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I love my Aero, but as remodeling can destroy a marriage, so can a major repair...well, almost. OK, so a week ago I decided to look into why the Aero was developing a rough idle. After all, I had just put in a new set of plugs and flushed the cooling system after finding a leaking upper radiator hose. It was also odd that I would get a "Check Radiator Level" light after a 30 mile round trip from topping off. No obvious drips under the car. Let's look inside. Compression test was good; 150 psi each cylinder. Nothing else showing until I look off center and see RADIATOR GOO in #1!. DAMN -- HEAD GASKET time.
Deciding to tackle the $1200 or so repair myself (I have done so successfully before on other cars, including one SAAB), I set about the task. The initial steps went OK, and I got ready for dismantling first the exhaust / turbo area, then the intake region. That's where the FUN began.
Of the few, various cars I have worked on, the SAAB seems to be the one most plagued by BLOCKED ACCESS to any critical bolt. (OK, so I haven't worked on something like a Trans Am or Mustang which I hear requires jacking the engine to remove the plugs.) So far, many of the bolts have been blocked by something: exhaust pipe bolts by the turbo pipes and cooling hoses; intake bolts by the injector wires. (My advice here is to cover the radiator and oil cooler(?) with flattened boxes to save the fins and maybe a thumb as you have to break loose several bolts here.) It seems everywhere I tried to reach was blocked by something else. So, bloodied and bruised, I persevered.
I now have the intake and exhaust sections removed. I think all the wires are out of the way. I removed the 2 bolts for the upper motor mount bracket, but couldn't remove the bracket because I couldn't see how to remove the alternator bolted to it. (I loosened the allen bolt at the top, but the fender blocked its removal! I put it back.) I'm hoping to be able to clear it when I finally remove EVERYTHING OTHER PIECE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT! (Well, almost.)
As much pain and suffering as this car inflicts, I must endure for the moments of exhiliration for its exceleration and handling. And, mind you, this car was only in Base Boost before the calamity; wonder how it will feel when rejuvenated...
posted by 165.247.21...
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