Date: Mon, 22 May 2000 22:33:46 -0400 From: Four Weis <mweinopsamcom> Subject: Re: Overheating '86 900S - very strange....
BobR wrote: > It was more fun than on my last 245 wagon last year - this time I did > the "blowerectomy" by cutting round holes on both sides with a RotoZip > (I only do Volvo blowers the "right" way once in a lifetime - definitely > not twice in one year!). > > Got a junkyard motor that seemed to work, but sounded like I was driving > with a lawnmower in the front seat - then tried an aftermarket $41 motor > that looks like the one in IPD's catalog and I hear this clatter that > turns out to be the left blower wheel scraping the housing, seems that > the mounting flange is welded cockeyed - at a jaunty angle that looks > like a hat bein' tipped to a lady! Of course it's the only one in the > city, so I have to make do by shimming it on 2 sides with washers stuck > to the back of the flange with double-faced tape. This time it goes in > and the left wheels fine, but the right one scrapes just a wee bit so I > trim the housing plastic just a bit and everything works. Cut 2 pieces > of 1/8" plastic, gunk 'em up with Phenoseal adhesive caulk (sticks well, > but can be pried off in the future if necessary) and slap them on. > > Nothing like doing things the "easy" way <G>. > > I've always had one of each, a 240 wagon and a Saab - first a 99 and > last year the 900. > Ever notice after driving the 240 for a while that the 900 feels so much > "newer", even if they are the same year and have the same mileage? Just > feels tighter. Even my '77 Saab 99 still felt that way when I sold it > last year. I noticed the same thing as well. The steering the Saab always seems tighter than the Volvo. My Volvo has a larger diameter steering wheel, so there is the perception that the Saab is turning tighter because you move the steering wheel fewer inches, same degrees however, to make the same turn. The other difference I have noticed is that for a car designed and made in Sweden, the heater in the Saab takes a while to blow warm air. I can't explain how, but the Volvo seems to blow hot air much quicker and the air conditioner will freeze you in the summer. In the '86 900 the AC blows only from the center vents and heat only from the outer vents, while the 240 blow hot/cool air from all vents. It would seem that the heating/AC system in the 240 Volvo was better designed than the '86 Saab 900. Opinions from people who have owned both are welcome. Unfortunately, too many miles of fun in the snow and salt have turned my Saab into a rust bucket. My Volvo has plastic wheel well liners and subsequently has very little rust even though it is four years older. My 900 has the drooping headliner problem, while the vinyl headliner in the Volvo has not shown any signs of drooping. > > > Four Weis wrote: > > > > On my '86 900 turning on the air conditioner brings the engine temperature > > down. It must be the extra cooling capacity designed in the system to > > handle the heat from the air conditioner. > > > > Do not waste your time trying the turn the heat on. This does not work on > > the Saab 900, just like trying to take the ignition key out in first gear. > > > > How much fun was it replacing the blower on your 240? My kids put some hard > > candy down the vents in my 240 and I can hear it rattling around in the > > ducts and blower housing. I suppose I need to take the whole vent system a > > part to get the candy out. While I have the blower housing open, I probably > > should replace the blower motor. This is the original motor and the car is > > 18 years old. This could end up to be some really expensive candy. > > > > I am also wondering now, how many others out there have the "pleasure" of > > driving and maintaining a Saab 900 and a Volvo 240. It seems there are > > quite a few. > > > > BobR wrote: > > > > > I've had cars overheat before and one thing you can always depend on to > > > cool them down like right now is a pleasant drive down the highway at > > > 85. > > > > > > But this time all it did was cause the temp to keep *rising* almost into > > > the red(!), and only by heading for the exit and getting into 25 mph > > > traffic was I able to bring the temp down. The exact opposite of every > > > overheating situation I've ever encountered, but Saabs are a bit > > > unusual, so this isn't all that surprising <g>. > > > > > > Really comes down if I park it and leave it idling with the A/C on full > > > blast. Maybe because both fans kick on and run constantly(?). > > > > > > Has not gone all the way into the red so far, so there's been no actual > > > boiling over, and the gauge seems to be working consistently, so I don't > > > suspect it. > > > > > > If it means anything, I know my heater control valve is bad because I'm > > > always getting some heat out of the side vents with the control turned > > > off. I was meaning to get to it, but got sidetracked replacing the > > > blower motor in my Volvo 240 (and that requires a recuperation period > > > before diving into any more fun projects). > > > > > > Anybody have any ideas?
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