How long will it last.....

[Norfolk Jim]

Last time car was in main dealers they had to replace the large lower intercooler pipe which was soared by oil. Whole area round turbo etc was cleaned off to see where oil was coming from. This was in Sept approx 1700 miles ago. When in last week having xenon's sorted they looked to see where the oil leak was from and it's the turbo leaking.

Now based on the car having a fully documented history and current mileage being 118882 what are the chances of...

a) this being due to wear and tear, b) simply a seal to be replaced, and c) turbo going at any time??

The reason I ask is I have a warranty on it which covers turbo and they'll replace if it fails but policy runs out tomorrow. Dealer has put a claim in but warranty company wants it removed and sent off for inspection which I will end up paying for if they say it's wear and tear - obviously quite a cost which I don't have cash for at this moment!

Car is 56 reg 2007 9-5 Vector Sport Auto Estate 1.9TiD.

Help much appreciated

[David]

First thought is a seal gone or even an oil pipe that needs a bit of tightening?

If it was internal then surely you would have seen the cloud that is ' the smoke of doom' when accelerating?

[Norfolk Jim]

No clouds but quite a bit of oil round turbo.

[David]

Still think it only needs a new seal or nipping up. 

[Audax]

a) this being due to wear and tear, b) simply a seal to be replaced, and c) turbo going at any time??

All mechanical failures are going to be a result of wear and tear, I never quite understood that part of any warranty statement because the only items that should be covered by wear and tear would be consumables so service items, bulbs, tyres and brakes etc. which have a service lifetime. A turbocharger isn't rated to be replaced at any lifetime or after a certain amount of times it has spooled etc. so any turbo failure is a warranty case, the only issue here is technically it has not failed yet as it's still operational.

Anyway how much oil is it leaking? and where from precisely? If the dealer has removed it how much play is there in the core as if it's out of specification then technically you may be able to claim that it has failed because of that but depending on the warranty company and how much they have paid out this week then it may be tricky to make a claim on this basis.

[TomPaine]

In my experience - I had a policy with WD many years ago, on which I had some success - the dealer / mechanic being on board, and having the stamina to make the case for you on the 'phone, is always critical. I remember when my SID started to fail. The policy said it would cover the 'trip computer' but not the 'stereo/radio panel' or something like that. I briefed my guy and heard him make a call which went something like:

'The Saab Information Display has failed. It's a trip computer.'
'What does it do?'
'It's a trip computer.'
'What functions does it perform?'
'It's a trip computer.'
'Is it part of the stereo system?'
'It's a trip computer.'
'Does it show radio stations?'
'It's a trip computer.'
'OK, here's your authorisation number...'

[Audax]

In my experience - I had a policy with WD many years ago, on which I had some success - the dealer / mechanic being on board, and having the stamina to make the case for you on the 'phone, is always critical. I remember when my SID started to fail. The policy said it would cover the 'trip computer' but not the 'stereo/radio panel' or something like that. I briefed my guy and heard him make a call which went something like:

Where I used to work we had to introduce a specific hourly rate for us to work with warranty companies, we would only waive this for friendly customers. I used to do the warranty work while I was booking parts in and doing account reconciliation because they were so hard to deal with as they had such a large overhead, we even found one that charged 10p a minute on a call and that call would only connect the call after precisely 20 minutes on hold! It used to be a similar situation of having to read the policy and noting exceptions before calling up to work out precisely what was covered to try and argue the customers side, it was not simple.

[Norfolk Jim]

The leak isn't that bad. There is no dripping oil anywhere that I can see but speaking with one or two Turbo companies they don't suspect it is the turbo but more of a breather issue in that when idel there isn't as much pressure and oil misting can ouse out.

I have taken the decision that it's worth perhaps getting a re-manufactured one for £375 + VAT with 3 year warranty and cost of 2 hrs labour is not much more than a years extension on the warranty! So rather than have a possible 1250 bill I will wait and see

[Neil of Stevenage]

I have taken the decision that it's worth perhaps getting a re-manufactured one for £375 + VAT with 3 year warranty and cost of 2 hrs labour is not much more than a years extension on the warranty! So rather than have a possible 1250 bill I will wait and see

Let me check in my garage - again!   

[Audax]

I don't think you'd get it past a warranty company with those circumstances, It's still a lot of money but Euro Saab Parts have that turbo as a new genuine Saab part on their site at £607+vat.

Might also be worth checking that the oil return pipe isn't damaged in any way, the smallest knock or kink can cause problems.

[Norfolk Jim]

I have taken the decision that it's worth perhaps getting a re-manufactured one for £375 + VAT with 3 year warranty and cost of 2 hrs labour is not much more than a years extension on the warranty! So rather than have a possible 1250 bill I will wait and see

Let me check in my garage - again!   

That would be quite ironic Neil!!! That black aero is still going strong and must have done over 200k now. The chap was a sedatory driver so those 300 horses are probably still in the stables - lol

[Norfolk Jim]

Well the usual whistle of the turbo spooling up changed yesterday to become more of a growl!!!!!

Pulling away even with light throttle you could hear it much louder than normal and quite a different noise; the whistle is there but now masked by this noise which to me sounded like a bearing.

This morning I managed to slowly coax it into my friendly garage and when I described it he said that's bearing failure and said he heard it immediately I turned up and reversed car in.

I've managed to get a re-manufactured one for £295 inc VAT delivered for Mon/Tues on exchange. Ordered supply and return pipes from dealers which look like being Vauxhall for speed but are the same. Garage is sorting out the gaskets etc and has said as turbo hasn't actually failed we may not need to do oil change - something the dealers also said so all in all hopefully get the car back Christmas eve sorted for around £450 or less.......................fingers crossed.

[sgould]

Ouch!

[David]

Sorry to read the news Jim. Right on Christmas as well.   

Hope you get it sorted OK.

[Norfolk Jim]

Thanks Guys. The only bonus is that I don't need it to go anywhere till end of December. I have my youngest here and can borrow his Focus if needed or our van or (if she's about - a nurse working Christmas) SWIMBO's Golf.

I'm happy with cost as long as it stays round that figure. The two pipes have added up to £114 using Vauxhall one - next day delivery price VOR! Main dealers wanted in region of £1300 but they only use a brand new one - seems slightly pointless as the one I am getting is the same warranty - was mentioned a year or so ago on here http://www.qualityturbos.co.uk/saab-9-3-turbocharger-19-tid-garrett-766340-773720-755046-turbo-93-150-bhp-04gt-506-p.asp

Hope to have it back On Wed morning......................thankfully I am extremely busy with a couple of Eco houses so can afford it but that's not to say I don't want value for money and not daylight robbery! Still two days bank holiday coming up???