9-5 1.9TiD EGR Valve

[fourniers]

As a complete new-comer to this Forum, hello to all, but although this subject is sure to have been already aired, any information or guidance based on experiences of other members, or guests, will be greatly appreciated.

My SAAB is a Sept. 2009 9-5 'Edition' 1.9 TiD, auto, estate which, according the the Concept SAAB sales guy, was Hirsch upgraded (as they apparently did with all of their 9-5 1.9 TiD estates?).

The current mileage is only around 22k miles, but apart from trips back to the UK, most trips are very short hauls, typically 30 miles max. and 6 miles regularly, mostly at relatively low revs.  I know that a few of my friends around here, especially with diesel VW/Skoda, have suffered sudden losses of power which can vary from one day to the next, the generally blamed culprit being EGR valve fouling issues because of slow running and short drives, with the various 'expert' suggestions being that the occasional bit of 'Jeremy Clarkson' driving' is the only reliable remedy.

Is this an issue with SAAB diesels which is likely to be of concern for me, especially given the sort of running which the car is mostly being used, or am I being unnecessarily 'nervous'?  I have thought of running around more in 'Sport' mode, or in a lower gear to keep the revs. up a bit, but I cannot reconcile doing that as a matter of course.  It just doesn't 'sound' right'!

I have to say, in retrospect, I now wish that I had searched that bit harder for a petrol version (as was my previous 1999 SAAB 9-5 2.3 LTP auto estate), but I am now stuck with what I have, for the present at least.

As a side issue, does anyone know who made the diesel engines which were installed in SAAB?  I was told Alfa Romeo by one source and PSA (Peugeot-Citroen) from another, i.e., a Vauxhall dealership parts manager.

[TomPaine]

As a side issue, does anyone know who made the diesel engines which were installed in SAAB?  I was told Alfa Romeo by one source and PSA (Peugeot-Citroen) from another, i.e., a Vauxhall dealership parts manager.

Fiat!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JTD

[Audax]

I doubt all of their sales cars were Hirsch upgraded, what if you didn't want a modified car? It would also create insurance issues for them.

Anyhow, it seems like a bit of a mix up over the particulate filter and EGR valve has occured. If your car has a particulate filter installed it will need a good run along a motorway at speed every so often to allow the particle filter to "regenerate" this allows the carbon that has built up in the filter to be burned off due to higher revs and extra fuel being injected during this process. As for the EGR valve, it will eventually seize up and clog with the driving you are doing, your options are to occasionally remove it and clean it or just wait for it to fail (most likely after approx 60k) and then replace it, it isn't a massively expensive part at around £150 either and they don't fail /that/ often. Particulate filter problems are far more prevalent with the kind of journeys that you are doing.

As for the engine, it was made by FIAT and is used in Vauxhall and Alfa too.

[sgould]

I was told that the particulate filter takes about 10 to 20 minutes to burn off the soot, but it won't start the process until the engine and exhaust are warmed up.  So say a 30 minute drive once a week? The problem seems to be greater if the process has started and is stopped before it has completed.  It gives the opportunity for the diesel/soot mixture that was burning off to cool and harden.  Over time this will build up.

Still, I can't confirm any of the above as I don't drive a diesel.

But a couple of things on the bright side.  The newer diesels may have some modified parts that help the problem,

There seem to be more reports on the forums of failures with the 9-3 than the 9-5.

And finally, it is possible to remove the filter and disconnect the burn off system.  Although this seems OK now, it may cause a problem with future MOT tests.

[Max Headroom]

...it is possible to remove the filter and disconnect the burn off system.  Although this seems OK now, it may cause a problem with future MOT tests.

Firstly, Fourniers, a big welcome to the forums - it seems a lot of your questions are answered here already! 

Will, regarding the above statement about the filter and disco'ing it from the burn-off - is that an easy task, and what exactly do you mean by a future problem? If it's easy to do then surely re-con' it at MOT time? or do you mean that there are some rather more permanent long-term implications that are possible?

[sgould]

Well, as usual with a lot of my advice, it's secondhand.....

But there are people offering ways of getting round the problem of the filter clogging.  Either by removing it or by removing the internal working parts.  Whichever way it's done, the engine management needs to be reprogrammed, otherwise loads of faults will be logged and fuel wasted.

The system works by adding fuel to the exhaust.  This allows the filter deposits to actually burn, which removes them.

Seems an odd way of getting round the particulate emissions by saving it all up for a week or so, and then dumping it in one place in 20 minutes!

But complete removal may fall foul of the new MOT regulations which require the presence of emissions stuff like catalytic convertors whether the actual emissions are OK or not.
But the main reason you want to keep the filter clear is that if it blocks it can only be force cleared by a dealer a couple of times.  And a new replacement genuine filter is around £1000 to supply and fit.  There are cheaper ones on the aftermarket.

[Max Headroom]

a new replacement genuine filter is around £1000 to supply and fit.  There are cheaper ones on the aftermarket.

Ouch!

I can understand why people are wanting to avoid this one 

Thanks Will

[Norfolk Jim]

Question - does mine have a particulate filter being one of last 9-5 2.2tid's. It was registered Sept 2005.

[sgould]

I don't think any 2.2 engines had the particulate filter.

[sgould]

I've had a quick look at the WIS and the particle filter is not mentioned for 2005, but it is for 2006.

[Norfolk Jim]

Thanks Will. Didn't think it had one just a Cat.

[Mr Linear]

I believe the DPF is only fitted to the 1.9's.

Also read somewhere that the Mk1 9-3 SS Airflow's didn't have them fitted as they were in short supply at the time, hence the extra equipment.

The wife's recently acquired'08 Vector Sport 150 Tid  will not be doing the longest journeys in the world...I'll be interested to see just how the DPF and EGR hold up. 

Mr. L.

[Audax]

Some early 1.9 diesel 9-3's didn't have the DPF, it can be a bit hit and miss as certainly many were not badged as "airflow" and I've seen one Vector. The 2.2 diesel never had a DPF fitted.

[wrighar]

wifey's 1.9TTid does nearly 10miles each way, 4 times a week plus a few other short runs.

We try to do a 30 mile each way run every 2-3 weeks.

It's done 3  300m+ round trips too.

All since August 2011. So far no problems.

[Audax]

What's the mileage on the TTID? Most problems with diesels tend to appear around 80k which is conveniently 20k after the warranty would have ended Saying that the later cars appear to be much improved, the 05 and 06 1.9 models were certainly worse but the egr valve and intake manifolds were modified a few times since then.