1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
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Walked into my garage yesterday morning and noticed a dark, round object laying on the floor under where the engine compartment of our 2002 9-3 usually sets. It was the head of a large, broken bolt! Turns out it is the head of the middle right subframe bolt. How long it layed there I'm not sure...a few hours to maybe a few days at most, as I frequent the garage usually on a daily basis. Close examination of the bolt head reveals no evidence of any wrench being used on the hex and very little, if any, "twist" to the broken surface. The broken surface on the head is dull, not shiny and the broken surface on the shaft(still in the car) is rusty (not to surprising...I live in salt covered Illinois). I'm not a metalurgist, but it looks like the bolt (14mm dia.) just pulled apart!
So this brings up a couple questions. Have others had this happen? Could the bolt have been faulty when new and/or damaged when originally intstalled, resulting in an initial crack at the head, which corrosion and/or the expansion and contraction of the subframe from heat finally resulting in the head falling off? This repair will be covered under the Certified Warranty (what a blessing that has been!!!), but would it be wise to have all the bolts replaced at the same time (tho it wouldn/t be covered by the warranty)? The dealer doesn't carry the bolts in stock, so while he was ordering the broken one I had him order a complete set (about $25 for the remaining 5) just in case they might be needed sometime.
Steve Parsons
2000 Viggen
2002 9-3es
64 Rambler American
80 Yamaha XT500
posted by 74.135.83...
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