Sudden Saab Death Problem

I'd start by first checking the spark plugs for any signs of mischief - unusual blackness, bad gapping, and so on. If the car was showing any previous signs of performance loss, it could be indicative of an ailing DI cassette.

Good luck!

trionic- or motronic-engine ?

Just one question...what's a "DI cassette"? Thanks, Paul

DuchovnySexBomb wrote:

About 300 dollars. :P

Seriously though... DI stands for Direct Ignition and it is the unit that controls the firing of your engine's spark plugs, most noticeable as the "red thing" that you remove to get to the plugs.

- dsb

The big red thing across the top of the engine instead of a standard ignition coil and plain wires, and simple plate cover.

It is the one main thing (short of the whole engine filling out of the bottom of the bay) that can kill a Saab completley totally dead instantley.

Normally it will splutter the car a few weeks before, then appear to run normally, then die.

If you replace it, and it isn't the case this time, keep it in the trunk, because it will go eventually, and spare will get you home.

If you do a search through the google group arcive for this group for DI Cassette, or Saab Direct ignition, you will find lots of info.

And you only have one if that car is a turbo. I'm not sure what a '95

Define "dies". I had a 1994 900 die with total electrical failure. It turned out to be a faulty ignition switch - wiggle it and the car dies.

True. Not sure myself, my Saab knowledge ends in 93-94, and gets a little hazy past 96-97.

oops, meant 86-87 ;(

Sorry guys, the 900S in question (1995) is not a turbo model. Regular 2.3L 4 cyl engine.

MeatballTurbo wrote:

OK, no DI then. Those are only in turbo models. I'd start with a bit of a tune up. Replace those wires, plugs, cap, use Saab parts. Replace the fuel filter. Replaced the air filter while you are there for good measure, but that's not the problem :-) I would do these all unless they've been done recently. All of these are easy DIY jobs. If she doesn't have a repair manual and you want some guidance, order a Haynes manual from Trollhatten

BUT, WE NEED MORE INFO... the above may be a waste of time... Does the car have any electrical power when it "dies" ? Do the lights, horn, radio work ? Is the battery extremely old (original maybe?). Saabs are known to be sensitive to bad batteries... although the turbo cars are more of an issue IMHE.

Tell us more about what it does when it "dies"... what works, what doesn't, how it gets going again.

AFAIK, I don't think you're right there, the DI is not turbo specific. Haynes manual (9000) shows a pic of an engine with DI and no turbo.

Doesn't matter. All '95 SAAB engines have Direct Ignition (DI). Both the 2.3L NA engines and 2.0 Turbos.

-Fred W

My 1995 900S NA has the Hall -effect ignition system NOT the DI.

My 1995 900S NA is NOT fitted with DI.

Is this a NG900 (GM body)? Or a 900C? And what country was it originally sold in?

-Fred W

My 94 NG900 2.3 NA 5 speed is fitted with the non-DI Bosch ignition - very probably the most reliable SAAB since the mid-80's.

It is an NG900 (GM body) purchased new in England in 1995. Please accept my apologies for double posting, this was due to my limited computing skills.

No problem. And thanks for replying. The info I had seen was all related to the US market and I made a bad assumption it held true for other markets as well.

-Fred W