Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2004 08:56:16 +0100 From: Charles Christacopoulos <c.k.christacopoulos_removeme_nospamee.ac.uk> Subject: Re: 1996 9000CSE 2.3LPT - lost clutch/fluid
Pidgeonpost wrote: > Hello...about 1/2 a mile from home tonight the clutch pedal failed to return > to normal position. Managed to crawl home in 2nd gear, but no clutch. On > arrival I find hydraulic fluid sprayed around the area towards rear of > battery area, and over various hoses and pipes at the back of the engine in > that general area. > This is the opposite side to the master cylinder, which was replaced a year > ago, so looks like that's in the clear. > There's a flexible hose in this area, but too much fluid spread around to be > sure it's the culprit. Car will be recovered to garage tomorrow. Have not > heard of this as a common 9K problem. Any clues please folks? > > Hi, If the flexible hose has burst then see below. If the cylinder is gone, then the gearbox has to come out (even if the pipe is gone the gearbox may have to come out). There is a common(ish) proble affecting saabs somewhere where you see the fluid. I got it at 48k miles 4 years old (9000, 2.0 LPT '97). The problem is known to affect 1996+ cars and "suppossingly" the fault is the flexible rubber pipe which connects the hydraulic line from the car body to the gearbox. Supposingly the pipe degrades internally and releases rubber pieces which in turn block the valve(s) of the cylinder. Subsequently this shows as a hard (notsy) to depress clutch pedal which may also refusing to return. The pedal they say (SAAB) goes hard gradually so you don't notice the difference. IT is all down to a modified flexible pipe coming from a different (ie. GM) supplier. The clutch pedal on mine stuck 2-3 times (usually on warm days) that I noticed. On the day of the event time it happened at a busy junction, I stepped on it and the rest is history. If the pipe is gone then it has to be replaced and then you will be lucky if the slave cylinder bleeds. If it does not bleed then the gearbox has to come out. Mine did not bleed they say (I don't believe them) but they neither unscrewed completely the bleeding nipple. Most cars (I am told by my current SAAB dealer) bleed. There are some stories doing the rounds that the cylinder seals fail (because of the rubber in the fluid, saab says). Maybe they do, in which case the cars should have long ago be recalled. If your gearbox is out consider a new clutch kit too. I hope it is a cheap problem you've got. Regards Charles PS. What left me a really bad taste was pressure sales and the fact that no parts where kept. That was SAAB in Perth Scotland who have since then lost their franchice, even so I now choose to do a 140 mile round trip to get the car serviced. -- Please remove _removeme_ to reply.
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