Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 17:30:07 GMT From: Johannes H Andersen <johsnospamblockkkkkksizefitter.com> Subject: Re: 9-5 Timing Belt
"john.bain4" wrote: > > Hi > I have a UK Saab 1998 9-5 SE 2.3ltr in excellent condition which has given > me excellent service until earlier this year (Jan) when it decided at 66,000 > miles to blow a cylinder head gasket. To repair this with all the palaver > involved cost me over £1000. Fortunately I had managed to get the > turbocharger replaced under warranty before Xmas as it was leaking oil. > When the car was in the garage I asked them to replace the timing belt > whilst the main job was being done. After a bit of research, the service > manager told me it doesn't have a timing belt - it's a chain and doesn't > need replaced. I am sure I read in the manual that the belt needs changed > circa 60,000 miles. Did you check the exact engine type? > Could anyone with this model tell me the correct answer please? This has been covered a thousand times. No doubt other people will reply. Your 2.3L engine doesn't have a cheap and nasty rubber timing belt as in common garden motors; it has a proper timing chain; it last much longer and doesn't need replacement before noise and wear problems are diagnosed.