Driving my 97 9000T today, on this 80 degree day. I'm noticing my temperature needle sitting about a quarter inch above the blue when I'm going up a hill and expect the needle to be climbing a little. So I continue to watch the needle and it stays about the same. I stop the car and idle to build up some heat -- and the needle still doesn't move (well, maybe a fraction of a millimeter). I shut off the ignition and all the needles fall as usual. Start-up and the needle rises to the same quarter inch above blue.
I have an 82 deg. thermostat, that I'm wondering if it's stuck and making the fan come on more than usual, or exactly what's going on. Any thoughts on this?
Yes, starts off in the blue and moves up to about 1/4 inch above as the engine warms up (as expected) and seems to stay right there (7-o- clock) while driving. Sometimes it goes lower, but since I've noticed this, I can't get above that 1/4 mark no matter what I do, even letting it idle after driving.
I usually don't notice how often the fans come on, (my perception being they always came on as the temperature rises (higher than 1/4 inch above blue). But when I checked this from outside the car (where I could hear clearly), they seem to be almost constantly cycling on and off -- when I'm idling with the gauge reading 7-o-clock, the fan is on 90% of the time. And it doesn't seem to run once I've shut the ignition off. That doesn't seem normal to my recollection. Is it?
It is slightly possible that your temperature sensor is expiring - although when mine went (1995 Aero), it was fine one day and the next day the gauge needle simply stayed down at the 'off' position - the sensor I'm referring to is on the transmission end of the cylinder head, and (from memory) somewhat below and behind the connector for the D.I. cassette but in front of the throttle body. There are a few other temperature sensors scattered around the block and head, but this one is the one that, via the trionic ecu, feeds the dashboard temperature gauge - in other words, if it's the sensor, your engine might be hotter than you think and I believe that the fan control may start becoming screwey also. Stupid question, but you do have enough coolant, yes? Assuming your car is a 5 speed and not an automatic, you could do a reboot on the ecu - get up to speed, step on the clutch and, without removing the key, switch off the engine for 10 seconds or so, switch it back on and let out the clutch to restart - that has seemed to reset and solve some peculiar issues with both my previous '91 9kT and also my current '95 Aero.
Rick
wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@g4g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
First off, even if the electric fan runs 100% of the time it cannot cause your engine coolant temperature guage to be low. Yjonk of it this way: driving down the highway at 80 mph you are forcing way more air through the radiator than the electric fan can. A low engine temperature condition would be caused by the thermostat being stuck open or opening too soon.
The usual problem with the 4 cylinder SAAB engines in the 9000's is too high of a temperature and overheating. The only problem you should experience if the engione is too cold would be poor fuel mileage.
When I had both my '92 and '93 9000's I put lower temp (82 degree) thermostats in each of them and also lower temp switches in the radiators. The temp needle on each would rise to 9 o'clock and stay there solid.
When the fan kicks in has to do with whether the car is moving along briskly or sitting in hot traffic. The fan will come on any time the temp of the coolant in the radiator is too hot, regardless of the temp of the engine. It will also come on (and should stay on) when the AC is on. Try turning the ACC to economy mode (AC off) and see when the fan comes on/off.
It is preferable to have the fan come on early and often as that keeps the coolant in the radiator at a lower temp which makes it easier for a properly operating thermostat to regulate the engine temp. The only downside is that you are using a little power.
Yes. It is true. Starting in 95 the 9000 engine temoerature reading is not directly read from the engine. It is tempered through the ecu. SAAB made the change as a result of owner complaint that the temperature gage responded too well from start up to hot. The move was to assauge owners' concerns.
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