Problems with my Saab 9-3

[extvr]

Hi Guys,
Looking for some help, i have tried the search function but found nothing. I also have this posted in the Saab section, but havn't had any response, so i thought id try the fountain of all knowledge that is General Gassing.
I have a 2001 Saab 9-3 2.2 TID 125bhp over the last few weeks iv noticed some problems. It first started by surging on acceleration, then intermitantly id lose power and the engine malfunction light would come on, if i turned it off and on while driving it would cancel.
Now recently the car is driving like it has very limited turbo power, the turbo used to kick in at low revs, below 2000 before, now its over 3000 before it happens. Sometimes it doesnt happen at all, or if driving at 70 in 5th accelerate and the engine light comes on and you lose power, like the turbo has stopped working.
Iv tried several things, like cleaning the egr valve, MAF sensor, there don't seem to be any damaged pipes. I disconnected the MAF and drove off the engine light came straight on and even with turning it on and off it just came straight back on. Sorry for the long winded post, but i don't know what else to try, any suggestions would be greatly recieved.

Steve.

[sunbeam alpine]

I had similar symptoms (completely different vehicle) and it was a tiny spilt in a turbo hose. You couldn't see the split with the hose attached - it was alongside the jubilee clip.

[Rob P]

I drove my 93 for 25k miles with the MAF disconnected. I just put up with the engine check light. I got so fed up with the ste garage and needed my car to work so gave up trying to fix it!

Is the MAF sensor the one to the right of the engine, you just pull the lead and connector out, is that what you have tried?

I had both the EGR valve and MAF changed, the problem came back within 2k miles, hence me giving up!

[elanfan]

Sounds exactly like the problem on my old 93 (except it was the 150bhp 1.9). Saab had serious problems with the design of an EGR valve and actually had a lot of cars backed up waiting for the replacement design. Took several weeks to be sorted. I suspect you need a new EGR valve.

[extvr]

Thanks for the replys guy's, i will check the hoses again, the MAF is the mass air flow meter it sits between the air box and the turbo. I was thinking EGR valve, but just wanted to get other opinions before i go wasting money on parts i don't need.

[SubaruSteve]

I would check all the vac pipes. That 2.2 is based on the vauxhall DTI engine and we used to get similar faults years ago with split vac pipes.

[B3NNL]

Had exactly the same on my 2004 93, it was a split hose going to the turbo.

[Rob P]

A split hose would not be an intermittent fault though would it?

[McHaggis]

Try here as well - were very helpful when I had a Saab:

http://www.saabcentral.com/

[NiceCupOfTea]

Rob P said:

A split hose would not be an intermittent fault though would it?

Depends on where it is - I had a split that only opened up when the engine moved back on the mounts, so every time I accelerated from a standstill it would hesitate. Took months to find.

[extvr]

McHaggis said:

Try here as well - were very helpful when I had a Saab:

http://www.saabcentral.com/

Thanks for the link, i joined this morning and posted there also, but very quiet compared to here.

[AdvanceRoadcraft]

Try:

http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/

Theat's a very lively forum & has many owners much more knowjedgable than me...but I would say split or degraded air hoses are worth checking as first point of analysis.

Best, B

[extvr]

AdvanceRoadcraft said:

Try:

http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/

Theat's a very lively forum & has many owners much more knowjedgable than me...but I would say split or degraded air hoses are worth checking as first point of analysis.

Best, B

Thanks for all the replys guys, it was a 4 inch piece of vacuum pipe that was perished, had a small split in it where it met the steel pipe. Cut it down a fraction and the car is back to normal.

[NadiR]

My cousin has a Vectra that had the same problem, he told me to check the engine for him and all that was wrong was a loose hose.

[Rovinghawk]

extvr said:

it was a 4 inch piece of vacuum pipe that was perished, had a small split in it where it met the steel pipe. Cut it down a fraction and the car is back to normal.

Buy a bit of silicone hose & replace the lot- if some of it has perished then the rest might not be far behind.

RH

[extvr]

Rovinghawk said:

extvr said:

it was a 4 inch piece of vacuum pipe that was perished, had a small split in it where it met the steel pipe. Cut it down a fraction and the car is back to normal.

Buy a bit of silicone hose & replace the lot- if some of it has perished then the rest might not be far behind.

RH

Just ordered 3m off ebay, be here wed, way ahead of you there.