagen.

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  5. Thanks!! Worked a treat! This has been annoying me for ages, both sides were dropping 30% on my convertible. Finding your instruction here was very useful, again, thank you!

    Barry from UK

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  6. Just worked AOK for me too - thanks for helping me sort out this annoyance!

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  7. i did not work with me the only way worked was to take fuse 5 and 15 out !
    thanks

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  8. interesting. which Saab / year ?

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  9. i think it works with all saabs ,,,mine is 93 2009

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  10. 2006 Saab 1.9 16v Vector drivers window when closing goes a third of the way down before reaching the top. Ok if you press the pinch over ride and the driver window switch together it goes all the way up. So did as above took out the 7.5 fuse by glovebox. Replaced it operated the window up and down twice with the engine runing the second travel of the window up the car dinged and it all worked great Many Thanks Dave S

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  11. my pinch protection was going crazy after 13 months again, i had to reset/recalibrate. now question of 5 minutes. works fine now.

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  12. Thank you!!!
    Worked great. Saved me $$ and a 60 mile roundtrip to nearest saab dealership.
    This problem has been a saab quirk in the last 4 or more saabs I've owned.
    Thanks, again.

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  13. I have your page saved in my favourites. You have saved time and money for me as this is the 2nd time in about 6 months this has happened. When I rang SAAB they said it would cost me $80 which is why we looked to the internet and found your blog. Thanks again.

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  14. This worked PERFECTLY on my 2007 93 Vector Convertible!

    I owe you MANY THANKS because I already contaced 2 auto electricians and both of them told me they needed to leave my car at their shop for an entire morning to make the necessary 'adjustment' and to check if any of the window mechanism needed to be replaced etc...
    (basically they bullshit you to get closer to your €€)

    IT ONLY TOOK ME 3 MINUTES thanks to your instructions and the helpful photos.

    Keep up the good work.
    Thanks again!

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  15. Thank you very much! It worked! I was driving with this issue for two years now and the repair shop told me that it would be a very expensive repair because the complete inner workings of the doors would need to be replaced beacause of corrosion of some sort. Glad I found your blog!!!

    Procedure:
    Open up the fuse box in the side of the dashboard at the driver side.
    Remove fuse #5 (7.5 Amps). This was kind of hard because it was stuck but I used the red tool and grapped the end with a tongs.
    Wait 5 mins.
    Put the fuse back in.
    Start the engine in stationary mode.
    Close all doors.
    Open the window.
    Close the window + 1 sec.
    Open the window + 1 sec.
    Close the window untill you hear a beep.
    All done!!!

    Saab 9-3 cabrio 1.8t
    Year: 2006.

    Thanks again!

    Fred

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    Replies
    1. Glad to help. Merry Christmas and happy cabrioletism :)

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  16. Hi, I have this problem on my 9-3 Cabrio.
    Just one question, Shall I pull the fuse with the car electrified?
    Thanks and Happy New Year!

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  17. Thank you for this! Awesome! :)

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  18. Thanks
    Worked perfectly on my BLS 1.9TD 2006

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  19. thanks worked on my saab 96 aero saloon pulled fuse 5 out and reset perfect now

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  20. Hi advice worked, this has been driving me nuts for a couple of months. i have an 05 convertible 9-3 vectra sport, all working order, thanks, Gary from the uk...

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  21. This worked perfectly on my Saab 05 cabriole Aero, so simple but very effective, it was kind of embarrassing when it was raining and you had to open the door to throw something out, as you had to tease the window up all the bloody time. Thanks again from a happy Saab driver in Jamaica

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  22. Great, thanks from Cyprus!

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    Replies
    1. Tried this on 2008 9-3 sportwagon... worked 1st time for the passenger door but still can't reset the drivers door...... any ideas folks.. Thanks in advance.

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  23. Thank you. The instructions in the owner's manual for my 2007 convertible do not work. These instructions do. You pulled me from the brink of insanity.

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  24. It works perfectly on my 2004 9-3 Convertible. Thanks!

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  25. Thanks mate, worked as a charm on my 2004 9-3 Convertible!

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  26. THANKS THANKS WORKED 100% SAVED ME A TRIP,AND THE OWNER OF THE VEH. PUMPED.BODY SHOP MGR.

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  27. Thanks so much for the solution. My SAAB is a 2007 vector wagon.
    Make sure windows are up.
    Pull out fuse with car not running.
    Start car with fuse out.
    Switch off car and replace fuse.
    Start car and window with system rebooted.

    This is what worked for me. Cheers Iain

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  28. 2009 2.8 9-3 sedan window pinch issue corrected easily as described, just wanted to say thanks, this was a great help

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  29. well done worked a treat on a UK saab 9 3 convertible thank you

    clive

    London

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  30. I have a 2009 Saab 9.3 vector with that problem,tried the manual with no luck,phoned a saab dealer who told me to put washing up liquid all around the rubber sill that goes around the window and if that doesn't work it's a faulty window motor as it's a big problem with saab,anyway followed your instruction and hey presto!it's worked like a treat!,Thank you very much for your advice and thank you for making a mockery of these so called Saab dealers!

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  31. Thanks so.much worked first time. Cant stop smiling!!

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  32. Thanks so much!! Your guidance helped me easily fix the window problem with my 2006 9-3 Aero.

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  33. Yes, thank you from Tennessee! 2009 9-3 Turbo Convertible. I had also read about unplugging wires, pulling the fuse makes so much more sense!

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  34. It worked great,thanks for your guidance.

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  35. THANKS A LOT, TRIED THIS ON PAST WEEKEND , MAN WORKS LIKE A CHARM

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  36. Saab 9-3 aero, UK, 06, driver's door windows was sticking about 3/4 way up, just fixed it using your method. Many thanks. Martin b

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  37. Thank you for a very helpful conversation, on a different issue though. I bought a Saab 93 from 2005 not long ago and the speedometer failed after a few days, that is; the needle did not return to zero but stayed at 15 km/h after ignition was turned off, and consequently also gave a false reading when driving.
    I removed 1st row fuse no. 4 from top (just above the window fuse), needed to grab the orange plastic tool with a pliers to get the fuse out. Installed the fuse again after a few minutes and the speedometer is now back to normal.
    Ben

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    Replies
    1. nice, so it seems, the fuse thingie works also on the speedometer as well .)
      thanks for the comment

      Delete
  38. replaced window conrol module driver's side with a new one on 2008 9-3 2.0T convertible. how do you program it? three windows now work, but drivers window will not go up or down, and the drivers side mirror will not power adjust. pulled fuse 5 etc., but that did not fix it. does the new module have to be programmed to the car?? Jim. jim.mahoney52@verizon.net

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  39. work a treat thanks

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  40. one mirror foilding out fully other 1 half way .dont fold in or out at all now since i did the window reset .any one know how to fix the folding mirrors .thanks

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  41. So I have 2002 Saab 93, there are a few issues, sometimes the Windows won't work, I keep playing with the switch until it randomly starts working perfectly, also sometimes it won't start as if imobiliser is activated dash lights up just won't start, if I leave for five mins it starts allgood, also it starts if I run a wire from positive to starter, and occasionally abs light plus brake light on dash and exclamation mark comes up randomly

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  42. MY SAAB 93 convertible the windows do not retract or raise on opening and closing of driver and passenger doors'. Tried your tip and did not work. window are not closed properly and rain is getting in...help.

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  43. Thanks for sharing bro, it worked for my 93 aero 2008 !

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  44. GREAT !! IT WORKS !!

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  45. That worked, I had been trying for months and was just about to take the door panel off, thanks heaps, it was really starting to pee me off. :)

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  46. hi
    my window doesn't go up or down on the passenger side and also noticed the door doesnt lock either, tried the fuses and refiting the wiring loom. Any ideas?

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  47. 2006 9-3 convertible--Worked first time,writing this in the light of a burning useless manual..Thanks again

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  48. Thank you so much!! Did the trick - 2008 9-3 Aero (my manual left out the part about the reset needed via fuse pull)

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  49. Interesting comments - hadn't thought to reinstall fuse- will try.
    Has anyone else had Water ingress associated with this window problem (window not quite closing to the extent it did before up to the soft top rubbers?)

    ReplyDelete