Date: Sun, 07 Jun 1998 04:55:50 GMT From: lorussonopsamnet.net (bolis) Subject: Re: saabs are not very reliable
On Mon, 18 May 1998 23:37:42 +0200, "ASW" <101366.212nopsamuServe.com> wrote: >To all Saab 9000-ers >I’d like to share my experience with you. I have always thought SAABs were >the best and I believed that they were made using the most sophisticated >methods of manufacturing and the most stringent quality inspection. >Well, judge for yourself: >I bought my SAAB 9000CS in Göteborg. It was new. Every 20.000 km I had it >checked and always only by authorized SAAB garages in the Netherlands and in >Germany. I drove almost all its mileage long-distance with speeds between >100 - 160 km/h on smooth motor-ways in Germany and in Netherlands and I can >say I have taken a good care of my car. >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 before I had >my car serviced at 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. >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 buyers >risk. >So, I had the engine fixed. Had to pay a fortune, almost a price of a new >engine. >Now I am desperately looking for a buyer for my car. I want to get rid of it >and get something reliable. I’m contemplating a Volvo. Meanwhile I have >learned that Volvo uses a state of the art inspection method to inspect all >critical engine components for manufacturing defects such as grinding >burns(*). >So, how are your SAABs doing? Have you had any similar experiences? Please >let me know. >Andy S. Wojtas > >(*) A grinding burn is what happens to an engine part during surface >finishing i.e. grinding if the part is allowed to overheat. Just like when >you sharpen a knife and press it too hard against a grinding wheel. You’ll >see it turn red hot and right in that place the knife will lose its >hardness, so vital for its endurance. > > > I have to admit that is really a guess (and a bad one) on my part what happened to your car. I sincerely think that you just had a bad luck, but most likely the fault is in that SAAB garage in Rotterdam... or if you really changed oil only every 20,000 km have you at least put in some kind of sythetic oil? Regular oil looks like coffee after only 10,000 AND THAT WITH A NEW OIL FILTER... My dad used to curse (not loud because he loved the car .... that later saved his life too.) our old SAAB because he had to pay big money to Austrian SAAB authorized mechanics to put expensive oil into it. Just my 1/20th of a cent worth of an opinion. Lorusso
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