SAAB 9000. Instruction - page 50

11•16 Bodywork and fittings

23.12a Unbolt the backrest mounting

bracket from the floorpan ...

Rear seat backrests
Removal

11 Using the hand straps, raise the seat

cushion, and tilt it fully forwards.
12 The rear seat backrests are mounted on

brackets which are bolted to the floorpan at

three points. To remove both backrests
together, peel back the carpet, unbolt the
mounting brackets from the floorpan, unhook
the lower edge of the upholstery from the seat
belt anchor brackets, and lift out the backrest
(see illustrations).
13 To separate the backrests, remove the
retaining screws from the hinge at the edges
(see illustration).

Refitting
14 Refit the backrests by reversing the
removal procedure.

Rear seat cushion

Removal

15 Using the hand straps, raise the seat
cushion, and tilt it fully forwards.
16 Remove the screws that secure the metal
backplate to the hinge bar, then lift out the

cushion.

Refitting

17 Refit the seat cushion by reversing the
removal procedure; ensure that the cushion is
fitted evenly to the hinge bar and is not
twisted, before tightening the retaining
screws.

23.12b ... and unhook the lower edge of

the upholstery from the seat belt anchor

brackets (arrowed)

General information

1 The front seat belts are of the three-point
inertia reel type. The fixed ends of the belts are

anchored on the seat frames, as are the
buckle stalks. The height of the B-pillar
support is adjustable, to adapt to different
driving positions.
2 The two outer rear seats are also fitted with
inertia reel three point belts; the centre rear
seat position is fitted with a lap restraint.
3 All models fitted with a Supplementary
Restraint System (SRS) are equipped with seat
belt tensioning devices; refer to Section 28
before disturbing any of the components
associated with these devices.

4 Saab state that the seat belts are classed as
components which must be renewed after a

collision has occurred, regardless of apparent
condition. Refer to your Saab dealer if you
have doubts regarding the correct course of
action under these circumstances.

Front seat belt buckles

Removal

5 Referring to Section 23, unbolt the
applicable front seat from the floorpan, and
slide it backwards to gain access to the seat
belt buckle.

23.13 To separate the backrests, remove

the retaining screws from the hinge at the

edges

6 Free the wiring for the "buckle fastened"
switch from the seat bracket, then reach
underneath the seat and unplug the cable
connector.
7 Slacken and withdraw the retaining nut,
recover the washer, and lift off the buckle
stalk.

Refitting

8 Refit the buckle by reversing the removal
procedure. When refitting the buckle stalk
retaining nut, although a torque wrench setting
is not specified by Saab, ensure that the nut is
securely tightened. Where self-locking nuts
are fitted, ideally these should be renewed
once disturbed.

Front seat belt anchor points

9 Refer to Section 23 (front seat removal) for
details of removal and refitting.

Front seat belt height adjustment
components

Removal

Note: Whilst not essential, the removal the

applicable front seat will improve access, and
hence ease the completion of this operation.

10 Using a flat-bladed screwdriver, carefully
prise the plastic covers out from both the front
and rear door sill scuff plates. Undo the
retaining screws, lift off the metal plates, and
remove the scuff plates (see illustrations).

24.10a Using a flat-bladed screwdriver,

carefully prise the plastic covers out from

the door sill scuff plates

24.10b Undo the retaining screws . . .

24.1Oc .. . and lift off the metal plates

Bodywork and fittings 11 •17

24.11 Remove the screws from the bottom

of the B-pillar trim panel

11 Remove the screws from the bottom of the
B-pillar trim panel (see illustration).
12 Release the clips behind the height
adjustment knob, and lift it off (see
illustration).
13 Remove the retaining screw, and lift off the
adjustment knob bracket, belt support pulley
and bush; note their orientation and order of
fitment (see illustration).
14 Working from the floor upwards, prise the
rubber sealing strips away from the door
apertures, then carefully release the press-
stud fixings beneath the trim panel one at a

time, by easing it away from the B-pillar. On
vehicles fitted with a Safety Restraint System,
take great care to avoid disturbing the seat

belt tensioner components, situated above the
inertia reel.

24.15 Seat belt height adjustment rack

24.12 Release the clips behind the height

adjustment knob, and lift it off

15 Remove the upper and lower retaining
screws, then lift the adjustment rack away

from the B-pillar (see illustration).

Refitting

16 Refit the height adjustment components
by reversing the removal procedure.

Front seat belt inertia reel

assembly (vehicles with SRS)

17 On vehicles fitted with seat belt tensioning
devices, removal of the seat belt inertia reel
should be entrusted to a Saab dealer; refer to
Section 28 for more detail.

Front seat belt inertia reel
assembly (vehicles without SRS)

18 Proceed as described in paragraphs 10 to
12 inclusive.
19 Remove the single bolt that secures the
inertia reel to the base of the B-pillar, and
recover the washer (see illustration). Lift off

the reel assembly, together with the seat belt.

Rear seat belt anchorages and
buckles

20 The rear seat belt buckles are mounted on
spring-loaded stalks bolted directly to the
floorpan, as is the anchor bracket for the
centre lap belt (see illustration).
21 The inertia reels for the outer rear seat
belts are bolted in position behind the

loadspace side trim panels. To gain access to

them, refer to Section 25 and remove the

loadspace side trim panel.

24.13 Remove the retaining screw and lift

off the adjustment knob bracket, belt

support pulley and bush; note their

orientation and order of fitment

A-pillar trim panels

1 Open the relevant front door, and prise the
rubber sealing strip from the door aperture at

the A-pillar.
2 Working from the headlining down, grasp
the panel firmly and progressively ease it away
from the pillar, allowing the press-studs
beneath to disengage one at a time (see
illustration).
3 To refit, offer the panel up to its mounted

position, and apply firm pressure over each
press-stud until it engages. Press the door
aperture sealing strip back into place.

B-pillar trim panels

4 The B-pillar trims form the cover for the seat

belt inertia reel assemblies; refer to Section 24

for details of their removal.

C-pillar trim panels

5 Open the relevant rear door, and prise the

rubber sealing strip from the door aperture at

the C-pillar.
6 Remove the passenger reading light,
referring to Chapter 12 for more detail.
7 Working around the outside edge, carefully
ease the panel away from the C-pillar, allowing
the press-stud fixings to disengage one at a
time.

24.19 Remove the single bolt (arrowed) that

secures the inertia reel to the base of the

B-pillar, and recover the washer

24.20 Mounting for rear seat belt buckle

and centre lap belt anchorage

25.2 Removing the A-pillar trim panel

11 •18 Bodywork and fittings

25.12 Remove the retaining screws, and lift

off the internal grab handle

25.15b ... then remove the retaining

screws, and lift off the scuff plate from the

loadspace sill, together with the integral

carpet panel

25.16 Remove the screws, and lift off the
scuff panel at the front of the loadspace

25.13 Unscrew the fixings from the ends of

the rigid plastic trim panels

8 To refit, offer the panel up to its mounted

position, and apply firm pressure over each
press-stud until it engages. Press the door
aperture sealing strip back into place, then
refit the passenger reading light.

Headlining

9 The headlining is clipped to the roof panel,
and can only be lowered once all fittings such
as the grab handles, sunvisors, sunroof (where
fitted), pillar trim panels, and interior lights
have been removed. The weatherstrip for the
door apertures (and where applicable, the
tailgate and sunroof apertures) will also have
to be prised away from the bodywork.

10 Note that the removal of the headlining
requires considerable skill and experience if it

is to be carried out without damage, and is
therefore best entrusted to an expert.

Tailgate interior trim panel

11 Open the tailgate, and remove the internal

trim panel fixing studs by twisting each one
anti-clockwise through a quarter-turn.
12 Remove the retaining screws, and lift off
the internal grab handle (see illustration).

13 At the inside lower edge of the rear
window glass, unscrew the fixings from the
ends of the rigid plastic trim panels (see
illustration). Carefully lower the interior trim
panel away from the tailgate.
14 To refit, reverse the removal procedure.

25.15a Prise out the press-studs...

Spare wheel cover

15 Prise out the press-studs, then remove the
retaining screws and lift off the scuff plate

from the loadspace sill, together with the

integral carpet panel (see illustrations).
16 Tilt the rear seat backrest forward, then

remove the screws and lift off the scuff panel
at the front of the loadspace (see illustration).
17 Three screws, adjacent to the hinged joint,
secure the spare wheel cover to the floorpan;
remove these, and lift the cover out of the
loadspace.
18 Refit the cover by reversing the removal
procedure.

Loadspace side trim panels

19 Remove the spare wheel cover as
described in the preceding sub-section.
20 Remove the plastic caps from the studs
that secure the trim panel to the rear of the
loadspace, then prise the rubber sealing strip
away from the edge of the tailgate aperture
(see illustrations).
21 Working from the tailgate aperture,
carefully draw the panel away from the side of
the loadspace. At the underside of the parcel
shelf support/speaker bracket, use a
screwdriver to release the plastic tangs from
the cut-outs in the trim panel (see
illustration).

25.20a Remove the plastic caps from the

studs that secure the trim panel to the rear

of the load space ...

25.2Ob . . . then prise the rubber sealing
strip away from the edge of the tailgate

aperture

25.21 Carefully draw the panel away from

the side of the loadspace. At the underside

of the parcel shelf support/speaker bracket,

use a screwdriver to release the plastic

tangs from the cut-outs in the trim panel

Bodywork and fittings 11 •19

25.22 Unscrew the seat backrest locking

spigot from the front of the wheelarch

protrusion, and lift off the metal backing

plate

26.2a Prise off the gear lever gaiter to

expose the mounting frame beneath

26.2b Remove the retaining screw, and lift

off the frame

26.3a Release the electric window switch
panel from the console, reaching through

the gear lever orifice and pressing up on the

underside of the panel to ease its release

22 Unscrew the seat backrest locking spigot
from the front of the wheelarch protrusion,
and lift off the metal backing plate (see
illustration).
23 Free the corner of the trim panel from the
rear door aperture scuff panel by slackening
the retaining screws.
24 Carefully ease the remainder of the trim
panel away from the bodywork, and lift it out
of the vehicle.

Removal

1 Disconnect the battery negative cable, and
position it away from the terminal.

2 Prise off the gear lever/selector lever gaiter,
to expose the mounting frame beneath.
Remove the retaining screw, and lift off the
frame (see illustrations).
3 Release the electric window switch panel
from the console, reaching through the gear
lever orifice and pressing up on the underside
of the panel to ease its release. Label the
harness connector and cables to aid refitting,
then unplug the connector and remove the
panel (see illustrations).
4 Prise out the plastic plugs, and remove the
two retaining screws from the flanks of the
gear lever console (see illustration).

26.3b Label the harness connector and

cables to aid refitting, then unplug the

connector and remove the panel

5 Extract the mounting screw, and remove the
handbrake lever brush seal (see illustration).
6 Slide both front seats fully forwards, then
fold back the flaps in the carpet to expose the
centre console rear retaining screws (see
illustrations). Remove the screws and lift out
the entire console. Where applicable, unplug
the wiring for rear passenger cigarette
lighter/ashtray illumination.
7 Extract the fixings and remove the trim
panels from either side of the forward section
of the centre console. The fixings are of the
press-stud type - these can be removed
without damage by sliding the prongs of an

26.4 Prise out the plastic plugs, and

remove the two retaining screws from the

flanks of the gear lever console

26.5 Extract the mounting screw, and

remove the handbrake lever brush seal

26.6a Slide both front seats fully forwards,

then fold back the flaps in the carpet to

expose the centre console rear retaining

screws

26.6b Remove the screws and lift out the

entire console