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1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
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1.After letting the car sit for a few days during the holidays I noticed a rather strong smell from the exhaust, the only way I can describe it is as a menthol like smell. I have read that leaky head gaskets can cause a smell from the exhaust, would this be what it would smell like or does it smell like the “coolant on a hot engine smell”. The car drives fine otherwise, although it has seemed to take a second or 2 more to start recently, the smell goes away (or atleast becomes less noticeable when the car warms up, but comes back when I re start). I haven’t noticed any coolant loss (although I will check more closely now) and didn’t see an oily film in the coolant tank, also there is no smoke from the exhaust (all of which I have read are possible indications of a failing head gasket. It is a 93 w/ 137K and the original gasket so I guess it could be it but was wondering if this sounds like that or something else. If it is a head gasket how long do I have? Does it just go suddenly or do the symptoms slowly keep getting worse?
2. The second, and perhaps THE question. What do the next year or two have in store for me as owner of my car (I’ll give you the basics below). I know that there is no crystal ball (man that would be nice) but I figure this is the place where everyone has first-hand knowledge on these issues so I will throw it out here….
It (’93 900S 137K) was my parents and I inherited it so to speak a few years ago so I know the maintenance records (all major services done and oil changed every 5k). I wouldn’t say it was babied but it certainly wasn’t neglected. It spent most of its life in upstate new york so it has some small rust spots along the edges of the hood and down in the engine compartment, but now it is in the south so it doesn’t keep getting salted.
I use it as my daily driver(~10 miles on a crowded interstate) and have a local saab/volvo guy who works on it (I would love to start doing repairs myself but live in an apt w/ no garage and don’t have a spot to work on it). During the past year I have put in a new radiator and fuel pump, fixed the turn signal (rt wouldn’t stay on, this was a diy but that is about as major as I can go with the space I have), and have had the taillights re-wired. What else should I plan to replace in a car of this vintage, what are the really big things in terms of $$ that will go, and what will leave me stranded?
I guess I am rethinking this because I am due for a service at 140 (the 120 was done at 110). The only other quirk is that the clutch (replaced at 110) seems to have variable pressure (sometimes it offers more resistance than other times, my guess is that I either have a leaky slave/master or that some new fluid will take care of the problem). Thoughts on this are welcome too. So all your thoughts are most welcome.
I love the 900 but wonder if the smarter thing isn’t to get something new and spend less time going to the mechanic, I figure a 10 yr old car doesn’t owe me much. Thoughts on that are welcome too, I was thinking about a subie outback but am open to suggestions, want something I can load up w/ stuff but can’t get an suv.
Thanks for reading to the end of this and happy new year!
Dirk
posted by 12.43.229...
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