1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
HI,
Finally got my car working again! The final fix? Ignition control unit. This little part hardly ever burns out- once in a car’s lifetime, but mine was definitely bad.
I want to let you know that I ended up having two distinctly different problems (that at first I though were related):
1. Low gas mileage, rough idle, general bad running condition. Solution? The Air Mass Sensor that the first mechanic put on my car was remanufactured. I wasn’t told this & he sold me the part at full price!! Needless to say, it was a bad part. I got my money back & had my Saab mechanic put the new air mass sensor in. (My Saab mechanic swears that you should never put a used air mass sensor in, always buy new. He has had a 30% failure rate with used air mass sensors). I paid $380 for the new part, labor was $40 (at $80/hr.). I understand that this price is low for my area (I called around- ranged from $380 to $460).
2. Ah, The second problem. The car would stall out & not start again. It would stall when running- at all speeds. It would not start for about 5-25 minutes after stalling. The not starting again is key to this problem. If your car starts right away IT MAY NOT BE YOUR IGNITION CONTROL UNIT THAT IS BAD. The Solution: Changed the ignition control unit. I paid $150 for the part, another $40 to diagnose the problem & labor.
It must be Murphy’s law, but I had the ignition control unit go bad on my last Saab (1985 900 Turbo), but I didn’t make the connection between this problem & the last. That car just wouldn’t start again after parking for a few minutes. I changed the part myself, and never had problems again. The part cost me $20-$40 used, bought it from a Saab salvager in my area. I was able to easily put it in- only needed a screwdriver. The ignition control unit is located near the fuse box in my car (driver’s side – under hood – against side). You will recognize what it is & where it goes once you see it!
Good luck ! The only reason I had the mechanic put in the ignition control unit this time is he rescued me at the side of the road, diagnosed my problem & went back to his shop to get the part! I felt I owed him!
-Heather
PS if you are in the SF Bay Area- Go to Parker Automotive in Mountain View! Great Shop!
, Sun, 3 Dec 2000 13:33:34
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