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

[Pillock]

Aaaaah. You've got a Microsoft gearbox, it needs an update every week and inexplicably will stop being able to use second gear until you hold down ctrl-alt-del (or indicator-clutch-heated rear window)

 

One day it will accidentally install the update from an Austin Metro, and refuse to work.

[SiC]

Don't you DARE Windows

[SiC]

Done!

 

 

Error code and sensor read works on the Gearbox computer, so looks like it's still alive. Yayyyy. Just a test drive to make sure it's all worky. Probably lost the adaptations though.

[Shep Shepherd]

The noise all Saab owners dread...

 

PING PONG!

 

My first 9-5 would report a brake light failure every time I applied the brakes after starting it up, despite replacing all of the brake light bulbs. Silly car! 

[SiC]

Went for a drive and seems to all work ok.

 

One weird thing with the wheel speed sensor is that if I clear the code, it stays off but only while I'm below 50mph. Go above, and it pings on! Live value readings on the Tech2 show that the wheel speed sensors are keeping track with one another.

 

Not only that, ECP/GSF/NeoBrothers/Parts for Saab/eBay/Amazon all don't list sensors at all!

 

Makes me think something else is up. Possibly even moisture, as its pretty wet outside tonight. The connector for the sensor actually lives under the bonnet and the wire goes through a grommet into the wheel arch. So I wouldn't have thought that'd got wet.

[dome]

Checked your tyre pressures? If one is low that might confuse the sensors

[scaryoldcortina]

Flat tyre or dirty reluctor ring would be my guesses.

[SiC]

Pretty certain the tyres not that flat, but I'll check in the morning. That wheel is the one with a different alloy on though. But then its been on there for a good 30-40k miles with no problems.

 

A quick google suggests reluctor rings can be problematic and split. Joy...

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Just stay below 50, that will help keep the gearbox cool as well. -> STRATEGY

[Barry Cade]

Went for a drive and seems to all work ok.

 

One weird thing with the wheel speed sensor is that if I clear the code, it stays off but only while I'm below 50mph. Go above, and it pings on! Live value readings on the Tech2 show that the wheel speed sensors are keeping track with one another.

 

Not only that, ECP/GSF/NeoBrothers/Parts for Saab/eBay/Amazon all don't list sensors at all!

 

Makes me think something else is up. Possibly even moisture, as its pretty wet outside tonight. The connector for the sensor actually lives under the bonnet and the wire goes through a grommet into the wheel arch. So I wouldn't have thought that'd got wet.

Mine did that. Cracked abs ring, just a small crack but enough for it to grow at speed. Not sure if the later ones had a magnetic bearing instead of a toothed ring.r rings are less than a fiver are easy enough to change.

[SiC]

I'm pretty sure this car doesn't deserve this valve body. If it looks good inside, I think I'll keep it for the Laguna. That's far more deserving than this one.

 

I have been driving this into work and back daily recently. If I leave home after 9am (perk of flexy time), then it's 20-25 minutes in with no stop+start. Only when I get to the car park and have to shift into reserve and drive a couple of times do I get banging during he engagement.

 

Basically it means I can ignore the fault and just run as is through the winter. Well now I need to sort the ABS fault too...

 

I'm very tempted to drill a couple of holes in the thermostat to keep the engine coolant a bit cooler. This will mean the engine rad, that also does transmission cooling, will stay cooler. If I can get the transmission fluid under 100C then it's generally seems alright. Literally 95-98C oil temp it's alright. 102C it's bad.

 

Thermostat starts opening at 89C. Not sure that's working properly either tbh, as the temp gauge drops when driving on the m-way.

[SiC]

TL;DR of this thread, the whole car is knackard and fucked basically.

[scaryoldcortina]

I think next time you should accept an unknown but free car dumped at a boot sale.

[SiC]

The current broken list:

• Gearbox banging when hot
• Gearbox mount knackard
• Interior fan has the air flow of a gnats fart
• Recirculation flap broken (my own fault admittedly)
• Belt squeal when cold
• Remote central locking keyfob doesn't work (even with new battery)
• Drivers seat bolster knackard and has holes
• Mismatch alloy on n/s front
• Driving above 50mph triggers ABS fault

Plus points: full MOT with only tyres+oil leak advisory, 2 new tyres on the back, engine starts+runs everytime and drives straight+true.

[colino]

How mismatched is your NSF alloy if that is coincidentally the location of the, potentially, rogue wheel sensor?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

It does sound a bit shit admittedly

[SiC]

But strangely loveable at the same time.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Assuming the gearbox can be sorted with the spare solenoid you bought, the rest of the list doesn't sound terrible....

 

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

[Dave_Q]

The current broken list:

• Gearbox banging when hot
• Gearbox mount knackard
• Interior fan has the air flow of a gnats fart
• Recirculation flap broken (my own fault admittedly)
• Belt squeal when cold
• Remote central locking keyfob doesn't work (even with new battery)
• Drivers seat bolster knackard and has holes
• Mismatch alloy on n/s front
• Driving above 50mph triggers ABS fault

Plus points: full MOT with only tyres+oil leak advisory, 2 new tyres on the back, engine starts+runs everytime and drives straight+true.

 

 

Probably a stupid question, but are you sure number 1 isn't caused by number 2??

[SiC]

Assuming the gearbox can be sorted with the spare solenoid you bought, the rest of the list doesn't sound terrible....

 

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Or possibly make it worse, depending on the condition of the valve body!

[SiC]

Probably a stupid question, but are you sure number 1 isn't caused by number 2??

Nah, the gearbox is alright when cold and has problems when hot (>~100C). The rubber in the mount is completely perished so won't make a difference from hot and cold. Replacing it would make it a lot smoother changing in all cases though.

[Stanky]

And number 3 should be fixable by removing and greasing the bearings in the blower motor, made the world of difference to my 9-3 and next door's Corsa C.

[SiC]

I've tried that! Motor run pretty freely.

 

Brushes have plenty of meat too. Might need the commutator cleaning down.

[SiC]

Other things I've forgotten to mention:

Radio doesn't turn off when the key is removed.

Exterior door lock is temperamental. I suspect this is due to the remote not working for so long and just worn. So I would really like to get the remote working to not have the exterior lock die on me!

 

Looks like the radio and the remote central locking not working problems are connected. Turns out that is the ignition lock doesn't pop out when it gets dirty.

 

Found a handy online guide with pictures on removing the barrel:

http://saabworld.net/showthread.php?t=26395

 

A quick job for tonight!

[SiC]

Ring replacement doesn't look too torturous:

 

I do need to buy new tools to do it though. My torque wrench no-longer torques and I need a new trolley jack, as mine doesn't go high enough. Pay day in 9 days...

 

Looks like I won't be going above 50mph odd for a while.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I did the reluctor rings on my 45 V6 and it was a piece of cake

[Barry Cade]

Ring replacement doesn't look too torturous:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVdcNElH344

 

I do need to buy new tools to do it though. My torque wrench no-longer torques and I need a new trolley jack, as mine doesn't go high enough. Pay day in 9 days...

 

Looks like I won't be going above 50mph odd for a while.

Just torque it FT and use a bit of wood on top of the jack to get more height. Just remembered I only changed 1 ring on my 9-5 as the other hub nut is so tight I broke my breaker bar..and my spare breaker bar trying to loosen it. Luckily that one is OK. Need to get the air gun on it when it needs doing.

[SiC]

Well I don't think I need to fix the ring anytime soon. Did an average of 8mph getting home tonight over 6.7 mile journey. Top speed (including m-way) was 36mph but only briefly.

 

What was really unexpected though is that the gearbox was a hell a lot better!

 

So either updating the Gearbox computer, resetting adaptations or the magic jungle juice I put in earlier (probably been about 200 miles since) has softened the bad changes.

 

I mean it still bangs when in stop+start heavy traffic, but it doesn't make the whole car shudder anymore. Even sat on the drive, it still bangs and struggles the engine when going to 3rd to 2nd, but it doesnt do it regularly and when it does, it's not that painful. The shifting from neutral/drive and neutral/reverse still has the long pause and then bang into gear (when warm), but again it's annoying rather than having to brace yourself for the impact (that's what the bang felt like).

 

I reckon if I change the mount it will just feel like a hard bump rather than a hard bang. I strongly suspect the software update is what has helped here. If it is, the problem is not going to go away but just make it more manageable and potentially last a bit longer.

 

I was hoping an update may help it, but I was also thinking that was just clutching at straws. Still only the first day with this update but if it carries on being manageable like this, it'll be a massive result!

[They_all_do_that_sir]

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.

Had a mondeo I used as a beater which just kept going. Lots of bits started to fail / fall off, it sounded rougher than a very rough thing with new noises every week. It owed me nothing and I wanted an excuse to change so I ignored anything that wasn't safety critical and kept going. Managed another 6 months / 10k miles like that, looked and sounded shagged. Put it in for MOT for a laugh and it passed first time.......sold at a profit too.......

 

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[mrbenn]

To be honest, I think it looks like a great old barge (from here, at least).

 

I was seriously considering making you an offer for it but lack of space to keep it, money to buy/fix it and time to collect it has precluded me from doing so thus far.

 

However, if my Focus fails the MOT badly in the next couple of weeks....