Direct Ignition Cassette

It uses 4 coils, one per spark plug, rather than a single coil producing the sparks, with the distributor distibuting them.

ISTR that it can use advance/retard on a per cylinder basic to combat knock rather than at the Distributor.

As Carl says, it is one coil per cylinder. This way, it can perform diagnostics per each combustion cycle and adjust accordingly. It senses knock through the plug! Very sophisticated. The life expectancy of a red unit 91 78 955 is about 100kmi. I do not know anything about the life expectancy of a black unit for the 9^5 cars. It may miss under load or at initial startup as an indicator or it may just die unannounced. A replacement is 300.00+. It is replaceable with the tools in the kit in the trunk in about 5 minutes for all 9k CS/CSE/Aero cars. The earlier unit (88-92?) requires a new pigtail to connect it to a harness. Do not be alarmed at the cost. It is actually pretty cheap when you factor in the cost of wires, caps and buttons over 100kmi that you will not need with this system.

KeithG

Malcolm wrote:

Yep.

Gives you a dedicated coil/plug combination for each cylinder. Supposed to reduce losses, make coils smaller, less expensive, more controllable. Walks dog, burps baby, insert 400 bucks USD when broken... give or take a few, depending on where you get it.

All the rage, now, I think.

Harvey

The Direct Ignition Cassettes that appear to be failing with alarming frequency are the same device, The red unit on the top of the engine in my 92 9k onlly they are black and (presumably) re-desingned to suit new engine, or other factors, in the 9.5. Is this also the case in the

9.3?

Is there a rash of failing direct ignition modules, or cassettes, in the 9.5 and 9.3?

I have understood the principle if direct ignition in the 9000 nand have always been pleased by Saab engine manament . My mileage is great and although this is a 92 with approachig 170k miles, the annual emissions test always looks great.

I am trying to decide whether tro spend serious money (for me) to maintain and retain my 9000S or get into something newer, but still a Saab. I would probably want to jump six or eight years and I love the hatch, the roomy back seet that I have now. I also do not want to become loaded with luxery that does not contribute to good driving. my

92 filled the bill mbut "Sven" is advancing in years. Any and all opinions, PLEASE.

Malcolm

The red cassette is used by cars with DI/APC or Trionic 5. This is

9000, ng900, and older ng9-3.

The black cassette is used by cars with Trionic 7. This is newer ng9-3 and 9-5.

No. Some do fail, but the failures don't have epidemic proportions. If that was the case I would see stranded Saabs every day (they are very common here in Sweden) but I don't.

A perfectly normal Saab.

If it is surviving bodily, and you've kept up the maintenance, then Sven is only a pup. I've owned Skodas (yes the rear engined ones) older than that. They weren't physically in good condition, but engine and mechanically they were perfect.

Probably not. From what I've heard, DI cassettes normally fail at around 50K to 100K miles, and it's just a regular thing. Consider the location, and the heat and mechanical stress that these are put through.

You can buy one yourself and change it out in five minutes. If you've gotten 170K miles off one, and are planning to keep the car, I'd consider getting the appropriate one and keeping it in the trunk, it will save a tow and some problems.

From what I understand, the DI cassette failure problem is not unique to Saabs, but is probably about the same for most other cars using such a cassette.

You might want to consider a 9-3, which will preserve the hatch design. Used or off-lease would be the way to go, since the cost is less that way. Saab (in the USA at least) offers a "pre-certified" used car, which is more expensive (I've looked at prices at driver's way, etc...) but extends the warranty to 100K miles and 6 years. The warranty on a 2000 MY 9-3 would have one more year to go. You'd be buying the off-lease car with roughly 30K to 40K miles, assuming that's the way you'd wish to go. 9-3s are less expensive than 9-5s, but still have the "excess goodies" that you may not want. (but I did...). So, your choice.

Harvey

Thanks to all for the information and the advice.

Malcolm