Topics

1

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Door lock actuator question

« on: 29 August 2015, 05:05:52 AM »

Hi All,

It's been a while. Not much action lately it seems...

My driver's side front door lock is playing up. The signal seems to be getting through to the mechanism, but the button isn't going up or down when you press the key fob buttons. I've had the door card off and poked about but it all seems connected correctly. There is a mechanical jolt felt through the lock itself but the magnetic resistance of the solenoid seems to be absent.

They have changed the security gate sensor to get into the carpark at work, and leaning out the window at a stretch sees the button pushed down by your arm, which has probably finished off the solenoid. I figure after 10 years, it is worn out and just needs replacing.

Is this a Tech -2 type of thing to get the car to recognise a new unit, once it is in? Is it a tricky job replacing the mechanism?

Suggestions welcome please.

2

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Dash trim removal

« on: 16 July 2015, 10:04:28 AM »

Hi All,

Looking to get the trim strip out of the dash on the passenger side, to either resurface it or vinyl wrap the thing. Very aware that the airbag is nearby and wondered as to the best way to get the trim out. Also want the push button that opens the glovebox out as well, as the surface is peeling too. '04 model.
All ideas very welcome.

3

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Hands Free Kit

« on: 24 June 2015, 11:06:48 AM »

So, looking at putting in a hands-free kit into the Hirsch. This car has the phone in the boot option, but it has been deactivated by Tech 2. Who would use that today anyway, given the iphone these days.
What's the best way to get an integrated and functional system these days, for an '04 car?

4

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Door pulls need attention

« on: 21 June 2015, 11:47:05 AM »

I have rubbed the coating off the door pulls back to a shiny black finish, as they were starting to look tatty. Looking to improve their appearance to a more premium feel, and stop them from creaking when you grab them!
Wondering if anyone has done the leather thing, or otherwise.

5

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Front spoiler question

« on: 01 June 2015, 10:27:42 AM »

The Aero is So low at the front that it is getting tatty, scraping the driveway and miscellaneous kerbs.
Looking to take off the lower chin spoiler and put on something a little less aggressive.
But it still needs to look decent...
Any suggestions?

6

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / PO106

« on: 01 June 2015, 10:21:52 AM »

Now it throws a CEL, 106. Drop in manifold pressure. This goes a long way to explaining the weird behavior recently.
Suggestions most welcome gents.
Hit me,,.

7

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / She's eatin' oil

« on: 27 May 2015, 11:11:32 AM »

Now this is a worry...
Did a dipstick check,as you do.
Oil is off the stick.
Ouch!
When did this happen?
This car Never eats oil. And now it does.
What the?

8

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / ABS being tricky?

« on: 14 May 2015, 10:45:21 AM »

The odd weird ABS(?) noise is appearing these days, taking off from standstill, backing out, or coasting to a stop. The light flashes on the dash. Quite aggressive and noisy to all in the cabin.
Ideas?

9

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Still a Grumpy Starter

« on: 20 April 2015, 12:36:36 PM »

Well, lots 'o cash has been spent trying to get 'the Vortex' to start properly first thing in the morning. DI, plugs, CPS, filters, regulators, multiple fuel pumps and pickups, vac lines, TB and MAF cleans, downpipe O rings, etc etc. and etc.
The thing will start, eventually. Well, it should actually, after a rebuilt alternator, starter and new battery. First on a few cylinders then three, then four. Most mornings.
Hot restarts are perfect, until it won't.
All sorts of expletives are uttered by those who turn the key most mornings. Not a great example to the girls in the back seat. They cross everything to get it to go. A Cheer goes up when it catches...
The thing that concerns me is that no-one can tell me what the problem actually is. And it is slowly driving me crazy. She is making serious noises about ditching the Vortex, and getting a new car from a non-Swedish manufacturer with previous generation VW underpinnings.
Aaargh! (Again)

10

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Out of Brakes

« on: 20 April 2015, 12:03:08 PM »

You know how you think you have everything under control? The 'reliable one' seems to be ok, drives well, stops well...hang-on what's that noise? A grinding from the front left under braking and turning. Rat's! I really don't need this right now, with the Vortex sucking funds out of my wallet on a regular basis. A grand in a week. The embarrassment factor is now very high as people in car parks turn their heads when the 'reliable one' pulls in to a spot.
It still drives brilliantly, and stops nicely. Except for that noise. Brake pads look good on a cursory external inspection. From the outside at least.
But now she says, take the wheel off and check it out. I'm thinking a stone caught in the rotor guard.
But no...the inner front left pad has been ground down to less than a millimeter. Maybe less.
So, outside one has 5mm on it. Inner is shot. Car up on jacks. It's Sunday afternoon. Should have gone to the local parts guy and asked. But, no, we went to IKEA! TWICE!!
Now, the reliable one is up on jacks, its cold outside, and the light has gone.
AND!! The pads I had brought in ARE THE WRONG SIZE!!

Aaargh!

In the Southerly Latitudes it appears that 314mm front rotors take the larger format pad, and that I should have gone to my local Saab Indie, in the first place!!!

11

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Brake disc sizes across the model years

« on: 30 March 2015, 08:55:17 AM »

Wondering who would have a definitive list of brake disc/rotor sizes from 2003 onwards? By model type? Trying to settle an argument on this one...

12

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Sit in the Back

« on: 25 March 2015, 08:50:53 AM »

Something you should consider doing. Get someone to drive you about while you sit in the back. It is such a different experience. I did it today, not by choice, but it ended up being a real highlight. Much quieter and more refined. Vision is excellent and the air circulation is brilliant. The seats are fantastic and there is so much room, even with two ipads plugged in. The dash looks majestic and very unique, but the best thing is the feeling of real solidity and safety. Takes me right back to the Melbourne motor show (when we actually had them) and saw the wagon hanging from the roof off its cargo rail hooks, and then sat in it, ...gobsmacked.
Very possibly have fallen for the car all over again. Give it a go...

13

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Poor Cold Starting Solution

« on: 08 March 2015, 08:13:51 AM »

Hi All,
Been a while since last posting, but have been watching from the wings.

Her 9-5 Linear wagon has given us huge issues in recent months. Poor cold starting issues have plagued us on a daily basis. But it seems we have it licked now.

A fresh 2011 DI has cured some of it, especially poor power in high temperatures. But not cold starting.

Crank angle sensor changed, with some effect but not reliable.
New plugs
Another fuel pump and filter
New vac lines
Cleaned throttle body and afm
Re-torqued the head (finally has stopped eating oil after all these years!)
Checked for air leaks many times
Rebuilt alternator and new battery, after being damaged for months attempting to start.

But it seems the main culprit was a slowly failing fuel pressure regulator. A quick job with a huge effect. Lots of fuel now just when it needs it and it starts first pop, without all that coughing and bucking.

Boost is back and lots of it, having none for months. Almost feels as quick as a new one. Amazing how compromised you get in close traffic with no power when you need it. Now it just needs a new driveshaft boot and front subframe bushes to stop the knocking.
But that can all wait for a bit...

The car is 14 and has done 207,000km, which down here isn't all that much. Looking forward to a time when I don't have to pop the bonnet unless I really want to...

14

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Clean on the Inside

« on: 14 December 2014, 08:58:05 AM »

Changing the alternator over this afternoon, (got it down to 30minutes from bonnet up to Alt off the car!) and decided to re-torque the head bolts. That went well and after 200,000km I felt it was a good thing to do. But the best thing is the cleanliness of this engine after all this time, warranting this post.
Many years ago, soon after purchasing the Linear Estate, I dropped the sump, cleaned it so it gleamed, installed the PCV #4 kit, and ran a strict regime of fully synthetic oils on 10K intervals ever since. I have never taken the camshaft cover off and I don't think it has ever been off the car since being built back in 2001.
Lifting the cover saw a moment of trepidation as you would expect, given the history of this model engine and the era. I could NOT believe what was before me. A delicate slightly yellow tarnish and clean surfaces everywhere. The cam lobes were perfect with zero wear, the oil galleries were clean and the was virtually no build up around the chain area at all. And that wiped clean with some wax and grease remover. Torqued the head bolts up, cleaned the gaskets with wax and grease remover and glued it all back together. I am stunned TBH, and am very pleased to report that everything that has been posted on this forum around this topic has been vindicated and verified as being the correct solution. I really do think that this engine is capable of doing another 200K.
Just got to keep all the systems around it going....

15

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Charge!

« on: 09 December 2014, 07:22:33 AM »

Charging from the alternator has dropped off so much now that it is eating batteries in a regular basis.
About to fit a rebuilt unit that is showing 14.4V on the test bench under load, from an auto electrician.
I assume from all my research, that the voltage regulator is in the pack on the back of the alternator itself. Is there anything else in the car that can affect the voltage supplied to the battery? I have done a resistance check across the alternator supply wire, none found which is great. Calcium battery is in good condition, new in feb 2012, and tested well by the visiting RA man using his computer thingy.
Will put the reco unit on this weekend to hopefully get on top of this really irritating lingering issue...trying very hard to avoid big expense at the shop prior to Xmas.
Suggestions most welcome, of course.