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See-no-evil temp gauge Posted by Larry West [Email]  (#1140)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Larry West) on Mon, 9 Jun 2008 17:08:52
In Reply to: Would anyone be willing to see if their 9-5 does this?!, B Millar [Profile/Gallery]
, Mon, 9 Jun 2008 15:57:20
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Ok, time for Saab coolant temp gauge 101, applies to NG 900, 9-3 & 9-5 (no idea if it applies to the non-Swedish Saabs)
Here's the deal: the factory setting is for a rather large "dead zone" on the temp gauge. The needle will rise for a bit when the car is warming up and then it will simply 'pop' up to the level position. And stay there, until a preset temperature is reached. At that point, it'll go to about he spot it's in in your picture, and becomes a "real" gauge again, right up to the stop.
So, what is most likely happening, is the "real" coolant temp is just a couple needle widths below that point, and the MIU protects you from seeing that.
The settings for the bottom & top of the "dead zone" can be adjusted with the Tech 2, and you can make it into a "real" gauge again.
Before you do that, though, let me explain why Saab did this.
Basically it is economics.
The operating temperature of the coolant in almost any closed system will fluctuate in a normal range. In years past, owners knew this, and weren't too worried, even if the gauge went to 3/4 on a hot day in traffic.
Todays owners are a nit-picky lot, and so any time the needle went above the "normal" mark, they have a call into the dealer to "fix" their car which was now "running hot". Of course, the service writer or mechanic would talk to the owner, find out the circumstances, and maybe "top off the coolant", and the owner goes home satisfied.
Where does economics come in, you say? Well, if the car is under warranty, Saab picks up the tab for the diagnosis and repair. Putting this dead zone in the gauge eliminates 90% of these types of calls, saving Saab a lot of money.
So, before you go in there, and have your Indy turn your gauge back into a "real" gauge, ask yourself whether you're the type of driver (or anyone else who drives the car is) to call AAA if the needle goes up a tiny bit & have it towed to the mechanic.
I like real gauges, but I left myself some "dead zone" in there just so I don't get all nervous over nothing.
On the other hand, your car is probably due for a coolant flush and re-fill if this is happening consistently, or a look into the fan workings to make sure they are...
Good luck!
_______________________________________ Current: 2002 9-5 Aero Kombi Cosmic Blue 2000 9-5 SE sedan, Imola Red 1990 900S Rose Quartz, Auto Past: 1999 9-5 LPT Combi 1999 9-5 LPT sedan 2002 9-5 Arc 1990 900 5-speed 1986 900 turbo Convertible 1991 9000 turbo 1980 99 GLi 1986 900 turbo 1986 900 S 1991 900 turbo 1984 900 turbo 1976 99 GL
, Mon, 9 Jun 2008 15:57:20
, Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:02:43, Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:17:23, Mon, 9 Jun 2008 17:08:52 <-- Viewing This Message, Mon, 9 Jun 2008 16:59:22
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