Auto Mechanics and Saabs

Sounds like the AIC valve. (the '85 has one guys, right?) Or, a vacuum leak.

Is there a place that specializes in imports, at least? Bosch would be a keyword to ask about.

Depends on the problem. A bosch person would be good. Even the VW/Audi guy would be better than some random garage.

Dave Hinz

I've checked for and corrected several vacuum leaks. What's involved in replacing the AIC valve?

Napa is the only chain garage we have. The others are homespun.

I drive the only Saab in town. There are a few other European cars on the road here but not many.

Thanks for the advice.

-- Christian

Well, the AIC valve can be fixed. google for "bosch AIC" or "saab AIC", maybe with the word "repair" added; if you can't find a procedure I can give you something. Basically it's an air leak that bypasses the throttle plate to regulate idle speed, a specifically calibrated, servo controlled leak valve. They gum up and the motor parts corrode. Replacement is pretty simple, but cleaning it up is worth trying first.

I'd go to the guy who fixes the European cars. Bosch fuel injection systems experiences is pretty important in the situation you're having.

If you can't find something on the AIC valve, let me know. Might be as simple as taking it out, hitting it with gumout to get things moving again, and you're done. Might not be the AIC at all.

Dave Hinz

There isn't much of a procedure to it, IIRC. You can unscrew it, look at it and lubricate the moving parts, that might help for some time. Then you want to lubricate it again, preferably with oil with greater viscosity so that the lubrication won't wear off so quickly.

When mine (in a 900/-91) was dying, I finally ordered a second-hand AIC valve from a junkyard that collects wrecked Saabs. It cost me maybe 20 euros a couple of years ago: it's a similar valve but from a

9000 actually. :) Has worked splendidly since that, wouldn't consider too much repairing on it.

br, S

Well, it's not just lubricating the moving parts, it's polishing up the corrosion on the commutator on the motor that moves the parts. It's almost always sitting in the same-ish position, so you need to either polish up those spots, and/or move the rotor to brush alignment so a different part of the commutator is being used.

It's not worth too much work, but if you're comfortable with, say, a brake rebuild, an AIC valve isn't bad.

Dave Hinz

Is the old style AIC much different from the new style AIC? I might be wrong but I remember studying mine and concluded that it's pretty much a lump of metal and quite inaccessible. There might/must have been some (fairly narrow) access to the motor from the top of it where the harness connector is plugged, but nothing obvious and inviting like screws. So I only ended up lubricating it.

br, S

Not sure. Is the new style much different from the old style? ;)

Not sure, I've only seen the new style. The wiring is different and their physical forms differ a bit, too. The older one might be more repairable, which is typical. :-o

br, S

Does the '85 900 8V (non-turbo) have an AIC valve? I looked but was unable to locate one under the hood. Doing a Google search I found it mentioned on the '85 Turbo but not the non-turbo.

-- Christian

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