Poor Cold Starting Solution

[Neil of Stevenage]

What's a block tester? Is it a chemical test?

As Audax says. The main plus point is that it only takes about 5mins and only involves opening the bonnet and removing the expansion bottle cap.

[nine-fiver]

So, five days of excellent cold start-ups in the workshop sees it being the fuel pump. Relieved and a bit peeved. But it is sorted, for now. Maybe didn't really need the new DI, but certainly did need the engine mounts. The DI was actually pretty old and was very average in hot weather, and now it has a 2011 version in it, so that's good.
But the BEST thing is that I don't need to get a new car!! Yay!!

[mikeloadsasaabs]

But the BEST thing is that I don't need to get a new car!! Yay!!

  Always a relief to get these obscure problems sorted!

[nine-fiver]

Certainly. 
It's interesting too, with these cars getting to the age now where this sort of stuff is happening more and more. It's 14years old, lots of stuff worn out now, rebuild everything to keep on motoring?
For me, I want another 50,000km out of it, and am quite prepared to spend on things that need doing.
The Subframe (bushes) needs replacing, the driver's seatbelt is shot, it is all just on the edge of being uneconomic. But if it runs, and drives well, and does what it does best, by being clever for families with a dog, and a boat...then it is all good. So long as it does its core business, actually being a functioning motor that runs.
Which leads me to the obvious conclusion, when a Saab is good it is very very good, and when it is bad, it is really bad...and all that goes along with that. But isn't that true of any car these days?

[mikeloadsasaabs]

The Subframe (bushes) needs replacing, the driver's seatbelt is shot, it is all just on the edge of being uneconomic. But if it runs, and drives well, and does what it does best, by being clever for families with a dog, and a boat...then it is all good. So long as it does its core business, actually being a functioning motor that runs.
Which leads me to the obvious conclusion, when a Saab is good it is very very good, and when it is bad, it is really bad...and all that goes along with that. But isn't that true of any car these days?

I have been lucky by having a good one! Funnily enough, the only high(ish) cost item that I know needs doing is the subframe bushes, same as you. Can't remember how old your car is, but mine's 11 and a half with 223,000 miles on the clock.

Hope it continues to give you good service 

[Norfolk Jim]

Got my 6 sub-frame bushes done at main dealers with special deal. £315 all in but it took all day so I was well in there (£90 / hr labour costs) but to be honest I didn't find the car any different at all!!!! ride was the same still even though both the back two had had it. Surprised really.

[mikeloadsasaabs]

It's the clunkng noises from under the floor with mine. I intend to wheel it to the nearest dealer when I've time for a quick look see and estimate. Doubt whether it will be cheap 

[nine-fiver]

Picked the car up today. The fuel pump was slow to build sufficient pressure and was creating the starting problems. It ran well once started but never had enough in the rail to get the injectors to spray correctly. It had good pressure on the gauge once it ran, and certainly tricky to diagnose and solve. A new pump sorted it out. 10 days of consecutive workshop cold starts have given me confidence, finally.

[nine-fiver]

A full day of running about in the wagon has been excellent, picking up and dropping off the kids everywhere. Started first pop every time and ran perfectly, with lots of push and zip. It hasn't driven like this for years! Seems life is back to normal again. Get in and go, twenty times a day, and do what families do. Makes you realize what a big part of family life the car actually is.