Turbox ESP wont turn on

[pmb5]

Hi All,
My ESP off light came on while i was driving.  Went to switch it back on and it wont turn, just changes back to off.  No error codes shown/recorded.  Any ideas? 

I'll try disconnecting the battery tomorrow and see if that sorts it.

cheers

[Audax]

When you say no error codes shown or recorded what do you mean? Have you had it plugged in with Tech-2 or a generic fault code reader or do you just mean on the display? To read many of the control modules on the 9-3 you need a Tech-2 as a generic reader will not do it.

You could try disconnecting the battery but if that doesn't sort it I'd suggest that a Tech-2 session may be required.

[pmb5]

I used a generic fault code reader. Does tech-2 come with those, ahem, ebay copies of the WIS?

I'll try disconnecting the battery tonight, that's sorted it before when the electrics last went nuts, otherwise it might need a trip to the dealers.

When I tried to google it, I could only find people asking how to disable ESP all the time (i.e. how mine is now), i fully except that i lack the driver skill to have it switched off.

[Audax]

No, Tech-2 is the SAAB diagnostic tool and it costs about £3k for a full kit. It's not software, I'd get it hooked to Tech-2 simply because as far as I know all generic code readers can't read anything other than engine fault codes. I've done jobs for people in the trade who have £7-£8k and still can't read SAAB properly.

[phoenix]

If you can get hold of a copy of OPCOM and in interface, that should read it- I can pull codes from my 9-5 with it, which is earlier generation technology, and there is an option for the 9-3ss on the menu.

[Simon_C]

I've diagnosed ABS/TCS faults on my 9-3 with my op-com successfully. It can happily read fault codes and some of the ABS/TCS parameters such as wheel speeds, steering angle, etc.

Reading the fault code alone should hopefully give you a good head-start.

What year is your car? Is it a face lift dash?

When my 2005/2006 model (pre-facelift dash) has a fault light come up, I get a bing-bong and a notice come up on my SID. I assume that the newer dashes with no real SID, don't do this?

Incidentally my fault was a chaffed through wire to one of the rear wheel speed sensors. Fixed it myself and cost a fiver in parts.

[pmb5]

Hi All,

I don't drive my car much, so only just got round to disconnecting the battery today.  It's a TurboX, so 2008 with the new dash, didnt "bing bong" or display anything on the SID.

Anyway I disconnected the battery for for a minute or so and no difference, still couldn't turn back on the ESP.  I drove the car about 2-3 miles, switched it off for an hour or two and when I went to start it again it'd had fixed itself.

I've had a look in a copy of the WIS and it says if my car wasn't XWD, then i'd need a software update, so who knows.  I'll just have to hope it doesnt happen again.

cheers for all the advice.

[Saabman]

Sounds like a glitch on a sensor, by clearing the system and then driving it the ecu will see the sensors again and check they all show the same wheel speed etc over a period of time. Just keep your fingers crossed. 

[pmb5]

that's what i was hoping... the esp module isn't cheap!

still love the car 

[Simon_C]

When the wiring in mine failed, the warning was very intermittent for about 2-3 weeks and then after that, it suddenly failed totally altogether. This was down to the wiring slowly breaking down until the very last strand gave away for good.

If it happens again, get your error code read. If it is a rear wheel speed sensor failure, then consider looking at what I wrote when I had this trouble, before a garage tries to flog you a new wheel hub (with the abs wheel speed sensor): http://www.saabscene.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=31655554