Thread of several Saabs: Tech 2

[Split_Pin]

I found a few things not quite right with the roof so sorted that but still no dice.

I opened it manually and closed it again to see if that would get the message telling me its open  to go away - nope!

Fluid level also fine.

A frustrating afternoon.

[Split_Pin]

When I got the car there was a hoofing great hole in the plastic sill cover from careless jacking. Probs the same fella that tightened the wheel bolts.

Anyway, its ABS so the split part had just pushed up inside. This let me see that the metal underneath was unscathed. 

So I heated it up and pulled it out with a screwdriver before pushing it back in as flush as I could get it. Looks loads better now, all that's visible is a tiny crack:

[Spiny Norman]

I noticed the other day the High Peak Autos guy has just done a video with one just like yours. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__D6rDUQmsc&t=6s

[Split_Pin]

Saw that, bargain!

Hopefully he got his garage to make the alarm system fuck off, that's the correct solution!

[Split_Pin]

Had this message pop up intermittently when driving earlier:

Then it wouldn't start, key did nothing.

It finally decided to respond and the SiD was blank when running:

And now it's fine 🤷‍♂️

I was about to pull the trigger on a knock off Tech2 as well, maybe just as well I didn't. 

[FakeConcern]

On 30/12/2025 at 15:13, Spiny Norman said:

I noticed the other day the High Peak Autos guy has just done a video with one just like yours. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__D6rDUQmsc&t=6s

Thanks for the link, I've watched a few of his Volvo reviews and enjoyed them and this was good too.

On 30/12/2025 at 15:33, Split_Pin said:

Saw that, bargain!

Hopefully he got his garage to make the alarm system fuck off, that's the correct solution!

Yes he didn't mention that problem after it had been with the mechanic.

I did have a look on ebay after watching this as I like Saabs, but not keen on a convertible. I was thinking they did a three door version, but that was my imagination and only on the previous generation, I'd like one of those in turbo petrol spec. I'm never going to buy a diesel now having never had one as I just know one of us would miss fuel it! When I say I'd like one, I mean I'd like to talk one of my kids or wife into getting one as I'll probably keep my Volvo C30 for ever!

3 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Had this message pop up intermittently when driving earlier:

Then it wouldn't start, key did nothing.

It finally decided to respond and the SiD was blank when running:

And now it's fine 🤷‍♂️

I was about to pull the trigger on a knock off Tech2 as well, maybe just as well I didn't. 

That's a bit of a pisser, but intermittent faults seem to be a feature of older cars. Wouldn't it make even more sense to get the Tech2 now? Also remember you are in a £2500 car... 

[Split_Pin]

30 minutes ago, FakeConcern said:

£2500 car

The Tech 2 will cost £245, £55 less than the car itself, hence my hesitation 😅

[FakeConcern]

8 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

The Tech 2 will cost £245, £55 less than the car itself, hence my hesitation 😅

£2500 was my nod to that video as I'm sure you know, but it does kind of say that your car is worth spending a bit on and even if this one doesn't stay with you a Saab is bound to be part of your fleet again surely. Buy it.

[Split_Pin]

10 minutes ago, FakeConcern said:

£2500 was my nod to that video as I'm sure you know, but it does kind of say that your car is worth spending a bit on and even if this one doesn't stay with you a Saab is bound to be part of your fleet again surely. Buy it.

Ah yeah I recall he said that, on the right day he could be right!

Im building myself up to the purchase, tomorrow 😅

[Split_Pin]

A replacement ignition switch is a mint so I tried cleaning it first.

Removing it was a ballache:

The You Tube video I found on how to do it was about 55% helpful. Large unexplained gaps in the process led me on a few fools errands.

The video on how to take the ISM apart was about 70% helpful. Coffee shop tiddlers cut in 4 did help a small bit to open the clips holding the module together but not enough. 

Got it apart eventually and cleaned the 3 gold contacts you can see here:

All back together again, car starts fine but no idea if its worked because it was snowing and I was cold.

[Split_Pin]

Ignition switch cleaning seems to have worked ✅️

As reported elsewhere, I bought Tech 2 plus laptop last night.

The unit works fine however the car says DON'T:

Tech 2 also says the car has no roof so somethings up there.

I am getting a bit tired of this now, should just have bought a decent one instead of an MOT failure that's sat for 7 months!

[IronStar]

39 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I am getting a bit tired of this now, should just have bought a decent one instead of an MOT failure that's sat for 7 months!

Where's the fun* in that?

[SiC]

3 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Ignition switch cleaning seems to have worked ✅️

As reported elsewhere, I bought Tech 2 plus laptop last night.

The unit works fine however the car says DON'T:

Tech 2 also says the car has no roof so somethings up there.

I am getting a bit tired of this now, should just have bought a decent one instead of an MOT failure that's sat for 7 months!

Just to double check, you've got the CANDI module plugged in-between the car and Tech2?

I had to resolder a few bits in my CANDI module after it had connection issues. 

[Split_Pin]

Aye all connected up. 

Got it working this evening given a bit of time and patience.

£250 to tell me what I already knew 😂

It correctly picked up all the old ISM codes too which must have triggered some more related to the CIM, all cleared now.

Fuck knows what's up with the bag. It was shoved fully in when I got the car and the only way to move it back down was by pulling on a tiny pinion attached to what looked like a bike brake cable. There's a roof reset procedure but the cover needs to be open fully to start it so thats for a better day.

Really good old system, it can pretty much answer any question I have about the car.

[Split_Pin]

And the codes related to the soft top bag thing inside the boot.

[SiC]

You may never even need security access. That's only really for marrying/divorcing modules, changing car programming and programming new keys in. General diagnostics doesn't need it. 

[Split_Pin]

24 minutes ago, SiC said:

You may never even need security access. That's only really for marrying/divorcing modules, changing car programming and programming new keys in. General diagnostics doesn't need it. 

I'll need it to change the CIM over. I'll build myself up to that over the next 6 months 😂

[Split_Pin]

As a side note the current owner of NTH advised me it passed its MOT this morning needing just a sidelight bulb! If it hadn't been for my current one being much better bodily I'd be regretting selling that now 😂

[grogee]

Forgot to say that I diagnosed an electric roof fault with a knock off Tech 2, although mine was much older. 

Mine had a module in the back, made by the 'American Sunroof Corporation'. This contained a load of control and relays to operate the electric roof. 

Turned out mine had some stuck relays, one of which operated electric rear window. Relay was stuck 'on', so power was fed to motor all the time, flattening battery and making motor v hot. 

I was lucky enough to get a whole s/h module which fixed all the roof and window problems but they're probably hard to get now. 

[Split_Pin]

For some reason the stowage compartment had inverted again. Theres a lock to hold it in position so can't understand how that's happened as nobody's put any bulky items in there.

Put it back again, will check on Tech 2 later to see if any values have changed. 

I'll get to the bottom of it eventually 😀

[SiC]

I bet you'll have wished you got a Tech2 much sooner !

[Split_Pin]

They rarely come up for sale with all the paraphernalia included, especially the laptop with all the Saab software installed already, gathering all that together was what put me off. Plus the gear I bought was local to me.

I was out a walk and couldn't be arsed to talk to someone I knew who also does the same route so I hung back to let them get ahead and checked my phone for a couple of minutes. My cold hands couldn't type a message to the seller fast enough!

[Split_Pin]

I phoned a local-ish locking wheel nut removal company 2 days ago but it was basically a "naw" from the guy, something to do with the weather and time of year making him incredibly busy.

I had one last shot at ordering a replacement key from ebay. I paid extra to a matching company for an OEM quality one. It arrived today, fitted OK so I applied max force with my brand new BFO breaker bar and it only bloody worked! It looks decent quality. I put a big dod of coppaslip on the locker for now and stuck it back in until I can find my spare bolts and throw all the lockers to fuck!