Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 00:26:13 -0800 From: "BEN E ASLAN" <BENASLANnopsamigy.net> Subject: Re: New (to me) Saab: strange noise
Have it checked out by someone who has a lot of experience in Saabs. My guess is that it is your harmonic balancer/crank pulley assembly. In an '86, the back of the pulley is made of a rubber substance, which after several years, dries, cracks, and then begins to eat away at your front cover(the front of your engine). If you don't get to it soon, then it will eat a hole right into your engine. If you catch it in time, no problem! I've had two Saabs, an '82 900T, and an '88 SPG, had the problem on both, but it's a one in a lifetime problem, you won't see it on the same car twice. If you want to check it out yourself, put it on stands, and get underneath the pulley. check for metal shavings, rubber residue, and excess buildup. If not, run the engine with it on stands(not a jack!) and see if it's coming from the pulley. Good luck! Ben