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1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
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, Thu, 24 Oct 2002 21:52:05
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I found your note interesting and appreciate the reply, but to me the issue with the DI remains the same - one of suspect reliability which can be traced in all likehood to design or quality. I don't think this is to be expected in the market segment where SAAB has to compete.
BTW, I like SAAB, this 1999 95 is the third one I've owned. The prior one, a 1986 9000 turbo with 5 speed went well over 200k and never once broke down or stranded me. (the only time the car did not start when the batteries died a life expectancy death.) I'd still be driving it expect for a wreck 3 yrs back. The engine was in superb shape with even compression across the cylinders, and I believe at 165 lbs or more in all.
Many parts were original - turbo(would have had to replace due to oil leak from seal) alternator, starter etc. As to the ignition system, I did replace the cap once, rotor two or three times, and sparks plugs at 30k intervals.
You may have concluded that I self maintain my autos and have never been towed in except for the DI failure. ( When the car died I small the burnt transformer and took the DI out and plunked it down on the dealer's service mgr desk - he refused to fix it free of charge unless the car was towed in to verify that I had resistor plugs in the car. The plugs were the OEM NGK replaced at 30k.).
As to high milage and going like hell, I can only say the my old 9000 provided better gas milage by about 5 mpg and the 1999 95 (automatic) is no streak of lightning. Of course the two models are dissimiliar in weight and type of turbo used. But this matters little to why I bought the 95.
Where I may not understand and therefore disagree with you is on why the d DI is an engineering marvel, and after 10 + yrs of production SAAB has failed to design a reliable unit. To my understanding, all the thing does is to take a signal from the ECU, and create a low voltage pulse of variable duration and send it to the coil, where the high voltage spark is produced. Eliminates the wires, and a very, very small amount of spark latency.( As to the distributor, a coil pack with a crank sensor can take care of that.) If this all the thing does, this is not exactly comparable to rocket science.
The main thing is where the unit sits and how resilient it is to high engine temeratures. This is where I believe that SAAB engineers have failed to build sufficient thermal tolerances into the unit (or SAAB's supplier is badly missing component specs). If this is true, it's lame and the units should be recalled and replaced. Although it may be the lesser of two evils, how many car owners carry or need to carry a spare ignition system in their trunk ? How many have had to carry spare old style ignition coils (which also were pretty simple to replace, but were also very reliable) ?
I find it objectionable to pay a manufacturer to replace something which is not simply a random failure, but a failure which can be traced to unreliable design over a decade. Rest assured that I will have SAAB sell me this thing at their cost should it ever fail again, and that this may well be the last SAAB I own unless they can find it within their engineering capabilities to design a reliable ignition systems.
I tell the story of the Japanese design (Hitachi spark coil sitting outside the valve cover, where air freely circulates, and each coil can be individually replaced should it ever need to be) to provoke someone to explain to me how the SAAB design can be superior, if it subjects the unit to high heat and resulting failure and reliability. Am I missing something regarding the functionality of direct ignition systems ? I prefer that I have one that I don't have to carry a spare or worry about stranding me or family. I should like to think that SAAB is not in disagreement, but actions must speak louder than words.
dick
posted by 198.81.26...
, Sun, 20 Oct 2002 23:07:11, Thu, 24 Oct 2002 21:52:05, Mon, 28 Oct 2002 22:16:04, Wed, 30 Oct 2002 22:01:46, Mon, 21 Oct 2002 19:53:20, Mon, 21 Oct 2002 19:40:58, Sat, 19 Oct 2002 12:25:10
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