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Re: Starter Problems
Posted by Argisllc - http://saabnet.com/tsn/forms/e.php3?em= (more from Argisllc - http://saabnet.com/tsn/forms/e.php3?em=) on Fri, 14 Feb 2003 20:58:39
In Reply to: , Kok Chen, Sat, 17 Dec 1988 12:00:00 

>The ignition key was hard to
turn that last couple of days and today at lunch it would not start-power
comes on, the key turns (slowly), but no starter motor-nothing.  <

  Something like that happened to me around last Christmas.
Unfortunately, in my case, it got so bad that the shaft of the key started to 
twist, to the point it tore the metal.
It also wouldn't engage the starter motor, although it would operate in the 
running mode (everything would work, lights, radio, etc). I could start by 
popping the clutch on a hill. Not a good situation.
  When I brought the car in to my mechanic, he took apart the console and 
found.... A block of ice.
  I did not see it myself, but he said that the ignition and its interlock to 
the gearshift is enclosed in a shallow tray, and the tray had filled with 
water (or snow that melted). Since we had an unusual amount of snow at that 
time, and unseasonable (even for New England) cold weather, somehow a block 
of ice had formed around the ignition, impeding its operation.
I had first noticed the difficulty in turning the key in NOV, but just 
ascribed it to age and wear on the teeth of the key and the tumblers in the 
ignition cylinder.
  There was no apparent, obvious method for the water to get into the 
interior of the console/shifter hump, as there was no rust perforation, nor 
obvious staining or deposits inside the console housing. Dripping from the 
sunroof is also unlikely, as I seldom have the sunroof open (I personally 
think having a hole in the roof to be silly, double electric powered ones to 
be double silly).
 Anyway, it was fixed with an icepick ad a new ignition. The ignition switch 
and key cylinder was ~US$85, but the labor was about 2 hr., plus an hr of 
diagnosis.
  In retrospect, the idea of opening up the console housing and finding a big 
ice cube is amusing... but only after 2 months have passed ;-)

Bob Sypek
'78 99Turbo, sold at 149K for a ....
'86 900S, 300K+

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