Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 01:51:44 GMT From: lorussonopsamnet.net (lorusso) Subject: Re: 1995 SAAB 900SE IS 100% NOT RELIABLE
On Tue, 09 Jun 1998 00:07:15 -0700, Laurence Lavelle <lavellenopsamucla.edu> wrote: >August 95 my wife and I bought our first new car, a very elegant silver >SAAB 900SE. > >What follows is the list of repairs (I'm not sure if I've got them all >because I'm going through the invoices that we kept). All comments are >taken directly from service print-out. > >9/22/95 1623 miles Oil change etc./1000 mile service. Driver side >seat belt is twisted. Remote not working & replaced. Rubber trim around >windows is defective & 8 moldings are replaced. > >10/31/95 5697 miles Oil change etc./5000 mile service. SID unit is >replaced (for those who don't know this is the complete information >display unit/computer). RF window seal replaced. > >11/30/95 9081 miles Oil change etc. Check for oil leak/low oil >light keeps coming on/found leak (accounts for smell of burning oil). > >2/22/96 12762 miles Failed headlights. Two headlight bulbs >replaced. > >3/11/96(incorrect date) 14048 miles Oil change etc. Oil light >keeps coming on. Oil sensor is too sensitive and oil level needs to be >above normal level. > >17/7/98 17010 miles Oil change etc./15000 mile service. Rear doors >hard to open/not within specs/adjusted. Knocking noise from front of car >(suspension?) at highway speeds/problem not solved. Oil light keeps >coming on/oil topped up. > >1/8/96 17352 miles Rear lower vents loose/reinstall. Knocking >noise from front of car (suspension?) at highway speeds/problem not >solved. > >28/1/97 22735 miles Oil change etc./25000 mile service. Knocking >noise from front of car (suspension?) at highway speeds/problem not >solved. Oil light keeps coming on (turns out to be faulty SID). SID >display numbers missing. SID is replaced again. Hissing sound/exhaust >pipe replaced. > >20/3/97 24073 miles SRS warning light/Fixed. (This is the airbag >system.) > >16/4/97 24879 miles Replace CK valve. Replace timing belt. Replace >tooth belt (Don't remember what was wrong but that's what the service >sheet states). > >28/4/97 25325 miles Oil change. > >8/8/97 28186 miles Brake light. Brake fluid low. Windshield washer >jets not working/replace left side washer nozzle. > >30/8/97 29505 miles Battery dead. Tow-in & replace battery. > >10/10/97 29400 miles Oil change. Shifter badge loose/reglued. >(Really sloppy job, glue all over top of shifter & badge, still their >today.) > >4/11/97 30430 miles Low coolant level warning light keeps coming >on. Leak/replaced complete oil cooler & reseal. Replace 2 oil cooler >seals, 8 sealing rings and 1 something else. Windshield washer jets not >working/replaced 1 washer pump, 2 valves, 2 nozzles. > >16/12/97 31496 miles Low coolant level warning light keeps coming >on. Leak/replaced 2 O-rings, thermostat, outlet pipe, 2 oil cooler >seals, 8 sealing rings, 1 flange, 1 gasket and 3 something else. > >1/27/98 31925 miles Low coolant level warning light keeps coming >on. Replace cover? Replace complete oil cooler & reseal. Replace 2 oil >cooler seals, 8 sealing rings and 1 flange. > >13/3/98 32543 miles Low coolant level warning light keeps coming >on. Reseal oil cooler. Replaced 2 oil cooler seals and 8 sealing rings. > >22/5/98 33781 miles Oil change etc. Repair slow leak in RR tire. >Washer jets blocked again/cleaned. > >Today, washer jets blocked again, need to make another appointment. >Easier to stop at gas station and clear windshield, at least I know it >works. >After months of knocking noise from front of car (suspension?) at >highway speeds, it is no longer present. Service people say nothing was >replaced? > > >Service people say their is a known problem with oil cooling system, but >that it should be fixed. >Also state that known problem with windshield washer system, partly due >to plastic in system promoting fungus growth. > >Each time we have to schedule an appointment, drop the car off/pick it >up. And we thought we bought a New Car... > >In addition we bought a dealer car cover, mud-flaps & dealer installed, >door protectors & dealer installed. > >Car is kept in underground garage at home and work. > >We leased the car (36 months) with the intention of buying it. If we >don't purchase the car this July we lose $18,300 in payments already >made. (Assuming there are no additional fees, which their should not >because car has low mileage and no damage/no accidents.) > >All the repairs that were done under warranty I estimate would cost >~$10,000. So do we walk away and take our $18,300 loss or anticipate BIG >repair bills after the warranty expires? > >Laurence > >(P.S. I've tried real hard to keep my head cool [no pun intended] while >writing this.) > > I am a SAAB fanatic (can't afford one thought) and if I had an experience like you....hmmm.... I would have a problem keeping my head cool too... to say the least. So, after reading all of this I think there is no rational explanation other than saying that you are having a bad luck. For example, my father will never sit into BMW because there has been a disaster every single time he does so... (His SAAB saved his life several occasions, by the way)... blah blah blah... My advice is that you ditch the car by all means, you are not happy now and therefore there is almost no chance you'll be happy with it later. Let dealer deal with a bad history such as that one... and I secretly think that you already decided to do so... If I was in your shoes, (that is if I had a situation you described - remember, I am SAAB fanatic) I would lease a new 9-3 as advertised on SAAB usa web site and try my luck again. If the story repeats itself I'll go with those new rounded VOLVO's or perhaps SUBARU's or anything else that stands out of the crowd (remember, SAAB, to me, is a car that is made to feel good not something that will bring me from point A to point B with as few visits to the dealer as possible). Hell, I'll go electric in that fashion... Anyway, I am sincerely sorry to hear such a story and I am sorry that it has happened to you and not to some that I don't like. Lorusso
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