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SiC's Silver Saab 9-5 2.3t Vector - Gone!


SiC

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Well she's not a bad old girl. Just has her foebils and needs a few worn out bits replacing. As the guy I bought it off from at work said, it's done a fair few miles and my intention was to just run it over the winter until around Feb time when I can get back on my bike.

 

I'm not xtriple ocd, but I'm not one for liking to drive stuff knowingly broken. Not stuff that affects drivability at least.

 

If the gearbox behaves itself more now after this update, it will redeem itself massively to me.

 

Incidentally the trigger speed for ABS fault is around 70mph. Doing 50mph it's fine and 60mph seemed to be too. Gonna get a new ring ordered. Sounds potentially a great job to try out at that ramp rent place near me. So if that hub nut is bugger me tight, I'll have access to air tools.

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Another fix it session. This time the ignition lock. Underneath the barrel there is a switch that is pushed down to say the key is in. When you remove the key, the barrel area is supposed to pop up. This then tells the car the key is removed.

 

Now mine hasn't been popping up. Using that guide a few posts back, I managed to get the key barrel out after a bit of a fight.

 

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With the barrel removed, the remote central locking and radio turn off worked again. Result!

 

Turns out there was a lot of crude under there. Used GT82 to flush it all clean. Also pulled the spring out more to provide more tension. Seemed all good and put it back in.

 

Remote locking stopped working again. :(

 

So I removed the barrel again and performed some more fiddling on it...

 

After giving a very good spray of gt82 and a lot of giggling the barrel popped out further. Turns out that it wasn't popping out nearly enough to not always not push that switch in. I didn't actually know that it was supposed to pop out that far. As it popped out a bit anyway, I thought that was sufficient.

 

Key in position:

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Key out position:

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Note the extra metal bit on the right, where the key was, that has popped out more and the shaft on the left has retracted inwards.

 

Popped it back in and remote central locking is working again. :)!

 

I then removed fuse 6 from under the bonnet which disables the car alarm siren... Until I get a chance to remove it completely. Saab alarms are known for their internal batteries to die and then go off randomly when doors are locked. I do not want that happening at 3am!!!

 

It also handily (for me) disables the aircon compressor. This engages and works, but with the squealing belt, it doesn't sound too healthy running and it re-enables ever time I turn the ignition back on. Actually it might be useful leaving the aircon function on (even with no fuse to allow compressor to run) as it should keep the engine fan running more. This might keep some heat off the gearbox.

 

It lives under the n/s wheel arch, so perfect job to do removing it when I do that reluctor ring.

 

I'm just happy now that I can remote lock the door and also pop up the boot lid. The only other way to pop the lid is to use the button in the drivers door. Massive PIA to do. Also that door lock will give up on me one day - probably at the most inopertune moment!

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Good man, there's a handful of things off the list already!

 

It's only going to get colder from here on in so the gearbox could probably wait until the spring - if you are cycling again at that point you won't be rushed to get it finished so can take your time.

 

Oh and re hiring a ramp - great idea but just make sure the maths adds up, if the ring is an easy job a local garage might charge similar to do it for you.

 

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

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This code has come back, accompanied by rough running idle:

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It feels like it should stall, but I don't think it will. At least I hope it won't! Unlike a lot of modern cars, if the ECU looses control it reverts to a cable throttle. When it actuates this, it stays on until manually, physically reset. So if it becomes troublesome and does stall, if it doesn't trigger itself, I'll trigger it manually!

 

I think I need another 9-5 that I can transfer all the bits from onto this one. :D

 

My main priorities now, are not gearbox (well the mount will be done), but getting the interior fan working again! I'd rather be broken down warm, than cold...

Driving in a car not heated is really not that pleasant.

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It sounds like it's in a state you could just keep driving it as a WBOD.

I would see it as a challenge to see how long it would last without spending anymore cash.

 

I really can't help myself.

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If there is something that I know needs doing, I really struggle leaving it!

 

I really don't want to add up what I've spent on this so far and what I could have bought instead :?

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Before it goes in, I need to strip it down and check this solenoid modulator bore for wear:

Figure5.jpg

 

If this is worn, then putting the valve body in could make things worse or at best no change! Also reading about the linear solenoids themselves is that they're calibrated to the valve body. So changing them between them could make things not run well too.

 

Also changing them out carries risk of getting dirt and crap inside housing. This will flow around and jam up inside the oil passageways.

 

If I get this wrong there is very much the possibility that I would totally kill the gearbox and hence car! Hence why I'm a bit loathed to fiddle around with it too much if I can get it shifting acceptably without pulling the valve body block out.

 

Plus it's flipping freezing out there right now... If/when I do it, it's likely to be a job I'll do at that rent a ramp place.

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OK so to sum up, you have a car with a gearbox that is fucked enough to annoy you, and by changing the valve you could end up with a car with a totally fucked gearbox - which would no longer annoy you cos it'd be away to be made into bean tins..:)

Yes. It would no longer annoy me and free up drive space for something else instead! Possibly a XJ jag, Smart Roadster Coupé, Merc s-class (W220) or a Clio 172/182 next... yes I do have a fairly incoherent taste in cars! :)

 

I almost ended up sacking this off and getting a Clio 172 last month. Luckily that sold in time. I almost won a Clio 1.2 Quickshift (robotic gearbox) on eBay too. That sold for £295 - just above my £275 limit I set. Probably for the best I didn't win that.

 

The only reason I still have his is because not only you guys here wanting me to fix it but also the previous owner/my colleague egging me on to keep it going. :D

 

I'm busy all this weekend (possibly next too), but after that I plan to get at least the engine mount changed. Payday end of next week too, which means I can justify in getting a new trolley jack, so I can actually jack the bastard high enough up to get axle stands underneath.

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Oh and I almost forgot. The Laguna MOT is due beginning of next month too, so I need to make sure I keep enough of my allocated monthly fiddle funds (cash I set aside for buying/doing/making pointless crap that entertains me) to keep that running.

 

If that proves to be an expensive exercise, the Saab will have to wait a bit longer for stuff like ramp time to replace stuff like the valve body.

 

I also want to see how it feels with just the mount changed first. If it makes it a lot better and livable, then anyone else having similar trouble would have a lot of their troubles sorted by a software update by their local Saab specialist and fresh mounts. Much cheaper & easier job to do than valve body change.

 

If its not in by February, then I will almost certainly get it done. Either local garage or myself. I'd had the car for pretty much 5 months so feel less guilty/bothered if I totally have killed it. I can't not get it done, as I want to see what happens after doing a swap of one myself. Would open up new super cheap chod like Volvos/etc that have screwed up AW55 boxes.

 

IIRC WilsonWilson S80 that drove really badly when warm was suffering exactly the same problems as mine. I suspect a VB change with fresh fluids would have fixed that one like this 9-5.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Last weekend I managed to get a whole lot of bits and pieces done on this. I've been incredibly busy with work, so not actually had a chance to write an update until now.

 

First things first, I got to try out my new ramps. After all the warnings on the News 24 thread, I was a bit apprehensive about how useful they'd be.

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However with the extensions on it went up a treat! Admittedly they went Banana shape as warned by someone on here (iirc might have been dome?), but still did the job enough to get it up on the ramp without the front catching.

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I gave it a good push side to side to make sure it was going no-where and used some old fence post offcuts to chock the back wheels.

 

First time I've gone under a car and felt like it wasn't dicey. I also used my axle stands as a safety fall guard.

 

Gave me a good chance to look at the under-chassis. I have to say, Saab do an excellent job of rustproofing their cars. Pretty much nothing.

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Did a couple of jobs. First one was the gearbox mount. Took a bit of brute force/leg power to get the bolts shifted, but not a hard job to do at all.

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You can see where it mounts on the above bracket where the valve body cover it. Access is very good. Pretty certain it can be done just with ramps. I was extremely tempted to do it right there an then. However it was one of these 2C days and I had other stuff I needed to do that day.

 

Old mount vs new mount.

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This has made the shifting so much nicer. Still bangs when warm, but after a weeks usage, I can happily say I just ignore it now. Helps that you also learn when its going to start do it, and you just ease off the accelerator when its about to do it. That way, it just slips into gear with a slight bump. :)

 

Next job was changing the coolant (records last say 2011 it was done).

 

There is a handy little tap on the radiator to drain. However it was very stiff and there is warnings that they have a habit of snapping off. I had to take the radiator bracket to get good enough access with the fingers so I didn't put any sideways motion on the tap handle and break it.

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Interesting side note. There are 4 radiators on this car! Air conditioning condenser, engine oil cooler, engine coolant cooler and air intake inter-cooler.

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Ran it up to burp the cooling system and then got on with the oil change.

 

Next job was to fix the interior fan. Something that's been really annoying me and makes it very unpleasantly cold & awkward on the windscreen without the ability to demist it.

 

I bought a second hand fan from Neo Brothers for £36 odd. Got the fan out of the cardboard shipping box...

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Drats! It's got a great big whacking crack in it. :(

 

Emailed Neo-Brothers and kudos to them, they shipped a replacement out on next day shipping - without having to return the old one.

 

Fast forward a couple of days when it arrived, it was time for some after work, in the dark repair work!

 

Took the plastic covers off the scuttle.

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Removed the 4 bolts that hold the wiper assembly on, disconnected its connector. Lifted it out. Removed some more plastic to be greeted with the motor.

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Given how many modern cars seem to be literally built around the interior fan, this was an utter doddle to get to.

Only hitch is that the hole for the fan to go through on the scuttle is too small! Luckily I didn't throw out the bits of wood that the wife kept badgering on about.

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With this bit of extra leverage, there was a big enough gap to pull the motor back out and drop the shiny second-hand one in. The replacement is from a 2008 car (going on the dates on the plastic) and looks like they revised the motor design a bit.

 

Once in, I decided to crimp new blade connectors on for the fan motor, as the originals looked like they had seen better days and weren't gripping properly. For reference on anyone else doing this another time, here is the pinout and which pin the brown+red stripped wire goes to:

post-20071-0-57248100-1481391840_thumb.jpg

 

Crimped replacements on and plugged into the fan.

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Turned the ignition on, fan speed up ... and there is now a working fan. :)

 

Certainly no hurricane force coming out though. Enough to feel it, but I kinda expected a bit more flow. Maybe the controller has seen better days too? Cabin air filter looks almost brand-new. However it works perfectly fine now though and the fan does its job. The controller is straight forward to get to if it needs replacing. Glove box out and its right there in front of you. All surprisingly accessible. Apparently the left-hand drive cars are an absolute nightmare to replace the controllers, as the steering assembly/etc is all there instead (being its situated on the left hand side of the car still).

 

Next thing that will need to be done is to fit this piece of sexy man jewellery.

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Also known as an ABS reluctor ring.

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This should hopefully fix the ABS warnings that pop up when you go above ~65mph. Will require the hub nut to come off, so probably will get my local friendly garage to do it. Something that will be so much quicker and easier to do on a lift with air tools.

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Despite doing all this work and driving it around for a bit, in the 3 months I've had it, I really haven't gelled with it as much as I thought I would. I mean its a perfectly decent car. Very comfy, lively engine and lovely drive. It actually shifts gears smoother than the Laguna, seats are bit more comfortable too - however on a daily basis, I still pick the keys up to the Laguna. I think its because the Laguna literally has all the toys and I like toys. E.g. it has a V6, heated+electric seats, heated windscreen, auto-lights, keyless entry + start, Xenon lights, Satnav, useful boot (i.e. its a hatch, not a saloon), quicker, etc, etc. All of which the Saab doesn't. I think my Saab experience needs to be one with an Aero badge, estate, xenons, heated+electric seats, big useless satnav and not my most hated colour of cars - silver. In fact in the 3 months of ownership, I've only done about 1k miles in it.

 

Spurred on with a chat with the wife today she reminded us that we have 2 big cars and 1 medium family hatch. None are lightweight, small, fun cars - the types of car that I keep harping on about at the moment (and annoying her). Also in the not too distant future our intention is to have kids and once that happens, running a 3rd car and not least something like a 2-seater sports car will be almost certainly out of the question. So if I'm going to have once last chance at something like that for a good few years, I better do it soon!

 

I guess this is possibly what is bugging me the most and stopping me enjoying the waftyness of the Saab. The main man maths reason for the Saab was as a winter hack that I could park anywhere in Bristol centre without worrying about damage. However I have found a decent, reasonably priced car park that I have a permit for. So its unlikely that the car I bring into work will get damaged. Hence using the Laguna.

 

So I'm now seriously thinking of selling the Saab and getting something really rather different as my third car.

 

I'm thinking around £285 as it has an MOT until October next year, 2 new rear tyres (fronts have ~3-4mm on still) and runs pretty well - apart from when the gearbox is hot but you can (and I do) happily ignore that. Its obviously just had an oil+coolant change too. For that price, I'd also throw in the replacement valve body and the sealant to reseal the cover. I can also provide workshop docs on how to replace it. Ok its done a lot of miles, but its been generally kept in pretty good nick with a lot of history and I'm fussy with these sort of things (big thing for me too is that the interior doesn't stink of fags/pets).

 

Any sort of interest would there be on here for it? I'd rather keep it in the AutoShite family if possible. :)

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^Whs. my brother in law owns a silver 9-5 aero (which he's always telling everyone about how much of a bargain it was) and he also lives in Bristol. I'd gamble on a couple of roffle tickets on the slim chance of winning, and rolling up to his house to announce what it cost me. How much for tickets, then?!

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Interesting side note. There are 4 radiators on this car! Air conditioning condenser, engine oil cooler, engine coolant cooler and air intake inter-cooler.

attachicon.gif2016-12-03 13.30.52.jpg

 

 

A Swedish friend of mine hit a moose with his 9-5 last winter and ended up taking out all four at once  :shock:

 

Also, £285 is an absolute bargain for a viable 54-plate 9-5.

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Here are some (shit) pictures:

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Front seat is worn.

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But actually not that badly. Things like this bug me, but actually livable. Plus you don't see it when you're sitting it. ;)

Sowing it up with bit of thread and needle would probably* make this invisible.

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All other seats are fine. There are stains, but a bit of elbow grease would get them out if really wanted to. Camera makes it look worse than actually they are. They just add character. ;)

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Big boot. That tyre can be supplied. It was one of the rear ones. Still legal, but only around 2.5mm tread on the inner. I left it incase I wanted to make a full-sized spare.

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All tools and bits are present and correct! Space saver spare tyre was taken out for this picture, but again that's present and still legal (has had signs of some use). This is probably one of the many reasons why Saab was never profitable to GM. :D

post-20071-0-36854700-1481490247_thumb.jpg

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So I have delayed a bit in deciding whether to Roffle this or not. The other option is to do my usual trick when I want to shift a car on here is to sell it at my usual Fire Sale special, ridiculously low price! Also there is some interest for a Roffle, but is there enough people this side of Christmas wanting to roffle on a car?

 

£285 is pretty darn cheap for a Saab 9-5 with MOT and not fucked - eBay examples seem to get a good bit more. However no-one has bitten yet, so obviously not cheap enough! :D

 

Why would I want to sell it ridiculously cheap? Well as usual, I've found something else that has peaked my interest. However the wife won't let me have 4 cars - not least that the neighbour is getting pissy with 3 cars and deliberately blocking the end of the public road, so I can't park there. The dick actually has enough room on his drive for 2 cars too.

 

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So 4 cars becomes impractical - with 3 cars I can fit 2 on the drive, 1 on the road outside our house.

 

 

Hence if someone wants to make some offers, feel free to do so now. ;)

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I'm looking at the estate aero version of this at auction tomorrow night, bit short on the ticket but looking at mot history etc these don't seem to fail on much.

My fear is on a 51 plate will it have the OMGSLUDGEOFDEATH engine in it? Or would I think at those miles (100k) the necessary work(breather/correct oils) has been done and all is ok?

I'm wondering whether this engine fits in as a viable spare?

The car in question is manual and not will-s-o-matuc so box issues mean nothing.

I've also seen a 67k estate for sale with leather etc in wills, but 4sp FLAVA, looks lush but a bit older on a w plate, seems the auto box on these is superstrong?

For the monies your asking it's dirt cheap, but Xmas week will be putting folk off.

I'll let you know how the auction goes.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Ok then, let's get this going! £5 for a ticket.

 

Usual roffle rules. You're paying into a crowd funded savoir of unloved cars, of which the person with the lotto result bonus number will be the lucky soul who has first refusal on taking this super Saab on! :)

 

Who wants to start?

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