intermittent power locks on 98 Saab 9000 CSE

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donald@profotousa.com - 02 May 2006 02:07 GMT

My 1998 Saab 9000 CSE has intermittent power locks. From the key fab,
they work about 50% of the time. When it decides not to work, it will
not work until a later time. Maybe after I drive to the next
destination or two or three. Then it will work flawlessly. Some times
it will not work for 3 days straight and then no problems for 3 days.
It has been driving me nuts. Many times it will work when I lock the
car but then not when I unlock it. The switch inside the car also is
intermittent as well. I will need to push it several times, sometimes
more then 30 times and then it will all of the sudden work.
Any ideas to try would be appreciated

Thanks,

Donald
proud saab owner

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Johannes - 02 May 2006 10:46 GMT

> My 1998 Saab 9000 CSE has intermittent power locks. From the key fab,
> they work about 50% of the time. When it decides not to work, it will
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> more then 30 times and then it will all of the sudden work.
> Any ideas to try would be appreciated

Is this a wireless key fab?

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R. Frist - 02 May 2006 15:10 GMT

I have put up with the same problem with my 98 CSE off and on for
years. I am begining to think that it is just the nature of the beast.
I have tried most of the things suggested on The Saab Network and each
time it works flawlessly for awhile but then reverts back to not
working about 25 percent of the time.

If one of the door locks (or gas filler door lock) is hard to activate
by hand that will cause the problem. I have so far disassembled two
doors and lubricated the mechanisms. I resoldered the circuit board in
the central lock controller. That seemed to work for a couple of
weeks. The next step, when I get the time and will, is to work on the
switch in the driver's door. Supposenly that controls the others. I
have also noticed that the failure rate is higher when the fob battery
begins to weaken.

I will be interested if Johannes or other's have any new suggestions.

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Johannes - 02 May 2006 15:46 GMT

> I have put up with the same problem with my 98 CSE off and on for
> years. I am begining to think that it is just the nature of the beast.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> I will be interested if Johannes or other's have any new suggestions.

If it's a wireless, then I've heard of cases where local radio frequency
transmissions can interfere with the key fob. It may come from mobile telephone
masts or possibly company communication systems. This could explain a pattern
where it works for some days, but not other, in some locations but not other.
Admittedly, this is a wild idea, but try to look out for such patterns.

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donald@profotousa.com - 02 May 2006 17:24 GMT

Thanks for the tips,
I replaced the batteries in my wireless key fab and it didn't seem to
help. I will have to rebuild or replace the switch inside the car. I
know that must be getting dirty or just plain faulty. I will do this
when I too get the time and the will. :)

Donald

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