Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2004 09:54:09 -0400 From: "Fred W." <Fred.Willsnospampam myrealbox.com> Subject: Re: Serpentine belts and Pulley Crap
"Jack O'Lantern" <NixSpamnospamam.com> wrote in message news:HkWjc.8465$huU.5663nospam04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com... > Whats up with these saab cars. After driving the big three for 35 yrs, I > have never seen such poor quality until now. I had been warned about the > belt and pulleys so at appr 43K I took it ( 9000 2.3 ) to to the dealer for > a new belt and pulley check. They changed the belt and the fixed idler > pulley ($250). Told me that everything else was great. At 48k the tensioner > pulley suddenly seized and snapped off a mounting bolt. Tow plus new belt , > new pulley and tensioner bracket ($400). And now at 62K the old gal started > to shred its belt. Luckily I was only a few miles from the dealer. The > damage; new belt; 2 more new pulleys and this time they said I need a new > crank pulley......ouch.... ($750). Grand total for 1 yr of 19K interrupted > miles...................drum roll please.............. ($1400 ). I have > got to get me one of those saab franchises or at least some > shares........should beat Nortel hands down or should I say.....belts off! Jack O'. Your expenses appear to mostly related to the fact that you are allowing yourself to be royally screwed by the dealer's service department: $250 for a belt and idler puller? Continental belt is $30 SAAB OEM pulley kit is $35 So it appears that they got you for $185 for a half hour job? The SAAB OEM idler puller is $35 too, BTW, buit the tensioner assembly (which includes the bracket) it pretty pricey at $170 Then later, you need a new crank pulley? Why? They hadn't bilked you enough the prior two times? The main reason to replace the pulley on the crankshaft is if there is a seperation between the innner and outer portion allowing the "pulley" part to rotate independantly of the inner part. This does happen sometimes, but not as a consequence of throwing a belt. There is a thin rubber interface between the tow parts which can let go. The usual way to diagnose this is to paint a white line across the inner and outer parts and see if the lines stay lined up under operation. (BTW a SAAB OEM Crank pulley only costs $145) You should know that it is pretty unlikely that these parts would fail like this without any warning. When one of the pulleys is going bad it usually starts to whine quite a while before the bearing siezes. Keeping an ear for what your car sounds like is a good idea (and I suppose turning down the radio now and then to be able to hear it) Or you could just sell the bothersome SAAB and go buy a nice Chevy or Dodge or something... -Fred W
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