Date: 9 Jul 2002 22:30:47 -0700 From: doctorbrownnopsaml.com (D J Brown) Subject: Re: SAAB 900 cracked gearbox casing at oil sump drain
Thanks for your comments. I have already "eaten" it - i.e. I've paid for the repair. However, the information from the metallurgist suggests that the castings was hardened improperly (something to do with flow lines within the metal). If SAAB knew this (e.g. because this problem occured frequently) then I'd be very disappointed - even if not in posession of a case for liability! How common is this cracking problem? I've certainly never heard of it on any other vehicle. If it's more common than on similar types of cars, then it's a manufacturing fault or a design fault. I'm interested to know. DJB davehinznopsamcop.net wrote in message news:<ageool$kr8df$4nopsam34476.news.dfncis.de>... > Someone who looks an awful lot like D J Brown <doctorbrownnopsaml.com> wrote: > > > Can anyone shed any light on the suggestion that SAAB procured poor > > quality castings, that they knew about this and fitted these helicoils > > at manufacure or ordered their insertion as a product "enhancement"? > > A point I'd like to make - a helicoil is, by no means, an indication > of a problem. NASA regularly uses them in spacecraft (source: Nasa Tech > Briefs) for new holes, because they give better fastener strength when > going into softer materials. > > > Any information relating to this - or stories of similar disasters - > > gratefully received. > > I'd have a hard time trying to hold any manufacturer liable for any > defect on a 12 year old car, especially if you haven't had control of it > the whole time (you haven't) and don't really know the history of it > (you don't). Who is to say that, while *this* garage didn't overtighten > it, maybe some previous garage did, which caused the helicoil to act > improperly? > > No good suggestions, sorry. I think you're going to end up eating this one. > > Dave Hinz