Most vehicles sold within the last decade are sufficiently technologicly advanced to have on-board computer systems that are networked together via a bus system. This means that all the computers in your car can share information with each other much like personal computers can share information in a home or office. Just like multiple personal computers can share one printer in a network, your SAAB's computers can share one sensor and then distribute that sensor's information across the network. A common example of this is the temperature sensor in a modern SAAB: there is only one sensor that monitors the coolant temperature, and it alone shares its information across a bus network to the gauges on the dash, the climate control system, and the fuel management system. In the old days a car would have two or three different temperature sensors that operated solely within its respective system.

These modern cars with bus systems offer many more programming options than older computerized vehicles as both the hardware and software is advanced enough to give the SAAB owner many choices for cabin comfort, lighting control, and alarm control.

To get the most from your SAAB, you can have the car programmed to tailor your needs. This is done with a diagnostic tool called a Tech 2, so only a shop with a Tech 2 can program your car. You could buy a Tech 2, its related software, and its peripherals to program your SAAB; however, the cost of the basic Tech 2 set up is about $5600, and you would then need to teach yourself how to use it. It is more cost effective to have a qualified shop program your SAAB. At JGA the cost for Tech 2 hook up is $75.

It is interesting to note that many customer complaints on climate control, lighting or alarm systems are not failures at all but instead arise from a lack of proper programming. These are "imagined faults" and the soltuion is to simply program the "offending" system to suit the customer's needs. In these cases, the customer isn't aware of the programming availability and incorrectly concludes that the vehicle is somehow broken. A typical example of this is the default setting for the Automatic Climate Controll (ACC): if left unchaged, the cabin fan will blow air from the vent at full speed until the desired temperature is reached. Some people interpret this as a fault of the ACC computer, when it is actually a programable setting that can be changed.