What I Did To My Saab Today.

[Hawkwind]

I'm starting this thread so members can  list anything and everything they've done to their cars recently. From mechanical stuff, to modding, routine maintenance, or a full restoration 

My contribution isn't so ambitious   I gave the car a good clean and scrubbed the hood in preparation for re-dying. Waiting for some dry weather now so I can get the colour on and weatherproof the canvas.

I gave the leather seats a bit of a spruce up too, touching up a couple of very minor wear patches, which have now disappeared 

While I was at it, I had a look at the boot release switch and mechanism as this isn't working, couldn't find anything obvious, so it'll have to wait until I have more time.

When I get the hood done I'll post up some before/after pictures.

[Kev_Mc]

Excellent idea

Have made the thread a sticky.

Mine is in the garage now - in for Cambelt (inc water pump, pulleys, tensioners etc), replace fog light destroyed by a stone, replace the motor for the locking thingy on the fuel filler cap and an MOT.

Went to Bond Street Saab (Leicester) to do the work. They've now moved to brand new premises in Birstall to the north of the city. Easier for me to get to being just off the A46. Courtesy car is a 2006 9-5 1.9TiD Auto. Engine pulls very well despite its 144,000 miles, car isn't quite as tight as mine, but nice to see the 1.9TiD's can take the miles as well as the proper Saab engines (is it an Alfa engine??)

[sgould]

If the drizzle stop here, I'm going to be taking out the satnav for a thorough investigation of all the connectors, to see what the best way of connecting the new one.  I think it will be cut wires and solder as no one produces an adaptor cable for the 9-5 to a Kenwood/ISO.

[collywobble]

The 1.9 TiD engine was a joint project between GM & Fiat I believe so it appeared in various Vauxhall's and Opel's, Fiat's and Alfa's.  I have driven one in an Astra van and it is a nice free revving quiet smooth engine but will it be as long lasting as the old 2.2 TiD motor in my 9-5, which has no cam belt to break suddenly, and for which I have read that taxi drivers get 300,000+ plus miles out of them.

I will be happy to get 200,000 out of mine  - 138,000 on the clock and counting!

[Geoff1951]

Finally bought a bottle of Meguiars Plast RX off the net, to tidy up one headlamp *. Took a couple of hours, but superb results. Don't buy the kit in Halfords, you'll pay £20. Half that is for a sponge and a cloth.
Also after a good wash, etc, with assorted Autoglym stuff, the car looks lovely.

* One headlamp was brand new a couple of years back after a 4x4 reversed into me. 

[Hawkwind]

Nice one Geoff.

Hoping the weather will hold out tomorrow so I can finally re-colour the hood and put some water
repellent on. Top isn't leaking, but the rain soaks right into the fabric at the moment.

As they say, 'always use protection' 

[Audax]

Tomorrow I hope to get the parts so I can replace the rear shocks and springs on my 9-5 estate, I'd known for a while that the rear end was a bit bouncy but finally checked to find the leaky shock last Saturday. After a massive amount of trouble caused by one of my local specialists I just bought spring compressors from Halfords, a second hand shock from Two Stroke and some new shocks/springs from carparts4less.co.uk which will hopefully turn up tomorrow. If they don't I have a shock to fit from Two Stroke, if they do I have a spare to play about with before breaking the car. 

[Hawkwind]

Forgot to take the before pictures, was in such a rush to get the job done. But let me assure you, there is a vast improvement
in the appearance of the hood.

Of course it cannot completely renovate the hood, but all the discolouration is gone.

I used this stuff

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BLACK-CANVAS-DYE-CAR-BOAT-ROOF-HOOD-500ML-/260971327761?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item3cc31a7111

Here's a few pictures of the results





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[sgould]

I took my car up the road to the car wash and back.  I thought I ought to have clean windows before the trip round the M25 tomorrow.

[Audax]

I built up the new strut using the second hand tower I had, I then proceeded to remove the old unit from the car, eventually I gave up as the 2 bolts holding the top housing to the car were not going to shift. So, I had to reassemble the car, drive to Halfords and buy a 16mm 1/2" drive socket so I can use the big breaker bar on my stubborn nuts tomorrow. 

[Geoff1951]

Nice Silver Machine, Hawkwind.
Looks a thousand times better than my OH's Peugeot of the same age.

[Audax]

That's 1 shock/spring replaced finally after acquiring a 1/2" drive it made the job much much easier. Car now goes around right hand bends very nicely, left hand bends are a lot more wallowing so I'll do the other side next weekend. Think I'll grind the nut off the shock too, it's in a terrible state.

[Hawkwind]

Well done mate. It's a pain when you've not got the right tools for the job 

[CitTone]

Refitted the alarm. This time I DID manage to shear off the rear arch lining retaining stud!

Bum.

Good job there is a box section to drill into behind there, so a self-tapper can be used. At last it's goodbye to "SERVICE THEFT ALARM"!

[CitTone]

....and Hello to a symptomless CEL this morning! It was fine when I took it out last night...........