Messages

1

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: egr system

« on: 22 June 2012, 01:54:30 PM »

Thanks for all the input guys.

2

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: egr system

« on: 22 June 2012, 01:51:27 PM »

Your V6 gas / petrol engine doesn't have an EGR.  Only the Saab V6 diesel as that.  I've heard that the diesel EGR can cause problems, but the expets reckon that it can confuse the electronic engine control to blank it off etc.

The weak points on the gas /petrol V6 are the rubber timing belt.  Well, not so much weak as needing to be changed when stated in the service and not left any longer.  If it fails the engine destroys the valves and pistons.

Also the oil cooler that sits in the middle ov the V between the cylinder heads corrodes and leaks, resulting in oil in water and water in oil.

O.K. I must have just confused the oil cooler for the EGR oil cooler in my truck, it is below the intake manifold sortof near the center of the top of the engine, but I thought all emission controled vehicles had an EGR system or at least an EGR valve?

Anyway, I would like to head off any possible problems with that component before problems arrise.
but it may be too late, yesterday when my wife got home from work(she drives it) there was water/coolant running out the bottom-front and the ! warning light was on and the resivoir was empty. So I'm hoping it's a hose or even the radiator and not the oil cooler.It had been using some coolant in the past week or 2 but very little until yesterday.

Great timing too since my truck wouldn't start yesterday morning!

3

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / egr system

« on: 22 June 2012, 03:44:18 AM »

I have a question about a "modification" to the EGR system. I don't know if this can be done or if so if it will work the way I'm hoping.

First off I'm in the US so keep that in mind as far as emission rules, engine type, ect..
 OK, I have a diesel tow truck(wrecker) and it has a notoriously problematic EGR system that is prone to having a clogged cooler(heat exchanger) which causes blown head gaskets and other failures. So in states where they don't do emission inspections people have started to bypass this system by blocking off the inlet side of the cooler, which I just did to the forementioned wrecker a couple of weeks ago. It runs much better and is supposed to get better MPG although I can't yet confirm that. What this is bringing me to is that I read somewhere on here that the Saab that I have ('01 9-5 3.0v6) has a similar problematic egr system that can leak and cause major problems. So I was wondering if a procedure like the one I described above can be done on this engine? I realise that one is a diesel and one is gas but I'm not sure how similar they may be in this system.

Any thoughts or sugestions are appreciated

4

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: HELP..

« on: 22 February 2012, 06:31:44 PM »

Thanks, I sure will.  

5

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: HELP..

« on: 22 February 2012, 03:39:02 PM »

sgould, what part of the UK are you? I have an aunt and cousin that live in Wimbledon and I would like to take a visit one of these days.

6

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: HELP..

« on: 22 February 2012, 03:32:14 PM »

UK/US terminology!!

Cambelt and timing belt are the same thing!

OOPS!
sorry for the missunderstanding, I did wonder what "other" belt the cams would be connected to, I just assumed Timing belt was universal.

Thanks for the pics, they help alot.

7

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: HELP..

« on: 22 February 2012, 02:24:55 PM »

Hi

Cambelt should be changed every 54000 miles so i would change yours if youve no history. Replace the rollers while your there.

steve

Is that part of the timing belt change?
I had a porsche 944 and you always change the bal. shaft belt when you change the timing belt so is the cam belt a similar situation? I haven't been inside this engine yet so I'm not familiar with the "layout".

8

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: HELP..

« on: 17 February 2012, 02:37:15 AM »

Great news

How many miles has your car done? Do you have any service history with it? Would go gentle for a few miles and then check all fluids.

steve

The car has 160000 mls, no I didn't get any history with it but I only paid $560.00 and it had a 3 month old battery and 1 yr. old tires, so I thought it would be worth a shot.
What I did is tow it to the shop, 1 hr. drive away, and then drove it back. It drove great almost the whole way but I stoped at an exit just a few miles from my town and when I got on the onramp to get back on the highway it lost power and died. I tried to start it and it would start fine but would die again when i went to put it in drive. Finally on about the 6-8 try I got it to move and got back on the highway and it did ok until I exited at my exit and then died again. so after a few tries I got to a parking lot and when I popped the hood it was obvious what had happened, I had taken the inlet-throttle body hose off and not tightened the clam so it had seperated. Put it back together and tightened the clamp and ran great again.
Thanks for the help.
Chris

9

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: HELP..

« on: 17 February 2012, 02:20:13 AM »

Well Done!

As far as I know on a 9-5 you can reprogram things many times.  It's only on the newer 9-3 that things get difficult and some things can only be done once.

Look after the turbo, it's an expensive item on the V6 as it's part of the manifold.

Change the timing belt religiously on time, it's expensive if it goes, the valves hit the pistons.

And keep an eye on the water and oil.  If you see signs of them mixing, check the oil cooler.  It lies in the 'vee' on  top of the engine and it corrodes eventually, letting oil into the water and vice-versa.

Otherwise, it should be good!!

Ya, I'm going to do the timing belt pretty soon and if I get the nerve up I might go ahead and take that oil cooler off and up-grade it (I think I read on here that there is an improved design that can be changed over to) or just clean and inspect it. As far as the turbo, I hope its in good condition because I don't want to replace that. But are there any rebuild kits out there for these turbos? I've seen rebuild kits for other ones but these are Saabs so I'm not sure.

Thanks again for all the help.

10

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: HELP..

« on: 16 February 2012, 02:24:16 PM »

I got it running or rather the indi shop got it running. It only took him 20 min. to reprogram or marry the TWICE to the ECU. He really didn't want to mess with it because I had put a used unit in it, he even told me he didn't think they could be married since it was from a diff. car, but he reluctently kept trying and voila it started up!

New question; is there anything I should do other than change the oil since it hasn't run in about 5-6 months? I'm a little worried about the turbo bearing being without oil for so long but I don't know anything I could do about that. It has about 3/4 of a tank of fuel but it doesn't smell bad.

11

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: blinking red light

« on: 10 February 2012, 03:05:22 PM »

Thanks,
 I'm just trying to rule out any signal that may help me fix it before I take it an hour away to the shop. I have an appointment on tue. with the indi shop, the closest thing to a dealer (GM dealer that used to have Saab's) is over 2 hours away.
Thanks again.

12

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / blinking red light

« on: 10 February 2012, 02:43:46 PM »

I know the blinking red light on the top center of dash is for alarm but I noticed the other day that it flashes when the car is unlocked, key out. Is this normal or is this a signal of something not right with the system? I still havent taken it to the shop for the reprogram and still won't start. But I just didn't know if this is normal or not. Our '99 volvo has the same kind of light on the dash but I believe it only blinks when the car is locked and alarm activated.

13

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: Leak?????

« on: 06 February 2012, 11:45:01 PM »

Like this

http://www.permatex.com/products/Automotive/lubricants/specialty_lubricants/Permatex_Copper_Anti-Seize_Lubricant_b.htm

The higher the copper content the better to a degree. The Halfords product is OK but its Copper content is not as high as some of the commercial products.
 
A readily available good quality product is made by Granville. I think even Amazon sell it now.

Steve

Now that I've seen. I'll definetly get some.
Thanks

14

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: Leak?????

« on: 06 February 2012, 08:47:17 PM »

Hi,

Not much help, but when my A/C drains blocked, water filled air vents to rear upto the point water was being sprayed onto my rear seat passengers. This was how I discovered I had a problem. I had same areas of wetness. The Unit itself was filling up!!!!.

Ya, I already took off the drain tubes under the front floor padding and they were clogged so I thought that had solved it until I left it outside and it still got water inside without it running or any A/C being on, So that kind of ruled out the A/C.

I got the wiper arms and cowel off yesterday and the only thing that looks suspect is the fan housing. It has a smaller shield over it and is "sealed" around the edge but it still looks like water could get in around it or maybe through the wiper arm hole in the shield. There was also a good bit of leaves and crud in the tray area under the cowel. So I'm going to clean all that and put some silicone around the motor housing and see if that does it.

15

Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: Leak?????

« on: 06 February 2012, 06:04:09 PM »

Don't forget to put some copaslip on the wiper arm fixings before re-attaching!

Beat me to it - I was about to say the exact same thing!

Thanks, but what is "copaslip" ? Is it like a grease or something?