Saab 2003 9-5 2.3 Turbo Ecopower, Owner'S Manual

Page: 144 / 288

144 Interior equipment and trunk
Load anchoring
Driving with the trunk lid/tailgate open, see
page 188.
WARNING
• Put heavy loads as low down and as
far forward as possible in the luggage
compartment, i.e. against the back of
the rear seat.
• Never stack cargo so high that any part
of the cargo lies above the edge of the
backrest, if a cargo guard (accessory)
is not being used.
• Always tie down the cargo so that it
cannot be thrown forward during
heavy braking or in the event of a
crash.
• Unsecured and heavy cargo can
increase the risk of injury during hard
braking, sudden avoidance maneu-
vers and in the event of a crash.
• For the best load anchoring, use the
special cargo bolts and load straps
(accessory).
• Load the cargo bolts evenly. Never
attach more than one strap to each tie
down eye.
• Provide protection on sharp edges to
prevent damage to the load straps.
• Never use the elastic floor net and
elastic side net when the rear seat is
folded down. These nets are only
intended to keep light objects tidy, not
for the anchoring of loads.
• If possible, avoid having the rear seat
folded down when driving with a heavy
load because the anchoring possibili-
ties are restricted when the rear seat is
in this position. That the rear seat is
in the upright position is a basic
requirement for protection against
cargo displacement in the event of
a crash.
• Cargo can intrude into the passenger
compartment during a sudden stop or
front crash if the outer safety belts are
not fastened. Check that the two red
warning-indication flags are fully
down. This shows that the backrests
are locked.
WARNING
• Match the speed and driving style
according to how the car is loaded.
The driving characteristics of the car
can be affected because the center of
gravity is altered when there is a cargo
in the luggage compartment.
• An object weighing 55 lbs. (25 kg) cor-
responds to a weight of 2200 lbs.
(1000 kg) in a head on crash at
32 mph (50 km/h).
• Adjust the car’s load (passengers and
luggage) so that the gross vehicle
weight or the axle weight is not
exceeded, see page 258.