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Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Re: Traction control fault message?
« Last post by carrera on 06 February 2026, 08:41:26 PM »Most encouraging, fingers crossed for you
Recent Posts
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Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Re: Traction control fault message?
« Last post by Steve McF on 06 February 2026, 07:59:47 PM »Well today I got the train to Brum and a short Uber ride from Moor Street to Bagnalls to pick my boy up at last!!!!
So in theory, the door lock (random alarm triggering), and the traction control fault should be sorted. Also had a well overdue service. Only thing outstanding is the oil leak, which is not a big one, so will get that in again asap to get the timing chain cover gasket replaced.
But back to the TCS/SCS fault, they replaced something on the ABS system (not the module itself), and fixed another dodgy earth at the ECU.
The last time I drove the car, it was tentatively up the M40/M42 in the inside lane in case of breakdown.....which luckily it didn't do, but made for a tense drive all the same.
Today, what a difference. Car seemed smoother and altogether nicer to drive....and more to the point, no TCS fault message at any point on the drive home!! Fingers crossed it carries on like that.
Tonight is the first time I have parked the car outside with the alarm set for a couple of months, so hoping no more random alarm trips......watch this space.
But already, I feel better about the car again.....after starting to think I might break it for spares.....nooooo!!!!
Back on the agenda:
- replace driver's side front wing with a better one I have
- sort front bumper paintwork, fit Aero front splitter (and dummy antenna cover) both of which I have
- stage 1 Noobtune remap
- alloy refurb (no rush on that but needs doing)
- could do with getting another driver's seat, or refurbing current seat as leather/foam base is knackered
- rusty rear wheelarch cut out and replace (as and when funds allow)
Mmmmmm it's back as my project car again!!!!!
So in theory, the door lock (random alarm triggering), and the traction control fault should be sorted. Also had a well overdue service. Only thing outstanding is the oil leak, which is not a big one, so will get that in again asap to get the timing chain cover gasket replaced.
But back to the TCS/SCS fault, they replaced something on the ABS system (not the module itself), and fixed another dodgy earth at the ECU.
The last time I drove the car, it was tentatively up the M40/M42 in the inside lane in case of breakdown.....which luckily it didn't do, but made for a tense drive all the same.
Today, what a difference. Car seemed smoother and altogether nicer to drive....and more to the point, no TCS fault message at any point on the drive home!! Fingers crossed it carries on like that.
Tonight is the first time I have parked the car outside with the alarm set for a couple of months, so hoping no more random alarm trips......watch this space.
But already, I feel better about the car again.....after starting to think I might break it for spares.....nooooo!!!!
Back on the agenda:
- replace driver's side front wing with a better one I have
- sort front bumper paintwork, fit Aero front splitter (and dummy antenna cover) both of which I have
- stage 1 Noobtune remap
- alloy refurb (no rush on that but needs doing)
- could do with getting another driver's seat, or refurbing current seat as leather/foam base is knackered
- rusty rear wheelarch cut out and replace (as and when funds allow)
Mmmmmm it's back as my project car again!!!!!
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Off-topic chat, Help, Advice, General motoring issues / Re: What I Did To My Saab Today.
« Last post by carrera on 05 February 2026, 06:41:22 PM »Not a huge task, but it brought a big smile to my face
My 9000 quasi Aero was looking a bit sad & forlorn, with tyres that had lost much of their air. I don't think I had run it for over a year, but having got my Combiadapter working I recently took an image of the bin file, which meant I would reunite the ECU with the car.
Fitted the ECU and checked the disconnected battery. 12.54V, that was the first smile
I then got the keys, switched the ignition on & pressed the fob to get the immobilisor off. The LED ceased flashing.
Turned the key and she immediately started as though I had only parked her up yesterday.
After that I inflated the tyres while she warmed up to full operating temperature. She needs a run really, but a good warm up cycle will be good enough for now
My 9000 quasi Aero was looking a bit sad & forlorn, with tyres that had lost much of their air. I don't think I had run it for over a year, but having got my Combiadapter working I recently took an image of the bin file, which meant I would reunite the ECU with the car.
Fitted the ECU and checked the disconnected battery. 12.54V, that was the first smile
I then got the keys, switched the ignition on & pressed the fob to get the immobilisor off. The LED ceased flashing.
Turned the key and she immediately started as though I had only parked her up yesterday.
After that I inflated the tyres while she warmed up to full operating temperature. She needs a run really, but a good warm up cycle will be good enough for now
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Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: Intermittant problem with dashboard / MIU
« Last post by carrera on 03 February 2026, 10:09:59 PM »Well, fully dismantled & took the MIU out
Biggest challenge was that I didn't have the satnav removal tools so had to try & make some. In the end I removed the units from the bottom cubby hole & worked up & then the fingers were inserted allowing me to remove the satnav by pushing from the back.
There's no wires for the MIU that run under the steering wheel, so I don't understand quite how me knocking the dash with my knee brought it to life.
The blue connector on the back of the MIU was tested. Pin 17 for terminal 30, permanent live and pin 1 for terminal 15, switched live. I wiggled the wires but there was no break evident.
I took the back of the MIU off to look at the circuit board was in mint condition, so I reassembled & treated the pins to some contact spray.
Put her all back together & drove home with no sign of any problems.
"See how she goes Sir"
Biggest challenge was that I didn't have the satnav removal tools so had to try & make some. In the end I removed the units from the bottom cubby hole & worked up & then the fingers were inserted allowing me to remove the satnav by pushing from the back.
There's no wires for the MIU that run under the steering wheel, so I don't understand quite how me knocking the dash with my knee brought it to life.
The blue connector on the back of the MIU was tested. Pin 17 for terminal 30, permanent live and pin 1 for terminal 15, switched live. I wiggled the wires but there was no break evident.
I took the back of the MIU off to look at the circuit board was in mint condition, so I reassembled & treated the pins to some contact spray.
Put her all back together & drove home with no sign of any problems.
"See how she goes Sir"
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Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Re: Traction control fault message?
« Last post by carrera on 03 February 2026, 09:58:03 PM »Oh, you'll notice the difference with the remap.
Really notice the difference
Enjoy your new car, when you get it back
Really notice the difference
Enjoy your new car, when you get it back
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Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon / Convertible / Combi (Wagon/Estate) / Turbo X / AWD (2003 on) / Re: Traction control fault message?
« Last post by Steve McF on 03 February 2026, 09:31:18 PM »The Aero is still with Bagnalls, but Fraser called yesterday to say he thinks they might have got to the bottom of the TCS and starting issues. There was another bad earth I had missed by the ECU, and he said they replaced (I think it was) an ABS control unit. The oil leak was the timing chain cover gasket, and they tracked down the random alarm triggering to be due to a dodgy rear door switch solenoid. That part they didn't have, but he's holding onto the car so they can fit it when it arrives.
Other than that they've also done the well overdue service.
So, really hoping they've managed to get my boy back on the road reliably again. I must admit, I had started to look at him sat in the garage and wonder if I should SORN him and break him for spares.
But if he's running well, I might just get up to Nottingham to see Karl at Noobtune for that Stage 1 remap I've been promising myself since I bought the car!!!!
Fingers crossed and I'll update you once the car is back!!!!
Other than that they've also done the well overdue service.
So, really hoping they've managed to get my boy back on the road reliably again. I must admit, I had started to look at him sat in the garage and wonder if I should SORN him and break him for spares.
But if he's running well, I might just get up to Nottingham to see Karl at Noobtune for that Stage 1 remap I've been promising myself since I bought the car!!!!
Fingers crossed and I'll update you once the car is back!!!!
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Off-topic chat, Help, Advice, General motoring issues / Re: I bought a new toy
« Last post by carrera on 03 February 2026, 11:16:50 AM »Ooops, I did it again. Bought another.
This one is the later model, but spares / repair, so I picked it up and started evaluating what repairs would be required / possible. Everything seems to be working, but I'm not convinced that the HC measurement is working correctly. I was told water had damaged the circuit board, but after dissasembly yesterday, I can't see any obvious evidence. I have ordered some bits to fix some basic hardware issues, and turned the inlet filter round so the flow arrow is in the right direction
Any way, what this is has confirmed is that my older model has been upgraded to the later model, which means PC, gas module, software. It also means I have something to calibrate against. I'm delighted to say that the diesel smoke meter, which is the same on both items, is not only fully functional, but is actually calibrated until Nov '26. Battery & bluetooth antenna problems solved
The Dame Enda is with me today, to deal with what I think is a broken wire in the loom, so I thought I would put her through the MOT procedure.
These Saabs really are clean when running properly. She sailed through, with 0 hydrocarbons and 0 CO on the fast idle test
Here's a picture of the new one
This one is the later model, but spares / repair, so I picked it up and started evaluating what repairs would be required / possible. Everything seems to be working, but I'm not convinced that the HC measurement is working correctly. I was told water had damaged the circuit board, but after dissasembly yesterday, I can't see any obvious evidence. I have ordered some bits to fix some basic hardware issues, and turned the inlet filter round so the flow arrow is in the right direction
Any way, what this is has confirmed is that my older model has been upgraded to the later model, which means PC, gas module, software. It also means I have something to calibrate against. I'm delighted to say that the diesel smoke meter, which is the same on both items, is not only fully functional, but is actually calibrated until Nov '26. Battery & bluetooth antenna problems solved
The Dame Enda is with me today, to deal with what I think is a broken wire in the loom, so I thought I would put her through the MOT procedure.
These Saabs really are clean when running properly. She sailed through, with 0 hydrocarbons and 0 CO on the fast idle test
Here's a picture of the new one
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Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: Intermittant problem with dashboard / MIU
« Last post by carrera on 03 February 2026, 08:05:32 AM »It's the Dame Edna, I only looked at the 2006 wiring, from what I have seen the SID is downstream from all these connections, so the 1998-2005 cars should be wired in a similar way, but who knows with Saab
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Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: Intermittant problem with dashboard / MIU
« Last post by sgould on 03 February 2026, 08:00:35 AM »The symptoms do seem to point to a broken wire or a corroded connector.
Which of your may 9-5s is it? A Damehas different wiring with the SID clipped to the back of the MIU. No idea if this would make a difference…
Which of your may 9-5s is it? A Damehas different wiring with the SID clipped to the back of the MIU. No idea if this would make a difference…
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Classic Saab 9-5 (MY 1998-2010) / Re: Intermittant problem with dashboard / MIU
« Last post by carrera on 02 February 2026, 10:37:34 PM »I have been studying the wiring diagrams, which has involved getting the highlighter pens out. 
The finger of blame was pointing at the feed from fuse 27 of the dashboard fusebox
So then I went into the power supply area of the MIU technical description
I think we have a winner
I suspect this require the removal of the dashboard, I had best make sure I can find the radio removal tools first
The finger of blame was pointing at the feed from fuse 27 of the dashboard fusebox
So then I went into the power supply area of the MIU technical description
I think we have a winner
I suspect this require the removal of the dashboard, I had best make sure I can find the radio removal tools first