SAAB 9-3 Aero

[Wing Commander]

John Boy 616 said:

Evening,

So 6k miles in and pretty good going.

New suspension arm
Replaced broken spring
Replaced front discs and pads with new
Two new tyres (uniroil rainsports)

One issue that has just happened is the engine management light has came on, the car is fine and is boosting normally no dips in power etc, ill try disconnecting the battery for a bit and see if that solves it. The cars electrical system does not appear to be its strongest suit though!!

Its worth getting the code read as problems are often easily fixed. On the 03 cars many had a crap emissions thing bolted on. As far as I found out, it was installed for about a year from this shape coming out, in order to meet emission regs in the states but then they found out it meets them without it so it was removed. Anyway, it's a valve and blower that blows air direct into the exhaust to speed up the heating of the cat. After a min or two, it cuts off. What happens over time though is the moisture in the cold exhaust jams the valve open and knackers the blower. Then you have your exhaust venting and it throws out your lambda reasons.

Carl at Noobtune removed mine and then mapped it off the car.

Also I had a couple of the coils go and an ionisation module go. All cheap and easy to fix.

We now have another 93 aero and for £750, it's great

As others said, drop links are consumable. Consider the uprated aftermarket ones on Parts for Saabs. Both coils went on mine but I replaced them with standards.

Stereos are really finicky at this age as they are all on a fibre optic loop. My first 93 had the full stereo system that it sounds like you have. Sat nav, 6 disc in dash changer, EHU behind the dash, amp 1 under passenger seat, amp 2 in boot, dvd nav unit in boot etc. I had one glitch on the nav unit in the boot and it thru the whole lot into meltdown.

Despite this, good value cars that are fast and comfy!

[John Boy 616]

[quote=Wing Commander]

Its worth getting the code read as problems are often easily fixed. On the 03 cars many had a crap emissions thing bolted on. As far as I found out, it was installed for about a year from this shape coming out, in order to meet emission regs in the states but then they found out it meets them without it so it was removed. Anyway, it's a valve and blower that blows air direct into the exhaust to speed up the heating of the cat. After a min or two, it cuts off. What happens over time though is the moisture in the cold exhaust jams the valve open and knackers the blower. Then you have your exhaust venting and it throws out your lambda reasons.

Carl at Noobtune removed mine and then mapped it off the car.

Also I had a couple of the coils go and an ionisation module go. All cheap and easy to fix.

We now have another 93 aero and for £750, it's great

Thanks for the reply!

Ok ill have a look into the fault code sruff, the noobtune is on my to do list so if that sorts it then happy days.

Your quite right with the stereo i have the full system, the cd changer does not work

They are great value just not without niggles

I need a new interior fan motor as it sounds like a cat being dragged through hell backwards, also have a slack drivers side seatbelt and the info panel is covinced i have a rear right brake light failure when i do not heh

[Wing Commander]

John Boy 616]ing Commander said:

Its worth getting the code read as problems are often easily fixed. On the 03 cars many had a crap emissions thing bolted on. As far as I found out, it was installed for about a year from this shape coming out, in order to meet emission regs in the states but then they found out it meets them without it so it was removed. Anyway, it's a valve and blower that blows air direct into the exhaust to speed up the heating of the cat. After a min or two, it cuts off. What happens over time though is the moisture in the cold exhaust jams the valve open and knackers the blower. Then you have your exhaust venting and it throws out your lambda reasons.

Carl at Noobtune removed mine and then mapped it off the car.

Also I had a couple of the coils go and an ionisation module go. All cheap and easy to fix.

We now have another 93 aero and for £750, it's great

Thanks for the reply!


Ok ill have a look into the fault code sruff, the noobtune is on my to do list so if that sorts it then happy days.

Your quite right with the stereo i have the full system, the cd changer does not work

They are great value just not without niggles

I need a new interior fan motor as it sounds like a cat being dragged through hell backwards, also have a slack drivers side seatbelt and the info panel is covinced i have a rear right brake light failure when i do not heh

The NoobTune does not automatically remove the emissions thing, so if it is that, do ask him specifically.

When my DVD Nav unit failed, the only way around it was to put in an fibre optic jumper which basically meant I unplugged the unit, and made the two loose ends of the optic cable connect so as to close the loop. All worked (except the DVD Nav of course) after that.

Not sure on the interior fan. Never had a problem with mine.

Seatbelts are notorious. I found that retracting it all the way, then soapy water to wash it, that helped. Also, take a stanley blade and try and "shave" the belt. Obviously be careful. Don't start slicing away at the seatbelt...

Other little fixes I have found. The boot twanged like a goodun when opened and closed. This is because it is controlled by two big springs. Take the ends off that connect to the car (inside the trim on either side of the boot - just pull it and it comes away) and then wrap electrical tape around the spring metal that touches the car metal. All sorted

If the dial on the dash controlling the computer starts to be temperamental, just pull it off (on quite hard) and then spray a small amount of electrical cleaner in there then put back on. It can only go on one way and fixes it instantly.

Rear door locks if they fail can be fixed rather than having to replace any parts - let me know if you need the info.

That's all I can think of!