1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Alright, no one's chimed in yet so I'll give it a whirl.
Timing chain: No service interval. Replace top pad on underside of valve cover if noisy. Tensioner can be removed to check extension (=chain stretch/slack). From memory, 15mm is max and indicates replacement, but most suggest only replacing the chain if the engine is out for another problem. Reason is that the chain and the sprokets wear - rolling in a new chain only fixes half the problem. Don't worry about it unless it's really noisy and the top pad thingy doesn't quiet things down. They very rarely fail.
Tranny oil: You have to ('91+) remove the rear plate to drain the tranny lube. Also clean the magnet off at this time. Most here believe you should change it every few years or so. Best advice I can give is replace it with new "whatever is in there now". If it's motor oil, replace with 10w30. If it's gear oil, replace with gear oil. Search the BB for tons of opinions. Most Saab mechanics I know suggest 10w30. Gear oil stinks, by the way. If that's what's in there, you'll know it. Check the level by removing the bolt on the lower exh. side (it has marks on a rod on its inside).
Corrosion: Really, the only few places to worry about rust are at the wheel arches, door bottoms, and passenger side frame area (bottom) that the axle passes through (oh, and also the lower A-arms). Paint flaking off the suspension members is normal. They are heavy steel and should be fine. If you are concerned and have the time/interest, you can kill the rust (por-15 stuff), paint it and re-undercoat the areas. I've re-undercoated my wheel arches as a precaution. You don't live in the rust belt do you?
The exhaust manifold will rust. It's cast iron and the cycle of high heat and moisture will corrode it's surface, but have no effect on it's performance or longevity. You could remove it, wire brush and repaint with a high temp manifold paint. I'm not that vain. My engine is a mess. But then again, with enough time and patience I would love a sparkling engine bay... To many "fix me or I'll leave you stranded" repairs to occupy my weekends.
Find a good indy Saab you trust. Enjoy the car, it's just a pup still.
By the way, I'm predicting that your coolant project coincidentally create a headgasket leak :) My experience is whenever I do pre-emptive maintenance, it breaks regardless. The "Saab Continuum" (not my phrase) makes it so that every Saab improvement has an equal or greater failure. I don't make the rules - my experiences only enforces them...
Good luck. These cars (and engines) are fun and really quite easy/logical to repair.
burlyb
'90 SPG
posted by 216.160.1...
, Wed, 12 Jun 2002 00:41:02
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