I was a beautiful day, driving my 94 saab 900s to the golf course...

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Donald Laverty - 23 Jul 2005 04:28 GMT

I was a beautiful day, driving my 94 saab 900s to the golf course... then,
no power, car shuts down and I pull over to the side of the road. After I
hitch a ride to the golf course, play a horrible round, take it to the
mechanics... I get the phone call - "your timing belt slipped and your
engine is wrecked."

If you, like myself are a bit uneducated when it comes to cars, learn from
my experience and keep on top of the timing belt. The mechanic I had been
going to told me he was unaware the timing belt was to be changed every
50,000 km on the saab. He had other saab customers that he was going to
followup with to make sure their timing belt wasn't due for a change. I
told him I was glad I could educate him, he told me the best price he could
find was a new engine for 6,000 cdn from the dealer.

Hard to spend that kind of money on a car 11 years old. So I towed it home
and there it sat in my driveway. It is now at a friends garage and he is
trying to rebuild the engine for me.

I am so upset, because I loved that car.

Just thought I would share my experience. Love the news group, and would
love to get another saab someday.

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Pooh Bear - 23 Jul 2005 06:32 GMT

> I was a beautiful day, driving my 94 saab 900s to the golf course... then,
> no power, car shuts down and I pull over to the side of the road. After I
> hitch a ride to the golf course, play a horrible round, take it to the
> mechanics... I get the phone call - "your timing belt slipped and your
> engine is wrecked."

What timing belt ? It's a timing *chain* in the classic Saab 4 cyl engines.

Graham

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Craig's Saab C900 Site - 23 Jul 2005 10:32 GMT

>> I was a beautiful day, driving my 94 saab 900s to the golf course... then,
>> no power, car shuts down and I pull over to the side of the road. After I
>> hitch a ride to the golf course, play a horrible round, take it to the
>> mechanics... I get the phone call - "your timing belt slipped and your
>> engine is wrecked."

>What timing belt ? It's a timing *chain* in the classic Saab 4 cyl engines.

A 1994 900 would, unless it's a 'commemerative' C900 convertible, be an
NG/GM900 not a C900. I think, but I'm sure someone will corroborate, that
the NG/GM900 engine uses a timing belt instead of a chain. 8-)

Regards,

Craig.

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Johannes - 23 Jul 2005 13:12 GMT

> >> I was a beautiful day, driving my 94 saab 900s to the golf course... then,
> >> no power, car shuts down and I pull over to the side of the road. After I
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> NG/GM900 not a C900. I think, but I'm sure someone will corroborate, that
> the NG/GM900 engine uses a timing belt instead of a chain. 8-)

The 4 cyl used timing chain like the 9000. But It could have been a 2.5L V6
also used in this car.

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Pooh Bear - 23 Jul 2005 15:40 GMT

> > >> I was a beautiful day, driving my 94 saab 900s to the golf course... then,
> > >> no power, car shuts down and I pull over to the side of the road. After I
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> The 4 cyl used timing chain like the 9000. But It could have been a 2.5L V6
> also used in this car.

Yup, the OP later mentioned it was a V6. I hadn't realised they were in the 900 so
early.

You don't mess with timing belts. Luckily I've had so-called 'safety engines' that
aren't trashed by this stuff. It seems like 16V engines have more trouble in this
regard. It always seem to happen just as you're planning to get the belt replaced.

Graham

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ma_twain - 24 Jul 2005 03:18 GMT

>>>>>I was a beautiful day, driving my 94 saab 900s to the golf course... then,
>>>>>no power, car shuts down and I pull over to the side of the road. After I
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> Graham

I have the same car - same engine. It uses more gas, has less power,
and has more problems than the 4 cylinder Saab engine. I got it because
I needed a sacrificial car for by daughter to learn to drive. I could
not see a Classic 900 being crashed, scratched and smashed by a
beginning driver. Same issues with the timing belt - only I bought it
knowing in advance the timing belt had to be replaced often. But I don't
think the car will last long enough to worry about that.

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Chris Campbell - 23 Jul 2005 06:52 GMT

The same thing happened to my 94 900se (V6)... thats the car that made
me fall in love with Saabs (My parents bought it almost the same time I
got my driver's permit). I immediately went out and got an 87 9000S,
then later I inherited the 900 and drove it through college, then one
day the car lost power and they told me the timing belt snapped... It
was 8,000 miles before it was due to be changed... I ended up selling it
to a saab shop for parts for $500. A year later I now have a 94 9000CSET
that I love... but nothing will replace that 94 900 that I loved so
dearly... even my parent's 9-3 doesn't have the same charm... something
about that torquey V6 and that tight handling that made it a dream to drive.
-Chris

1994 Saab 9000CSE Turbo
2001 Saab 9-3SE (parent's)
1994 Saab 900SE V6 (*RIP*)
1987 Saab 9000S (*RIP*)

> I was a beautiful day, driving my 94 saab 900s to the golf course... then,
> no power, car shuts down and I pull over to the side of the road. After I
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> Just thought I would share my experience. Love the news group, and would
> love to get another saab someday.

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ma_twain - 24 Jul 2005 03:24 GMT

> The same thing happened to my 94 900se (V6)... thats the car that made
> me fall in love with Saabs (My parents bought it almost the same time I
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> 1994 Saab 900SE V6 (*RIP*)
> 1987 Saab 9000S (*RIP*)

I have the NG900 with the V6 and a Classic Saab with a 4 cylinder turbo.
I would not use the word "torquey" to describe the V6, especially
after driving the turbo 4 cylinder. Neither would I describe its
handling as tight - in comparison to a Classic 900 turbo. Perhaps I
have a bad NG900SE or a really good Classic 900 turbo :-)

>> I was a beautiful day, driving my 94 saab 900s to the golf course...
>> then, no power, car shuts down and I pull over to the side of the
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>> Just thought I would share my experience. Love the news group, and
>> would love to get another saab someday.

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Charles C. - 23 Jul 2005 12:47 GMT

What size engine does (did) your car have?

Charles

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James Sweet - 23 Jul 2005 18:50 GMT

If the timing belt broke it probably makes more sense to get a good used
motor from a junkyard, they're not uncommon and should only be a few hundred
bucks.

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Bob - 27 Jul 2005 03:47 GMT

>If you, like myself are a bit uneducated when it comes to cars, learn from
>my experience and keep on top of the timing belt. The mechanic I had been
>going to told me he was unaware the timing belt was to be changed every
>50,000 km on the saab.

If you are uneducated, I seriously suggest you read the manual and
follow what it says - as well as finding a mechanic who specializes in
Saabs. This is a *very* well known issue with the V6.

FWIW- the V6 is not a Saab motor, it's a GM motor Saab was forced to
stick in there by the marketing people at GM. Saab pays for the timing
belt changes at 30/60/90K miles but some dealers insist you buy the
corresponding xx mile service to get the belt done.

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