Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 09:10:49 GMT From: "Ian" <iannopsamic-maritime.no> Subject: Re: Thinking of buying my first saab - what to look for?
Thanks for your advice Kenneth. I have in fact taken the car to the dealer on several occasions, the first time they said it was the exhaust silencer, however after later installing a new exhaust the rattling remained. The next time they looked at it they didn't know what it was and needed more time, which I wasn't willing to pay for... time is expensive here in Norway. Hence I am keen to try to find more info online. The noise does in fact sound similar to a golf ball jumping around. As I'm new to this ng and Saab on the internet in general, could you please advise the address for the "Alldata" site? I would agree that Saabs tend to have more rattling noises than some of the other quality brands, however I'm not too familar with the American makes. Having said that the Jeeps Grand Cherokees and Chevrolet Suburbans I have been in seem to be very quiet, smooth and solid. Regards, Ian "Kenneth S." <nimrodnopsams.com> wrote in message news:3D927274.74B0nopsams.com... > I think that various forms of rattling from Saabs are common -- to > judge from my experience, from what I have seen in this news group, and > what I have seen elsewhere. (This evening I had occasion to travel in a > taxicab that was a Mercury Grand Marquis, similar to the car that I > owned before the Saab. I was reminded of how quiet and rattle-free the > Mercury is, by comparison with the Saab). > > I have not had the kind of rattling you describe from the rear wheels > of my 1996SE. However, I have had various squeaking and groaning noises > from the rear hatch, which I try to control by periodically squirting > silicone spray over the various surfaces there. > > The cause of the rattling that I had from the front left hand side > could not be diagnosed by the repair shop that I have used for years for > various kinds of cars. However, it was immediately diagnosed by the > Saab dealer, which leads me to think it is characteristic of the model. > I now have a similar kind of rattling developing on the right hand side, > and I expect I will get that strut rebuilt also. In addition, there is > an odd "clocking" noise that comes from the front of the car when it is > being driven over rough roads -- also as if a golf ball were rattling > around inside a space in the front bumper. > > If I were you, I'd first check the Alldata site, to see if a technical > advice memorandum was issued by Saab about your problem. Then I'd take > it to the Saab dealer. It's entirely possible that they are > well-acquainted with the problem, and know how to fix it. My strut > rebuild wasn't particularly expensive -- about $150, as far as I can > remember -- but, of course, these rattles detract from the impression of > quality that Saab is trying to project. > > > Ian wrote: > > > > Kenneth, > > > > I have a rattling problem from one of the rear wheels on my 97 900S whenever > > I drive on a slightly uneven surface/bumpy road, that has been puzzling me > > for months. It sounds like it may be similar to the problem you had with > > your front strut. Do you know if this is a common problem? What exactly was > > the nature of the rattling from the strut? Would appreciate any advice. > > > > Regards, > > Ian > > > > "Kenneth S." <nimrodnopsams.com> wrote in message > > news:3D91A942.7089nopsams.com... > > > Geoff J wrote: > > > > > > > > Hi saab lovers. > > > > > > > > I'm new to this particular news group but have lurked and contributed > > > > to alt.fan.landrover for quite a while now (proud owner of a 1987 110 > > > > 2.5l Petrol). > > > > > > > > Anyway back to the point - I'm thinking of buying a 1997 Saab 900 S > > > > (2.0i) in black with 5 doors with 57,000 miles on the clock. I want it > > > > primarily as a motorway car and was wondering what are the known > > > > problems/things to look for etc. with this model. > > > > > > > > Thanks in advance > > > > > > > > Geoff > > > > > > > > > I have a 1996 900SE, which I bought almost two years ago. (As some in > > > this news group will know) this car has been a major disappointment to > > > me. It has been far more trouble than other cars I have owned, and > > > getting it fixed is expensive, as well as entailing trips to a not > > > particularly convenient Saab dealer. > > > > > > During the time I have owned this car, I have: > > > (1) had to have one of the front struts rebuilt to eliminate a rattling > > > noise; > > > (2) had persistent problems with the check engine light coming on for no > > > apparent reason, entailing having the car in the dealers three times, > > > and ultimately having it cured (I hope!) by some fix to the wiring > > > harness; > > > (3) had several trips back to the dealer because of a slow leak -- > > > origin still not discovered -- in the air conditioning system; > > > (4) found that the steering pulled to the right and was far too > > > sensitive to road camber and grooves in the road (the first problem > > > cured by a realignment, and the second (I hope) going to be cured as a > > > result of advice in this news group); > > > (5) found the climate control system unsatisfactory (maybe this system > > > is only in SEs); > > > (6) found the heated seats don't work; and > > > (7) had the low coolant warning come on periodically, even though the > > > coolant level is fine. > > > > > > Prior to buying the Saab, I had a succession of large American V-8s, > > > which I found reliable, comfortable, and cheap to fix. In addition, > > > several years ago I bought a Mazda Miata (MX-5), for something more > > > agile. After a series of vacations in Europe, during which I rented > > > four-door hatchbacks, I decided that one of these was really what I > > > should have, to replace my Mercury Grand Marquis (an excellent car, but > > > too large for my daughter's tastes). The Saab is one of the very few > > > four-door hatchbacks on the U.S. market, and in any case I'd always been > > > interested in owning one. > > > > > > You appear to be based in Britain. If so, you have alternatives to the > > > Saab, which will give you its advantages, without some of the Saab's > > > shortcomings. There are many four-door hatchbacks on the European > > > market. During a recent trip to France I rented a Peugeot 307, which I > > > thought had everything the Saab has, plus being quieter and riding much > > > more comfortably. > > > > > > Now, you lucky man, you can sit back and watch all the spectacular > > > flames that will be directed my way from elsewhere in this newsgroup!
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