1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
This could be a gem or a money pit, as little use brings its own problems.
However, most of it is the obvious stuff for any used car:
Tires, brakes (pads and rotors, maybe calipers), hoses, exhaust, do all the switches and light bulbs work (Saabs have a bunch of small pricey light bulbs), any signs of leaks around sunroof, windows, doors, etc? Or in the spare tire well? How are the CV joint boots? Cracked or split ones MUST be replaced. Any signs of leaks on the shocks or struts? Do the power windows and door locks and hatch lock work? Since you don't have records, does the car and engine compartment LOOK as if the car has been maintained? What do the oil and coolant look like?
Now for Saab 9K stuff:
Check the engine mounts. Is the dogbone mount at the top right side of the engine in good shape or cracked? If it's bad the bottom mounts may be weak, too. Or not.
Do you smell coolant when you turn on the heat, or is the carpet on the passenger floor wet near the firewall? If so you have a leaky heater core.
Take a look at the plugs (beneath the DI Cassette) if worn they haven't been changed and that may affect the DI.
How is the serpentine belt? I bet it needs replacing. With the engine running, look down at the belt and rev the engine by hand. Do you see the tensioner move as the load changes? If not the tensioner is questionable.
Does the windshield washer tank hold fluid? If not you have a leak to fix.
Turn on the ACC (climate control). Do all the lights function? Can you adjust the fan speed or is it always off or full on? If so you need at least a fan speed controller. Or if it's not working, maybe a blower motor.
How does the clutch feel? Does it engage smoothly and does the car shift smoothly or notchy? If the clutch engages too soon or slips you have clutch issues. If it is hard to shift you have linkage and/or clutch issues.
Do you live in a state where rust is a concern? If so, check the rear shock towers for rust. You'll have to pull back the carpeting in the trunk for the best look.
Look at the front of the engine, driver's side front corner. Is there oil or cooolant residue? It's not uncommon for some leakage here, and it can be from the head gasket or maybe just the valve cover gasket. Figure out which. NOTE: you can have coolant here from a leak in a throttle body heater hose that looks like a head gasket leak. If you see general signs of leakage around the head below the exhaust manifold it means the head gasket is going south. If it's above that it's more likely the valve cover gasket.
Do the headlight wipers/washers work?
Do the hatch and hood struts work?
Does the car get up and GO, or does it feel seriously underpowered? If so the wastegate may be stuck closed and the rod may need to be reconnected.
There's more, but this covers a lot of ground. An 80K CS could be a real nice ride and a good value, but you WILL have to invest some bucks to bring it up to snuff. If you get it, flush all the fluids, drive for a week, flush them all again. Use synthetic oil and good coolant. Throw in a new battery unless the one in it is recent. Replace the hoses. All of them, vacuum, coolant, washer hoses, too. Do ALL the filters: fuel, air, oil, cabin. Run some Techron through the system.
That should get you rolling if you pull the trigger on this one. I'd buy a good 80K mile 9000 if it was in medium condition. These are great cars and it will run you a long time if you get it into shape.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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