My New Saab

Hi everyone.

I'd like to introduce myself, as I've been lurking and researching for the last couple weeks here regarding the NG900 I just bought! It's a 98

2.0 turbo with 137k on the odometer. Seems like it's been maintained very well. I bought it from the second owner whom only put about 15k on it over the last 2 years. The local dealership went out of business (or just closed?) a few years ago, which is going to make parts fun to wait for, as I learned today when my heater hose blew. I ordered the set from saabsite at a substantial discount from the dealer's list price, so that's nice, but I still get to wait a couple days and drive my saab a couple gallons of water in the passenger seat. I'm wondering if this problem is indicative of anything else happening. The hose simply looks split about an inch from the end where it comes out of the head. It happened quite suddenly and I had maybe 3 minutes from the SID Coolant Low warning to overheat. The car has also been developing a problem with stalling at stoplights, or when I pull into the driveway and put her in park. She also idles a little funny at times even when she doesn't stall. The car is a dream on the highway and runs great as long as I'm pushing the gas pedal. The previous owner ran only regular unleaded gas, which I've read can make the car cough and sputter a bit, but does it lead to any buildup anywhere that might cause this? I've ran almost 2 tanks of premium thru it so far, hoping it might burn hotter and blow something thru. It has also been sitting quite a bit. (The oil change sticker says it is just now due for service according to the mileage, but the date on it is December of last year.) Research here leads me to think the turbo bypass valve is blown. Or worse (more expensive, I guess) it might be the AIC. Or the air mass meter, but I see no black smoke. I haven't checked the hooter valve yet, partially because I'm hardly a car expert and I get scared I'm going to break something else, but this looks like an easy job for even somebody like me. The car has been a lot of fun so far, but there are a couple more little minor issues: all four foglights are burnt out; both the heater knobs are broken, but not to the point where I can't adjust the temp or flow; neither the passenger side windshield washer nor the rear window nor the passenger side headlight washer fluid dispensers work. I figure these are just the little elbow valves I've been reading about. The driver's side dispenser does work. On the plus side: I have a *very* trusted mechanic. It's got new snow tires plus another set with probably 75% tread wear left. It's also got brand new brakes all the way around (other then the front calipers). It's got a new battery as well. I paid $3200 USD and I just wish it were a manual transmission, but I'm getting used to the auto; it's pretty responsive. I'm planning on flushing the tranny and now the radiator too, since it's overheated a couple few times. Anything else I should plan on? Are my diagnoses/ideas correct? Any other advice for a Saab newbie?

Thanks in advance, Elijah

Reply to
Juggler
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Elijah, This is a good place to ask, but an even better place is the NG900 forum on Saabnet if you haven't already asked there. That's their specialty.

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Reply to
saabyurk

Thanks for the tip. I copied and pasted my original message over there.

I also popped the hood this afternoon and had at look at my turbo bypass valve. I blew into the holes but nearly popped a lung instead, so I guess that checks out. The baby hose coming out of the top and running back to the turbo looks pretty old and crackly. In pulling it off I severed the lip and had to snip it with scissors. Put it back on

*very* carefully. This hose doesn't really look like the rest of the Saab hoses. Those are all mostly clean and spongy. This one feels like it's ready to go, or gone already in a spot I didn't notice. I pulled the DIC and it looks to be in pretty decent shape, comparing it to some pictures I've seen of bad ones. The inserts around cylinders 2 & 3 are melted just a little bit, but no oil leakage like I remember seeing in a picture somehwere. The plugs below look relatively new, although I couldn't find a socket extension long enough to actually pull and inspect them.

I also noticed another seemingly after-market hose. This one very short, coming into (out of?) the upper left hand corner of the top of the head. It comes from (goes to?) the turbo *right* next to where the "suspect" baby hose from the turbo bypass valve inserts. It also meets another metal pipe that runs along side the left side of the head before plugging into the casing around the DIC. Anyhow, when I removed the plastic cover for the turbo, I pulled this hose right off, then realized its just sitting on this little junction that runs into the head. No hose clamps or zip ties or anything. Long story short, I started the engine and pulled the hose off, and it's pulling air into the turbo. I plugged it with my finger for a moment and I'm guessing the ECU kicked it up so she wouldn't stall. I hooked it back up to the junction and heard a pretty loud hissing sound. Unhooked it, plugged it for a moment longer, then let go, and she stalled. What is this one? (Again, please bear with me. I'm no mechanic...) Hopefully replacing these two will set her up at least for now. Hard to imagine the clown who installed this last one without securing it at all.

Thanks for any and all advice, Elijah

Reply to
Juggler

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