First Time Saab owner

I just purchased a 2000 9-3 S Convertible here in the US and I had a couple of questions as far as maintenance.

There is a local Saab shop with a decent reputation but I was wondering about some of the basic maintenance.

My particular question is about the brakes. I have been taking my US cars (Ford, Oldsmobile) to the same brake shop for some time and I was wondering if there was any reason not to take my Saab there.

I guess the same question applies to the transmission and the cooling system.

I was also hoping for any tips as far as anything else to look for.

Thanks for you help.

It is greatly appreciated.

Bob

Reply to
Robert Murphy
Loading thread data ...

For basic stuff, you don't need a Saab dealer.

What attention did you think the transmission needs ? Hardly a regular service item !

Golden rule #1.

Use synthetic engine oil ! In the UK, Mobil One is the recommended choice. Change every 10k miles. The engine will last a long, long time.

formatting link
Oh and use the right spark plugs. NGKs ( forget the part number offhand ) only for engines with direct ignition.

Other tips. Fix stuff before it gets worse ! It's more expensive when it gets worse ( usually ).

Graham

Reply to
Pooh Bear

Make sure the idler pulleys get changed out when the serpentine belt does (60k service). I would not go beyond 75k on the pulleys, period. I disagree with the 10k oil change interval. 5k seems more reasonable. Especially with the rash of sludged engines. Saab recommends 10k, but with US driving 5k is safer. Brake shops are fine for brakes, I do mine myself, though. Just make sure the brake shop DOES NOT 'turn' the rotors. Replace them when they are below the minimum thickness, but if the pedal is not pulsating, just replace the pads. If the pedal is pulsating, replace the rotors. Auto transmission service is fluid changes. This is a good idea. Manual transmission fluid changes should be done at 60kmi.

KeithG

Pooh Bear wrote:

Reply to
KeithG

Robert,

My recomendation is to find a good independant SAAB specialist and use him for (almost) everything. I would not let a "brake shop" do my brakes or transmission shop the trans.

Unless you have money to burn, you probably do not want to use the dealership as the labor rates tend to be much higher.

-Fred W

Reply to
Fred W

Yes.

Well now...brakes on any current Saab are _very_ simple. A moderately skilled owner can do them himself with a minimum (and I mean minimum) of tools. Pads and rotors, front or back, are literally a 15 minute job.

The liklihood of needing transmission work is so low that if it would happen, yes, I'd go to a dealer or Saab Specialist.

Dave Hinz

Reply to
Dave Hinz

True, but I find the monkeys that work in brake shop tend to be pretty simple. Plus they tend to use the cheapest available parts so they can maximize their profit margins.

Actually, as we both know, Dave, the best bet is to do your own brakes. Then you know what the quality of the parts you put in were.

Yes and no. Autoboxes tend to have more than their share of problems on SAABs, and generally that is what the "Transmission Shops" specialize in.

-Fred W

Reply to
Fred W

Thanks to everybody who has replied (or who are yet to reply) for your tips.

As for the brakes. I have been going to a local shop for years for my US made cars. The parts are guaranteed for life, their prices are reasonable and they have always treated me well. I was only wondering if the brakes for this car were unusually complicated or parts that rare that they would be unable to change them. As far as changing them myself, all you would need to do is spend 15 minutes around me with an auto repair to know that isn't happening. I am pretty inept when it comes to these things.

The question about the transmission refers to maintaining the fluid. Again on my US cars I have the fluid flushed and replaced every 30K-45K miles. Again the question referred to the uniqueness of SAAB.

I probably should have gone through the manual before posting and for this I apologize. I picked up the car yesterday and got home in time for my son's school concert and when I got home I went straight to Usenet.

Thanks again

Bob

Reply to
Robert Murphy

If you've got shops that you use, like and trust, keep using them. Brakes and transmissions work pretty much the same on all cars and a good shop should be able to provide you with good service on them. The places where you need to stick to Saab-knowledgeable people are anything to do with the DI, tuneups, the turbo, etc.

snipped-for-privacy@madmousergraphics.com

formatting link
design, print design, photography

Reply to
LauraK

If anything, they are easier to change than, say, brakes on a Dodge Caravan. Speaking from direct personal experience here.

Literally, the brakes can be done with a ratchet and socket, a 1/8" punch (or nail with the point ground off), a hammer, and a C-clamp.

Not a problem. Fun car, eh?

Dave Hinz

Reply to
Dave Hinz

That's what he was suggesting.

Reply to
Shane Almeida

in article ujptd.4073$MS6.3094@trndny01, Robert Murphy at the_no_spam snipped-for-privacy@verizon.net wrote on 07/12/2004 21:32:

Yay! Nice purchase!

I don't see why not - a brake is a brake! Can you not do the job at home?

What's wrong with the transmission? A four year old car shouldn't be showing signs of transmission failure, should it? As for the cooling system, well, it's a thermostat and some coolant :) If your thermostat is olkay, well perhaps refresh the coolant. If your radiator is a bit duff, replace it. Not too hard for you, or any local mechanic.

U got a turbo? Hope so :)

Paul

1989 900 Turbo S
formatting link
Reply to
Paul Halliday

Reply to
Retro Bob

(Ignore that blank post I made, eh ?)

I would not go over 50K without changing the idler pulley(s) and belt. I forget when they went to a one pulley idler vs. two... somewhere in the early 9~3 series. But, I have seen too many go at 50K, so if you have one or tow, change them and the belt.

Bob

Reply to
Retro Bob

What's so different about US driving that makes you suggest this ?

Oil change intervals is an area where US and European practice / thinking seems to differ. I gather that common US practice is not to use synthetic but change often.

With fully synthetic oil I feel *very* comfortable with 10k mi change intervals. Saab seem to think so too. Non synthetics are a whole different matter.

First time I've seen a recommendation for changing manual gearbox oil. Most makers say leave it alone. I admit I don't know Saab's line on this. When I checked the level in my 9000 box it looked really clean.

Graham

Reply to
Pooh Bear

Finding a good independent specialist is a very good idea. You pay considerably extra for labour at Saab franchises.

Having said that, my experience of Saab dealers has been quite good when supplying parts. I needed some bits that aren't routinely stocked. One dealer sent the part out by same day mail ( no charge for mail ) , the other ( nearer ) actually delivered some other bits to the garage doing the work ! Paid by credit card - so it was all done without even having to venture out of the house.

Graham

Reply to
Pooh Bear

Synth may be able to get this life, but it is a bit of a gamble unless you either do an oil analysis to determine if and when it is due or have an oil monitor built in (9^3SS). In the US, we seem to take shorter trips which shortens oil life. There have been a number of 2.3L engines which have suffered from sludging. Whether or not it is due to poor Dino oil or just due to driving style, I do not know. This was not historically been a problem with the T4 and the only change I can attribute it to is the 10k oil change interval. I just would not stretch it that long without oil analysis to corroborate it. Therefore, I change my Mobil 1 at 5k... YMMV

KeithG

Pooh Bear wrote:

Reply to
KeithG

The "oil monitor" on the 9-3SS is bogus. It doesn't actually measure oil quality, it's just a dummy counter until your next oil change. Saab customer service says it is based on how you drive the car (miles, cold starts, trip distance, etc.). I changed my oil at 3000, 6000, 9000, and

12000 miles and use Mobil1 0W-30 fully synthetic. I've never reset the service information and the "oil quality" reading hasnever gone up after a change. I'm now at 13500 and the SID says my oil quality is around 26%.
Reply to
Shane Almeida

It's also popular to flush an engine here when changing oil. Either by use of a flushing additive before draining the old oil, or traditional drain - run engine with flushing oil and drain again. This certainly helps keep an engine clean.

Never ever heard of the sludging problem over here with modern oils though.

Lots of short journeys certainly doesn't help, yet I used to do several short runs every day in the car I had before the Saab and never experienced any such problem.

Graham

Reply to
Pooh Bear

I'm having the water pump on my 9000 replaced next week and if either belt looks worn, it will get replaced at the same time.

Is the idler pulley a known problem area ? Maybe I should see about getting that done at the same time too.

Is it a tricky or long job ?

Graham

Reply to
Pooh Bear

Mobil thanks you.

You must do a lot of really short trips.

Reply to
Wayne Vincent

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.