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:whine on
After 10 off and on months and 23 days in the shop during April/May, my problem is fixed. For those of you who did not read the saga as it unfolded: When the outside temp was over 90, and I drove for an extended period in stop and go traffic, pulling away from a stop felt like I was driving an old MB 240 Diesel. It varied from I could tell there was less performance to it was scary to enter a busy road from a side street.
1. The cooling fans and relays were checked because high speed was not engaging. After Re-insertion of relays, fans ran at high speed. This was one of the first things I checked and never experienced it.
2. MAF sensor replaced
3. Plugs replaced
4. DIC replaced
5. Engine "de-carbed"
6. Throttle body replaced
7. Pressure check for turbo ducting leaks - found none
8. Fuel pump capacity check
9. Fuel pressure leak check
10. Update auto trans software
11. Replace MAP sensor
12. Replace Intake charge air temp sensor
13. Found high knock counts and up to 16 degrees of retard for sparks
14. Compression check - all cyls within 5%
15. Checked injectors for right type - ok
16. CAT. Flow test (???) - ok
17. Check trionic for current software - OK
18. checked boost pressure control and one way check valves - ok
19. Per factory rep emptied tank of Shell 93 octane fuel and replaced with Shell 93 octane fuel. (50 times I told them I only buy name brand premium fuel)
20. checked wastegate function - OK
21. Now the fun part...
Checked turbocharger boost when engine was cold. Boost from 0 to 15 PSI. Rechecked boost when problem occurred. 0 to 15 PSI, BUT!!!! needle on the external gauge they were using fluttered between 2 and 10 psi. (here is my favorite part) "THIS COULD NOT BE SEEN WITH THE TECH 2" (no joke!)
It seems that when things got hot, the turbo was binding internally. Replaced turbo, problem fixed. (and they got it hot enough to melt the plastic cover on the back of the right cooling fan)
The tech's theory was that perhaps one of the oil or cooling passages had a flaw / partial blockage. Once things got hot, there wasn't enough cooling and things expanded.
Out of all of this I learned a few things.
1. Don't give up
2. SAAB customer service (numbers in owner's manual) sucks. They don't know SAABs, they don't want to help, they write what they like in the records in the system. They call home when you tell them to call your office to avoid talking to you. They imply that you are imagining they problem. They state that the problem does not exist if it doesn't turn on the CEL. I could go on...
3. The dealership is at the mercy of the SAAB TAC. (whatever a TAC is)
4. TACs don't talk to customers
5. Nobody wants to take ownership of the issue until you threaten to turn the problem over to your lawyer and his bill over to the dealer.
6. Dealership managers should call you back when they say they will. Even just calling back would be an improvement.
7. It takes an occasional totally irrational outburst to keep them focused on your problem.
Funny thing, I LOVE my 9-5, but don't know if I will ever buy another SAAB. If the General is reading this take note. I am:
1. A loyal SAAB owner (owned 4 total, two 2006 models in my driveway now and my sis-in-law has owned two SAAB covertibles at my recommendation)
2. I am a dream customer. The dealer changes my oil. (Except for this issue they have previously been exemplary)
3. I don't bitch about price of maintenance. (so the oil change is $70, but I get a free loan car and car wash)
4. Rather disturbed at the complete lack of customer service from the General.
:whine off
thanks for reading this!
hr
posted by 207.162.22...
, Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:36:27
, Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:06:20
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