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Re: 93'SAAB 900s in California- to repair or not to repair? Posted by Snowmobile [Email]  (#686)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Snowmobile) on Sun, 27 Jan 2013 04:23:50
In Reply to: 93'SAAB 900s in California- to repair or not to repair?, Ashley, Sat, 26 Jan 2013 09:55:25 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
That sounds expensive, but it depends on the actual situation and a second opinion is definitely warranted for that quote. Where did you take the car? If you really have a blown HG and you can't do any of the work yourself, it can be costly, though needn't be that much. Parts are not that expensive: a radiator is about $150, and the hg parts kit including new headbolts, plugs, tstat etc is about the same again (at least from eeuro)... There is a good chance with the overheating that some machine work is needed, and if you've been using the green coolant, and especially if not changing it frequently, there will most likely be pitting of the block which should be brazed and filed... so there is quite a bit of labour, especially if something else got damaged in there, but $2200 is a lot.
These are basically classic cars nowadays and there are many things that can go wrong just due to age if you don't already have the car sorted out... so it really helps to be able to DIY 1) to keep the costs down, and 2) (more importantly) so you have a better idea what might fail, how to handle it, and keep little problems from becoming big problems.
As a start, if you go through with the HG/rad repair, I would highly recommend switching the car over to Mercedes coolant if you haven't already, and use the 82 degree thermostat and fan switch as per Townsend's advice (see link below). Also, if you haven't replaced cooling system hoses, now's a good time!
I've been through this before on a 2.1L and it is unfortunate but I learned from it and the car is still on the road more than 10 years later.
In terms of go/no go... I would look at it this way: how much rust is there on the car? How well is the tranny working? The automatics can be touchy (especially if the ATF is not changed regularly - if you haven't, do it, it is easy to do yourself)... at that mileage, they sometimes go and if/when that happens, the best solution is to transplant a stick (but that is a fairly big project, more than the HG). But if the tranny works well and there is no (significant) rust, I wouldn't think twice about fixing this either DIY or through my Saab indy. If you aren't DIY inclined, and there are already tranny issues also, and you are doubting your financial commitment to keeping it going, you might be better off selling it to a Saab enthusiast who can manage a tranny/engine swap in a more cost effective way...
all that is to say, get a second opinion...
(make sure you hit the link at the bottom of the townsend cooling system page also for a link back to a list of other articles relevant to your situation: brazing pits, proper HG choice, etc)
Townsend's excellent diatribe on cooling systems
->Posting last edited on Sun, 27 Jan 2013 04:33:10.
, Sun, 27 Jan 2013 04:23:50 <-- Viewing This Message
, Sat, 26 Jan 2013 20:02:02, Mon, 28 Jan 2013 07:22:32
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