Couple of 9-5 questions
Discussion
Recently acquired two excellent 9-5s, one for shed money (under £1000), the other for 1.5 x shed money.
Shed 1.0 - 1999 2.3T SE auto estate, wonderful condition, lovingly cared for and serviced every 3000 miles by the previous owner. Came with manual seats. Just wondering if the wiring will be there under the seats for me to swap them for electric memory seats, which of course can be sourced cheaply on the bay of the flea.
Shed 1.5 - 2006 2.3T Aero manual estate, again wonderful condition, but a couple of questions:
1. on day two of ownership I noticed a fair old cloud of light blue smoke on stone cold start up, but not on any other start up during the day. Last service was by a non-Saab specialist, so my best guess is that they have used Mazola rather than fully synthetic 0W40 top grade oil. Shed 1.5 comes with 120k miles on it. I used to have this issue on a 1998 2.3 T with 150k+ miles on the clock, and it was diagnosed as worn valve guides and was helped by using better oil, but I just want to be sure it's not possibly something else before I change the oil? The exhaust looks a little sooty, but the previous owner was only commuting a short distance to work. The oil itself is fairly black, but it is 6000 miles after the service. The car has basically sat in his factory building for the last two months, since he took a new car on lease.
2. The starter seems sluggish. The battery looks pretty new and to have plenty of cranking power. It puts out 12.3 volts sitting there, 13.8 volts with the engine running. Are Saab starters normally sluggish? I hadn't noticed this on my wife's car. Any thoughts?
Shed 1.0 - 1999 2.3T SE auto estate, wonderful condition, lovingly cared for and serviced every 3000 miles by the previous owner. Came with manual seats. Just wondering if the wiring will be there under the seats for me to swap them for electric memory seats, which of course can be sourced cheaply on the bay of the flea.
Shed 1.5 - 2006 2.3T Aero manual estate, again wonderful condition, but a couple of questions:
1. on day two of ownership I noticed a fair old cloud of light blue smoke on stone cold start up, but not on any other start up during the day. Last service was by a non-Saab specialist, so my best guess is that they have used Mazola rather than fully synthetic 0W40 top grade oil. Shed 1.5 comes with 120k miles on it. I used to have this issue on a 1998 2.3 T with 150k+ miles on the clock, and it was diagnosed as worn valve guides and was helped by using better oil, but I just want to be sure it's not possibly something else before I change the oil? The exhaust looks a little sooty, but the previous owner was only commuting a short distance to work. The oil itself is fairly black, but it is 6000 miles after the service. The car has basically sat in his factory building for the last two months, since he took a new car on lease.
2. The starter seems sluggish. The battery looks pretty new and to have plenty of cranking power. It puts out 12.3 volts sitting there, 13.8 volts with the engine running. Are Saab starters normally sluggish? I hadn't noticed this on my wife's car. Any thoughts?
Morning not certain about question 1 although it could be that the turbo may need a rebuild.Regarding question 2 I have found they all seem to do that.Im on my second 9-5 Aero and both of them seem slow to turn maybe because its a long stroke motor.I have even gone onto youtube just to listen to other Aeros starting up and they sound the same.
Thanks guys - that explains the battery/starter. It shook the engine so much yesterday starting the car that the engine management light came on. It's off again now and hasn't come back on.
Here's your next question (should be the last one) - is this a Saab "Sport" badge, with the wrong font and the corroded fake chrome? I could swear that i saw the same badge on the back end of a Mitsubishi 4x4 yesterday, though in his case the sport was either rambling or bog snorkeling, I assume
By the way, have you noticed how PH picks up on what you type? I typed "Mitsubishi 4x4" in the text above and immediately an advert for a Mitsubishi L200 appeared above the box in which I am tryping. I will try tryping "free Ferrari 458" and see what happens. I will report back.....
Here's your next question (should be the last one) - is this a Saab "Sport" badge, with the wrong font and the corroded fake chrome? I could swear that i saw the same badge on the back end of a Mitsubishi 4x4 yesterday, though in his case the sport was either rambling or bog snorkeling, I assume
By the way, have you noticed how PH picks up on what you type? I typed "Mitsubishi 4x4" in the text above and immediately an advert for a Mitsubishi L200 appeared above the box in which I am tryping. I will try tryping "free Ferrari 458" and see what happens. I will report back.....
Edited by QBee on Sunday 3rd May 12:20
We happen to have a diesel vector sport in the family, so I checked that - wrong size and font, but thanks for the thought.
Also, thanks for the engine mount thought - I will get that one checked out.
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and ideas - really helpful.
I have decided to take the car to my TVR expert for a checkover before I spend too much more time and effort on it.
Not a strange choice - he is a very good friend, with a lot of expertise beyond TVRs as well as a fully functioning commercial garage.
I have to collect some of my own wheels and tyres from him anyway, so I might as well get him to look at it while I am there.
I will get him to change the oil for Mobil 1 New Life 0W40 fully synthetic, and then check over the engine mountings, squeaky brakes and clutch while he's at it.
After that I will get a new set of tyres, as the mixed bag of cheapo economy rubbish on there look ready for the scrap heap any time soon
In the mean time, if the mood takes me and the weather is fine tomorrow morning, I will turn into an old buffer bright and early (the wife says i am one already) and get the G3 and G10 out, as well as the Autoglym resin polish and my buffing machine, and make the old girl as good as new.
And while I have the stuff out, I will do the car too.
Also, thanks for the engine mount thought - I will get that one checked out.
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and ideas - really helpful.
I have decided to take the car to my TVR expert for a checkover before I spend too much more time and effort on it.
Not a strange choice - he is a very good friend, with a lot of expertise beyond TVRs as well as a fully functioning commercial garage.
I have to collect some of my own wheels and tyres from him anyway, so I might as well get him to look at it while I am there.
I will get him to change the oil for Mobil 1 New Life 0W40 fully synthetic, and then check over the engine mountings, squeaky brakes and clutch while he's at it.
After that I will get a new set of tyres, as the mixed bag of cheapo economy rubbish on there look ready for the scrap heap any time soon
In the mean time, if the mood takes me and the weather is fine tomorrow morning, I will turn into an old buffer bright and early (the wife says i am one already) and get the G3 and G10 out, as well as the Autoglym resin polish and my buffing machine, and make the old girl as good as new.
And while I have the stuff out, I will do the car too.
macp said:
Good luck with it buddy im sure it will be fine in the end.Would very much like to read how you have gone on.
BTW I thought I saw this car on ebay ?
You did. I contacted the owner on Tuesday for a test drive and agreed on Friday morning, as I was 200 miles away on business on Wednesday and Thursday. He told me that he had set a reserve at £2000, which I thought a little steep. I thought I hadn't seen a reserve on the auction, so I checked back.......to find that the auction ended Thursday evening! So test drive cancelled.BTW I thought I saw this car on ebay ?
It got to £1332 on the auction. Reserve not met. Friday morning 10 am I get a text offering the car to me at £1500. Jumped in the super-shed with my wife and headed 30 miles to see the car. All stacked up, so deal done.
I will keep posting, as I find forums really interesting and useful. I am a regular on the TVR forums, which are very active and a great source of info. I have done track days with the guys (10 at the last one), gone to car shows and made a good number of friends all over the country.
The Saab forum has surprised me, as it looked almost moribund when I first posted, but you guys are out there
and as keen, or even more keen, as I am on Saabs, and you have come to my aid with surprising speed. 
If you get stuck on the slightest thing you`ll get lots of useful help from the UKsaabs forum - http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/index.php which also has some first class sources of new & used spares. Good luck with the polishing!
QBee said:
Recently acquired two excellent 9-5s, one for shed money (under £1000), the other for 1.5 x shed money.
Shed 1.0 - 1999 2.3T SE auto estate, wonderful condition, lovingly cared for and serviced every 3000 miles by the previous owner. Came with manual seats. Just wondering if the wiring will be there under the seats for me to swap them for electric memory seats, which of course can be sourced cheaply on the bay of the flea.
Shed 1.5 - 2006 2.3T Aero manual estate, again wonderful condition, but a couple of questions:
1. on day two of ownership I noticed a fair old cloud of light blue smoke on stone cold start up, but not on any other start up during the day. Last service was by a non-Saab specialist, so my best guess is that they have used Mazola rather than fully synthetic 0W40 top grade oil. Shed 1.5 comes with 120k miles on it. I used to have this issue on a 1998 2.3 T with 150k+ miles on the clock, and it was diagnosed as worn valve guides and was helped by using better oil, but I just want to be sure it's not possibly something else before I change the oil? The exhaust looks a little sooty, but the previous owner was only commuting a short distance to work. The oil itself is fairly black, but it is 6000 miles after the service. The car has basically sat in his factory building for the last two months, since he took a new car on lease.
2. The starter seems sluggish. The battery looks pretty new and to have plenty of cranking power. It puts out 12.3 volts sitting there, 13.8 volts with the engine running. Are Saab starters normally sluggish? I hadn't noticed this on my wife's car. Any thoughts?
I have a 05 9-5 Aero Estate and mine is also a little slow to start and judging by other responses, it noy unique to my car. Shed 1.0 - 1999 2.3T SE auto estate, wonderful condition, lovingly cared for and serviced every 3000 miles by the previous owner. Came with manual seats. Just wondering if the wiring will be there under the seats for me to swap them for electric memory seats, which of course can be sourced cheaply on the bay of the flea.
Shed 1.5 - 2006 2.3T Aero manual estate, again wonderful condition, but a couple of questions:
1. on day two of ownership I noticed a fair old cloud of light blue smoke on stone cold start up, but not on any other start up during the day. Last service was by a non-Saab specialist, so my best guess is that they have used Mazola rather than fully synthetic 0W40 top grade oil. Shed 1.5 comes with 120k miles on it. I used to have this issue on a 1998 2.3 T with 150k+ miles on the clock, and it was diagnosed as worn valve guides and was helped by using better oil, but I just want to be sure it's not possibly something else before I change the oil? The exhaust looks a little sooty, but the previous owner was only commuting a short distance to work. The oil itself is fairly black, but it is 6000 miles after the service. The car has basically sat in his factory building for the last two months, since he took a new car on lease.
2. The starter seems sluggish. The battery looks pretty new and to have plenty of cranking power. It puts out 12.3 volts sitting there, 13.8 volts with the engine running. Are Saab starters normally sluggish? I hadn't noticed this on my wife's car. Any thoughts?
Don't count on getting cheap Saab seats on Ebay. They are the go to choice for the VW fan boys to put in their campers and that pushes the prices up.
Also, that badge certainly isn't standard. Get the hair dryer out and remove it
Update.
Shed 1.5
New oil and filter hasn't fixed the cold start up blue smoke, but it has reduced it.
New disks and pads have cured the squeak.
Been too busy to polish yet.
Aircon not working.
Shed 1.0
Auxiliary drive belt was shredding itself and causing an intermittent burning smell. Now replaced.
Shed 1.5 aircon is a mystery. Rang the previous owner who said he thought it was working ok for him. Took it to Nothing Thicker on Sunday, had it regassed, was given it back without charge as despite it being full of gas, it wasn't working.
This morning I took it to the Diagnostic Centre, who said there was no gas in it, there were no faults with it electrically, but the auxiliary drive belt bypassed the compressor, so no way could it ever work. Went back to Kwik Fit, asked them to check the gas pressure, 5 Bar gas pressure came up on their aircon machine. They confirmed the belt fitted was the non-aircon type. Went to Euro Carparts just round the corner and got a new belt, aircon type.
So now I just need some guidance on fitting the belt myself. Why? Local garage charged me £120 for changing Shed 1.0's belt. Is it just a case of levering the tensioner a bit and slipping the old belt off and the new one on, like on my TVR? That took me nearly 5 minutes, but access on the Saab is not so clever. Or is there more to it than that?
Shed 1.5
New oil and filter hasn't fixed the cold start up blue smoke, but it has reduced it.
New disks and pads have cured the squeak.
Been too busy to polish yet.
Aircon not working.
Shed 1.0
Auxiliary drive belt was shredding itself and causing an intermittent burning smell. Now replaced.
Shed 1.5 aircon is a mystery. Rang the previous owner who said he thought it was working ok for him. Took it to Nothing Thicker on Sunday, had it regassed, was given it back without charge as despite it being full of gas, it wasn't working.
This morning I took it to the Diagnostic Centre, who said there was no gas in it, there were no faults with it electrically, but the auxiliary drive belt bypassed the compressor, so no way could it ever work. Went back to Kwik Fit, asked them to check the gas pressure, 5 Bar gas pressure came up on their aircon machine. They confirmed the belt fitted was the non-aircon type. Went to Euro Carparts just round the corner and got a new belt, aircon type.
So now I just need some guidance on fitting the belt myself. Why? Local garage charged me £120 for changing Shed 1.0's belt. Is it just a case of levering the tensioner a bit and slipping the old belt off and the new one on, like on my TVR? That took me nearly 5 minutes, but access on the Saab is not so clever. Or is there more to it than that?
QBee said:
Update.
Shed 1.5
New oil and filter hasn't fixed the cold start up blue smoke, but it has reduced it.
New disks and pads have cured the squeak.
Been too busy to polish yet.
Aircon not working.
Shed 1.0
Auxiliary drive belt was shredding itself and causing an intermittent burning smell. Now replaced.
Shed 1.5 aircon is a mystery. Rang the previous owner who said he thought it was working ok for him. Took it to Nothing Thicker on Sunday, had it regassed, was given it back without charge as despite it being full of gas, it wasn't working.
This morning I took it to the Diagnostic Centre, who said there was no gas in it, there were no faults with it electrically, but the auxiliary drive belt bypassed the compressor, so no way could it ever work. Went back to Kwik Fit, asked them to check the gas pressure, 5 Bar gas pressure came up on their aircon machine. They confirmed the belt fitted was the non-aircon type. Went to Euro Carparts just round the corner and got a new belt, aircon type.
So now I just need some guidance on fitting the belt myself. Why? Local garage charged me £120 for changing Shed 1.0's belt. Is it just a case of levering the tensioner a bit and slipping the old belt off and the new one on, like on my TVR? That took me nearly 5 minutes, but access on the Saab is not so clever. Or is there more to it than that?
The aux belt can be done with the big Yoke mount (above the belt) in situ. However, with the engine supported underneath, remove the yoke mount to make life easier. Use a 1/2 inch breaker bar to lever the tensioner then put an Allen key or something thin to keep the tensioner off. Might be worth having someone to hold the tensioner while you slip the belt off.Shed 1.5
New oil and filter hasn't fixed the cold start up blue smoke, but it has reduced it.
New disks and pads have cured the squeak.
Been too busy to polish yet.
Aircon not working.
Shed 1.0
Auxiliary drive belt was shredding itself and causing an intermittent burning smell. Now replaced.
Shed 1.5 aircon is a mystery. Rang the previous owner who said he thought it was working ok for him. Took it to Nothing Thicker on Sunday, had it regassed, was given it back without charge as despite it being full of gas, it wasn't working.
This morning I took it to the Diagnostic Centre, who said there was no gas in it, there were no faults with it electrically, but the auxiliary drive belt bypassed the compressor, so no way could it ever work. Went back to Kwik Fit, asked them to check the gas pressure, 5 Bar gas pressure came up on their aircon machine. They confirmed the belt fitted was the non-aircon type. Went to Euro Carparts just round the corner and got a new belt, aircon type.
So now I just need some guidance on fitting the belt myself. Why? Local garage charged me £120 for changing Shed 1.0's belt. Is it just a case of levering the tensioner a bit and slipping the old belt off and the new one on, like on my TVR? That took me nearly 5 minutes, but access on the Saab is not so clever. Or is there more to it than that?
Brilliant. Thanks. I looked at the job for 15 minutes last night, googled it, it said "remove the top engine mounting for better access". I assumed it was the yoke, but could I find a picture anywhere of the top engine mounting to confirm it? Could I 'eckaslike.
So I will now tackle the job tomorrow, when I have a full day at Rockingham, giving a friend (my TVR mechanic client) moral support on the test day for his first ever race weekend, in a car he has built himself for racing. Should be plenty of help around if I get stuck. Might even take my polishing kit as well, as the forecast is dry and I will have a lot of time on my hands while he is out on track.
So I will now tackle the job tomorrow, when I have a full day at Rockingham, giving a friend (my TVR mechanic client) moral support on the test day for his first ever race weekend, in a car he has built himself for racing. Should be plenty of help around if I get stuck. Might even take my polishing kit as well, as the forecast is dry and I will have a lot of time on my hands while he is out on track.
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