SeriousSAAB Workshop page

In this section of the site, we aim to introduce features on some common procedures. This is also where we post running reports on cars that we are running ourselves. Feel free to contact us if there is some procedure you would like us to cover and we will investigate.

Only the most recent reports feature here on the Workshop page within a Spry widget accordion feature (click the appropriate tab to select the content you require) and as the reports grow, older reports will be sent to the archive. At present, reports are a little thin on the ground, due to the high workload required to set up the site in its first season but over time the archive will expand.

Latest running reports

Added: December 6th 2009
9-5 Vector: a tale of two SAABs
2002 SAAB 9-5 Vector 2.3 automatic saloon 110,000 miles
Date to service: 18/04/2009

Regular readers and friends are well aware that there is generally a high density of SAAB cars parked near the author's house or lurking in the garage. For the first time in ages, we are down to just one car.

The silver Aero has found a new owner, as has our Vector estate and even the subject of this running report has moved on, having been sold to a very good friend.

Our Vector's new owner is no stranger to SAABs and had few plans to change his car, a 1995 9000 2.3 CSE that we took to the SAAB National Rally at Penrith in 2005. Indeed, the car was running very well... until ill- disposed criminal elements attempted to steal the car in broad daylight. Crude smash and grab tactics failed to get past the car's factory immobiliser but extensive damage to the door and steering column put an end to the CSE's career. The last we heard, the car had been taken away to a 'a large salvage site somewhere n the Midlands'. Should you know of someone that has recently acquired a fully blown 200bhp scarabe green 2.3 CSE auto N***BSN with theft damage, do please let us know. The car has an interesting history and was, in our opinion, one of the better (and faster) survivors.

Moving on to the Vector, readers will be interested to learn that the Sunny tyres were changed and this wrought a transformation in noise levels within the cabin. Previously, the uninformed might have feared that a wheel bearing or even a differential failure was on the cards but putting decent tyres on the car restored silence.

The gaerbox torque arm rubbers can suffer over time

Another job that we had put off was changing the gearbox torque arm. This alloy component holds a large rubber bush and this is slotted to buffer movement when the car is put into gear but over time, the rubber breaks down and the cushion effect is lost to the extent that cars can seem to thump into reverse. A new arm made a huge difference.

Running Reports next time will introduce our latest project - a non-running 53 plate 9-5 Vector 2.3 manual. In due course, readers will be able to follow its rather involved (and expensive) return to health.

Issues since last report:

One dipped beam headlamp bulb failed.

Procedures

Remove the 'Time for Service' message

Press & hold down the CLEAR button for at least 8 secs
The official way to reset the service indicator is with the AD 400 Tech 2 scan tool but the message can be removed by a simple procedure:
Turn the ignition to ON. Then, press the CLEAR button once and release. Now, press and HOLD DOWN the CLEAR button on the SID panel for at least 8 seconds. Audible signals (beeps) will now be heard. The word 'CLEAR' will appear on the display after around 4 seconds but keep the button pressed until the word 'SERVICE' appears. Release the clear button and turn off the ignition and then back on to check the operation has been successful.

Re-time the RDS clock

Radio Data System is a protocol (or communications standard) that encodes data with FM frequency radio transmissions. RDS enables radio stations to combine a Programme Identifier with transmissions so that the radio locks onto the strongest transmitter during the course of a journey. The system depends upon good reception, which, if not available, will result in the message ‘NO RDS’ being displayed on the SID.

Pre-requisites for setting RDS time:
Good reception (signal strength)
Received station must be transmitting RDS signals

Press and hold down BOTH buttons beneath the Clock (SID unit)
The message ‘RDS RE TIME’ appears in the SID display

The clock will now be synchronised with the radio broadcast data and reset. Job done!

No output from audio system

The symptoms weren't something we've seen before - the radio channel was correctly displayed in the SID panel
but no amount of adjusting the volume resulted in any output from the speakers. In such circumstances, the SAAB Workshop System is worth its weight in gold because when we ran a document search using the search string 'no audio output', all was revealed.

Initially, we'd feared that some especially ham fisted fitter had chopped wires to the radio when installing a Parrot bluetooth set-up but the answer was easier than that! The radio system includes an amplifier, which, on RHD cars, is mounted upright against the driver's door A post. It is protected by a fuse, which the WIS suggested we should check. It was, of course, blown. Voila! Sounds restored. You really need RDS traffic reports in Sunderland just to find out what wackiness those boffins at the Civic Centre have been indulging in. It's dead easy to spot their latest work - just look for a HUGE traffic jam where, previously, none existed. Some wag writing in the local paper suggested that 5 year olds on vocational training might just have produced something better than the now notorious Toll Bar junction...