My daughter has an old ("T" plate) Saab 93 which recently produced a brief puff of blue smoke from the exhaust. It only lasted a moment or two and then disappeared. It's happened on two or three occasions so she booked it in to the local menders for a checkover. They said the turbo has blown (yes, ok, omit the jokes about that's what it's supposed to do etc!). Do we think this is a likely correct diagnosis, and if so, how much of a risk would it be to source a replacement from a dismantler (given that the cost of a new unit plus fitting would likely equal or exceed the value of the car? It has only done just over 80K miles, and she checked the oil level was correct. Grateful for ideas. Thanks.
Saab 93 "blown turbo"?
Sep 04, 2012
4 Replies
Lots of places rebuild turbos for around £80 - £100. I suspect they just put a £50 seal and bearing kit in.
Midlands
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idea where this one is.http://www.turbocentreuk.co.uk/index.htm If you can't DIY it then you need to add 3-4 hours labor for the removal and re-installation + gaskets (£50 - £100)
Low mileage or non use can be more damaging than use. I fitted a turbo that hadn't been run for 2 years. It made smoke at idle and on boost it was like a WWII destroyer given the command "make smoke". It was fine when removed 2 years ago so the seal ring had gummed up while standing.
TID ?
Very common for turbo's to let go on these GM 2.2's.
Tim.
Didn't think Diesels made blue smoke. How many old low mileage Diesels are there? Most SAAB diesels would have been company cars and not a private purchase so would rack up 60K in three years. It's usually private or company directors cars that have low mileage. A company director would have had a 160mph Viglen.
SAAB only made the petrol non turbo 93 for 1999 - T reg. After that all petrol engines were LPT or full turbo. I think the premium price and performance image of SAAB meant the non turbo attracted no one that could afford one.
My diesel Discovery let go with that much blue smoke it was unreal, i have never seen anything like it.
Swapped the turbo, cleaned the intercooler, it was bang tidy for another 90k
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