Starting

[Mrkibbles]

Hi guys

Right I'm having trouble starting my car (1.9 tid, 2004) when I turn the key back off after a failed attempt the alternator light and sometimes the oil light stays on, I know the saabs suffer from alternator issues but would that prevent it from starting? Or could it be the starter motor or maybe the glow plugs? I think I need to look at my egr valve too but could that also be the problem? Any feedback greatly appreciated

[Mrkibbles]

Update :- had another problem to add now, on 2 occasions it has flashed up " water in fuel, contact dealer" for a split second then it disappears? Sounds bad, anyone had this before ? I don't even know how water can get into the fuel?

[smurkenstein]

I wonder if you have a battery issue. A failing battery can cause a whole bunch of errors and issues and weird error messages.

[Mrkibbles]

Hi

By hooking the battery upto a voltage reader will this tell me if the battery has issues or could there be something else?

[sgould]

It might,but a proper battery test with the right machine would be better.  That would put a full drain on it for a short period and show up a failing cell.

It you have a battery tester with the squeezy bulb and a battery than can be tested with one, then a bad cell would show quickly.  Test after standing overnight.

[nine-fiver]

A bit late, sorry. If you are still trying to sort this one out.
Certainly suspect the battery. If it is three years old, just order a new one anyway.
But a simple and effective load test is to put on all the lights, all of them and try to start the car. If it refuses or cranks slowly, then the battery is the culprit. A volt tester will also give you a good idea of what is going on. Test it with the car off. The start and see what the volts do. If they don't get above 13.5V once it is running at idle then the alternator may be an issue, however this is quite rare these days. If you can swap another battery from a  donor car and see if that sorts it out, then that is an easy one too. Particularly if you have two saabs in the driveway.

[Mrkibbles]

hi guys

for anyone interested I thought I would update u all as to what my dramas were about.

so after mincing about with local garages and replacing my egr valve with a brand new one ( which didn't change anything at all) I decided to put it into a saab specialist who diagnosed a list of issues. The reasons it was struggling to start was I needed a new starter motor. they also diagnosed the 2nd injector needed replacing and I had a hole in my intercooler for the turbo. my rear suspension arms were knackered and both rear tyres scrubbed to illegal. so after 9 days in the garage, all the above replaced and repaired with genuine parts and a final bill of £1740, I finally have my perfect running black beauty back, albeit I now have negative equity with it, but touch wood she will stand me in gd stead for several yrs now, thx for all ur help and advice

[sgould]

Wow!

That's a lot!  But at least it's going well now

[nine-fiver]

Now that's what a real Saabisti does to keep the faith.
Well done!