ABS    anti-lock braking system

AC    air conditioning (manual)

ACC    Automatic Climate Control

Aero    Generally denotes the highest performance model in a particular range, eg 9-5 Aero, 9-3 Aero, 9000 Aero. The exception is the 1991-3 C900 Aero, which was
an LPT with an Airflow kit. Also refers to the classic three-spoke alloy wheel design first seen on the C900 Aero.

Airflow    On the 99 and C900, denotes the bodykit comprising front and rear bumpers and side cladding. 9-3 and 9-5 Airflow models had the Aero bodykit and suspension, but LPT engines.

Anniversary    Last-of-the-line Saab 9000, with unique leather seats and wood/leather steering wheel

AIC    Air Idle Control - see also ISCV

ALU**    Saab part number for Alloy Wheels eg ALU45

AMM    Air Mass Meter, specifically on cars with Bosch / Lucas fuel injection. Measures the flow of air in the intake manifold, and passes the signal to the fuel
injection ECU.

APC    Automatic Performance Control. Introduced on the C900 Turbo, the APC uses a knock sensor to detect pre-ignition, and adjusts boost pressure accordingly. This enables the engine to run on any grade of fuel. The precursor to Trionic.

APC Solenoid    Electrically-operated valve which allows the APC system to vary turbo boost pressure

AS1    Audio System ‘Popular’. Basic level head-unit and four speakers (GM900, 9-3, 9-5)

AS2    Audio System ‘Premium’. Mid-range head unit, more speakers on the 9-5 (GM900, 9-3, 9-5)

AS3    Audio System ‘Prestige’. Top-level, CD/tape with extra amplifiers and subwoofers, Harman-Kardon on 9-5. (GM900, 9-3, 9-5) (usually optional)

Arc    Olde worlde trim level, with wood and leather

ATA    Anti Theft Alarm

BDC    Bottom Dead Centre, the opposite of TDC

Body in white    manufacturer's ***** for the body shell prior to painting or the car's structure

BOV    Blow Off Valve. Atmospheric dump valve, not suitable for use on cars with an AMM

BPV    By Pass Valve. Recirculating dump valve.

C900    Classic 900, MY79-93

Carlsson    Limited-edition, high performance versions of the C900, 9000 and 9000CS. Named after rally-driving ace Erik Carlsson

CBC    Cornering Brake Control

CC    Combi Coupe ‘hatchback’ bodystyle. First used to identify the 5-door Saab 99. Can also refer to the pre-1992 Saab 9000 5-door hatchback.

CD    Taken from ‘Corps Diplomatique’ and used to denote luxurious saloon cars. Saab uses are the 4-door Saab 9000 CD, and the rare stretched 900CD.

CDE    See CD, but with better trim levels (usually leather, wood, body coloured bumpers etc)

CDC    Compact Disc Changer. Mostly boot-mounted, although also an in-dash option in the 9-3SS. Also CDC6 and CDC10 self-explanatory.

CS    Thought to mean ‘Combi Sedan’ - the post-1992 Saab 9000 5-door hatchback.

CSE    See CS, but with better trim levels (usually leather, wood, body coloured bumpers etc)

DI    Direct Ignition, which does away with the need for a conventional distributor. The DI cassette sits in the cylinder head on top of the spark plugs, with one coil per cylinder. See also IDM

DICE    Dashboard Integrated Control Electronics. Controls lighting, heating, wipers etc in the 9-5 and 9-3SS.

Divorce    The reversal of ‘marriage’, using Tech II to remove a CDC from a Tech II equipped Saab. Without being ‘divorced’, the changer cannot be used in another car. Divorce requires the presence of both parties - ie the CDC and the car to which it was originally ‘married’.

DRL    Daytime Running Lights

DTE    Distance to Empty. SID setting showing you how far you can drive before you run out of petrol

EAC    Electronic Accessories Catalogue

EBA    Emergency Brake assist

EBD    Electronic Brake-force Distribution

ECM    Electronic Control Module, at the heart of the Trionic system. See also ECU

ECO    Ecopower, Saab’s turbo philosophy. Initially applied only to LPT engines but now universal

EGT    Exhaust Gas Temperature

ECU    Electronic Control Unit

EGR    Exhaust Gas Recirculation. An emissions-control measure

EPC    Electronic Parts Catalogue

ES1-4    Basic radio in 9-3SS with 4 speakers

ES1-7    Ditto 7 speakers

ES2-7    Middle grade radio 9-3SS 7 speakers

ES2-13    Ditto 13 speakers

ES3-7    Top of range radio in 9-3SS often with Sat Nav

ES3-13    Ditto with 13 speakers

ESP    electronic stability programme

Fault Code    a code generated by the ECU, pinpointing a specific fault

FCR    Fault Code Reader. Used for extracting fault codes from the ECM

FPR    Fuel Pressure Regulator (see RRFPR)

Freewheel    The system of disengaging the front hubs from the engine during overrun, essential to prevent your two-stroke engine seizing

Fried Egg    The appearance of an orange indicator bulb in a clear light cluster

GM    General Motors / Genetically Modified

GM900    900 MY94-97. Also NG (Next Generation) 900

Griffin    top-of-the-range in ***** of luxury, all the toys you can think of coupled with a V6 (9-5 and 9000) or 2.3FPT (9000 only) engine and automatic gearbox

IDM    Ignition Discharge Module - see also DI

Inca    the classic Alloy wheel seen on the Saab 99 Turbo. Evolved into the less-attractive Super Inca

ISCV    Idle Speed Control Valve. See also AIC

Limp Home Mode    see LOS

Linear Basic ‘plastic and cloth’ trim level

LOS    Limited Operating Strategy. More commonly referred to as ‘limp home mode’, enabling the vehicle to be safely driven to a workshop / garage for repair following the failure of a crucial component in the Trionic system

LSD    Limited Slip Differential. Reduces the likelihood of spinning one front wheel under hard acceleration. The down-side is that you spin both instead.

Marriage    Programming a CDC to a particular car using Tech II. Renders the CDC useless if stolen, because it must be ‘divorced’ before being used in another car.

MBC    Manual Boost Controller. Another ***** for ‘bleed valve’, which allows manual tweaking and increasing of boost pressure but with the loss of APC protection

Minilite    eight-spoke alloy wheel which looks particularly good on the Saab 96

MIU    Main Instrument Unit 9-3/5 again, instrument cluster, all electronic.

OBD    On Board Diagnostics (OBD 1 and OBD 2, refers to the ECU's ability to self-diagnose)

OnStar    US Only Built-in mobile ‘phone / sat-nav

Vovlo  Saab’s main competitor

RDS    Radio Data System (on radio display in SID) a programme that stays tuned in as you drive (not USA)

ReAXS    Saab's passive rear wheel steering on 9-3SS

RPM    Revolutions Per Minute. Engine speed.

RRFPR    Rising Rate Fuel Pressure Regulator. Increases fuel pressure as engine rpm rises

SAAB    Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget

SAAB    Saab Automobile Aktiebolaget

Saabaru    The Saab 9-2X, a Subaru Impreza with a Saab nose grafted on.

SAHR    Saab Active Head Restraints. These move forward in the event of an accident, to reduce whiplash.

SCC    Saab Car Computer. Precursor to the SID (9000)

Semisonic    ‘Indie’ band who did ‘Have a Nice Day’

Sensonic    Semi-automatic gearbox in GM900

Sentronic    Automatic gearbox with optional manual / paddle shift (9-5 and 9-3SS only)

SID    Saab information display. Comes in different flavours, eg SID1 (basic), SID2 (more functions), SID3 (all the functions)

SPA    Saab Park Assist

SPG    Special Performance Group (North American C900 Turbo, similar to the European Aero)

SRS    supplementary restraint system (ie airbags)

SS    Sport Saloon / Sedan. As in the 9-3 Sport Saloon, M03

Subaraab    see Saabaru

Talladega    Limited edition models of the 9000 and NG900, named after Saab’s endurance records set at the Talladega Raceway in 1986 (9000) and 1996 (NG900). The 9000 Talladega was analogous to the UK-only 9000 Carlsson, whilst the 900 Talladega gained extra equipment with various engine options.

TCM    Transmission Control Module, same as ECU but for auto box

TCS    Traction Control System. Limits wheelspin by reducing power appropriately. Can be troublesome on the 9000.

TDC    Top Dead Centre, the point at which the piston is at the top of its travel, closest to the cylinder head

Tech 2    Saab’s proprietary on-board diagnostic computer

TiD    Turbo injection Diesel

Tjugofem    Limited edition C900 produced in 1985 to mark 25 years of the sale of Saab cars in the UK (Swedish: 'Tjugofem': Tjugo = Twenty, fem = five)

TP    Traffic Programme (on radio display in SID)

TWICE    Theft Warning Integrated Control Electronics. Controls alarm, security, doors etc in the 9-5 and 9-3SS.

Vector    ‘Sporting’ trim level, including eg aluminium dashboard and lowered suspension

Viggen    the most powerful Saab 9-3, produced from 1999 to 2001 and sharing the B235R engine with the 9-5 Aero.

VIN    Vehicle Identification Number

VSS    Vehicle Security System. But, confusingly, also Vehicle Speed Sensor

XS    Trim level denoting high-spec, non-turbo versions of the C900, NG900 and 9000

Wastegate    Internal valve on the turbocharger which opens to limit boost pressure, driven by a wastegate actuator

WIS    Workshop Information System, CD-ROM manuals used by dealers

WOT    Wide Open Throttle