Date: Sun, 8 Dec 2002 17:07:31 +1300 From: "Grand Poobah" <grandpoobahNOSPAMnopsamdise.net.nz> Subject: Re: 9000 won't start, 3rd update
thanks Andy, I noticed the car missing during its last run, I hope its the plugs. cheers, john "Andy Hookins" <andrew.hookinsnopsamamnopsamodata.co.uk> wrote in message news:uuu388sk2ps1aenopsam.supernews.com... > I'll repeat my last post: > > | You may get lucky - it may be as simple as spark plugs. > | This happened to me ~18 months ago. The spark plugs > | were fairly new (only ~6,000 miles), correct NGK type, > | gap etc. just a bad set of plugs! Once replaced, my car's > | starting problems disappeared. In my case I could hear > | that the spark plug cleaning was not working as it should. > > I can't explain it, I did the DI swap thing etc. in the end > it was the spark plugs - they looked fine etc. The only > clue may have been that when I took them out they came > out very easily - I wouldn't have said that they were loose, > I was just surprised at how easily they came out. Maybe > the compression washer was flat/faulty - I know that they > are only intended to do their job once. This happened long > ago enough for me to conclude that it could have only been > the spark plugs that caused the problem since I have not > had a starting problem since. The problem was very similar > to yours in that sometimes it would start fine, but at others > it would take many attempts - over an hour one time. > > Sometimes it would 'fire' during the the spark plug cleaning > operation after I had tried to start it but had failed. This told > me that fuel, at least some, was getting to the cylinders. > > A note on the spark plug cleaning behaviour, at the time this > was a half heartedattempt, a short buzz, then a silent period > followed by what sounded like a relay click. Now the spark > plug cleaning buzz continues until the relay click sound. > > One other thought, It may be the relay assembly that operates > the fuel pump. I had this on a Honda Accord - it turned out to > be a dry joint on the PCB assembly, easily repaired (once > found) by re-flowing the solder with a soldering iron and some > flux. I don't know how similar the SAAB fuel pump control is > (to the Accord's), but I do know that the headlight and > indicator (turn signal) relays are dogged by this problem. > > Good luck... > > AndyH > "The Grand Poobah" <eyles_jnopsamgovt.nz> wrote in message > news:01c29c0b$9802f860$503c070anopsam8004.wcc.govt.nz... > > no chance, would not start this moorning > > > > bugger! > > -- > > Grand Poobah > > '96 9000 CS 2.3 LPT 155km > > > > Grand Poobah <grandpoobahNOSPAMnopsamdise.net.nz> wrote in article > > <LsrH9.4554$Li.939647nopsam02.tsnz.net>... > > > started OK last night. > > > > > > I hope this is the end! > > > > > > "The Grand Poobah" <eyles_jnopsamgovt.nz> wrote in message > > > news:01c29b31$786b5cc0$503c070anopsam8004.wcc.govt.nz... > > > > Well, here we go again. One piece of information that I have not > > mentioned > > > > previously is that I have recently (last 4 or 5 tanks) changed from 96 > > > > octane fuel to 91 fuel, if that makes a difference. I intend to go > back > > to > > > > 96 on the next fill. > > > > > > > > Yesterday, my non saab mechanic (but great guy) found nothing wrong as > > he > > > > couldn't reproduce the hard starting problems that were diagnosed as > > dodgy > > > > headgasket by the dealer. He found all four cylinders had equal > > > compression > > > > and so is convinced the problem is elsewhere. > > > > > > > > So last night, I take the car home (starts first time). This morning > > > > (starts first time) my wife and I go for a medical appointment (no > more > > > > than a 15 minute drive). We get back in the car after 20 minutes, and > > you > > > > guessed it, would not start for love or money! Very frustrating. > > > > > > > > So after catching the bus to work, I get a ride back to the car at > > > > lunchtime and you guessed it (starts first time). My friendly mechanic > > has > > > > meanwhile sourced a DI cassette from another garage so he sticks it in > > and > > > > I drive (starts first time) it to work. The car is now sitting in the > > > > carpark building across the road, waiting for me to start her up > > tonight > > > (I > > > > can't wait). The rationale for trying a different cassette is to see > if > > > the > > > > problem is isolated in this area. > > > > > > > > A few questions and some answers to questions from Dave. > > > > > > > > 1. Are all DI cassettes the same? The part number is missing from the > > > > replacement but it looks exactly the same as the one that was in the > > car. > > > > Is there for example a different type of DI cassette for non turbo > > > engines? > > > > Will I root something else if I have the wrong unit? > > > > > > > > 2. I noticed (or imagined) that the car hesitated under load with the > > new > > > > cassette (I'll give it another boot tonight). Otherwise the car seems > > to > > > > run normally with the new DI. Should I be concerned about anything > > here? > > > > > > > > 3. If the new DI Unit does fix the starting problem, how many $$$ are > > they > > > > roughly and are they worth fixing? > > > > > > > > > > > > When it's not starting, can you hear the engine cranking irregularly? > > No > > > > Does every fourth compression stroke sound different, for instance? > No, > > > > sounds fine to me > > > > That's kind of a tricky question if you've not listened to it in that > > > > way before, but does the engine crank regularly or does it "lope"? Not > > > that > > > > I can tell. > > > > > > > > Thanks for listening! All advice welcome. > > > > -- > > > > Grand Poobah > > > > '96 9000 CS 2.3 LPT 157km > > > > > > > > -- > > > > Grand Poobah > > > > '96 9000 CS 2.3 LPT 155km > > > > > > > > > > >
