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I've posted about a fair number of problems with my '99 Viggen (93K miles) in the last few months, and wanted to let everyone who's offered advice that it's been much appreciated. I've finally got everything back in working order after switching dealers. I'd been going to Eurotech in Wichita, KS (where I live). After they informed me they had fired their only mechanic with no prospects for a replacement, I decided to try George's Imports in Kansas City (about 3 hours away). What a difference! Below is a list of my ongoing problems and the solutions:
1. CEL, code P1110. Eurotech claimed to have replaced the turbo bypass valve twice, with no success. George's did the same, but told me that the valve they removed from the car was obviously original and obviously broken. No more CEL.
2. CEL code P1300, blowing smoke under boost, and low boost. 30,000 miles worth of "no fault found" from Eurotech (plenty of diagnosic $, though). George's replaced the T7 DI - the orginal one with 93K miles, no less, and no more problems. Don't ask me how the DI has been dying for 30K miles - I thought that was one of those things that is either good or dead. Oh, it was $300 for the part and labor - better than I've seen from other posters.
3. Turn signal stalk makes clicking noises when maneuvering in parking lots with signals off. Years of "no fault found" from Eurotech. George's said the stalk obviously had a broken internal part and replaced it for $100. Fixed. And I've got the 2001+ stalk with much more intelligible pictograms and labels.
4. Climate Control doesn't blow thru the commanded vent (select panel and you get floor, etc). This one had been around since the car was in Warranty - over 50K miles! You guessed it - "no fault found" from Eurotech. I've paid over $1000 in diagnostic time to them for this issue over the years. Georges said the drum that directs air to the various vents was sticking in it's housing to the poin that the drive motor could barely move it. The tech said he could barely move it when heaving on it by hand. One new drum, and everything's great. Sadly, they had to take the entire dash apart to replace it (it's buried way in there), but there are no new squeaks or rattles at all.
And George's even washed the car inside and out, and kept it out of the rain while they had it (two things Eurotech wouldn't do even if asked to). It's amazing what a difference a qualified, competant service department makes. We were going to sell the car, but now are comfortable with keeping it several more years.
Jeff J
posted by 12.106.19...
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