Date: Mon, 09 Oct 2006 08:43:18 -0500 From: dannospamam.com Subject: Re: Getting ready to buy a SAAB
Kevin Rhodes wrote: > In article <CsWdnSOg0u8eDbjYnZ2dnUVZ_tqdnZ2dnospamast.com>, "Richard Sauer" <chongkilnospamast.net> wrote: >> Hello, >> >> I've never owned a SAAB..never even driven one. Tomorrow I'll test drive a >> 2000 9-5 (V6 3L) with 82000 miles on it. The dealer claims it is still under >> warranty?? I've read about all the reliability issues with SAABs, but I >> think I'd like to boldy go where I have not gone before- >> Some cars I've owned: a 81 Mark VI Lincoln (timing chain busted while >> driving on a remote highway in the Northern Cascades), and 86 Cadillac >> Seville (sofa on wheels), 93 Buick Le Sabre ( see previous entry), Toyota >> Corolla (more problems than I expected) ....So I'm ready for a different >> driving experience..and maintenance experience. Looking forward to the >> test drive... >> >> Rich >> > > I have the same car - 2000 9-5 SE V6t. Mine happens to be a station wagon. It > is a fabulous car. DO NOT listen to the boneheads who will tell you to avoid > the V6. It is actually a MUCH more reliable engine than the 2.3L 4. Also FAR > smoother and more powerful at low speeds. Fuel economy is quite good, I get > 24mpg in my suburban commute, close to 30 on a long tip. > > The problem with the 4 is the major sludge issues. If a 4 was maintained by > the "book" as Saab recommended in the early years of 9-5s, it will almost > certainly have a sludge issue - the oil change intervals were simply far soo > long, and they are now on version #6 (!) of the PPCV system. > > As to the V6. Make sure the timing belt AND THE TENSIONER pulleys were > replaced at 60K miles. Saab pays for the first timing belt change, but they do > not pay for the tenshioner, so often people don't change it. They fairly > frequently fail before 120K. If you can't document both the belt and tensioner > having been replaced, do it now. Better yet, get the vendor to do it as part > of the sale. Cost me about $500 for both at a good independent garage. Was > cheaper to have the whole thing done at my favorite independent than to have > the $tealership do the "free" belt and pay them to change the tensioner. > > Use synthetic oil. I change it at 7500 mile intervals. While the V6 is not > prone to sludge issues, the turbo will live longer with synthetic. Remember, > 2turbos are a wear part, they do not last forever. > > Other specific to V6 issues - there is an O-ring where the oil filter mounts > on the non-turbo version of the engine. This will turn into dust and start > leaking. Cossts ~$2.50 and took me 30 minutes to change. The thermostat is > expensive and hard to get to, so change the coolant on schedule and use the > corrrect Saab coolant to prolong its life. That's about it. Unusually, IMHO > the V6 is easier to work on than the 4, it actually has more room around it in > the engine bay. Also, you can often get parts for it MUCH cheaper from a > Saturn dealer than a Saab dealer, as the same engine sans tubo was used in the > Saturn LS. > > I bought mine with 41K on it two years ago, now at 67K. Only issues have been > the O-ring and the pixels starting to fail in the SID display. Fixed both > myself. Otherwise just routine service items. I did pre-emptively change the > crank sensor and the heater valve. Those are both common 9-5 issues for both > V6 and 4 cylinder cars. > > Kevin Rhodes > Westbrook, Maine > '00 9-5 SE V6t Wagon 'WASAABI' > '92 C900T Convertable 'SUNSAAB' > '91 BMW 318is > '74 Triumph Spitfire > > My Mom's 2000 905 SE Wagon has been a great car so far too besides the aforementioned SID issue. If you maintain the engine according to the manual you should expect many more miles. Dan