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I was on the way to the Smoky Mountains from Birmingham Friday night in the '99 9-3 base, and when we gassed up outside of town, I thought the rev noises were a bit wrong, though I couldnt see anything at a glance, and the noise quit after a few minutes normal driving. Then, just as we were reaching Chattanooga, I hear a whappap, shiank, and then a flapping noise so I turn on the hazards and coast into the next exit where I see that the belt is missing with shredded rubber all over, and the idler tensioner pulley has disintegrated to the metal. Not wanting to overheat without the belt, I found myself coasting my car into the gas station and I decide that the best I can do is get the extended warranty [good investment] to cover it. I got a hotel room and went out to the bars to console my automotive woes. When I get up in the morning, I call some parts stores, thinking I might find the part and fix it but no luck. So I call in the cavalry and get towed to Kelly Saab there in Chattanooga where I talked to David and got set up with a rental car. When I return to Kelly Saab though, I see people in the back doing weekend work. The parts guy (Chris) was doing inventory, and the mechanics Hal and Mike were doing Saturday cleanup stuff. I went in and talked to them for a few minutes and THANK GOD, they were willing to help me out. They had the idler pulley and belt AND were willing to install it. So Hal fixed my car *ON A SATURDAY* and I was saved. He even noticed the old belt wrapped around the axle and dug that out. Within a couple hours of getting towed I was outta there (to the Smokies) with receipts to send to the warranty company, and the rental car returned. SO thanks a million Hal, Chris, Mike, and David. You guys really got me out of a spot, and I appreciate the hell out of it!! This is the kind of custer service you cannot find at other dealers. Mad props to Kelly Saab.
Note: The idler pulley seems to commonly fail on the 99-03 9-3s. The composite material on the outside for some reason gets brittle (they should really make a better one with metal tracking there) and cracks and disintegrates from the pressure and friction. At that point, the belt is history. SO: If youre out of warranty, and you have any more room for spare emergency parts in the trunk of your car, stow in an extra belt and idler pulley and maybe something to stretch a belt with (the bolt is 17 mm, and the belt thread diagram is in the owners manual) Sorry this post got so long.
Nate Weathington 99 9-3 base 44k
posted by 138.26.47...
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