1997 Saab 900 2.0i - what should I know??

I've never done them, but it's common for the color to fall off.

Replace the upper idler pulley and serpentine belt. $80USd in parts, .5 to 1 hour labor. They go around 50K miles and then you stop. Unless you know it's been done, do it now.

Other than that, just change the oil, and have fun. If might be worth trying to figure out if it has the 35K service (change A/F, etc) done.

Ahh cool - sounds like very good advice...I just have to find out what that actually means! It sounds like a job for my local grease monkey...

I suspect it has - there's a sticker from the local SAAB dealer in on the windscreen saying the next service is due at 83,000kms, so it's going to be due the 50k miles one soon (I take it there is a 50k service? No manual with car).

Thanks for that.

Hope like hell the alternator is in good condition...

~GJ~

I can send you a diagram/instructions that will make it clear if you like. It's a 400Kb attachment, so you need a mailbox that will handle that.

(FYI - This is the only problem that I know of that is not something a typical mechanic would know about and/or is not in the 35K service list - unless you have a convertible, then there is one more. :-)

That would be very kind of you - thanks! The reply address is valid - it's normally just a spam collector, but I can pick up email from it.

Cheers!

Unfortunately not - couldn't find one in my price bracket that I could justify when I could get such a better deal/mileage/age on a coupe...:(

Just sent.

Sun, 04 Jul 2004 11:02:49 -0400, snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com suggested: : On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 06:46:22 GMT, SmooMonster : wrote: : :>I've just bought one with 81,000kms (just under 50,000 miles) on the :>clock. It's my first Saab and first automatic (not my original choice, :>but was a relative bargain). :>

:>Apart from the initial acceleration at pullaway being surprisingly :>poor (but still much better than the car it's replacing so I don't :>mind at all), what should I be looking out for in it? :>

:>It's pretty much pristine, although the bonnet badge and rear badges :>seem to be sun damaged and need replaced. Is that easily done, or :>should I hand it over to experts? NOTE: I'm generally crap at anyting :>involving tools! :>

:>Thanks for any help, hints or guidance... : : Hope like hell the alternator is in good condition...

Despite your experiences, I don't think that bad alternators are all that common on this car. ;) The idler pulley is the main thing to watch out for. Mine failed less than 1,000 miles after I drove it off the used lot.