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Throttle Sticking When Changing Gears on 2003 9-3 HELP!

When I change gears, first to second or second to third, the throttle seems to stick. This does not happen all the time, only occasionally. I can be changing gears, say from first to second, let off the gas, depress the clutch fully and the RPM will stay where it was previously for just a couple of seconds, then it will drop. My SAAB service tech says that this is normal for SAAB. I am an experienced stick driver and have never seen this on any other vehicle. Is this really normal for SAAB 9-3?s? Other than this annoying thing, the car runs perfect. Any help would greatly be appericated. Thanks, OhioSAAB

Reply to
OhioSAAB
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I also have a 2003 9-3 SS. I notice that the Idle does not decrease at the rate that I was used to seeing. I asked my Tech here in New Mexico, and after a long discussion we came to the conclusion it's normal. Now, this is also the first car I have owned with a turbo. If you put logic behind this the turbo has to run down before the idle will go down. I am not sure this will help you but I just got used to it. And I can say that my car runs fine. I get about 35MPG, and have never had a problem since Dec 2002 when I picked the car up.

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Reply to
Norm Boyce

Sounds like time to find a new 'service tech'.

Might be an ECU glitch. ECUs can 'go funny' on you sometimes but normally recover on their own IME. I've had a problem where a warm engine ( but not cold ) would sometimes cut on declutching as I approached a junction. Not just on a Saab but with Bosch Motronic in a Vauxhall too. Both times it fixed itself after a week or so. < shrug >

My current 9000 has developed a tendency to rev on declutching actually.

Graham

Reply to
Pooh Bear

As you said, you are an experienced stick driver. What other cars have

you driven where you did not see this behavior. I can tell you the 240 series and Classic 900 turbos I drive do not have this behavior. The one

9-5 turbo I drove did not have this issue and I believe it had the same 2.3 engine as the 9-3.
Reply to
ma_twain

Could this also be the idle air control valve (IAC) gumming up? Have had similar symptoms on a couple of 9Ks - presumably the 9-3 has a similar IAC valve? Fixed mine by removing it and giving it a good clean out with white spirit, then a *little* WD40 or similar. Seems to fix them for a goodly time. Secondhand valves are cheap, new aftermarket are reasonable, genuine Saab ones dearer (of course!). Google should turn up plenty. The removal and cleaning procedure was listed at

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Reply to
Pidgeonpost

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It could be normal....Some cars seem to do this as an 'emmission control' feature - not sure if this applies to saabs...

Reply to
john

Agreed. I had an '00 9-3 that did this. But it did it all the time. If yours is varying then it may be a different scenario.

Reply to
Malt_Hound

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