Some may remember how I asked, about 6 months ago, about missing pixels on a
SID display (pardon the redundacy, since the acronym stands for system
information display, I guess). Shortly thereafter, on a scheduled service,
the SID unit was replaced entirely under warranty. Just making some
conversation, I said I was someehat worried about the SID's reputed tendency
to fail, and thus even questioned the need to replace it because a few
pixels are randomly missing. I was however told that this was a 2005 SID
unit, a new and much improved model, with all deficiencies ironed out.

Since I own a '02 9-3 SE convertible (w/ every package available, and love
it) and the warranty was about to run out soon, before pikcing up my car
from the service I went over to the sales room and got myself a decent deal
on a complete extended warranty package, which covers even more than the
origina warranty. Thus, I can take whatever happens in the next couple of
years with some humor, and worry later depending on how long I really end up
keeping the car (which I hope is very long, that's why I bought a Saab).

Yesterday, upon starting up the car, I noticed the SID had gone totally
dead. All in all, I don't think the information it displays is vital to
operate the car, so it's amusing how little it bothered me *none* of the
pixels were working - at least it doesn't look broken, it just looks like
one chose to turn it off (which should be an option Saab ought to consider
given the device's reliability or entertainingly ridiculous lack thereof).
However, what seems silly is that the SID seems to incorporate odd pieces of
lgic for other components of the car that get seemingly randomly routed
through it. Witness the fact that, while the blinkers work, the audible
blinker clicking noise will only work randomly now that the SID broke. Also,
if the music is playing and one tries to turn the volume up with the
steering wheel mounted controls, the volume will rapidly crank up all the
way to max volume upon touching the "up" button, which is rather alarming
with the premium stereo watts available in the '02 SE (adolescent drivers
might love that feature, though).

Odd, from an electronics design point of view, what functions Saab somehow
decided to partially route through the SID for what seems to be no reason
whatsoever. The function of the SID just seemed to be the one of an
integrated calculator for some functions - the fact such an unreliable
device seemingly implements some *functional* stuff seems to be a poor
engineering decision.

I'll get this thing replaced as often as required, I mean, come on, there is
no excuse for this device being as unreliable as it is, and Saab ought to
perhaps simply open the specifications to some aftermarket people that do a
more competent job.

...pablo