Forum Saab IV

[rainagain]

How's the Vactan holding out? I used some on my 9-5 and the rust kept coming back. 

[Split_Pin]

3 hours ago, rainagain said:

How's the Vactan holding out? I used some on my 9-5 and the rust kept coming back. 

It's only been a few weeks to also use electric pylon paint on top of that. I've found it quite effective.

 

[Split_Pin]

Replacement bumper on, it was expectedly  a faff. Paints OK at 10 feet or more but it's better than cracks and sellotape.

Roof isnt working at all now, neithers the driver window. Helpful* when its 26 degrees. Nowt came up on Tech 2 about it. Getting a bit tired of that tbh!

Fogs and ambient temp sensor all work though ✅️

[MAF260]

Very smart - looks loads better.

[Split_Pin]

For anyone interested, tell me a difference between the old and new bumpers 👀

[MAF260]

1 minute ago, Split_Pin said:

For anyone interested, tell me a difference between the old and new bumpers 👀

Headlight washer arrangement...

[83C]

39 minutes ago, MAF260 said:

Headlight washer arrangement...

That’s my guess too.

[Split_Pin]

Both correct! The bumper is from an 07 car but must have been a replacement as parts of it are labeled 2002. Apparently they changed the washer jets to the fixed ones for the 2004 model year. Who knew 😅🧐

[Keymaster]

Looks much better and a rattle can finish is more than acceptable on that particular Saab! 

Did you have a go at the faulty light stalk yet?

[Split_Pin]

1 hour ago, Keymaster said:

Did you have a go at the faulty light stalk yet

Not yet 😬

[Keymaster]

It's quite straightforward, honestly!

Buy one of these & he will give you step by step instructions: https://ebay.us/m/m6BwSH

 

[Split_Pin]

I found out online that you don't need to remove the steering wheel to get the indicator stalk out. There's a hole in the bottom where you stick a small screwdriver which releases the clip that holds it in.

Someone had been there before because there was white grease on the contacts. But the action of removing and reattaching it, together with disconnecting the battery for half an hour now means the full beams will stay on.

Pleased with that!

[purplebargeken]

PO to me had a chap in Manchester replace a load of roof stuff and the working roof is a joy to behold. Hope it’s an easy fix.

[Keymaster]

On 16/06/2025 at 17:15, Split_Pin said:

I found out online that you don't need to remove the steering wheel to get the indicator stalk out. There's a hole in the bottom where you stick a small screwdriver which releases the clip that holds it in.

Someone had been there before because there was white grease on the contacts. But the action of removing and reattaching it, together with disconnecting the battery for half an hour now means the full beams will stay on.

Pleased with that!

That's great! 

[Split_Pin]

2 hours ago, purplebargeken said:

PO to me had a chap in Manchester replace a load of roof stuff and the working roof is a joy to behold. Hope it’s an easy fix.

Unfortunately it's not working at all now and the drivers door lock/window has left the chat entirely as well, how rude 😂 Nothing came up on Tech 2 for the door and a few codes came up for the rear deck lid.

It does drive nice but I may look for something else as I've concluded that Saabs are witchcraft to me. 

New front bumper looks OK though!

[Split_Pin]

Tech II told me the sensor at fault was the one which monitors the opening and closing of the deck lid for the hood.

Found it

I now need to work out how to remove it and if I can buy a new one.

If it needs coded in I will make myself watch Saturday Night Takeaway on repeat for a month.

[Split_Pin]

The hood completely failed on the drive earlier, it got to a certain point and the motor just ran and nothing was happening.

That will be why.

I had some CHF so boshed that in and it's working fine again.

Unfortunately again, the full beam lights aren't, so looks like I'll need a replacement divorced CIM. There's a guy in Glasgow who can program the new one in although a junkie was circling us the last time I was over.

I'm still enjoying driving it and I daresay I prefer it to the E46.

[SiC]

On 07/07/2025 at 12:40, Split_Pin said:

Tech II told me the sensor at fault was the one which monitors the opening and closing of the deck lid for the hood.

Found it

I now need to work out how to remove it and if I can buy a new one.

If it needs coded in I will make myself watch Saturday Night Takeaway on repeat for a month.

That sensor looks identical to the ones on BMWs. Likewise that pump does too. 

Probably all out of the same company and factory.

[Split_Pin]

19 minutes ago, SiC said:

That sensor looks identical to the ones on BMWs. Likewise that pump does too. 

Probably all out of the same company and factory.

Cheers Si. The Saab one is £120 -odd so I'll try some cross-referencing!

[SiC]

The correct one for my Z4 is £200!

However the one from the 1-series/others is £20-£30 and is identical sensor. Only difference is the wiring from not having the connector. So you can chop the old one off and soldering/crimp it onto the replacement.

BMW 54347190735 is the part number for that much cheaper part.

https://www.sytnerstevenagebmwparts.co.uk/p/Bmw__218i/Hall-sensor/132266649/54347190735.html

 

[Split_Pin]

Amazing, thanks Si!

[MAF260]

42 minutes ago, SiC said:

 

 

Anyone else get a Batman vibe from this…?

[AnnoyingPentium]

4 minutes ago, MAF260 said:

Anyone else get a Batman vibe from this…?

Nah (nananananana)

[Split_Pin]

Got a new CIM fitted this morning which also required a new key. Lots of laptop and Tech 2 procedures involved.

£110 lighter but now I've a full breakfast of features working again, not least full beam lights.

[Split_Pin]

Short lived success. Indicators were very erratic, then worked OK for most of the day but now only work if you press down really hard on the stalk. The guy that fitted it said that flags a dodgy CIM. He will sort it FOC and is just down the road so no harm done. Means I can't use it for a bit though but I have a new Range Rover to play with 🙂

[Split_Pin]

Indicators still completely gubbed this morning but its going back tomorrow to try another CIM.

Once this is sorted we're good and I think it might be up for sale.

I want to get Mrs_Pin a new car (anyone got a non-soft top Beetle?) and I'll take over the Audi as its a good robust car and the great MPG offsets the thirst of the RR.

I can't really be bothered with the fact that Saab 9-3 replacement parts need to be specially coded in to work. The Audi is much more straightforward.

[Split_Pin]

Tried 2 other CIMS before one was found which worked.

Seems OK now, full breakfast restored 👍

 

[Split_Pin]

I was getting fed up with the Saab doing this to my driveway.

The first place to look for an oil leak on the B207 is the vacuum pump. The engine is especially prone to leaks here after having a remap, with the increased demand for vacuum blowing the already brittle seals. This happened to me with the red 9-3 after I Noobtuned it and replacing the seals cured it. 

£9 posted from Neo bros.

Vacuum pump lives under here:

Removal is straightforward. Remove the vacuum pipe from the pump, 2x10 mm holding the deionisation module (basically it performs 1/2 of the old DI cassette's function) and 2x13 holding the vacuum pump on. It's driven by one of the camshafts.

Removed:

This is the seal holding the pump against the head. It was like plastic.

The wee circular hole to the left of the drive is a tiny filter. Don't know its exact function but I cleaned the screen anyway.

 

The internal seal leaks too and its included in the pack. It's held together with 3 Torx screws.

Seal

Goes here:

The internals are a completely different design to the one on the 06 red example I did the job on a few years ago.

Reassembled and cleaned up. Its obviously been leaking for years.

New outer seal on.

..and do t forget the filter. 

All back together and OK.

[Split_Pin]

Treated it to a thorough coat of Lanoguard today.

Its already really clean underneath, including the strut towers which can get grotty on these.

Back in the garage to dry/stink the house out.

When Mrs_Pin comes back from the messages I'll  blame the nearby farms.

 

[Split_Pin]

The chipped windscreen surround has always bugged me:

Even moreso after I replaced the front bumper.

Better.

I'm away to see a man tomorrow about completely disabling the alarm system via Tech 2. It's going off randomly, even did it while I was reversing out the driveway.

I've done hee haw about the intermittent roof and drivers window because its getting colder now and I'm less inclined to put the roof or window down.