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Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 09:37:35 -0400
From: "Kenneth S." <nimrodnopsams.com>
Subject: Re: Thinking of buying my first saab - what to look for?


Ian: Here's the website: http://www.alldata.com/. (It's hard for me to imagine that a Saab dealer wouldn't know about bulletins issued by the manufacturer and wouldn't use them as a diagnostic tool. However, from what I see in automotive advice columns, apparently this sometimes happens.) Ian wrote: > > Thanks for your advice Kenneth. I have in fact taken the car to the dealer > on several occasions, the first time they said it was the exhaust silencer, > however after later installing a new exhaust the rattling remained. The next > time they looked at it they didn't know what it was and needed more time, > which I wasn't willing to pay for... time is expensive here in Norway. Hence > I am keen to try to find more info online. The noise does in fact sound > similar to a golf ball jumping around. > > As I'm new to this ng and Saab on the internet in general, could you please > advise the address for the "Alldata" site? > > I would agree that Saabs tend to have more rattling noises than some of the > other quality brands, however I'm not too familar with the American makes. > Having said that the Jeeps Grand Cherokees and Chevrolet Suburbans I have > been in seem to be very quiet, smooth and solid. > > Regards, > Ian > > "Kenneth S." <nimrodnopsams.com> wrote in message > news:3D927274.74B0nopsams.com... > > I think that various forms of rattling from Saabs are common -- to > > judge from my experience, from what I have seen in this news group, and > > what I have seen elsewhere. (This evening I had occasion to travel in a > > taxicab that was a Mercury Grand Marquis, similar to the car that I > > owned before the Saab. I was reminded of how quiet and rattle-free the > > Mercury is, by comparison with the Saab). > > > > I have not had the kind of rattling you describe from the rear wheels > > of my 1996SE. However, I have had various squeaking and groaning noises > > from the rear hatch, which I try to control by periodically squirting > > silicone spray over the various surfaces there. > > > > The cause of the rattling that I had from the front left hand side > > could not be diagnosed by the repair shop that I have used for years for > > various kinds of cars. However, it was immediately diagnosed by the > > Saab dealer, which leads me to think it is characteristic of the model. > > I now have a similar kind of rattling developing on the right hand side, > > and I expect I will get that strut rebuilt also. In addition, there is > > an odd "clocking" noise that comes from the front of the car when it is > > being driven over rough roads -- also as if a golf ball were rattling > > around inside a space in the front bumper. > > > > If I were you, I'd first check the Alldata site, to see if a technical > > advice memorandum was issued by Saab about your problem. Then I'd take > > it to the Saab dealer. It's entirely possible that they are > > well-acquainted with the problem, and know how to fix it. My strut > > rebuild wasn't particularly expensive -- about $150, as far as I can > > remember -- but, of course, these rattles detract from the impression of > > quality that Saab is trying to project. > > > > > > Ian wrote: > > > > > > Kenneth, > > > > > > I have a rattling problem from one of the rear wheels on my 97 900S > whenever > > > I drive on a slightly uneven surface/bumpy road, that has been puzzling > me > > > for months. It sounds like it may be similar to the problem you had with > > > your front strut. Do you know if this is a common problem? What exactly > was > > > the nature of the rattling from the strut? Would appreciate any advice. > > > > > > Regards, > > > Ian > > > > > > "Kenneth S." <nimrodnopsams.com> wrote in message > > > news:3D91A942.7089nopsams.com... > > > > Geoff J wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Hi saab lovers. > > > > > > > > > > I'm new to this particular news group but have lurked and > contributed > > > > > to alt.fan.landrover for quite a while now (proud owner of a 1987 > 110 > > > > > 2.5l Petrol). > > > > > > > > > > Anyway back to the point - I'm thinking of buying a 1997 Saab 900 S > > > > > (2.0i) in black with 5 doors with 57,000 miles on the clock. I want > it > > > > > primarily as a motorway car and was wondering what are the known > > > > > problems/things to look for etc. with this model. > > > > > > > > > > Thanks in advance > > > > > > > > > > Geoff > > > > > > > > > > > > I have a 1996 900SE, which I bought almost two years ago. (As some in > > > > this news group will know) this car has been a major disappointment to > > > > me. It has been far more trouble than other cars I have owned, and > > > > getting it fixed is expensive, as well as entailing trips to a not > > > > particularly convenient Saab dealer. > > > > > > > > During the time I have owned this car, I have: > > > > (1) had to have one of the front struts rebuilt to eliminate a > rattling > > > > noise; > > > > (2) had persistent problems with the check engine light coming on for > no > > > > apparent reason, entailing having the car in the dealers three times, > > > > and ultimately having it cured (I hope!) by some fix to the wiring > > > > harness; > > > > (3) had several trips back to the dealer because of a slow leak -- > > > > origin still not discovered -- in the air conditioning system; > > > > (4) found that the steering pulled to the right and was far too > > > > sensitive to road camber and grooves in the road (the first problem > > > > cured by a realignment, and the second (I hope) going to be cured as a > > > > result of advice in this news group); > > > > (5) found the climate control system unsatisfactory (maybe this system > > > > is only in SEs); > > > > (6) found the heated seats don't work; and > > > > (7) had the low coolant warning come on periodically, even though the > > > > coolant level is fine. > > > > > > > > Prior to buying the Saab, I had a succession of large American V-8s, > > > > which I found reliable, comfortable, and cheap to fix. In addition, > > > > several years ago I bought a Mazda Miata (MX-5), for something more > > > > agile. After a series of vacations in Europe, during which I rented > > > > four-door hatchbacks, I decided that one of these was really what I > > > > should have, to replace my Mercury Grand Marquis (an excellent car, > but > > > > too large for my daughter's tastes). The Saab is one of the very few > > > > four-door hatchbacks on the U.S. market, and in any case I'd always > been > > > > interested in owning one. > > > > > > > > You appear to be based in Britain. If so, you have alternatives to > the > > > > Saab, which will give you its advantages, without some of the Saab's > > > > shortcomings. There are many four-door hatchbacks on the European > > > > market. During a recent trip to France I rented a Peugeot 307, which > I > > > > thought had everything the Saab has, plus being quieter and riding > much > > > > more comfortably. > > > > > > > > Now, you lucky man, you can sit back and watch all the spectacular > > > > flames that will be directed my way from elsewhere in this newsgroup!

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