Saab 9-3 Installation Instructions Manual
COREY
2003‐2009 Saab 9‐3 Remote Starter Installation Instructions
First off let me say that I assume NO responsibility for you damaging your vehicle during this
installation process. This should be attempted only by persons familiar with electronics who are
comfortable modifying circuit boards and soldering small wires onto small surface mounted
components. If you don’t have a DMM (Digital Multi‐Meter) and a good fine tipped soldering
iron, do not attempt this. I highly suggest you purchase a used ISM (Ignition Switch Module)
from a junkyard so that you can always replace your original one if needed. They are around
$75 and are backwards compatible from 2003‐2009. I also highly suggest you obtain a copy of
the WIS DVD for the Saab 9‐3. These are available on EBAY for about $30. This will give you
instructions on how to remove the ISM as well as the correct wire colors and pin‐outs for your
model year. Please read all instructions before beginning.
Once you have your spare ISM (or original one if you’re brave), open it. Use small jewelers’ flat‐
blade screwdrivers to release all of the clips. Inside there will be a circuit board along with outer
plastic pieces. Be careful not to lose the center spring which is under the key plunger. Onto the
circuit board. Gently remove the RFID coil antenna (black plastic ring) by squeezing the clips
while pulling it up and out of its socket. Now you need to cut the traces on the top and bottom
on the circuit board as shown in the pictures. Cut them where I have drawn the pink lines
across the trace. Use an exacto‐knife. Verify you have continuity before and then no continuity
after the cut. There are 4 traces to cut, 1 on the top of the circuit board and 3 on the bottom.
NOTE: The red wires along with cutting the trace next to the red wires are optional, but I
recommend them for security as the Saab CIM only checks the key’s transponder code once
during key insertion. This means that after the car has been remote started, the ISM can be
turned with your thumb to the ON position and then driven away. Granted, a thief would still
need to break the window to get into the vehicle, but I liked the idea of extra security to
prevent anyone from stealing the vehicle. I have installed a secret switch which needs to be
pressed and held while turning the key from LOCK to OFF and then ON. This only needs to be
done while the remote starter is active. The ISM will function normally when the vehicle is not
running via the remote starter.
After all of the necessary traces have been cut; carefully solder the wires to the circuit board
using the pictures as a guide. Keep in mind when soldering the red and violet wires that you
need to be able to re‐attach the RFID coil antenna so it sits flat on the circuit board. Note that
the white wire needs to be soldered in 2 places. Also the orange and green wires pass through