1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
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I entered the Saab world in 1999 with a ’92 9000 auto –decaffeinated model with 57K. It was immaculate-looked like knew, all maintenance records- and owned by a careful, elderly gentleman. Although the car is underpowered, it is a great road car and I thoroughly enjoy driving it; it now has 110K on it. However, rainy days began to arrive. First a little dribble here and there, then actual rain, then downpours. Perhaps it is best at this point to simply document the storms I have been weathering. Why? Well, for the record, and with the hope that there will be a consensus among you folks that the worst is over!
November, 1999 – I was stranded on a trip to northern Massachusetts with a bad alternator- the nut which holds the pulley on the alternator came loose, causing severe vibrations which destroyed the unit in a matter of a few miles. $505
February, 00 – thermostat froze, and my rear muffler let go $268
September, 00 - developed fuel pump leak, and transmission started ‘thumping’ requiring accumulator spring & fluid change. $349
November,00 – heater core let go – but Saab gave me the part at no charge in conjunction with an ECM recall $241
November, 00 -headlight switch on dash went $51
February, 01- front pipe let go $314
February, 01 – right front caliper seized- car needed 4 new rotors and pads, and one new caliper $1104
April, 01 – on a trip from Cape Cod to Toronto, car lost cruise control, replaced speed control ECU . Also needed motor mount. $665
May, 01 - on trip to western NY, lost air-conditioning. Replaced expansion valve and converted system to134A. $668
May, 01 - lost high beams. Replaced hi beam relay $123
August, 01 on trip to Lake Placid, drivers side window would not go up. Replaced window switches $235
August, 01 - on trip to Ithaca, NY lost air-conditioning again. replaced AC condenser, AC compressor and both lines. $1611
October, 01 - windshield washer leak – replaced reservoir and pump and center muffler let go – replaced $678
November, 01 - 95,000 mile checkup- replaced crank pulley, tensioner pulleys, serp belt $790
December, 01- head gasket let go . replaced gasket, water pump and both front ball joints (these were left over from 95K checkup) $1384
February, 02 ---STRANDED!! ----
Coming back from Toronto on Canada’s fast moving highway 401 my Saab stopped dead near a little town called Napane. After attempting to start it and think it through, I realized this was for real, I was stranded. Thankfully, the weather was mild for that time of year. My wife and I put on our hats and coats and hiked across some fields to civilization. We located a very knowledgeable independent mechanic (Terry Jordon, Access Automotive, Napane, Ontario) who had the car towed in and then diagnosed a dead fuel pump. Unfortunately, no part could be found anywhere without a 3-5 day wait, so a family member drove the part up from the States. Cost? Well, what is the cost of being stranded? You should talk to my wife for the answer to that question! The total, including towing, car rental, parts, labor, motel, came to $1000.
*******Thus in the Three years that I have owned this Saab, I have spent $10,000 in repairs- I have all the receipts*******
Summary: I am an avid reader of the Saab 9000 Bulletin (click on ‘Members Gallery’, under my name you will see a picture of my Saab). I realize that older Saabs have areas that go-crank pulleys, heater cores, AC units, head gaskets, etc. But not all the various areas let go on the same car!!! I have not read of another meticulously maintained 9000 having so many problems in such a short period. I dread to think what is next (I have read horror stories about the ZF transmission), but somehow, I just can’t believe all older Saabs are like mine. How could Saab maintain consumer confidence if all the older cars simply fell apart after their warranty expired? (My wife probably summed it up best. When we were driving our rental car to our motel after being stranded with the fuel pump failure, she said, “lets not get our son a Saab, lets get him a Toyota”. We have a 19-year-old college son who this summer we have promised to help buy a used car. Buying a used Saab would be suicidal to our budget. But why a used Toyota? Well, I put 120,000 miles on a used Toyota that I purchased in1977, and 170,000 miles on a new Toyota that I purchased in 1988. Repairs were minimal compared to my Saab, and neither car ever stranded us).
QUESTION: Brothers, do you think the worst is over?
Many thanks!
Richard Dickinson
PS - I sent a letter to Saab USA with all this info, but they paid no attention as it was not a warrenty issue.
posted by 67.194.27...
, Mon, 15 Jul 2002 14:42:00
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