1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
I'm looking for some maintenance and repair advice.
The first question is about oil. A few years ago I switched from synthetic to dino oil based on the advice someone gave me that synthetic wasn't worth the price difference if you did regular oil changes. I've seen a few mentions though about possible sludge buildup with dino oil in certain Saabs. Is it worth switching back to synthetic or should I just stay with dino at this point? I've also seen some posts that say synthetic oil can make leaks worse, and I just noticed a slow leak at the distributor hole cover and (possibly) some from the valve cover gasket.
The second set of questions is about a whining noise that recently developed around the serpentine belt. It makes the noise when the engine is cold but then goes away after a few minutes. My neighbor theorized that it's either the belt or the tensioner. I'm nearing 120K and the belt (not pulleys etc) was last replaced at around 75K. Is there a way to tell if it's the belt or the tensioner? I've read about a short belt replacement. Is that an option for this car and would the AC compressor still be in the loop? How many pulleys potentially need to be replaced for a full repair? As far as I can tell there are 2 idler pulleys and the one on the tensioner, but the parts place I looked at (eeuroparts) only has a replacements for the tensioner and upper pulley. About how much should I expect to pay if having the repair done at a shop?
If you've made it this far, I just have one more question, about ease of shifting. I've recently noticed that shifting into reverse seems to be getting harder, although the problem isn't consistent. Shifting into other gears is easier, and seems to be smoothest when the car is moving. Any thoughts on this?
Advice about any of the questions would be greatly appreciated. I really like my Saab and want to keep it going for several more years if I can.
Thanks,
Dan
posted by 68.100.241...
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