The problem is very likely due to a damaged wire in the wiring trunking on the left boot hinge. A very common problem among the 9-5. The older 9-5 has a boot release cable in the boot compartment where it is accessible via the back seat area.

There are various discussion on this issue :
http://www.saabscene.com/forum/index.php?a...ot+release+wire

 

If you drop the back seat and put your head in the boot, from memory of doing this on my '02 saloon, you should see a slot in the metal boot lock mechanism and you can pop the boot open with a flat blade screwdriver.
Then check and fix the boot lid wiring

 

Thanks, Ill take a look.

Sounds like it might be an easy (ish) fix

Cheers

 

I couldn't find a slot in the lock on my 2005 9-5 but when I pulled back the liner on the boot lid I saw a thin rod coming down into the mechanism that opened the lock when I pulled it up.