We got some heavy rain in Boston last night, and before going to bed at around 1:30 yesterday I notice my Saabs headlights are on.. Weird because I didn't see them on earlier that night, so I went out to check it, found the interior lights, headlight, and red led for the alarm to be on. Windshield is very fogged up then I notice there is almost an inch of standing water on the floor in the front. Back seat floors are just soaked, but no water pooling above the carpet. I immediately unhooked the positive lead on the battery and called it a night because it was still raining cats and dogs out.
This morning I took a shop vac to the interior and collected 1.5-2gallons worth of water. I attempted to start it at this point and it cranked but did not start for ~10s. Tried again and this time it attempted to fire, ran for less then 1s and died. Tried again and thus time the alarm activated after 3s of cranking.
I unhooked the battery again and at the moment I am about up pull the carpeting back and further dry it out.
I found the leak to be a blocked drain port under the hood, but I have no idea what could have happened to the electronics. Does anyone have experience with water damage like this?
Also, key fob does not work to lock/unlock doors.
Edit:
When I was trying to start the car it sounded healthy but did not want to start at all, this led me to believe the fuel pump was not working correctly. I found out the relay for the fuel pump is under the passenger seat so I assume I will have to replace this.
I also pulled out the driver seat and pulled back all the carpeting to dry it out. I found something called the TWICE control unit which I disassembled and found the circuit board to be completely destroyed. I understand this is the control unit for the power locks/alarm (sorry for my ignorance with Saab's, this is my mothers car. I own a B5 S4 so I am very mechanically inclined, but never worked on saab's before I'm not sure where everything is).
Is there anything under the carpeting under the passanger seat that could have been ruined too, or is it electronics-free under there?
Anything else I should check for?
If the TWICE unit has been destroyed then you will need a new (or secondhand) TWICE unit and a Saab specialist or dealer to marry a new one to the car with the Tech-2 diagnostic tool. I'd speak to your local Saab specialist at this point. The TWICE unit controls locking/unlocking and is the immobiliser unit for the car which is why it would almost run. There isn't much more about there to give problems other than water getting into the wiring.
Thanks, picked up a used Twice UNIT the other day, but not sure if it will work? original key+unit on the left, replacement on the right.
1. The key styles are different, will this be a problem during re-coding at Saab?
2. Bottom half of the case has different mounting locations, however the bottom half of the cases are interchangeable. OK to do this?
(http://rhodin.smugmug.com/photos/i-hbs44sP/0/XL/i-hbs44sP-XL.jpg)
The one you've got is for a 9-3, I don't think it will work when you try to program it but I'm not 100% certain.
I think all 9-5 TWICE units are compatible (although that may not be true but I have used an early unit on a later car) as the transponder in the key just unlocks the unit and allows you to reuse your old keys.
so the fact that the replacement key does not have buttons on it is ok, because I'm just using the transponder in the key?
I'll give Saab a call to make sure the 9-3 unit is compatible.
Ok, looks like 9-3/9-5 units are compatible, judging by the description here: http://www.neobrothers.co.uk/used-twice-unit-with-genuine-saab-9395-p-2335.html
But, it also sounds like I need a 3 button key like my original, in order to correctly swap the transponder.
Sound about right?
No, you won't need any different keys, the transponder key you've got with this unit will allow access for programming and when it's being programmed you will program both the old keys to be recognized by the unit. Make sure you have all the keys you want to work with the car present when it's getting programmed.
As for If early 9-3 units are compatible with a 9-5 or not I can't tell you, you'll have to try it out, I've only ever used 9-3 on a 9-3 and 9-5 on a 9-5.
Terrible flooding did in for my Hong Kong 9000 Special.
Left in the works car park overnight whilst I was enjoying myself at Stensham Services, the car park had been flooded (up to the top of the tyres), and NO ONE told me about it.
It was dry when I finished the next day and ready to go home.
Opened the car, turned it over, got one churn then a terrible burning smell. That's when I noticed all the carpets were wet.
When I got it back, via the AA, to my SAAB specialist, the DI/APC ECU under the passenger seat was fried (you could see the burn across the circuit board) and full of mud.
Needless to say my once great car was scrapped, but many of the parts live on in my garage, the Aero interior in my Carlsson.
I bet my car would never had dried out properly, there's a lot of carpet, plastic sheeting and sound deadening foam pads in floor of a 1991 9000.
Hope yours is a simple fix.