When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
On the X308 and X300 a very common 'mod'. Older Volvos have a 'Service port' under the rear seats to access the unit. A better solution to a problem what didn't exist before
Do fuel pumps just fail like that, without any warning?
Yes. I have a Saab, drove it home from work and pulled into the fuel station. Filled the tank and went to restart the car and it was just as you described. Cranked and no start. Eventually I traced it to a dead fuel pump. Changed the pump and it fired right up.
The Isuzu V6 was the diesel, right? The V6 was used in Opel Omega (American users: Cadillac Cetera was an Opel Omega) and was highly regarded as a good engine. Though Saab engineers were known to be very fussy and altered parts which were good in the first place...
It it petrol car, a 9-5. I believe it's the Opel 54 degree V6. We didn't get any diesels in Canada.
The Saab went in for the first timing belt to be changed by the dealer at 100,000 km. Which they did, but didn't change the tensioner and I didn't know enough to ask for it to be done. Tensioner failed 7,000 km later and bent valves. Dealer choices were to replace the engine for $12k, or used engine for $8K. I rebuilt it myself for $400 in parts. I've since changed the belt and tensioner twice.
It's been a shop queen, I am currently on radiator #4 (and it leaks again, needs #5) waterpump #5, heater valve #3, fan set #2, headlight control module #8, AC compressor #3 (still the AC doesn't work) the security module has failed, so I had to recreate a dealer computer to program it, fuel pump has failed, 2 ignition modules failed, front spring broke and the turbo failed. I'm sure there is other things, but that's the major stuff off the top of my head.
This is in addition to what I would call "routine maintenance" for things like replacing the struts and wheel bearings plus the usual tires, brakes, batteries etc. The AC still doesn't work, as the entire heater box needs to be replaced to repair the blend door seals. The actuation shafts have had the usual failure and I fixed that, but now I can't shut off the air from going though the heater core. When the AC was working and charged, I couldn't get air colder than ambient, even though the expansion valve was frosty - the blend doors can't shut off the path through the heater core. Great in winter, not so nice in the summer.
It's left me stranded and had to be towed in 6 times. As soon as XF prices drop into my budget the Saab is gone.
There are so many things that leave me shaking my head, like to replace the thermostat the front cylinder head needs to come off, as the thermostat is in the centre of the V, then runs through an alloy tube under the head to the front of the engine where it connects to the upper radiator hose. Why would they do that???
I was just doing the heater valve, and it's in the middle of the firewall. They did a big branch of the main wiring harness that runs right in front of the valve, so makes it very difficult to gain access to the hose clamps. There is plenty of space to run the harness, if they had run it 2" either left or right it would have made changing the valve a breeze. Whatever team of engineers designed the Saab obviously never worked on a car in their lives. The V12 in an XJS is a joy to work on in comparison.
Last edited by Jagboi64; Jan 23, 2018 at 09:19 PM.
I know the Opel engine is a normally designed engine. Nothing special. Though not perfect, I still get recommendations to buy the V6 rather than the 2.0l EcoTec 4 cylinder, which is elsewhere highly regarded.
But as said, Saab does things differently. Even in the Saab 9-7 Tahoe/Trailblazer badge engineered vehicle, they still had to do their details. Like the center mounted ignition lock and co. The 9-3 base, the Opel Vectra A and B base were absolutely so much different, that the original idea to save money by sharing the same parts didn't even work to a low degree. The axles, engines, electrics, etc., all different. Heck, they didn't even want the GM sat nav system! It wasn't 'good' enough.
I finally got her back home, safe and sound!!
After a total of 101 days of being in the shops for various reasons, one of which was the failed fuel pump I posted about in January, she's now purring like the proverbial. Though the aircon is temperamental at best....
Anyway, I'll do a proper write-up later, but here she is outside the Toyota Automobile Museum, Nagoya. They have some way cool stuff here, including several Jags (SS, SK120, E-Type, Mark II, but no XJS). Everything from a Stanley Steamer to an LFA. Outside the Toyota Automobile Museum
