No, this is not meant to be heresy. I spent the past few days driving a U-Haul from Michigan to Raleigh, NC to move my youngest son for his new job (starting today) then doing the return drive in a rented Chevy Malibu. (One of the last good perks of working in the automotive industry is super discounts on one-way rentals!)

After my 11-1/2 hour drive yesterday I popped the hood on the Malibu to see if my suspicions about the engine were true - that it was equipped with a 4 and not a 6 cylinder engine. The lack of power for acceleration was noticable although the engine did a yeoman (but noisy) job on West Virgina's mountains with cruise control set a 70mph. The engine was GM's 2.2 litre Eco-Tec 4 cylinder which I believe is closely related to the 9-3SS engine, and has a DIC unit similar to what we all "love" on our 9-5's.

There is one major difference between the ignition modules however. On the Chevy version there is a smaller removable module that sits within the body of the DIC unit. It is located immediately adjacent to the point where the wiring harness connects AND has a polished finned top surface for heat rejection!!!!

I am assuming this smaller module, 3 x 5 inches, contains all the electronic bits and pieces which are most prone to heat failure. Equipping this module with a finned top surface and providing a reflective coating (high emisivity surface for you Heat Transfer geeks) both enhance heat rejection significantly. Making it a separately replaceable part also reduces maintenance/part costs.

Maybe Saab should adopt this one idea from Chevy. Boy did I miss my Saab's turbo motor on this drive!



posted by 198.208....

• Musings on the Malibu's 2.2L Eco-Tec & Saab's DIC, Roger, Mon, 2 Aug 2004 04:25:16 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Mission accomplished...., Mike Lynch , Mon, 2 Aug 2004 12:52:08
  • Coils, fsik, Mon, 2 Aug 2004 09:36:12
  • Re: Musings on the Malibu's 2.2L Eco-Tec & Saab's DIC, Dean, Mon, 2 Aug 2004 06:11:10
    • Oops, wrong end of the scale...., Roger, Mon, 2 Aug 2004 07:16:08
  • Completely different engine (+), Vlad, Mon, 2 Aug 2004 04:57:07
    • Same Block - That's All, Jetplate, Mon, 2 Aug 2004 07:27:38

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