EXH light on '86 900

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Dave Hinz - 29 Nov 2004 17:10 GMT

I've got an '86 900 that I'll be driving until I get my 9-5 going again.
(long story, not important right now). Most of the major stuff is fine,
but two strange things:

1. The EXH light in the dash cluster is on, solid. Is this an O2 sensor
usually, or ???

2. I can kill the engine by taking the oil filler/dipstick out. I don't
think that's normal. I've replaced a bunch-o-vacuum-hoses which helped
running a lot, but I still don't think it should do that.

3. Anything to watch for doing the distributor's O-ring? Looks pretty
simple, but any gotchas?

Dave Hinz

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KeithG - 29 Nov 2004 18:51 GMT

1) EXH light is a mileage thing I am pretty sure. There is a reset
button back there somewhere. Search on Saabnet. I am sure it will turn
up. This is only on the CIS cars (8V here in the US)

2) normal. You are creating a big vacuum leak by opening the filler cap.
IIRC, It screws with CIS more so than LH. The gasket under the cap is
pretty important, too. It is probably pretty hard by now and should be
replaced. DO not think it is available separately, but one can be made
from a piece of rubber... McMaster Carr or local inner tube?

3) This is an 8V, no? Never done it on an 8V, but guess it is probably
similar to a 16V. remove distributor, replace oring, replace
distributor, set timing.

Good luck.

KeithG

> I've got an '86 900 that I'll be driving until I get my 9-5 going again.
> (long story, not important right now). Most of the major stuff is fine,
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Dave Hinz

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Dave Hinz - 29 Nov 2004 19:13 GMT

> 1) EXH light is a mileage thing I am pretty sure. There is a reset
> button back there somewhere. Search on Saabnet. I am sure it will turn
> up. This is only on the CIS cars (8V here in the US)

Ugh. Saabnet's search function. To save anyone else the pain, here's
what I (eventually) found:

"All that is required is follow the wire from the instrument cluster
down into the dash to the box, which has a reset button on it. It might
be easier to reach from underneath."

Yes, it's an 8V CIS. I'll find the button, and then I'll be able to take
the piece of duct tape off of the instrument cluster. Fun buying an
almost 20 year old car from at least two non-saabish owners. At least
3 of the rotors were warped, the gas cap was, well, not just wrong but
didn't seal _at all_, the dashboard had been pulled out to install a
POS radio, the heat didn't work, and the car had a HUGE vacuum leak.

The lack of heat and the vacuum leak were, of course, the rod to the
heater control valve from the dash panel, and the vacuum switch
connector to the back of the switch. Put those back in, fixed the
no-heat, fixed most of the running problems, fixed the heater control
stuff, fixed the moan from the vacuum reservoir check valve (due to
constant flow). Replaced about 8 feet of vacuum hose that was
slightly crunchy and/or swollen.

Brake rotors (front) went well, but I had to make the rotator tool
for the pistons because I lent mine out (anybody? Hello?) and
don't remember to whom. Bled the brakes, they still sucked. New
brake master cylinder, all better. Rebuilt cylinder was only 30 bucks
more than the rebuild kit, so I went the lazy way and used it. Brakes
now work great.

> 2) normal. You are creating a big vacuum leak by opening the filler cap.
> IIRC, It screws with CIS more so than LH.

This car is, in fact, CIS. Haven't had one in a while so I'm not
surprised that I hadn't noticed that.

> The gasket under the cap is
> pretty important, too. It is probably pretty hard by now and should be
> replaced. DO not think it is available separately, but one can be made
> from a piece of rubber... McMaster Carr or local inner tube?

I'll check and proceed accordingly. I have some butyl rubber membrane
from a roofing project, I'll check oil compatibility first though.

> 3) This is an 8V, no? Never done it on an 8V, but guess it is probably
> similar to a 16V. remove distributor, replace oring, replace
> distributor, set timing.

I didn't think there'd be anything strange there. ISTR that there's
an offset cog type thing so I can't screw up the timing. Need new
plugs and to time the beast anyway, might as well do cap & rotor while
I'm at it, I suppose. Valve cover leaks too, oddly enough, and it looks
like when I have the distributor off is the perfect time to deal with that.

Thanks,
Dave Hinz

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ma_twain - 29 Nov 2004 23:28 GMT

>>1) EXH light is a mileage thing I am pretty sure. There is a reset
>>button back there somewhere. Search on Saabnet. I am sure it will turn
[quoted text clipped - 58 lines]
> Thanks,
> Dave Hinz

I have the full Saab Factory shop manual set for the car. You can
borrow it or I can scan pages if you need the information. I drove the
8V 1986 900 for 16 years. It was a great car - lots of fun in the snow!
Now I drive a 1993 Commemorative - red box, lowered suspension, and
short shift kit :-)

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Dave Hinz - 30 Nov 2004 15:13 GMT

> I have the full Saab Factory shop manual set for the car. You can
> borrow it or I can scan pages if you need the information.

I've got most of it, but need to find the parts that I need, because
of course those are lent out and/or not in the binders. Ah well...

> I drove the
> 8V 1986 900 for 16 years. It was a great car - lots of fun in the snow!
> Now I drive a 1993 Commemorative - red box, lowered suspension, and
> short shift kit :-)

This one has a clunking I'm not sure where it's coming from yet, but
handles very well. I love that steering wheel; too bad it wouldn't go on
the 9-5.

Dave

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