Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 23:44:38 -0600 From: Rick and Lorie Mieras <rlmierasnopsamsplanet.netnospam> Subject: Re: saabs are not very reliable
ASW wrote: > > To all Saab 9000-ers > I’d like to share my experience with you. I have always thought SAABs were > the best and I believed that they were made using the most sophisticated > methods of manufacturing and the most stringent quality inspection. > Well, judge for yourself: > I bought my SAAB 9000CS in Göteborg. It was new. Every 20.000 km I had it > checked and always only by authorized SAAB garages in the Netherlands and in > Germany. I drove almost all its mileage long-distance with speeds between > 100 - 160 km/h on smooth motor-ways in Germany and in Netherlands and I can > say I have taken a good care of my car. > Therefore, I was shocked when one day, driving on a motor way in Germany, > suddenly at a speed of approx. 160 km/h within a few hundred meters a > terrible metallic noise developed in the engine. I stopped the car > immediately, called the nearest SAAB service and had my car towed for an > inspection. The crankshaft and its bearing failed. Just a day before I had > my car serviced at a SAAB garage in Rotterdam. > Once the defective engine of my car had been disassembled I had the > crankshaft inspected to find the reason of this premature failure. And > indeed...! Major grinding burns(*) were revealed on the journals. With this > type of a defect it is surprising that my car lasted three years and as > much as 160.000 km. > The garage and the lab that inspected my crankshaft explained it was evident > that this failure of the engine in my car was clearly a result of a serious > fault in manufacturing. With this ruling I contacted the customer department > of SAAB in Trolhatan. > And then, here comes the major reason for my disappointment. Ms. Johnson, > responsible for all customer contacts, bluntly pointed out to me that my car > was by then three years old and thus out of the warranty. She did not think > SAAB could account for a car as old as three years !!! One year guarantee > was long enough and if after this it should appear that the car and the > engine were put together by glue and paper clips it was all at the buyers > risk. > So, I had the engine fixed. Had to pay a fortune, almost a price of a new > engine. > Now I am desperately looking for a buyer for my car. I want to get rid of it > and get something reliable. I’m contemplating a Volvo. Meanwhile I have > learned that Volvo uses a state of the art inspection method to inspect all > critical engine components for manufacturing defects such as grinding > burns(*). > So, how are your SAABs doing? Have you had any similar experiences? Please > let me know. > Andy S. Wojtas > > (*) A grinding burn is what happens to an engine part during surface > finishing i.e. grinding if the part is allowed to overheat. Just like when > you sharpen a knife and press it too hard against a grinding wheel. You’ll > see it turn red hot and right in that place the knife will lose its > hardness, so vital for its endurance. I have a 1987 9000 turbo, drove the shit out of it on the autobahn in germany for two years, and now continue to use it as a daily driver in northeastern alberta, summer and winter. I have 212,000 K on it, original clutch, the engine has never had a repair job done, only regular maintenance....it's been great! Let's see your average chevy hold together for hours at 5500 RPM, 140+ MPH....
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