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Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2004 08:50:49 +0000 (UTC)
From: "Tomnospamtech" <saabtechnospamnnect.com>
Subject: Re: Saab 9-5 noisy engine - Timing and Balancer Shaft chains?


"Wheels of Error" <insertyournospamesshere.com> wrote in message news:bqn0q055l902eu7crgor5cl8k8ko81uj2tnospamcom... >I have a '98 9-5 2.3 SE with LPT. I bought it in September and > immediately had it serviced at Broadways in Ealing, London (a > specialist non franchise Saab shop). They did a nice job and in their > report they mentioned the engine being a bit noisy, but made no > further recommendations. > > Some weeks later my throttle position sensor went, and I had to have > the throttle body replaced under warranty at a franchised Saab dealer > (West End Saab in Alperton, London). They too did a fine job, but > made no reference to engine noise. > > Finally, last week I had my driving seat reupholstered at Two Strokes > to Turbos in Hatfield. They're primarily a Saab breakers - they > currently have 140 cars in various states of dismantling - but they > have a large, well equipped workshop as well. When I got my car back > from them they said they had some bad news for me. > > When they moved my car around, they noted that the engine was "very > noisy". They didn't do a visual investigation, but from (presumably) > listening carefully, deduced that the timing and balancer chains had > stretched beyond the ability of the adjusters to take up the slack. > They concluded that I had to have the chains etc replaced right away > as the engine was in Imminent danger of Catastrophic Failure. > > You can imagine how I felt - I've only had the car two months, and > although it has 120,000 miles on the clock, I thought it was going to > be highly reliable, thanks to its full service history and Saab's > reputation for ironclad build quality. > > Two Strokes said they could do the work for me right away, but it > would take a couple of days. In the meantime I could carry on using > the courtesy car they had lent me (a dreadful old 900). How much? > Oh, about 1500 GBP, plus VAT! > > Fifteen hundred quid! I only paid 3500 for the whole car! How much > was a new engine? 2300 he said. > > I decided not to take up their offer, as I figured Broadways would do > it for me cheaper. Then as I drove away I started getting suspicious. > > Call me cynical, but but if you had a customer who was clearly a > perfectionist, and seemed willing to spend money on relative trivia > (e.g. 340 GBP on having the seat restored) wouldn't you try to sell > him loads of extra stuff by exaggerating any existing problems? > > So I called Broadways and explained the situation to them. They said > (bless their hearts) bring the car round immediately and we'll have a > look. This I did (driving at 1500 rpm or less the whole way!) and the > manager and top mechanic came out in the rain and had a thorough > listen to the engine. > > They allowed for the fact that the engine was warm (it makes its worst > noise when it's cold obviously) and concluded I need NOT worry. They > said; > > 1. Early 9-5s are known to be a bit noisy > 2. They had heard a lot worse than this > 3. If I was going to keep the car, it would be a worthwhile > investment - eventually. But there was certainly nothing "Imminent" > about this "Catastrophic Failure". > > Their recommendation? Bring it round in the new year or the spring > and they would check it again to see if it had got any worse. In the > mean time, always give it a chance to warm up in the mornings before > driving off, and keep a watch on the oil light as once stuff really > starts to wear, metal filings end up blocking the filter/pump. > > However, they did say that in their experience, the early 9-5s do have > problems, and the 2.3s more so than the 2.0s. > > They would not comment - at all - when I voiced my suspicions about > Two Strokes' motives. Can't blame them, laws of libel and all that. > And anyway, being a cynic, would I believe them if they DID say > something nasty about Two Strokes? They're competitors after all! > > So - question to group, especially UK members. Who would you believe? > Is there a history of timing/balancer chain failures on early 9-5s? > Does 1500 quid sound excessive? > > Generally, what problems do early 9-5s have? The SID and the ACC I > know about (and both have been done on mine), the throttle PS I (now) > know about, anything else crop up regularly? > > TIA That is a bit on the steep side, on the saab menu pricing cd rom the price for both chains and all gears, tensioners, parts and labour comes to £1196.22 including vat, but does not include oil or antifreeze so allow another £40.00.

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