saab newbie w/automatic transmission question

I've just purchased a 1990 Saab 900 with a 3-speed automatic. It shifts flawlessly from first to second, but has trouble getting into third. Aside from the fact that a manual 4-speed would be a lot more suitable for this car, can anyone advise me on how I can remedy this problem?

Reply to
jimwms
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Easy - buy another car.. next!

Reply to
Nasty Bob

WHY? Take it down the scrap yard!

Reply to
Citizen Smith

in article snipped-for-privacy@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com, jimwms at snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com wrote on 18/01/2006 19:29:

If the car was in my hands I would do the following:

  1. If the car was a minter, special edition or had some emotional attachment that meant I could not in good conscience scrap it, have the gearbox rebuilt by a pro. That, or replace with a known good manual box.
  2. Buy another SAAB of the same vintage and use this one as a supply of spares, parts and what-not for the new one for as and when required, running it as a "trip to the tip car" while 2nd still worked.
  3. Simply scrap it after grabbing as much good stuff as I could.

Paul

1989 900 Turbo S
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Reply to
Paul Halliday

Well you can relatively easily fit a manual transmission to the car. Someone wrote a guide on how to do it, look on SAABNET FAQ section.

However, it may just be as simple as a band adjustment and a fluid change. Remember you need transmission fluid to Ford Type F specification, not Dexron, Mercon and friends.

Reply to
SmaartAasSaabr

The conversion process is fairly straightforward, but you have to find a pre-'94 900 with a 5 speed to get the parts from.

Reply to
James Sweet

I have such a vehicle, free to good home (in Devon). It's an 89 900 LPT with a good gearbox. Not roadworthy, so would need a trailer.

Reply to
Grunff

Thanks, Paul. It IS a minter. Hardly a scratch or blemish anywhere. I appreciate your advice.

Reply to
jimwms

Thanks for the info. I'm in the process of learning the basics of the car. It's not slipping...just hesitating. It makes me feel like grabbing the gear shift and shifting into third or fourth. I would say the biggest disappointment with this car is the 3-speed automatic. But I don't plan to take any long trips with it, so I want to hold onto it if I can. Otherwise, the car is just about flawless.

Jim

Reply to
jimwms

in article snipped-for-privacy@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com, jimwms at snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com wrote on 19/01/2006 12:56:

I think in that case, you have a duty to do it up. Gearbox swaps can be done professionally for around 500 quid. If you're going to go with the gearbox swap, then yes, go for a manual box. While the engine is out, have it stripped, cleaned and re-built with a new head gasket. I couldn't believe the difference to my car after the gearbox/engine job. It was soooo quiet ... Like driving a brand new one!

If you love the car, you definitely won't regret it.

Paul

1989 900 Turbo S
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Reply to
Paul Halliday

There may not be anything really wrong with it, there's a reason there's very few automatic 900's on the road anymore, I suspect they were not very popular right from the start. It's one of those things that was clearly an afterthought, the car was obviously designed from the ground up with a manual gearbox in mind.

Reply to
James Sweet

OK, checked my service manuals...

a delayed 2-3 shift can be either dirty passages in the tranny (flush the fluid and change filter) or a incorrect front band adjustment.

To adjust the band,

  1. Remove rear bottom cover
  2. Loosen the adjusting screw locknut and install the .35 inch spacer, Saab P/N 87 91 030.
  3. Tighten the adjusting screw to 12 inch pounds and it's locknut to 17 foot pounds.
  4. Put it back together.
Reply to
SmaartAasSaabr

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