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Car Forum / Saab Cars / May 2005

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saab 9000cse poor running

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michael spencer - 30 Apr 2005 06:55 GMT
i have a 93 saab 9000cse 2.0 16v the check engine light comes on it loses
power wont idle properly and has to be driven hard to make go.It has had a
new cat, lambda sensor been to the main dealer and still i have no joy ,the
car is normally lovely to drive could anybody give some advice,i dont want
to get rid but i am at the end of my tether please help
Johannes - 30 Apr 2005 11:54 GMT
> i have a 93 saab 9000cse 2.0 16v the check engine light comes on it loses
> power wont idle properly and has to be driven hard to make go.It has had a
> new cat, lambda sensor been to the main dealer and still i have no joy ,the
> car is normally lovely to drive could anybody give some advice,i dont want
> to get rid but i am at the end of my tether please help

First Check socket to Air Mass Meter. Clean Air Idler Valve.
Is the fault intermittent -> DI or possibly blown head gasket.
DI problem develops over a couple of weeks until car stops!
Is the idle high, any hissing noises? -> Vacuum leak from split hose.

Mileage? The more specific symptoms you can give, the better.
michael spencer - 30 Apr 2005 23:55 GMT
the head gasket is fine,when you drive it its great then for no reason the
check engine warning comes on ,it then barely manages to tick over and it
has a flat spot on the accelerater,if its in gear it ticks over if not it
then stalls its an automatic which doesent help.it came on today the check
engine light i lifted the boneet checked some wires out it then later on
went out and drives fine again,i like the car its just an annoying problem
i dont know what to look for or were to look any advice would be a weight
off my mind,the saab dealer found the lambda sensor faulty and the wiring
,but they had it back 3 times its ran for 6 months no problems then back as
it was before again thanks for any help,nice to know that people are
willing to help
Dexter J - 01 May 2005 02:18 GMT
Salutations:

> the head gasket is fine,when you drive it its great then for no reason  
> the
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> it was before again thanks for any help,nice to know that people are
> willing to help

Yes - that is the limp mode kicking in.

If you stop and turn off the car, then turn the key to the on position  
without starting - it will flash the check engine light for a hint  
(although a vague one because it can be *anything* connected to the  
indicated faulty system):

2 flashes - Manifold Absolute Pressure sensor
3 flashes - Intake Air Temperature sensor
4 flashes - Coolant Temperature Sensor
5 flashes - Throttle Position Sensor
6 flashes - O2 Sensor
7 flashes - Adaptation
8 flashes - Purge valve
9 flashes - ECM fault

Get someone who knows how to use a voltmeter to check the Safety Valve on  
the firewall for (approx) 30 ohms resistance when the engine is hot. After  
that - you need to check for loose vacuum hoses all around the MAP sensor  
(rectangular block beside the Safety Valve on the firewall) and finally  
check all the hoses and wire connections around and under the intake  
manifold.

Really - the Trionic system isn't *truly* a standalone digital engine  
management system. It relies heavily on several electro-mechanical devices  
and sensors to feed it. In my own case, a number of these devices and  
sensors were replaced to no avail by myself and the previous owner -  
because the actual connector on one of them was simply misaligned and  
would present false resistances to the computer.

Hence my other thread..

The fact that it operates correctly again when you "check around the  
wires" and close the hood is interesting.

In my case, my shop (Halifax Autosports) and I finally clued to the fact  
that the machine would normally fail when Mrs Dexter J would be out and  
about with the kids (with all the long, concerned conversations about the  
wisdom of buying a 'Utility Classic' those sort of problems bring about).

.. :/ ..

Basically - when one of the kids hopped in the front seat and slammed the  
door - they would jog the connector enough so that it would momentarily  
loose connection enough to change resistance and thereby trigger one of  
many erroneous CEL codes as noted above. That was finally the tip that  
lead Mr Parson's and I down the right path. Basically - the computer and  
scanner were being feed incorrect data - which then lead to incorrect  
diagnoses by *several* shops and dealers down the line before and after I  
bought her.

It was maddening and remarkably expensive to finally figure that out - I  
can assure you. On the other hand, I have a lot of fresh sensors, intake  
and ignition components on the car that are likely to last for quite a  
while longer I suppose. I even have a spare DI cassette now.

Which brings up another piece of advise, never throw away a replaced part  
for a while after the repair - it may be that it was perfectly fine in  
first place.

Anyway - don't be afraid to poke around under the hood yourself, I  
actually set-up a quick disconnect on the battery to reset codes over the  
winter while we worked it through.

--

Radio Free Dexterdyne Top Tune o'be-do-da-day
Patio Lanterns - Kim Mitchell
http://www.dexterdyne.org/888/081.RAM

all tunes - no cookies no subscription no weather no ads
no news no phone in no sign up required - all the Time

Dexter J - 30 Apr 2005 16:32 GMT
Salutations:

> i have a 93 saab 9000cse 2.0 16v the check engine light comes on it loses
> power wont idle properly and has to be driven hard to make go.It has had  
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> want
> to get rid but i am at the end of my tether please help

Sounds like you're are triggering an intermittent Limp Mode (assuming  
Trionic on your part) - and lord can that turn out to be obscure.

In my case, the car (1993 Aero) was triggering a whole series of different  
Check Engine Lights - all of which went away for days, weeks or months if  
you disconnected the battery for an appropriate length time according to  
the CEL - but which were never permanently repaired by replacing the  
suggested failure part.

As it turned out - it was a very slightly bent loom connector to the  
firewall Safety Valve beside the MAP sensor - a sensor that was replaced a  
couple of times. In my case that meant that every time a Tech would check  
the resistance on the Safety Valve (it should be very close to 30 ohms)  
and put the connector back together - it would run fine for about a week -  
then fail again for no apparent reason.

Given you have been to the dealer and assuming they have properly checked  
the safety valve and vacuum lines for correct parameters instead of just  
plugging in the scanner - I would start looking over the loom for suspect  
connections that feed the engine management computer(s).

It may well be that there is a problem with your Throttle Body or TCS  
system - but I now think that should really be the last stop in a rather  
longest trip through the wiring loom given my (and the previous owners)  
experience.

--

Radio Free Dexterdyne Top Tune o'be-do-da-day
Patio Lanterns - Kim Mitchell
http://www.dexterdyne.org/888/081.RAM

all tunes - no cookies no subscription no weather no ads
no news no phone in no sign up required - all the Time
Johannes - 30 Apr 2005 19:36 GMT
> Salutations:
>
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
> longest trip through the wiring loom given my (and the previous owners)
> experience.

The can be many other reasons for poor running. I've had a few of those
for my 9000 of same age, but not recently (or I would probably have
written about it here). It would help if he can give more specific symptoms.
The problems are often trivial and when you find the cause you shout:
"Oh why didn't I think of that".
Dexter J - 30 Apr 2005 20:19 GMT
Salutations:

>> Salutations:
>>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> The problems are often trivial and when you find the cause you shout:
> "Oh why didn't I think of that".

I guess the problem really comes down to when is a cigar actually a cigar,  
doesn't it? In the case of fully electronically controlled, interfaced and  
fired engine systems - you have to actually spark it up (so to speak) to  
find out.

In my case, I know in my heart that a long and fairly deep hand check  
though the electrical loom is going to consume a large part of the coming  
summer if I want to eliminate the basic loom from future bug hunts down  
the road.

I suppose that is to be expected given the 11 or so years my particular  
machine has been on the road. In fact, I think I can safely comment that  
it will be the challenge in the coming years for anyone who haunts the  
'Utility Classic' end of the general automotive market on pretty much any  
make or model.

Actually - I think I'll start a new thread..

--

Radio Free Dexterdyne Top Tune o'be-do-da-day
Patio Lanterns - Kim Mitchell
http://www.dexterdyne.org/888/081.RAM

all tunes - no cookies no subscription no weather no ads
no news no phone in no sign up required - all the Time
 
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