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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 4 of 6

#23 of 44 won't start when hot by lewisdavid3

Jun 05, 2011 (9:13 am)

#24 of 44 won't start when hot by lewisdavid3

Mar 01, 2011 (8:03 am)

2002 9-3 SE, 145000 km, well serviced. Last summer it would not start on a hot day. No response when the key was turned (ie the problem was not the battery). Hauled to dealer in Exeter NH. Car started. Dealer not sure but thought it might be the sensor for transmission in park. Did not have the part in stock, so I did nothing. Yesterday, a hot day in Gainesville FL, it would not start. No dealer here. Hauled to Continental Imports, who seemed very competent. The car started on arrival, perhaps because it cooled off during the tow. Shop owner said he could not find the problem, since now there is no problem; he thought it might be something other than the park sensor.
 
What should I do? Where is the gear shift park sensor? Can it be 'shorted', or cooled with a bag of ice? Another discussion item on this forum suggests that the problem is high oil pressure? Is that likely, given that the pressure icon is not displayed?

#25 of 44 Re: won't start when hot [lewisdavid3] by kirstie_h HOST

Mar 04, 2011 (8:48 am)

Replying to: lewisdavid3 (Mar 01, 2011 8:03 am)
Since no Saab owners seem to have feedback, you might try our No Start Problems discussion. People with general automotive tech expertise often hang out there.

#26 of 44 Re: won't start when hot [lewisdavid3] by dedmeat

Jun 04, 2011 (6:43 pm)

Replying to: lewisdavid3 (Mar 01, 2011 8:03 am)
I don't know if you resolved the issue, but I had the same problem on an 06. Turned out to be a bad crankshaft position sensor. $200 and two hours of work and the problem went away.

#27 of 44 Re: won't start when hot [dedmeat] by lewisdavid3

Jun 05, 2011 (9:13 am)

Replying to: dedmeat (Jun 04, 2011 6:43 pm)
Thanks for the response. I sold my Saab because it just became too unreliable. The latest problem was intermittent failure of the air conditioning fan. When it failed the first time a dealer replaced the fan 'resistor, his name for it'. It worked, then failed again, then worked again with no intervention, so I sold the Saab. Consumer Reports rates the 2002 Saab 9-3 as a not buy.

#28 of 44 1999 9-3 Rough idle and take off by bluedogs

Jun 12, 2011 (8:39 pm)

#29 of 44 1999 9-3 Rough idle and take off by bluedogs

Jul 30, 2008 (3:14 pm)

My '99 Saab 9-3 is giving me fits. I just bought it a week ago from an individual but didn't do my home work before buying. the car has 133K miles, but I have heard nothing but good things about Saabs, so I bought it. Problem is, the thing just does not idle smoothly and when I give it gas to take off it sputters and acts as if it will die--and has a couple of times. I've changed the plugs, O2 sensors, new fuel filter, air filter, and ran diognostics at a mechanic's garage. We just cannot figure out what is going on. Mechanic says I should wait till the fuel injector cleaner has run it's course before doing anything else. Well, it has run it's course and nothing has changed. But, when the thing gets going it runs great! Any help will be greatly appreciated.

#30 of 44 Re: 1999 9-3 Rough idle and take off [bluedogs] by waterdr

Jul 30, 2008 (7:38 pm)

Replying to: bluedogs (Jul 30, 2008 3:14 pm)
Whoever told you that has neither owned a Saab or worked on one - lol.
 
On to serious business.....has the car been road-tested with a data-logger?
 
Since you have already replaced the likely culprits, there are still a few more areas that you can check. Vacuum leak? It could also be a sensor problem. Thing is about sensors, a bad sensor can give you a "good" reading because the sensor is broken. I am not sure about Saabs, but a lot of cars work in "closed-loop" control until they warm up. This means that the car's ECU is controlling the spark and fuel addition based on the built-in fuel tables and not using the O2 sensors. Once it warms-up, the the O2 sensors provide feedback.
 
I would ask a Saab technician about what sensors might be in use during "closed-loop" vs "open-loop" and that may help you deduce the likely problem.
 
You could also have a bad Idle Air Controller. This device is supposed to control your idle speed. However, the fact that the car sputters when you add fuel makes it not look liek an IAC problem. When an IAC is at fault, it will generally die warm or cold, and not sputter when you add fuel.

#31 of 44 Re: 1999 9-3 Rough idle and take off [waterdr] by bluedogs

Aug 03, 2008 (1:30 am)

Replying to: waterdr (Jul 30, 2008 7:38 pm)
Hi,
Thanks for the advice. Yes, we did road test the car with a diagnostic computer if that is what you meant about a data-logger. It all tested good. Now the car runs slightly better than before, but it takes several tries just to get it started--and this is not cold weather starting...
 
I don't see any vacuum hoses that need replacing or that are not connected. I did however put some Sea Foam cleaner in the gas tank when I filled up last. Although I ran Slik 50 through the previous tank.
 
Can the sludge problem that I hear of be any threat? I just put half a can of Sea Foam cleaner in the crankcase also. Will have the oil changed this week.
 
Again thanks for your advice. I'm just puzzled and fearful that I bught someone else's problem.
 
-Mark

#32 of 44 Re: 1999 9-3 Rough idle and take off [bluedogs] by bostondaphne

Sep 24, 2008 (9:32 am)

Replying to: bluedogs (Aug 03, 2008 1:30 am)
Hi Mark,
 
What resolved your starting and stalling problem. I am experiencing the same issue with a 03 9-3.
 
Thanks,

Messages Page 4 of 6

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