Messages

1

Off-topic chat, Help, Advice, General motoring issues / Flat spotted tyres.

« on: 16 April 2024, 09:37:11 AM »

If you have a car parked in the garage for a few months, is there a good way to fix flat spots on the tyres?

My son's car got stuck in the garage once our building work started and a skip was dropped outside the garage door.

The car is SORNed, but the skips have been there far longer than we anticipated. The tyres are all good/reasonably new, and we have tried to move the car about whilst it has been in there so it wasn't sitting on the same patch continuously.

2

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Re: Blower fan chirping driving me nuts!!!

« on: 15 April 2024, 07:27:37 PM »

Whilst I had the scuttle panel off for the water leak issue in my other thread, I checked the fan. Couldn't feel any noticeable play in it, so squirted some silicone spray onto the upper part of the spindle/bearing, to see if I could stop the irritating chirping!!

And hey presto....it seems to have worked!!! For now at least If I can sort the leak out first, I may take the fan out for a proper clean and lube the bearings with oil at some point

So that's two good jobs I've managed to do this evening!!

3

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Re: Water in passenger footwell - first time ever!!!

« on: 15 April 2024, 07:23:13 PM »

In the next two pics you can see the perished seal as I pull the housing away from the body, and then my temporary duck tape 'solution'.....I hope!!!

4

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Re: Water in passenger footwell - first time ever!!!

« on: 15 April 2024, 07:21:18 PM »

Well the source of the leak seemed to be the side of the centre console. The side nearest the door was dry.

So this evening I got the scuttle panel off to find no drain block, and a completely dry and unstained cabin filter. What I did however find was that the cabin filter housing seal to the body has completely disintegrated/dried out/gone crusty. You can move the cabin filter housing forward and backward and create a gap across the top.

I have seen Cyclone Sid's Youtube video on cleaning all this up and using fresh sealant to stick the housing back onto the body, so I think that is the next job to do, if it will ever stop raining for 10 minutes!!!

In the mean time, I did a temporary botch to see if I can at least stop the leak for now....

See pics below 👍😉

5

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Re: Water in passenger footwell - first time ever!!!

« on: 15 April 2024, 03:18:05 PM »

Thanks Will, no sunroof, and it's never been wet in the 6 years I've had the car, so was surprised to see this.

It rained quite a bit after I got out of the car, so worried to see what I'll find when I get back later.

6

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Re: Blower fan chirping driving me nuts!!!

« on: 15 April 2024, 12:39:52 PM »

Before you do anything funky have you tried having the fan on full blast for a few minutes? I've cured all manner of grating noises over the years that way ...

Yes did that, and it didn't sort it unfortunately.

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Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Water in passenger footwell - first time ever!!!

« on: 15 April 2024, 12:29:54 PM »

It was raining when I drove to work this morning, but nothing out of the ordinary - fairly usual drive to work, with the heating and fan on as it was little nippy. Umbrella was on the front passenger floor, but I hadn't used it for a couple of weeks. I leaned over to pick it up as I was contemplating using it to go from the car park to the office, and as a I moved it, the mat immediately under where it had been was freshly wet. I noticed also another freshly wet bit forward of this but under the side edge of the centre console.

First thought was rain water getting into the fan via the cabin filter housing, but as it appeared to be from the centre console side, I wondered if it was something else in that area. The water did not smell of anything.

Any thoughts on what I need to check for, esteemed fellow Saabers?

8

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Re: What's that clanking noise at the back?

« on: 11 March 2024, 12:08:24 PM »

Well everything seems to be OK.....now I notice the knock from the front that has always been there all the more

One of the front dampers has a slight leak as picked up on the MOT, so those will need doing next. I assume if I do the top mounts at the same time, that front knock may disappear?From memory, droplinks and ARB bushes had been done before I got the car and it still had this knock on speedramps etc.

9

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Re: What's that clanking noise at the back?

« on: 05 March 2024, 12:42:23 PM »

Got the rear dampers and top mounts from Neos very quickly. I don't think I've ever bought anything from them before, and people moan about them, but I had no issues (so far!).

Yesterday my mechanic fitted them, and I now have the car back, clank free at last

10

Off-topic chat, Help, Advice, General motoring issues / Petition to reduce car tax on older cars

« on: 03 March 2024, 08:30:24 PM »

Just saw this on one of the Saab groups on Facebook...

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/654884?fbclid=IwAR3KcGRR7oAsfNKaPQTR19c097UU2r5LrUsb3r6kz7SdBdVvcPIdGgTEQXo

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

« on: 22 February 2024, 10:09:48 PM »

Why hasn't you "specialist" looked a the amount misfires per cylinder..

Service due message has no connection with dtc's what so ever..

Yeah well I haven't been back to that particlular specialist again as their Saab 'specialism' seems to have gone off in favour of other brands which is a shame as I used to use them in the early days of my opwnership of the 9-3, and also my previous 9-5 years ago (they're in Birmingham, and it isn't Bagnals, which is the one that I do want to try).

12

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

« on: 21 February 2024, 11:06:26 PM »

The cheper set should be fine.  Saabtech Parts Europe on eBay is run by the guy who was parts manager at Reading Saab, then moved to Saabtech Welwyn, but when that went into liquidation, he set up on his own in Harlow.  I've bought a lot of things from him.  They have been fine, and usually OE quality.

I did wonder if he was reputable, but sounds like he is 👍

13

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

« on: 21 February 2024, 11:05:20 PM »

No I don't get any warnings or fault codes. Hence the specialists never finding anything.....

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

« on: 21 February 2024, 12:54:44 PM »

Or are these as good, but cheaper?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152235562119?fits=Car+Make%3ASaab%7CModel%3A9-3&_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D260876%26meid%3D9ae0590c8b5d41919595a38398d1852d%26pid%3D101195%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D155920912359%26itm%3D152235562119%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D4429486%26algv%3DSimplAMLv11WebTrimmedV3MskuWithLambda85KnnRecallV1V2V4ItemNrtInQueryAndCassiniVisualRankerAndBertRecallWithVMEV3CPCAutoWithCassiniEmbRecallAndQueryItemPopRecallAndQueryExpansion%26brand%3DOE%252B&_trksid=p4429486.c101195.m1851&itmprp=cksum%3A1522355621199ae0590c8b5d41919595a38398d1852d%7Cenc%3AAQAIAAABoBIrA5X1vid5NElyTS9VP%252B1UDU3brXlp7Y83ZwoEemYoEd8dMYtY0TcaiV3FCw4DdsmOiNTYywp9igkKH5RNA1zjc9RW64Qvu9FNZ5uWaCc0j%252FKUn4xZMTbm8DZjhnsHJ6UhzsZjhmh3StQbKPrdfvJwtS0J0Y7rmBGi%252B3UXcYM8Rc3Z5WnKKUnyviTTVW%252B4SFblppgxWspJAj4CnhymdE%252BKyIe2DMrv7rcg5paR1b7oFZ9HJ6isreF6S7XLFJIHXf9nM6JMSYJdCIcPP21uIj%252FFtJzlf8IhqM3xr0a2ilevShfFgU2b1jkbS3izUdadEaljV6ef2qMX96hjKZ%252Fso94FoqQMIReyRk0YqTkGnPcc133dcN4xnQFOoA9vD7ssrfhkX2YPtwkXGzfbn8cLAYNMLqOLXXV4KhPHjJyRsymkVDGLWrx5jJfXRUFhvT%252BQuhs8RzYQs0TmJwk%252FPpY1w6dHIVCGTCaGBwClz7DcTimGwFj1Yh0EwzumNpKwjlSLTkfJp3%252FVNdBE81Hdy4VC6IGLuNhs9gd45O3lYj6Eqf1a%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A4429486&itmmeta=01HQ5VN1W26K8CQDYZX62MFYXJ

15

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / New coil packs

« on: 21 February 2024, 12:52:20 PM »

My car has has a bit of varying vibration at idle since I bought it 6 years or so back. But whenever i brought it up with the specialists at service time, they couldn't find anything wrong. More recently I have had a misfire/stutter at 2500rpm in mainly in 4th gear.

The car has had new plugs along the way, and the timing chain done, but nothing seems to have sorted this. So I suspect my ignition coils may be a bit suspect. Some time back I bought another set from a breakers, and have swapped them around, but nothing made any difference.

I have a new set of the required plugs as recommended on here, so I was wondering if I should be looking at coil packs too?

If so, are these good value?
https://www.neobrothers.co.uk/car-parts/electrical-lighting/ignition/ignition-coil/oe-direct-ignition-coil-set-x4-12787707