balance / timing chain gear out of sync

[Max Headroom]

There are two oxygen sensors.  One each side of the catalytic convertor.  But they are not cheap. 

Trial and error can get expensive!

Try the temp sensor first. Should be the cheaper option

[Agent Orange]

I will do - thanks.
Colder today and the problem seems worse, think we're on the right track - I'll fit this over the weekend and let you know.

[Agent Orange]

fitted sensor last night and took for a run whilst still warm. Misfire/flatspot still there under light load. Just started it this morning cold and same as it has been so not the sensor. I'll take it for a 200 mile round trip today to Leicester and back and see if the ecu can sort itself out - otherwise I'll book it in to the dealer to get the timing checked out

[Max Headroom]

Damn!
Out of interest however, how much was the sensor and was it easy to get at?

Is the temp reading normally and was it reading normally before you cx'd sensor?

[Agent Orange]

£24 from the dealer and yep, once I found it took 5 mins, top of block at pulley end under the plastic cover. Just remember to depressurise system and have the new one to hand!!
Dealer is getting back to me today with full breakdown of costs for checking chains and replacing any parts.

[Audax]

I still think it needs a good tech-2 session to see what all the values are and what they are during the warm up cycle to work out what's wrong. I don't think inspecting the chains is the way forwards due to cost.

[Agent Orange]

Just booked it into indy SAAB specialist in Huddersfield - they're going to run through the ignition, maybe coil packs, but crucially, as you've been saying they can't see it being the timing. Being on a long run today and mechanically seems fine. Hope so as dealer just rang me to give an ' all in' price to do the chains - without any guarantees this will solve it, for about the same as a recon motor!!! Don't think so.
Thanks so far, hopefully the guy in Hudds will get to the bottom of it.

[Audax]

That really does sound like the way forward. Even if it did turn out to be the chains then the money saved by going to a specialist would be worth the extra diagnostics.

[Agent Orange]

Second opinion from Saab specialist and he thinks it's valve timing too 
Question is wether can get by just realigning timing without new chains etc - car's only doen 80k?

[Agent Orange]

Timing was out a little, adjusted now, but loosing compression on no. 4. Head to be taken off...

[Max Headroom]

Timing was out a little, adjusted now, but loosing compression on no. 4. Head to be taken off...

Holy cow 

[Audax]

Sounds more like it's a head gasket failure that leads to a drop in compression from cold and when warmed up it runs fine, very rare for head gasket problems on the 9-3 so you've been pretty unlucky. I had a similar thing happen on one of my old 9000's.

[AL900S]

Hi
Usually with h/g problem , you'll see a bit of white smoke on a cold start and when warm, if leaking only a little, you shouldn't get much, if any, stuttering. I had the h/g replaced on my 01 -93SEt (after a stage 1 remap). it would stutter from cold for about 10 secs (with a sweet smell of coolant from the exhaust) then all fine but felt a little down on power. Get someone to start the car for you from cold and watch for white smoke and a sickly sweet smell.

HTH
Al

[Agent Orange]

I notice the sweet smell when starting from cold, but thought it was unburnt fuel - similar to old petrol left in can?
Hope the verdict comes back soon from the garage - think we're at a point now where it´s got to be the head or valves not seating properly.

[AL900S]

Hi
Don't you get a puff of white smoke? Is coolant not disappearing from the reservoir? Removing the cap of my old 9-3, i used to get the same noise as when opening fizzy wine. That was the B205E engine - not heard of h/g going on the B207 engines. Let's see what the indie says when the head is off.

Al