What is 9-5 Repair Record

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Jo Anne Coyne - 21 Jul 2005 02:00 GMT

What is everyone's experience/opinion about the cost of repair to these cars
as they get older. I'm hearing horror stories about massive failures of
turbo, water pump, engine, around 140,000 kilometres. I have a 1999 wagon.

Thanks for your advice.

Larry

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nospam - 21 Jul 2005 03:24 GMT

> What is everyone's experience/opinion about the cost of repair to these cars
> as they get older. I'm hearing horror stories about massive failures of
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Larry

Just had the turbo replaced with 44,000 miles on the car a 2002 9.5.

I keep hearing everywhere about oil sludge issues but I don't know what that
is or how to look for it.

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Radovan - 21 Jul 2005 06:06 GMT

Hello,
My car had rebuilt engine and new turbo at 78,000 miles before I bought
it. It really depends how you take care of the car. All failures are
supposed to be due to sludge. Sludge is degradated oil that plugs oil
channels and starves the engine of oil. Usually turbo goes first. It is
very easy to prevent it and also there is retroactive warranty from SAAB
if you can prove oil change history. It is really just about changing
oil frequently. If you are in doubt, let your mechanic drop the oil pan
check there for any signs of sludge. If there is any they can clean it.
Usually sludge builds up when you are driving only short distances
around a town and do not change oil frequently enough. Frequently enough
is supposed to be every 4000 miles. You may also consider using fully
synthetic oil instead of original spec semisynthetic. There is a LOT of
about sludge issues here http://saabnet.com/tsn/bb/9-5/ .
By the way we have also 1999 wagon. Sludge issue applies only on 2.3 4
cylinder low pressure engines. In other words all non Aero and non V6
SAAB 9-5 and some of 9-3 up to 2001 make year. Cars made after 2001
should be OK.
Hope that helps,
Radovan

> What is everyone's experience/opinion about the cost of repair to these cars
> as they get older. I'm hearing horror stories about massive failures of
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Larry

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th - 21 Jul 2005 13:13 GMT

Radovan wrote (with some rearranging):

>> What is everyone's experience/opinion about the cost of repair to
>> these cars
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> SAAB 9-5 and some of 9-3 up to 2001 make year. Cars made after 2001
> should be OK.

Oil sludge is not the only problem. Had a big motor repair on a 2000
B205 engine due to balance chain wearout at 90000 km. The Saab dealer
pointed out that this type of wearout is fairly common on automatic
transmission, as it causes larger and faster rev changes than a normally
used manual transmission. My former B204 engine (no turbo) with auto
tranny was more solid, no problems for 230000 km.

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stephen - 21 Jul 2005 21:34 GMT

> Hello,
> My car had rebuilt engine and new turbo at 78,000 miles before I bought
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> synthetic oil instead of original spec semisynthetic. There is a LOT of
> about sludge issues here http://saabnet.com/tsn/bb/9-5/ .

i have a 2003 9-5 v6 turbo diesel

the handbook says that the factory fill is fully synthetic oil, and that is
the preferred option on all petrol engines

the local Saab dealer is Manchester UK certainly charges for fully synth at
the services......:)

i have had several Saab company cars before over a 12 year period - AFAIR
they all wanted fully synth oil, and 12000 mile service

current oil change in the manual is 12000 / 18000 miles depending on engine,
or 1 yr / 6000 miles for "worst case" driving with lots of town running.

> By the way we have also 1999 wagon. Sludge issue applies only on 2.3 4
> cylinder low pressure engines. In other words all non Aero and non V6
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> >
> > Larry

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Regards

Stephen Hope - return address needs fewer xxs

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Peter Wilkins - 22 Jul 2005 03:14 GMT

>What is everyone's experience/opinion about the cost of repair to these cars
>as they get older. I'm hearing horror stories about massive failures of
>turbo, water pump, engine, around 140,000 kilometres. I have a 1999 wagon.

From my 1998 9-5SE experience I think it is on a par with most other
makes, but certainly cheaper than my Subaru Liberty (Legacy?)
My turbo gave indications that it might fail (white smoke puffs) while
in warranty and was replaced free. My SID display LCD's also played
up and were replaced under warranty. My airconditioning hoses had to
be replaced 3 months ago, and last month the fuel pump failed and had
to be replaced. Replacing the A/C hoses and recharging cost more than
replacing the fuel pump. Incidentally, the whole fuel pump assembly
incl the gauge float etc had to be replaced - they couldn't replace
just the pump without breaking some plastic fittings. $A800 for
replacing the fuel pump assembly, $A900 to replace the A/C hoses.
Reason given for the high A/C charge was that they had to dismantle
the whole A/C system to get at the hoses.

No other probs, yet.

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Regards,
Peter Wilkins

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Johannes - 22 Jul 2005 15:15 GMT

> >What is everyone's experience/opinion about the cost of repair to these cars
> >as they get older. I'm hearing horror stories about massive failures of
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> My turbo gave indications that it might fail (white smoke puffs) while
> in warranty and was replaced free.

White smoke = water vapour.
Blue smoke = oil burn.

I thought that the sign of a failed turbo would be blue smoke.

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Sleeker GT Phwoar - 22 Jul 2005 15:48 GMT

> White smoke = water vapour.
> Blue smoke = oil burn.
>
> I thought that the sign of a failed turbo would be blue smoke.

Black smoke/soot = overfueling

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Carl Robson
Car PC Build starts again. http://smallr.com/rz
Homepage: http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

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hippo - 25 Jul 2005 12:04 GMT

>> White smoke = water vapour.
>> Blue smoke = oil burn.
>>
>> I thought that the sign of a failed turbo would be blue smoke.
>>
>Black smoke/soot = overfueling

White Smoke - New Pope
Black Smoke - No Pope
Blue Smoke? - Let's not go there ... Cheers

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Peter Wilkins - 23 Jul 2005 13:11 GMT

>> >What is everyone's experience/opinion about the cost of repair to these cars
>> >as they get older. I'm hearing horror stories about massive failures of
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
>I thought that the sign of a failed turbo would be blue smoke.

Me too, and when at a routine service I reported puffs of white smoke
on acceleration, I didn't even suspect the turbo. However, the Saab
dealer checked the car and said the turbo was part of a bad batch and
was about to fail, so they replaced it under warranty. It was
definitely white smoke, not blue, and it didn't look a bit like
steam/water vapour. Anyone techo minded have any idea why?

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Regards,
Peter Wilkins

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Steven Stern - 22 Jul 2005 14:25 GMT

> What is everyone's experience/opinion about the cost of repair to these cars
> as they get older. I'm hearing horror stories about massive failures of
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Larry

I have a '99 9-5 SE V6 with 75K miles. In the past year or so, I've had
an oil leak fixed (parts, $1.50, labor $250), the air conditioner relay
replaced ($49) and an DI cassette replaced at about $600.

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