need advice before i jump in the deep end with a C900 fuel pump

It can certainly be removed, but it can't really be repaired. The pump is actually two pumos - a pre-pump and a main-pump. From your description it sounds like the main pump is failing to start.

A little young, but not unheard of.

Well - what you're doing there is bypassing the relay. Do you leave your jumper in when the car starts? Do you take it out?

The pump sits at the top of the tank, so doesn't suffer from sludge.

You need to figure out whether it's the pump or the relay. If jumpering the relay starts it, but then when you remove the jumper it keeps going then it's probably the pump. If you have to leave the jumper in to keep it running then it's almost definitely the relay.

Even if it had been run too long low on fuel?

The car runs well after i remove the jumper and seems to start as normal until it seems to decide to quit working again

judging from what you have told me ...which has been very useful btw ..thnx for that ...a new pump will have to be installed probably sooner rather than later

a friend of mine ...a mechanical engineer says once the pump is running it is unlikely to quit on me while in traffic and driving etc ,,,but that doesnt fill me with confidence

any ideas what i should look to pay for a 2nd hand pump which i'd only consider if it was significantly cheaper than a new one from eurocar at £235 which personally i think is outrageous ...i was hoping a cheaper alternative would be to obtain replaceable parts from BOSCH or something ...To be honest i feel a little stumped at what to do except part with the cash for a new one

Running it on low fuel can damage the pre-pump - but not because of sludge.

Sounds like it's the pump then.

Wouldn't count on that.

A second hand one from a scrap yard should be ~£40. But you won't know if it's any good until you install it.

If you intend to keep the car for a while, just buy a new one. £235 is really not that bad.

Yeah i figured as much too

My sentiments exactly

I intend to keep the car 'forever' or as close to there as i can get I know you're right it is best to fit a new pump ..And i will ..i guess i am brassed off since i am already planning on replacing the clutch very soon and i need a new drivers off side headlamp lense seeing as my local mickey mouse garage cracked the present one while fitting a new O2 sensor ..i also need an oil change but i dont think i can get under the car properly to do it i figured if i jacked the front up ..i have a 2 ton trolly jack and stands but do you know if this would prevent the old oil draining properly? To be honest i have only had this car since april and my learning curve regarding saabs has been very steep

Good for you - in that case you definitely want a new pump!

Shop around for the clutch - you can sometimes get them at really good prices from motor factors. Last one I bought was £80 (they're usually more like £120).

Scrap yard or one of the national saab dismantlers (e.g. neobros).

No, it will be fine.

I changed the oil in my C900 this afternoon doing exactly what you described. The engine stays pretty much level and all the oil comes out OK.

Mike

In message , Mike P writes

Well that is encouraging thnx for the reply ..i'll try get around to it this week myself while the car is stuck in the garage ..i got a new drain washer from saab a couple of months ago ...i just need to find out what i did with it ...i've also read the drain plug has to be tightened to a certain torque ..But i cant remember what it was ...50 nm sounds familiar ...Anyone know for shore?

i was also thinking about some kind of engine flushing do you have any advice about doing this? Any tips or products i should look at ..i've never done an oil change on any car ...But i did repair top and lower ball joints all by myself ...i thought that was quite an achievement for me ;)

i figured i'd change the oil filter as well ...i know where it is and my car has air conditioning unit above it ...Will this cause any access problems in reaching the filter?

Any feedback would be great

regards

It sounds quite bad to me. I've had to replace mine twice in < 100K miles and I don't recall it costing anywhere near that much. Of course, the first time was while under warranty. I was told that the pump is a standard (Chevrolet?) part and is available through normal channels.

Actually, it is a single pump. Most probably a walbro. Expected mileage is about 150k to failure give or take. It could be a Bosch like my '92, but unlikely. Most are Walbro. Saab went to a single pump setup in 89 (i think) on the C900. Replacement pumps are 70-100 and are readily available at Napa and other places. The procedure for replacement is on the townsend site.

KeithG

I've been having problems finding pumps available in the UK ..Were Walbro pumps fitted into cars for the UK? i have found Walbro pumps in the USA but not here in the UK

could anyone offer any help determining the pump code or number etc that i need? And where i can find one

regards

I don't. I've always just turned the plugs tight by hand (with a wrench). Last night was my first time working on a Saab; a friend's '87 900. The last time it was changed the plug was put in really tight. I had to hammer (carefully) on my wrench to get it loose!

Good idea. I've always heard the recommendation is to change the filter every other oil change. I just change it every time for simplicity so I don't need to remember whether or not the filter gets changed this time (and, on my first car, it made the amount of oil to refill a nice even number). They're rather cheap anyways (I think it was $3.something USD for my friend's filter last night).

Stick your hand (and filter wrench) in there and see! My friend's car was a bit of a challenge to get the filter loose. Not much room to grip, or turn, the filter wrench.

HTH,

-D

According to Bentley, 29-39 Nm (21-29 ft-lb)

John

/me needs a torque wrench :-(. Maybe I'll get one for Christmas :-).