What I Did To My Saab Today.

[sgould]

Thanks!

[sgould]

Fitted a new door lock to the 2010 9-3 Carlsson.  BIt of a saga.  Went for a secondhand one in the end, despite previous bad experiences with the same thing a few years ago on the old 1.8t.  I would have bought a new lock, but the Orio price has now escalated to £386 - for one lock!! It was less than half that earlier in the year...

[phoenix]

Passenger or driver side? The passenger is waaaay more troublesome.

[sgould]

Driver's side.  Having spent most of the week checking voltages and things out, I confirmed it was the lock itself.  Putting in the in"new" secondhand one only took 15 minutes.

I haven't been into the passenger side door in this car.  I went into that door in the old 1,8t to change a window regulator.  What's the big difference?  The key mechanism, etc.?

[welshwizard]

I saw the thread in UKSaabs and couldn't reply there as I am boycotting that site (although I visit I no longer have an account - it was becoming all about Espin99T)...

Anyway, what I would've said would a generic GM part been possible for the lock?.  The facelift 9-3s were fitted IIRC with 'normal' handles/locks rather than the groovy items that were fitted to Saabs between 1993 and 2010 (9k excepted), although I thin Cabrios still had the original style all the way to the end....

I think that having the NG9-5 isn't quite the handicap unless you mash up the visible bits, everything mechanical and electrical is pure GM and it sounds like parts for older models are becoming increasingly problematic (that was the case 10 years ago when I lost the drivers side mirror and could not get a direct replacement - Orio denied autodimming exterior mirrors did not exist).

[sgould]

I had a brief look at GM parts, but I didn't find any that are similar in shape.. The lock I have is a Valeo one. That's the name moulded into one side, with Saab on the other.  Not sure of any other part numbers, there were no paper label on the item.

[phoenix]

What's the big difference?  The key mechanism, etc.?

Yes, having the key there means another rod attached to the lock mechanism and it gets very fiddly to manoeuvre it all around

[carrera]

Couple of MOT's today, having done the prep last weekend

Grey & green ones, both passed with no advisories 

Not bad for 19 & 20 year old cars 

[sgould]

I hope mine passes.  It's due by the end of the month. It needs a run over, but I've developed something like a sprained wrist and a swollen hand

[carrera]

Which one, the 9-5?

The simple stuff like lights, wipers, horn, tyres, handbrake are still all within a 15 minute easy check.

Bottom ball joints would I say be next most common failure point, after that it's CV boots, rear bushes, the last of those not being on the easy DIY list, even with uninjured hands

[sgould]

It will be booked in through Joes Repair Shop.  So it will be serviced as well.

[Audax]

MOT and Service day, decided to try indysaab in Rushden, about £580 down, major service, back box and mot done and a customer supplied headlamp washer fitted. Can highly recommend them! Front of house staff knew what they were talking about which gives me great confidence in their abilities, busy workshop too.

[ScarbSaab]

Replaced the failed cabin blower on the estate. Took a while to get it out and even longer to get the new one in - Haynes says to flex the bulkhead with a ratchet strap. It is possible... eventually. Took about 3 hours, though that involved a lot of stopping to let cars go past and learning where all the screws are. All back together by 5, now has a nice quiet fan. I was very pleased until I remembered the windscreen wiper motor connection! So back in tomorrow. At least the wiper arms have been cracked off, so it shouldn't take long.

[welshwizard]

Yesterday actually.

trying to investigate why there was a lot of frosted condensation in the Golf and my NG....

Followed some youtube vids for checking the 9-3SS and given they are both 'GM' cars thought what would apply to 9-3 applies also to the NG.... And found the rubber gasket beneath the bulkhead without having to remove the scuttle....thankfully no debris clogging it up.  Car is parked outside all the time...

The Golf has a sunroof.  Anyone with VAG cars know the issues with sunroof drainage, apparently wasn't cured on Golf 7, and we had problems on the Golf 4 we had...unfortunately VW has wisely hidden the drainage behind the scuttle (whereas on the 4 it was in the door aperture....  I need to find a long piece of flex to check that none of the channels are blocked... I suspect car has had a replacement screen at one time (we bought it at 4 years old)....

[sgould]

Washed both cars today.. First time since the summer.