Date: Thu, 15 May 2003 12:16:05 GMT From: "Fred W." <gtandersnopsamband.net> wrote in message news:upDwa.1279$wm5.378262676nopsamter2.starband.net... > > I live in Phoenix, AZ and my 87 9000T has always run hot - local shop says > they all run hot - radiator is too small. The local shop is wrong. The radiator is not too small. The reason they "always run hot" is due to poor cooling system design. The thermostat is set to open too late. SAAB recommends an 89 degree C thermostat (192 degrees F for those C impared). That and the temperature switch for the fan comes on too late as well. The SAAB OEM 3 wire , 2 stage fan switch actuates at 90 degrees C for the low speed and 110 degrees C for the high speed. Granted, the fan should only run if the car is stationary and has no airflow thru the radiator, but when this is the case and the thermostat does open fully it will try to cool the engine with coolant that is up to 110 degrees C (198 degrees F). What you can do is replace the t-stat with an 82 degree model (interestingly, SAAB even makes/sells one p/n 8817538) and retrofit the 2 speed fan switch with one that turns the fans on sooner 82 & 90 degrees C. The best one I have been able to locate is from http://www.thesaabsite.com/9000/9000cooling.htm web site. It does require some minor rewiring using the pigtail off the old switch. I would still like to find a switch which turns the fans on even sooner, below the desired temperature of the engine so that the coolant coming from the radiator is a few degrees cooler than the engine, say at 78 to 80 degrees C. This would improve the efficiency of the cooling system even further when in stop and go traffic. Fred W
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