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Squeal/idle
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Posted by Ari [Email] (#2847) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Ari) on Fri, 12 Apr 2002 15:00:45 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: Thank you Ari...in response to your questions..., Julia, Fri, 12 Apr 2002 13:11:55
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OK, some things have been ruled out. That helps.

A squeal from the blower motor will sound like it's coming from the middle of the dashboard. The blower motor is actually just forward of the windshield in the middle, but you'll hear it as an 'inside the cabin' sound. Frankly, I doubt it's the blower motor.

The idea I'm chasing is something related to the belts/pulleys. That would sound more like it were from the engine compartment, far to the right. I know that when the car starts to wail like a banshee it's tough to know where it's coming from, but any bit helps.

I was asking about turning, because the first explanation is a loose or worn belt. (There is only one in your year). The belt is automatically tensioned, so loose would imply a bad tensioner. A worn belt can slip and squeal. When you turn the wheels, it takes power from the power steering pump, and if the belt were sometimes slipping, would cause it to slip. With the engine idling, just sitting in your driveway, turn the steering wheel ALL the way to one side, then all the way to the other, then straight. If you don't hear the squeal then, it's probably not the belt. If you do, then it's probably a worn belt.

Another squeal possiblity is something called the Harmonic Balancer, which is the $200 word for the main pulley on the crankshaft that drives the belt. The pulley is a sandwich of metal and rubber, and if the rubber gets old, the two halves move, making a squeal. This is Usually when you first start the car in the morning - it'll squeal for 5 or 10 seconds, then be quiet.

I suggest that you find an independent mechanic that knows Saabs. Pay him/her/it $50 (or whatever it costs) to do an inspection of the car. Mention the squeal. If they've never heard of a Harmonic balancer, then the only Saab they've ever seen was on Seinfeld. Let them know that you need some ammunition for a dealer on your limited warrantee, but once the dealer gets it right, you'll need a real mechanic. Always helps to promise somebody more work, but let them know that anything they find somebody else will fix. They should be able to check the harmonic balancer (all it takes is a piece of chalk and a mirror), peek around for vacuum leaks (rough idle), inspect the suspension (grinding noise), and anything else that may await you.
They may be trying to take advantage of you (what's this 'may' crap?) but don't worry about the female thing. A bad dealer will try and rip everyone off, regardless of gender. But if you get a report (preferably written) from the other mechanic of what's wrong, it'll be harder to bluster.

Two important points - is it a Saab dealer, or just a used car dealer selling Saabs? Second - what state do you live in, and how are their consumer protection laws? If it's a Saab dealer, you might have some leverage if they don't respond to your complaints. If they're just a used car dealer, Saab HQ can't help. Some states have pretty good consumer protection departments. Quite often the Motor Vehicles department (yes, the Department Of Continuing Harassment) has a group dealing with shady repairs and dealers. Don't be afraid to contact them.

It sucks that you may have to force the 'dealer' to do the right thing, but there it is. For less than most any repair, an inspection by an independent mechanic may save you bigger bucks at the dealer. It'll also give you a way to audition mechanic(s) that will eventually be useful.

Good luck!

posted by 140.157.4...
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