The banner above is an advertisment - if it asks you to download software, please ignore.
Site News - 7/1: Members: Log In to See Fewer Ads! | 5/28: SAAB Evolutions/TSN T-Shirts $14
[General | Members | C900 | 9000 | NG900 & OG93 | 93 | 95 | NG95 | 99 | Sonett | Vintage Models | Clubs | Other Cars | FAQs | Gifts | Member Photo Galleries | Member Directory | Classifieds | Manuals | *Buddy Registry | *Mileage Registry | Polls | What's New | Raffle | Photo of the Month | Sponsors]

C900 Bulletin Board
1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest]
(Search Author's Posts: e.g. Keyword:username)*Members Only

[Main C900 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ | Post Followup ] Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
cold start prob, shorts, gasket (oil), hissing
Like This Post: - Subscribe to Daily Digest for this Bulletin Board
Posted by DJ [Email] (more from DJ) on Fri, 28 Feb 2003 03:15:29 Share Post by Email
Alert me when someone posts in this thread:
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup

('92 900C nonturbo, 79k miles) - 1st problem (last fall): intermittent no-starts in cold weather (Minnesota) - no sounds at all - sometimes if you try again, or several times, it works - sometimes not. Either way, there is always a fairly long pause before it starts. Battery was less than a year old from Sam's. Over the winter, it got much worse, particularly when it was very cold (i.e., 0 degrees F or below). Also noticed a thumping sound in rt. front wheel area, sounding like it might be the start of a bearing going. Since $ was very tight then, brother checked it out, figured it was the ignition switch, but didn't want to replace it, so he put in a new wire which went to a "button" to push when it wouldn't start - like an old-fashioned car. Unfortunately, he forgot to wrap the wires, and it shorted out when I started it (including lots of smoke). We were both sitting there, so managed to get it out quickly. He taped it, I drove it home, and when I turned it off, it kept going - wouldn't turn off...had to take the fuse out, he disconnected the original wire to the ignition switch, using a new one. The ignition now worked (when warm, or with the button [which also was difficult when very cold - you had to hit it in just the right place, which might take several tries), but the security alarm, locking system and interior door lights didn't. The radio's security code came on whenever the ignition was turned off and on again, but it worked if you keyed in the code. Unfortunately, I hit the wrong #s in the dark once for the code, and now the fix for this doesn't work. My brother said the ignition was getting power from somewhere even when it was off [I think this was with the original connection to the ignition switch removed... ]. When he was having trouble starting it, he once tried rocking it and it started...from this he concluded that it wasn't the ignition (he cleaned the filings out, which were numerous), but rather the starter, which he thought might have a flat spot or two. My mechanic, who doesn't want to work on it, showed me a melted ignition switch wire, and expects more shorts further up. I got a new battery at Sears, even though Sam's insisted this one was OK [it turned out they sold me a 1998 battery 15 months ago]. Both Sears and Sam's, neither of which I have much faith in, said the alternator is fine. Sears and my mechanic said the starter is working (but the mechanic noted that the voltage is high). That's the #1 problem.

#2. The thumping sound in the right front wheel was said to be a loose/misplaced brake pad by Sears. My mechanic adjusted the brake pad, but there is still a noise, although it may be softer (just got it back).

#3. A new problem appeared a week or so ago. Out of the blue, a loud hissing sound happens - not when braking or turning, just randomly when driving. Sometimes it happens several times in an hour, sometimes not at all.

#4. My mechanic said the head gasket is leaking a fair amount of oil (not antifreeze). I recently replaced the regular oil with synthetic 5-30...may have been bad timing.

[and of course I also have a gasoline type of smell in the car, particularly in the summer.

Any ideas about what is going on? (I'm nearly a complete idiot with cars, so keep the language as nontechnical as possible, but I suspect that if my normally super-competent mechanic isn't willing to tackle it (he says I need s/o who knows and loves 900s because it's complicated, and he doesn't work on that many), I'm going to have trouble with most mechanics. Any advice will be most appreciated! I did pick up the Bentley manual, despite my total lack of mechanical skills.



posted by 65.25.23...
Posts in this Thread:
Alert me when someone posts in this thread:
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
Post a Followup

No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.

Name: Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
E-Mail: (Optional)
Re-Enter E-Mail: (Confidential & Secure - Not revealed to other users!)
Note: Please check your spam folder for BB responses.

Subject:

Posting rules are simple - No for sale/wanted ads may be posted here - use the site classifieds.
You may not cross-post your message to multiple BBs.
Not permitted: political/religious topics and being disrespectful (personal attacks, insults, etc...).
 Site Members do not see any red text, inline ad links, bottom of page anchor ads, box ads, or anti-spam check.

Message: (please no for sale/wanted classifieds - post those in the Saabnet.com Classifieds)
Links are now automatically made active, no need for any special code (or use the Option Link field below) - don't put links in () or end with a '.'
To add inline images to your post, use [img]http://www.domain.com/img.jpg[endimg] (or use the Optional Image Link field below).

Links are now automatically made active, no need for any special code (or use the Option Link field below) - don't put links in () or end with a '.'
To add inline images to your post above, use [img]http://www.domain.com/img.jpg[endimg] (or use the Optional Image Link field below).
Optional Link: (e.g. http://www.saabnet.com/)
Link Title: (Optional)
Optional Photo/Image Link: (e.g. http://www.saabnet.com/img.jpg)
Photo/Image to Upload: (Please be patient while file uploads)



StateOfNine.com
SaabClub.com
Jak Stoll Performance
M Car Covers
Ad Available

The content on this site may not be republished without permission. Copyright © 1988-2024 - The Saab Network - saabnet.com.
For usage guidelines, see the Mission & Privacy Notice.
[Contact | Site Map | Saabnet.com on Facebook | Saabnet.com on Twitter | Shop Amazon via TSN | Site Donations]

Random Saabnet.com Member Gallery Photos (Click Image)
This is a moderated bulletin board - Posting is a privilege, not a right. Unsolicited commercial postings are not allowed (no spam). Please, no For Sale or Wanted postings, SERIOUSLY. Classifieds are to be listed in The Saab Network Classifieds pages. This is a problem solving forum for over 250,000 Saab owners, so expect to see problems discussed here even though our cars are generally very reliable. This is not an anything goes type of forum. Saabnet.com has been a moderated forum since 1988. For usage guidelines, see the Saabnet.com Mission and Purpose Page. Please remember that you are not anonymous. Site Contact | Site Donations | Other Sites by SP - Poverty2Prosperity.org | Run Club Menlo Park | ScreenBot


Site Members do not see red text instructions, bottom of the page anchor ads, or box ads.
Click here to see all the Site Membership Benefits!