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Saab 9-3 Maintenance and Repair

44 messages,  Last post on Feb 02, 2013 at 6:47 AM

You are in the Saab 9-3 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Saab 9-3, Steering, Convertible, Sedan, Wagon

    

Messages Page 2 of 6

#3 of 44 2000 9-3 Saab Turbo fails by xela200093

Oct 09, 2010 (1:58 am)

#4 of 44 2000 9-3 Saab Turbo fails by xela200093

May 26, 2009 (10:43 pm)

Help, my 2000 9-3 dealer maintained Saab
(94,000) was on the interstate and the turbo failed.
Towed 120 miles back to repair shop that just
replaced water pump, belts, tensioners and was told the turbo and engine need to be replaced.
History of car documents problems associated with recall (engine doesn't always start ....towed to dealership many times over the last 5 years
and "fixed"...last failed start was 1/09 after
driving car short distance, turned off engine
and tried to restart it about 5 minutes later.
Didn't start...had to wait about 15 minutes and it started. ll/08 head gasket was replaced.
at Saab dealership. I was told the turbo failed due to poor oil changes. The car's service history at a Saab dealership indicates that oil changes were
timely and often before the recommended mileage.
 
Many other Saab 9-3 owners have reported
failed engines due to oil sludge, etc.
 
I called the dealership and they told me it was time to buy a new car! Saab headquarters told me the
car had too many miles and was too old for them to offer any assistance.
 
My warranty company (MPV) and I have put
thousands of dollars into this car over the last
5 years. The dealership "documented"
repairs that should have prevented this type of failure.
 
My first Saab 9-3 (1987) was kept in the family
well past 250,000 miles without any major problems.
 
HELP....I was told an attorney would be able to
seek financial reimbursement for the expenditures made on this car..but the attorney fees would be significant.
 
Anyone have suggestions?

#5 of 44 Realistically speaking by lokki

May 28, 2009 (7:32 pm)

You are on your own. Your car is nine years old. 94,000 miles while, perhaps only 10,000 per year, is still a substantial number of miles.
 
Even the best cars are not designed or intended to last forever. While many modern cars are able to go to 150,000 miles or more, there is no promise by any auto company that any individual car will do so.
 
Your original warranty through SAAB was for 48 months or 50,000 miles. You don't provide any information about your aftermarket warranty but any claim that you might have would depend on the terms of your agreement with them - not SAAB.
 
You might try to make some claim against the repair shop who had recently worked on your car, but unless they worked on the turbo system, I'd expect them to prevail against any claims. I don't believe that there is any easy way to diagnose turbo bearings that are starting to fail until they're already cooked....
 
The value of a 9 year old SAAB with a good engine is going to be much less than the cost of replacing your bad engine.
 
Sorry to be so pessimistic, but, yeah, after 9 years, you probably need a new car.

#6 of 44 Re: 2000 9-3 Saab Turbo fails [xela200093] by 93goblin

Jun 08, 2009 (6:08 pm)

Replying to: xela200093 (May 26, 2009 10:43 pm)
I had the same problem with the engine not starting, what happens is that the oil pressure builds up in the engine and the pressure sensor tells the computer not to let the engine start. there is a pressure relief kit that must be added to relieve the pressure of the motor oil building up in the block and is mounted near the oil pan (i had a technician install mine because he was checking other things). You may have noticed oil leaks on certain parts of the engine. The time that you wait for the car to start is the engine oil cooling down and contracting. The kit can be ordered at the dealer and installed yourself with a little know-how.

#7 of 44 Re: 2000 9-3 Saab Turbo fails [xela200093] by cobrazera

Dec 22, 2009 (9:12 am)

Replying to: xela200093 (May 26, 2009 10:43 pm)
Hi out there. I'm new to the Saab boards, but are seriously considering a used 9-3 Sportcombi 2.0 - 2007 or newer with less than 30K miles. What seems rather attractive is the 4 year/50K warranty.
I previously owned a turbocharged car ( years ago, not a Saab ) in which the turbo itself had very limited life. The old turbocharger bearings were not water cooled, and the turbo I had was known to have a life span of 30K miles or so. I assume the Saab turbo bearings are now water cooled, but does Saab recommend using a full synthetic oil, also? High temps associated with turbos can coke regular oil.
So...anyone out there with high mile, late model Saab 9-3s - and what's the secret, if any, to long engine life?

#8 of 44 Re: 2000 9-3 Saab Turbo fails [cobrazera] by 530ir1150r

Dec 22, 2009 (2:11 pm)

Replying to: cobrazera (Dec 22, 2009 9:12 am)
Synthetic oil changed at 5k mile intervals. I think the turbo is cooled by the oil, not the coolant.

#9 of 44 Re: 2000 9-3 Saab Turbo fails [530ir1150r] by cobrazera

Dec 23, 2009 (4:46 am)

Replying to: 530ir1150r (Dec 22, 2009 2:11 pm)
I would always use synthetic, but is it recommended or required by Saab? What year and how many miles on your Saab? Thanks for the reply.

#10 of 44 Re: 2000 9-3 Saab Turbo fails [xela200093] by dmain

Dec 23, 2009 (7:39 am)

Replying to: xela200093 (May 26, 2009 10:43 pm)
I also have a 2000 9-3 and the turbo bearings burned out at about 50,000 km. It seems that it is a design flaw. The turbo is too close to the exhaust manifold and it gets too hot. In 2000, GM did not specify synthetic oil but it did in 2001. By the time I found out it was too late for my turbo. Synthetic oil is the answer for engine sludging too.
 
Since changing over to synthetic oil, my 9-3 has been great and even at 160000 km, it still feels like a fairly new car. I like it so much I went out an bought a 2009 9-3 XWD Aero, as it looks like they are al bound to be collector items (and can be had for about 20% off the list prices now. What deal. Still, I love my 2000 9-3. Once you get the turbo and the electronic engine management cassette dealt with.
 
Good luck. 94000 miles should be nothing for a Saab.

#11 of 44 Re: 2000 9-3 Saab Turbo fails [cobrazera] by 530ir1150r

Dec 23, 2009 (5:15 pm)

Replying to: cobrazera (Dec 23, 2009 4:46 am)
My wife has a 2005 9-3 Arc Convertible with 60k miles. Mobil 1 has been used exclusively, it was European Delivered and has had no issues except the power steering pump.

#12 of 44 Re: 2000 9-3 Saab Turbo fails [xela200093] by tammie3

Jan 04, 2010 (4:08 pm)

Replying to: xela200093 (May 26, 2009 10:43 pm)
The not starting is the neutral switch... It cost me about 375.00 to fix it... or for the switch itself...

Messages Page 2 of 6

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