My luck just gets better and better.

The luck isn't getting any better.

After changing the servo, I managed to snap the small connection of the header tank last week.

Then when I had replaced that, found the boost guage and heater flaps would slowly cease working.

Figured a trapped hose under the dash.

Dropped the lower dash again today.

Couldn't see anything wrong down there, but decided to replace any old hoses I could find.

Couldn't get to the heater ones so left them, but did all the boost related ones.

One last piece to do was the one that goes up through the bulk head behind the servo, and connects to Y piece that runs behind the Header tank.

That was when I noticed that the header tank was trapping it. And of course, as the coolant system gets hot, the heater fills more, and also expands slightly, with the heat and expansion squashing the trapped pipe even further, so I freed that up. So maybe I didn't need to drop the dash after all. Bastard.

Got everything back together.

Took it out for a long run. Worked perfectly, no more hoots after the intitial start up, needle flies arround on the boost gauge, settles back to begative boost on idle/over-run.

So I start to re-assemble the car computer. Fire it up, works fine, but no sound.

Check and find the sound cable has come out. Attempt to plug it back in (very tight fit), and in the process manage to do something to the motherboard that has blown the VGA output. Screen just flashes with white pulses. Don't even get post or bios screen. That is the real pisser. Now the Car PC idea is dead, because I can't afford to replae the motherboard, and I've now got a 10.4" TFT installed in the lower console that is useless.

I can't believe how bad my luck is at the moment. If I fix one thing, I break another. No ifs, or buts. If one gets fixed, something else will be trashed.

And guess what, the new shocks arrived today, but I'm really not sure if I dare tempt fate attempting to fit them, I can't afford anyone else to do it, and I can't afford to break anything else on the car.

Reply to
MeatballTurbo
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Where abouts are you again? I'll pop and give you a hand. Sounds like your lucks on a par with mine at the moment, although luckily mine hasn't spread to the cars yet ;-)

Matt

Reply to
**-**

in article snipped-for-privacy@news.cis.dfn.de, MeatballTurbo at snipped-for-privacy@bouncing-czechs.com wrote on 08/11/2003 20:07:

A sad, sad Saab story

Carl,

It's your first! It gets better. My first Slaab was a misery, but I loved it so much I bought another (and another). Remember the advice I gave you right back then when the Skoda went out and the Saab came in? Love this one .. Get bitten and but a good one later :)

I can't begin to tell you the misery I went through with my first one and I'm nowhere near as mechanically competent as you. I'm sure you know by now that Saab people fix things that don't need fixing. We fix things before they break. I've had about a year fixing things on the front-end of my Orca. I'm nearly there now - drive shafts, CV joints, boots, wheel bearings, tyres, ball joints, etc. Now all that's fixed, I can hear another problem - My slave cylinder and/or clutch release bearing has gone ... I know I can leave it for another few months, because my last 900 made the same kind of noises for the year and a bit I owned it, but I just want it fixed on this one.

It's a pain, but just remember - if you don't go through all this, you don't get to drive a Saab. Those good runs just makes it all worth it :)

Try a NA C900 8V next. Nothing like the kind of heartache that you get with a turbo and/or 16V. Not quite as fast and you'll always remember how fast the turbo was, until you get another one, but they're damn good fun all the same.

Hang in there dude.

Paul

1989 900 Turbo S
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Reply to
Paul Halliday

In article , snipped-for-privacy@btinternet.com spouted forth into alt.autos.saab...

I'm up in cheshire mate. Bit far for a run over.

You concentrate on getting everything sorted at your end, and looking after your missus and the little one to be.

I'll manage. Just need to straighten me head out a bit.

Reply to
MeatballTurbo

In article , snipped-for-privacy@blueyonder.co.uk spouted forth into alt.autos.saab...

Cheers Paul.

I keep thinking, when will it bloody end. I know that when i get the shocks fitted, I'll find the radius arm and panhard rod bushes knackered, so i will have to shell out for them, and see if i can do them myself.

After I get some re-inforcement welded into the inner arches, it is going in for a passenger side wheel bearing. I suppose I should bite the bullet and get the ball joints checked and swapped while I'm at it.

I know what it is like. I love driving it. I even enjoy working on it, but just when I get somewhere, think yes, I cracked it. Slap, the reality fairy lays one on me, and mashes something else up. Normally my ham fisted mechanicing technique does it.

Oh yes. I know. Get the needle into the very high orange Looks great, see the big Beemer receding into the distance.

I don't make backwards moves. Next one I get will cost me some more. It will be worth spending out on an inspection for, torn, C900 T16 Conv, or Carlsson, or a 9k Aero or Carlsson. I know the 900 Cabs don't handle as well, but are so cool, the 900 Carlssons are just gorgeous, and both the

9ks can be persuaded to shift just a little. Especially the aero, and those seats in an aero are the absolute dogs danglies, and while not a s grunty, a CD carlsson can be picked up for relative peanuts compared the CS/CSE Aero or Carlsson.

I had a CDE LPT 9k when the T16 was in for a chain. Absolutley smooth car, but a bit of a barge. Luxo barge that could rip it up if provoked though, and I wouldn't mind throwing a full power one arround for a while.

Given the money, have to admit, this does float my boat a little.

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Reply to
MeatballTurbo

If I were you I'd take a break from it for a couple of weeks. You've got the car running fine, so you don't need to do anything on it just now.

There's not a lot to go wrong when doing the shocks, but you might as well leave it a while so you can actually enjoy it.

Reply to
Grunff

in article snipped-for-privacy@news.cis.dfn.de, MeatballTurbo at snipped-for-privacy@bouncing-czechs.com wrote on 08/11/2003 22:12:

Nothing backwards about a NA 8V. I'd have another any day :) Nah, my next one will be a ragtop. I'm after a blue 2.1 NA of as late a vintage as I can. I can't help thinking whistling and dump-valving with the top down would be a huge amount of fun, but I'd just prefer a NA for the 'vert. The C900 Carlssons are okay IMO, but I actually prefer the Aero shape. I could be tempted to "airflow" a ragtop though.

I have heard the earlier 'verts (up to '88, or UK E reg) are stronger than post-88. They have more structure, but the pay-off is more weight. I understand these will hold a FPT, hence the later ones (the 900 S models) were LPT.

I'm very tempted to let sell the Fiat Punto Sporting (my wife's usual car) and buy in a late 9000. I'm still undecided about whether to go for a CD model or CSE Aero. Both are very nice. So long as Orca holds up, we've no need for two cruisers. Our C900 is very comfortable for long distances, even without cruise and air-con :) Once cruiser and one "city" car is a good combination. Besides, the Punto isn't out of warranty yet, so I've not had the opportunity to rice it up like my old one

Cheers mate. At least it's dry today.

Paul

Reply to
Paul Halliday

In article , snipped-for-privacy@ixxa.com spouted forth into alt.autos.saab...

Cars very wallowy and dives on braking a lot though. If I go over those sharp edged bolt down plastic speed bumps, with a passenger, I am almost gauranteed to lose the exhaust. I think the suspension is compressing too far when it lands on the other side of the bump, and hits the middle box on the bump, knocking the back box off it's mounting, and causing it to bounce off the exhaust. And I don't want the expense of an exhaust.

Reply to
MeatballTurbo

Ah...good reason to do the shocks then :-)

Reply to
Grunff

In article , snipped-for-privacy@ixxa.com spouted forth into alt.autos.saab...

Did the fronts today. Top shock bushes Oval on both sides. Bottom shock bushes very ragged.

Even with washing up liquid, and then lithium grease, it was a bastard to get them onto the bottom mounts, especially the drivers side which looked like it was slightly bent.

Managed it eventually.

Just to see what they felt like on full hardness (for giggle) really, I look it out for a test drive. Decided to grab a pizza for tea, getting back in the car, closing the door, managed to pull the drivers side door handle off inside See what I mean about fixing one thing, breaking another. Got it back on with a bigger washer where the old one had pulled through as the plastic broke. Scrappies again on Saturday I think.

Rears next week. Front end still rolls a bit, but feels much steadier. BTW, are Panhard rod and radius arm bushes difficult to do? If I have the rear apart I might as well change them. Front and ARB bushes were fine.

Reply to
MeatballTurbo

I'd normally say no, they aren't difficult. But the way things are going for you at the moment, I suspect you may well end up destroying the gearbox or something!

Reply to
Grunff

in article snipped-for-privacy@news.cis.dfn.de, MeatballTurbo at snipped-for-privacy@bouncing-czechs.com wrote on 09/11/2003 19:18:

LOL. Total comedy. It's only funny when you've been there :)

Well done with the shocks though. I have several speed bumps to get over ever day at work and have to crawl them, even though I have a rock hard front-end. Slightly saggy on the front can lead to the weight of the car coming down onto the speed bump trapping the exhaust. Sooner or later, it's gonna come off :( My rear shocks need looking at, but I've got rock hard springs that fill in for now.

Paul

Reply to
Paul Halliday

In article , snipped-for-privacy@ixxa.com spouted forth into alt.autos.saab...

Yep. That just about soms it up.

ay just change the shocks. And leave the bushes for when I go get the front wheel bearing done.

Reply to
MeatballTurbo

In article , snipped-for-privacy@blueyonder.co.uk spouted forth into alt.autos.saab...

Normal tarmac/brick speed cushion(or tables if full width) are no problem, can go over them quite fast if they have nice smooth up and down.

The ones I'm talking about are the ones that are made of black plastic and have reflectors in them and nearly as tall as they are wide.

First time I had it happen was at the Sainsbury's near where I work (they have had the car park re-surfaced and tarmac bumps put in).

Next time was at Asda near where I live. This one had an added complication. Where everybodies wheels had hit, the plastic had flattened a little into two ruts about half the depth of the bump. Which meant that your exhaust is bound to hit the raised centre section as the suspension compresses on the other side.

3rd time was getting petrol, but the BP station that it happened shares a speed bump with the MOT station that has history of moting the car.

Again it was a hideous plastic bolt down speed bump, that you only tend to see on private roads, and silly little back streets.

Reply to
MeatballTurbo

Hi,

haha, you dont have to do much to make that happen on a -89 just drive the car and wait while it destroys itself :) but take it easy on carl, you know how quickly you can snap off some vacuum or water hose... almost as easy as loosing o-rings or screws.

bye

simon

Reply to
Simon Putz

I think we all feel for Carl on this one. Sounds like a terrible run of bad luck. Bound to end soon.

Reply to
Grunff

Sun, 9 Nov 2003 21:14:01 -0000, snipped-for-privacy@bouncing-czechs.com suggested: : In article , snipped-for-privacy@blueyonder.co.uk : spouted forth into alt.autos.saab... :> Well done with the shocks though. I have several speed bumps to get over :> ever day at work and have to crawl them, even though I have a rock hard :> front-end. Slightly saggy on the front can lead to the weight of the car :> coming down onto the speed bump trapping the exhaust. Sooner or later, it's :> gonna come off :( My rear shocks need looking at, but I've got rock hard :> springs that fill in for now. :> : : Normal tarmac/brick speed cushion(or tables if full width) are no : problem, can go over them quite fast if they have nice smooth up and : down. : : The ones I'm talking about are the ones that are made of black plastic : and have reflectors in them and nearly as tall as they are wide.

They installed some of these in the parking garage at work. Those are probably what destroyed the suspension on my Honda. (but now I drive a Saab...)

Reply to
andrewunix

In article , snipped-for-privacy@nyx.net spouted forth into alt.autos.saab...

really nasty aren't they.

Reply to
MeatballTurbo

Mon, 10 Nov 2003 20:07:09 -0000, snipped-for-privacy@bouncing-czechs.com suggested: : In article , snipped-for-privacy@nyx.net : spouted forth into alt.autos.saab... :> :> They installed some of these in the parking garage at work. Those are :> probably what destroyed the suspension on my Honda. (but now I drive a :> Saab...) : : really nasty aren't they.

I am of the opinion that they should be outlawed.

Reply to
andrewunix

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