Hi all,
Recently took my 900SE Turbo convertable to be smogged. The numbers
were great, but he failed me due to a couple of hoses being messed up.
First off he said the breather hose was bad and needed to be replaced.
I went to the local Saab dealer and bought some hoses, but it turned
out the hose he was talking about was the fat one, not the small ones,
so I have another trip to Saab on Monday.
Secondly, he said the bypass valve was disconnected. When I asked him
about that he said its just held on by vacuum so may have been knocked
off when I got the car's oil changed. Not sure why he didn't just pop
it on for me, but he didn't. Anyways, I went to do it myself, but
dont' see any hoses that are not connected and hanging loose. Exactly
WHERE is the bypass valve on a 1995 900SE Turbo Convertible located?
Robert
robertjm - 15 Apr 2007 00:15 GMT
OK, so I finally figured out where the bypass valve was. When he said
it was disconnected he was apparently talking about the small "baby"
hose that comes out of the top of the valve, not the whole valve
itself.
I looked around the engine compartment and there is a small diameter
pipe coming out of the right front of the turbo (as you're facing the
front of the car) which doesn't have a hose connected to it. Is that
where its supposed to be connected?
Robert
> ...he said the bypass valve was disconnected. When I asked him
> about that he said its just held on by vacuum so may have been knocked
> off when I got the car's oil changed. Not sure why he didn't just pop
> it on for me, but he didn't. Anyways, I went to do it myself, but
> dont' see any hoses that are not connected and hanging loose. Exactly
> WHERE is the bypass valve on a 1995 900SE Turbo Convertible located?...
Frank Vuotto - 15 Apr 2007 04:21 GMT
>OK, so I finally figured out where the bypass valve was. When he said
>it was disconnected he was apparently talking about the small "baby"
>hose that comes out of the top of the valve, not the whole valve
>itself.
That little hose is just a vent to the atmosphere and doesn't go
anywhere.
>I looked around the engine compartment and there is a small diameter
>pipe coming out of the right front of the turbo (as you're facing the
>front of the car) which doesn't have a hose connected to it. Is that
>where its supposed to be connected?
The small hose from the front of the turbo goes to the top (c) input
on the boost control solenoid (apc)
Here's some pics that will help you out.
http://www7.taosnet.com/f10/saabhose/
Frank /~ http://newmex.com/f10
@/
robertjm - 15 Apr 2007 06:13 GMT
ARGH!! So he failed me for a smog check based on a hose that doesn't
go anywhere? Lovely!! May have to talk with the owner of the shop to
see if I can get the retest for free then.
> On 14 Apr 2007 16:15:33 -0700, "robertjm"
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> That little hose is just a vent to the atmosphere and doesn't go
> anywhere.
Paul Halliday - 15 Apr 2007 11:05 GMT
> ARGH!! So he failed me for a smog check based on a hose that doesn't
> go anywhere? Lovely!! May have to talk with the owner of the shop to
> see if I can get the retest for free then.
It's likely that an unconnected vac hose is compensated for by the engine
management by giving more fuelling. In certain circumstances, like when
coming off boost, the engine may go very rich. You may end up with your
"Check Engine Light" (CEL) coming on ... Unless a previous owner pulled the
bulb?
Just connect up the vac hose as I described earlier and you'll be fine.
Don't go blowing flames at the chap at the smog shop - he'll laugh at you :)
Paul
1989 900 Turbo S
http://saab.go.dyndns.org/
>> On 14 Apr 2007 16:15:33 -0700, "robertjm"
>>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>> That little hose is just a vent to the atmosphere and doesn't go
>> anywhere.
still me - 15 Apr 2007 16:07 GMT
>Just connect up the vac hose as I described earlier and you'll be fine.
>Don't go blowing flames at the chap at the smog shop - he'll laugh at you :)
>
>Paul
If this is a '95 NG900 turbo, there should be only one hose coming out
of the bypass valve. It leads back to the manifold, as Paul suggested.
See this diagram:
http://www.geocities.com/ng900set/Vac_hoses/vac_hose.html
I think it's #4 that you are talking about... one hose.
These hoses are known for becoming brittle and often breaking off.
Most of us with NG900's have purchased 6 feet or so of hose and
replaced (one by one when we do it) all the (small) vacuum hoses on
the engine. Total cost is about $5 and it takes at most a half hour.
Paul Halliday - 15 Apr 2007 22:38 GMT
>> Just connect up the vac hose as I described earlier and you'll be fine.
>> Don't go blowing flames at the chap at the smog shop - he'll laugh at you :)
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> replaced (one by one when we do it) all the (small) vacuum hoses on
> the engine. Total cost is about $5 and it takes at most a half hour.
That's an excellent diagram - well played! Yes, indeed ... I believe it is
port #4 off the throttle body.
Paul
1989 900 Turbo S
http://saab.go.dyndns.org/
Paul Halliday - 15 Apr 2007 11:02 GMT
>> OK, so I finally figured out where the bypass valve was. When he said
>> it was disconnected he was apparently talking about the small "baby"
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> That little hose is just a vent to the atmosphere and doesn't go
> anywhere.
This is not actually right.
On a re-circulating valve like you will have on your model, the smaller hose
is an integral part of the valve's working. A run of vacuum hose should run
from that port up to the intake manifold. Check all the small (4mm) hoses
that run off the intake manifold and see if any are not connected. A vac
leak will lead to a high idle, poor running and increased fuel consumption,
not to mention the car stalling. Some cars can compensate quite well, but
best find the errant hose and re-connect it.
Contrary to popular belief, the boost pressure is not the main force acting
on the valve to "force it open". The vacuum line is the force that actually
pulls the bung inside the valve. You can prove this by turning the valve
around and putting it on the other way ... It will still work. In fact, on
the later 9-3 Viggen model, the valve is actually fitted from the factory
"the wrong way round".
Take a look at this link:
<http://dv.mistertam.com/7.htm>
Aside from being a good resource for comparing popular market diverter
valves, it shows in the table how the valves are best orientated. Notice the
standard Bosch valve is best orientated "normally".
How to fit in reverse:
<http://dv.mistertam.com/5.htm>
So ... You must have that vacuum line connected for the valve to work.
<http://dv.mistertam.com/2.htm>
>> I looked around the engine compartment and there is a small diameter
>> pipe coming out of the right front of the turbo (as you're facing the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> http://www7.taosnet.com/f10/saabhose/
Yup! That's the charge hose ( C ). You can follow the bottom picture to test
your solenoid valve, not that we suspect anything wrong with it at the
moment.
Paul
1989 900 Turbo S
http://saab.go.dyndns.org/
MH - 18 Apr 2007 19:00 GMT
>> That little hose is just a vent to the atmosphere and doesn't go anywhere.
> This is not actually right.
True, it really needs the small tube to work.
> In fact, on the later 9-3 Viggen model, the valve is actually fitted from the
> factory "the wrong way round".
This is how it's placed in our '95 900SE;
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/SaabB204engine.jpg
I do not know if that is the 'wrong' way around or not.

Signature
MH
'72 97 '77 96 '78 95 '79 96
'91 900i
'95 900SE
Paul Halliday - 19 Apr 2007 21:17 GMT
>> In fact, on the later 9-3 Viggen model, the valve is actually fitted from the
>> factory "the wrong way round".
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> I do not know if that is the 'wrong' way around or not.
That is in what is called the "correct" orientation. Notice how the valve is
orientated so the internal bung and spring actuate perpendicular to the
charge air. The smaller vac hose rapidly sucks the top of the valve when the
pressure drops out of boost.
On some later SAABs (and other turbo cars), the valve is placed the other
way around, so the charge air cannot technically act upon the underside of
the internal bung. The valve is purely actuated by vacuum.
Paul
1989 900 Turbo S
http://saab.go.dyndns.org/
Paul Halliday - 19 Apr 2007 21:19 GMT
>>> In fact, on the later 9-3 Viggen model, the valve is actually fitted from
>>> the
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> way around, so the charge air cannot technically act upon the underside of
> the internal bung. The valve is purely actuated by vacuum.
Duh! Forgot to attach the pictures :)
Like this:
<http://www.trollhattansaab.net/images/viggen/Saab%20Viggen%20engine%20small
.jpg>
... Or this:
<http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/pmm12/Saab/SaabEngineBay>
Paul
1989 900 Turbo S
http://saab.go.dyndns.org/
Walt Kienzle - 15 Apr 2007 03:29 GMT
> Hi all,
[snip]
> Secondly, he said the bypass valve was disconnected. When I asked him
> about that he said its just held on by vacuum so may have been knocked
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Robert
The vacuum line to the Turbo Bypass valve is disconnected and the engine
doesn't stall when you take your foot off the accelerator to stop? That
doesn't seem possible. And the hose is not just held on by vacuum; it
should resist being pulled off unless the hose is worn/stretched/cracked.
If that is the problem, cutting off the damaged part (which should only be a
short amount) should resolve the problem long enough to see if there is an
improvement. The vacuum hose on my 1991 9000T doesn't yet show any of
these signs, although the valve itself failed and needed replacement.
Paul Halliday - 15 Apr 2007 10:40 GMT
> Hi all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> out the hose he was talking about was the fat one, not the small ones,
> so I have another trip to Saab on Monday.
The breather hose does have to be a specific type with a proper oil
resistant lining. Air/oil mist that comes off the crankcase can attack
normal rubber.
> Secondly, he said the bypass valve was disconnected. When I asked him
> about that he said its just held on by vacuum so may have been knocked
> off when I got the car's oil changed. Not sure why he didn't just pop
> it on for me, but he didn't. Anyways, I went to do it myself, but
> dont' see any hoses that are not connected and hanging loose. Exactly
> WHERE is the bypass valve on a 1995 900SE Turbo Convertible located?
I'm not exactly sure, but if you follow all the hoses off your throttle body
(should be one between 15mm and 25mm), you'll arrive at it in the end. It's
black, says Bosch on it and on your car should have two large 25mm ports and
one vacuum port. It should fit into the large air pipe that runs between the
airbox and the turbocharger.
With regard to your vacuum, hose is cheap enough to replace all the hoses
under the bonnet. Take each one off in turn, cut the correct length from
your new reel and fit it. Don't think about pulling them all off first, or
you'll forget how they go back together.
Paul
1989 900 Turbo S
http://saab.go.dyndns.org/