Date: Thu, 09 Jul 1998 19:47:42 -0700 From: DHG <dhgoldnopsamell.net> Subject: Re: 9000 won't start!
Jim Russell wrote: > I have a 1989 Saab 9000. It run good most of the time, but lately it > won't start when it is warm. That is both, after being driven, and > just > sitting in the sun. If I give it a boost, it will start. I can't > believe > it is the battery! I also tapped the starter a couple weeks ago and > the > car started, so I replaced the starter. No difference. > > If you have any ideas I would appreciate hearing them. > > Thanks, > > Jim Hi, I have the same or a similar problem as does another person who has been posting to the group. I thought I had solved it last Fall when a garage replaced the anti-theft device (after installing a brand new battery). The car (also a 1989 9000) started all Winter but then the problem re-appeared with the onset of hot weather. I've taken it to two garages but they couldn't troubleshoot it because the problem didn't reappear while they had it. I've gotten several suggestions but my current thinking is that it has something to do with the anti-theft device. Following is part of my most recent message to the other person: Yes, I got a couple of suggestions: neutral safety switch and starter solenoid. The one that you got... sounded as if it might be closer to the mark and I'm probably going to look into it after first checking out something else. Clearly we have the same problem. Just before leaving on a trip I thought about the fact that the car had refused to start 3 times in the same parking lot. It's where I buy discount wine by the case -- which means I probably opened the trunk before unlocking the car each time I was there. Now here's my current thinking. The anti-theft system is controlled by the driver side door lock. Checking the manual you'll see that it is a very complicated system that is controlled by locking and unlocking the driver's door. For example, evidently it can be disarmed by turning the key to the lock position and holding it for 3 seconds and it can be re-armed by turning it from neutral to lock 3 times. I also read that under certain conditions "the starter motor is disabled for 10 minutes." I don't know where the hot weather figures into it but I think that we are somehow disabling the starter, maybe by opening either the trunk or passenger side door first. Then after some period of time, around 10 minutes, it becomes functional again -- regardless of what we've done in the meantime (e.g., number of times we try to start, moving the gear selector, releasing the emergency brake). Finally, it's clear that if you and I have this problem then lots of others do too and I'm sure that somebody at SAAB knows what this is all about. I might try contacting them. If I do, and I get a useful response, I'll let you know. If all else fails, then I'll probably buy and install the electronic ignition part that was recommended to you. The other afternoon it wouldn't start. I hadn't run it at all that day but it had been sitting out in a hot sun and I had been in and out of the trunk several times. Locking and unlocking the driver side door didn't do any good but I let it sit for 20 minutes and when I came back it started right up. I'm going to be contacting SAAB directly and I'll let you know what I find out. In the meantime, if you hit on a solution I hope you'll let me know. David
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