Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 19:04:38 +0100 From: Johannes H Andersen <johsnopsamsafish.com> Subject: Re: Converting from 900 to 9000
danny wrote: > > Andy wrote: > > > -snip- > > > > 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 earlier I had > > my car serviced at a "RAC", 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. > > I don't belive your experience is usual. I don't know of any 9000 2.3 engines > blowing up other than for lack of maintenance. I can't speak for the 2 litre > version. Certainly maintenance is important, and the car will repay good or bad > maintenance more than some other marques might. Between myself and a friend we > have had 3 9000's (and all automatics, supposedly even worse), but apart from 1 > fuel pump one 1 vehicle and a timing chain slight rattle at 130,000 miles on > another, the cars have been excellent. > > > > > > > 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 buyer's risk. > > The fact that your specific car appears to have had a manufacturing defect, and > that it became apparent outside the warranty period is a different matter, > between you and Saab. I am not aware that Saab manufactures cars any worse than > other manufacturers, and I believe they are better than many. I don't know how > Saab warranties stand up against others. > > -snip- > Andy has been here before with his story. It is of course very regrettable, but hardly a general indication of Saabs quality control. I only hope that he can sort something out with Saab. I once spoke to someone from Mercedes, he told me that one unsatisfied customer cancels out the goodwill effect of ten satisfied customers, so this determines their priorities. Johannes
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