Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2004 18:36:20 GMT From: Bob <uctraingNOSPAMnospamanet.com> Subject: Re: 60K maintenance for 99 SE
On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 23:48:11 GMT, "Robert Murphy" <the_murphsnospamerizon_spam.net> wrote: >I am looking at a 99 SE that has just over 60K miles. I am not sure if >there are service records. What is involved in the 60K maintenance and how >much should I expect to pay? You don't need the factory "60K service". Like most factory service routines, it's an overpriced barrel of nonsense. If I was looking at a Saab with 60K, I would definitely have a mechanic with Saab experience (lots of it) look it over. For an hour's labor you can find out what needs doing. Since there are no service records, you want someone who knows what they are looking at who can ascertain if it was well maintained or not. DO yourself a favor and check everything: power seats, seat heaters, SID display on dash, radio, CD, windows, lights, climate control and display, etc. They are all reliable but there's no sense paying to repair anything or not getting a discount from the seller if something needs repair. Look for any oil leaks under the engine, tranny, and driveshafts. Look for any headgasket leaks on the front side of the engine. Check the clutch if it has one (you shouldn't buy a Saab without a clutch, MHO). Drive it and check for vibration at speed. Accelerate hard on the highway from 55mph or so. It should not vibrate much when you do and it should go whoosh as you clear 3K RPM. Don't hit anything when the turbo kicks in :-) Check the tires and use it as a negotiating point if they are worn - that is, get the price cut and buy some tires later you like. Don't let a dealer throw crappy tires on for the sale, you'll regret it. Things I'd do after buying a Saab with no records: Change the upper idler pulley and serpentine belt, $80 in parts, an hour's labor. These tend to go at 50K+ miles and if you don't know that it's been done, do it. When they go, you stop, call a tow, and pay for the job anyway. Check the brakes, see below. Things I'd do after buying any car with no records: Change the coolant using a proper A/F (Saab or Valvoline G-05) and change the thermostat. Change the oil and use Mobil-1 or other synthetic. Change the air cleaner and spark plugs, use the stock NGK plugs! Flush the brake fluid unless it is very clear. This is low cost stuff... the plugs are a 10 minute job and $10 in parts, the air cleaner five minutes and $20, oil is $20 and a filter $6 plus labor, the brake flush might be an hour's work. Coolant flush is probably an hour at most. Use the CORRECT coolant!. > How much would brakes generally cost if it was >just a matter of replacing the pads and resurfacing the rotors? It's impossible to say if they need doing without looking, especially without records. Brake pads in most cars will set you back $300 or so these days. If you need rotors, you can spend another $300 or so. I would go to a good Saab specialist instead of the dealer. MHO. Most of us either leave the rotors as is or replace them. They make them so thin that if they are seriously worn then they are typically not turnable (that's a feature of all cars today, not just Saabs).
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