Messages

1

Off-topic chat, Help, Advice, General motoring issues / Re: Speeding Notice from France

« on: 11 August 2015, 01:26:06 PM »

You need to be careful using dashcams in Europe.  They are illegal in a few countries due to privacy laws, typically the countries that do not allow Google Streetview.

2

Saab 9000 (1984-1998) / Re: Am I the last one still driving a 9000?

« on: 29 June 2015, 10:47:17 AM »

Indeed.  We didn't really need to remove it.  More of a precaution for the welding and grinding a few inches away.

3

Saab 9000 (1984-1998) / Re: Am I the last one still driving a 9000?

« on: 28 June 2015, 10:57:54 PM »

No, mine is eucalyptus green from 1994.

4

Saab 9000 (1984-1998) / Re: Am I the last one still driving a 9000?

« on: 28 June 2015, 10:18:14 PM »

As I haven't been using any cars much of late and we had to make a trip to the north, I thought that a quick 500 miles would do the Saab good.  It has had a small exhaust blow for a while, but it wasn't getting worse and was from the joint behind the catalyst.  So imagine my surprise when half way to the motorway (about 1.5 miles from home) it suddenly got rather noisy.  I stopped in the pub car park and initially couldn't see the problem.  Then I noticed that the entire exhaust had sheared off at the turbo joint.  It was interesting to hold a mirror down there and see the turbo spinning.  I was also impressed how clean the turbine impeller blades were.  Anyway I drove home (down hill fortunately) and took another car.

So, removing the exhaust flange from the turbo was "interesting", but the special prize goes to the man who thought that putting the lambda sonde wiring connector at the back of the engine was a good idea, and then decided to use a P clip on the wiring loom as it passes over the water pump.  The torx bolt (T40!!!) stripped and so we had to hacksaw through the P clip which you can only get at after removing the aircon compressor and can only see with a mirror.

I got the exhaust welded together (it was a clean fatigue/vibration break with plenty of material left) after I discovered how much Saab want for a new one.

Refitting was the reverse of removal, apart from a slight issue of not being able to screw the lambda sonde back in having fitted the exhaust as the sonde hit the water pump (same bloke who sited the connector presumably), so removed the exhaust and screwed the sonde in before refitting the combined piece.

And the exhaust still had the slight blow from the connector after the catalyst.  Sadly the collar around the pipe from the cat had failed so allowing the joint to leak.  Not wanting to buy a new catalyst, we cut off the two joint parts leaving plain pipe at each end.  Fortunately, VW/Audi group cars now use the same size exhausts (about 60mm diameter) which are joined by a sleeve clamp.  Slip one on, tighten the bolts and I have a quiet car again.

Now for that bit of rust on the second rear wheel arch.

5

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Re: tyre sensors

« on: 05 May 2015, 10:52:32 AM »

If you are ordering stuff from the US of A don't forget you'll have to pay VAT and the Post Office's VAT collection fee.

" If you are receiving a package from overseas (unless it’s from another EU Country), please be aware that it may incur customs charges. Any package assessed as being liable for customs charges will also incur a Royal Mail handling fee of £8.

Any goods imported into the UK over the value of £15 are liable to import VAT. Gifts between private individuals over the value of £36 are also liable for VAT. Goods and gifts over these values may also be liable for customs duty. You no longer have to pay customs duty for goods up to the value of £135, however you will still be required to pay import VAT and excise duty where applicable."

http://www.royalmail.com/help-and-support/I-need-advice-about-customs-requirements#Receiving%20mail%20from%20abroad

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-143-a-guide-for-international-post-users

6

Off-topic chat, Help, Advice, General motoring issues / Re: What I Did To My Saab Today.

« on: 05 May 2015, 10:44:34 AM »

I think you are lucky to be anywhere near a Saab dealer in Austria.  There weren't that many even when the cars were in production.

Glad to hear that my brake shim/sticky pad suggestion has helped.

7

Saab 9000 (1984-1998) / Am I the last one still driving a 9000?

« on: 28 April 2015, 01:59:33 PM »

As it is nearly 10 months since the last post in this forum, I feel the I need to ask whether I am the only person still driving a 9000 on a regular basis?

8

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

« on: 21 April 2015, 10:27:32 AM »

Indeed, avoid EBC Greenstuff at all costs.  Nasty horrid things.

9

Off-topic chat, Help, Advice, General motoring issues / Re: Summer tyres - what are we using these days?

« on: 19 April 2015, 05:16:22 PM »

I learned the legendary "Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän" at school, but of course you can lengthen that by simply adding the word "widow" to it and then further extend it by adding "dog" to get the Danube steam ship company captain's widow's dog.  But then you could add "collar" or "flea" etc.  There is no end to this highly entertaining German sense of humour (or is it a sport?).

But then I found this:-

Donaudampfschiffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft

A work of sheer genius.

If you want to look up each word to get the jist, here it is split up.

Donau dampf schiff fahrts elektrizitäten haupt betriebswerk bau unterbeamten gesellschaft

10

Off-topic chat, Help, Advice, General motoring issues / Re: Summer tyres - what are we using these days?

« on: 17 April 2015, 01:46:34 PM »

die Kurbel = crank (note: standard u, not with an umlaut)
die Welle = wave (normally) but shaft in automotive use
der Sensor = sensor
der Kurbelwellensensor = crankshaft sensor

die Nocke = cam
die Nockenwelle = camshaft
die Kardanwelle = propshaft

der Antrieb = drive
die Antriebswelle = driveshaft

All these things can easily be found on leo.org.

11

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: cycle rack suggestions

« on: 06 April 2015, 06:13:15 PM »

I have a Twinny Ergo tilting rack that sits on the tow bar.  You need to be aware that some of the cheaper towbar mounted racks need a bracket bolted to the towbar mounting, so will not work with a removable towbar.  Also, most racks clamp onto a stadard bike frame, so cannot accommodate odd bike designs.  Some of the Twinny designs grip the pedal crank so can take any bike design.  Twinny make ones for more than 2 bikes.  Some can be extended as required.

Avoid any of the cheap stuff that attaches to the tailgate with straps.   The German RAC did an emergency brake and lane change test with bike carriers.  Every single one of ones held on with straps came off the car completely during the test.

12

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: Standard vs. performance brake pads

« on: 29 March 2015, 06:07:38 PM »

As a further clarification:-

The dry boiling point is the boiling point of the new (pure) brake fluid.

The wet boiling point is the boiling point of the fluid when it contains 3.7% (by weight) of water.  This is typical of a fluid when it has been in use for 2 or 3 years.

The viscosity limit is the MAXIMUM viscosity allowed at -40C.

DOT 5.1 has higher boiling points than DOT 3 or 4 fluid, but it has a lower low temp viscosity to ensure that systems like ABS, ESP etc work correctly when it's very cold.

Given that DOT 5.1 costs about £1 per litre more than DOT 4, I think it is worth using DOT 5.1 all the time.  It can be difficult to find but Halfords stock it.

Interestingly Castrol do not sell a DOT 5.1 fluid in the UK.  They sell a "Performance DOT 4" fluid, which has higher boiling points that the DOT 5.1 spec requires, but does not meet the low temp viscosity requirements.  Boiling points are 260C and 180C, low temp viscosity 1200.  They also sell a "Low Temp DOT 4", boiling points 265C, 175C and low temp viscosity 650, meeting the ISO 4925 Class 6 which prioritises low temp performance at the expense of a slight reduction in boiling point.

For further reading, in case of severe insomnia, see the following:-

https://law.resource.org/pub/us/cfr/ibr/005/sae.j1703.1995.html

http://www.shell.com/content/dam/shell/static/chemicals/downloads/products-services/shell-brake-clutchfluidsbrochure.pdf

13

Off-topic chat, Help, Advice, General motoring issues / Re: Summer tyres - what are we using these days?

« on: 27 March 2015, 10:13:34 AM »

I'd be looking at Michelin Pilot Sport 3 rather than the Primacy 3.

14

Off-topic chat, Help, Advice, General motoring issues / Re: Haflords fully synth oil on offer- £12 for 4l of 5W40

« on: 13 January 2015, 01:04:06 PM »

Sadly the offer seems to have ended.

15

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: What colour on a Hirsch wheel

« on: 13 January 2015, 01:03:34 PM »

I think that the 225 width of the tyre is actually the maximum width of the tyre (the so called "section width", without any obvious rim protection stripe) rather than the width of the tread.  So depending on how round shouldered or square shouldered the tyre is, there will be a difference in the width of the rubber on the road.