Well, I spoke too soon.
Driving to my morning appointment, I heard a slapping sound under my “new” 1999 9-5 and immediately the car required immense effort to steer. The first thing that came to mind was that the right front tire had blown out as I navigated the uneven pavement on a busy (and under construction) street in the Northern part of Irving. I pulled over, which was very difficult given the circumstances. I got out, and was surprised to see that the tire was in good shape. I saw nothing leaking or hanging out of the car, but I smelled burning rubber. I opened the hood, and being a 9-5 noobie, it took some time to orient myself. Still unsure of the problem, I started the car and immediately noticed that the low voltage idiot lamp was lit (why more cars don’t have voltmeters — don’t get me started). It then occured to me — the BELT!
So, before I even got out of Dallas, the belt on the 9-5 let go. Cripes.
Actually, of all of the things that could have gone wrong, this is a good thing. Easily fixable, easy to manage.
Fortunately, I was very, very close to French’s Saab Service. Tom French is fixing the car as we speak. I’ll give Scott Patterson his props — his list of Saab mechanics saved me because I was able to find French’s and determine that it was very close to me. And, the folks here have been overly hospitible, and they fixed the car quickly. Thanks a million!!
I babied the 9-5 to within about 2 miles of French’s shop before the battery died in front of this 7-Eleven. With my eyes glued to the temperature gauge, I expected the car to heat up quickly with no water pump, but it never really got that hot, which I find incredibly surprising.
Charlotte, the nice lady at French’s, called their preferred wrecker service, and TJ had me up on the tow truck about a half hour later.
Because the shifter moved a little bit in third, I suspected an engine mount needed some attention, and Tom will replace that, too and I should be on the road about 3 pm.
Oh, well. I needed to do some work anyway. And French’s has some cool old Saabs, even though most of them are a little rough. Check these two out, Yurk!
Sorry to hear it, Eggs. Better that it happened here, though, than out in the boonies somewhere at 9pm.
I have a theory I’m still working on that any given car is worth X dollars, and if you get it for x-minus-y then “y” is going to catch up with you somewhere.
It doesn’t always work out that way, but I’ve rarely heard of a second hand car of any brand that is fix-free for the new owner.
I hope it’s trouble free all the way back, now.
God is telling you to hitch the white 96 to a towbar and swing a little north on your way home, like through Ohio.
Actually, you’d want the blue one — the white one is really rusty. I wouldn’t sit in it for fear that it would collapse. EnG
Bummer. Was it the belt or the tensioner. Had the tensioner bracket go in my old 9000 as I was merging onto a highway, lucky it was Sunday. That was in a ’93 9000, maybe the same component lived on through to the 9-5.
Actually, it was the belt. On the other hand the new belt does away with the tensioner, so it’s gone now, too. EnG
Been there, had that broken
Mine managed to get 15km (~10Mi) through peak hour traffic in a storm with the tensioner snapped before the batter went. The temp was never an issue. What was amazing is the car shut down different systems one at a time to keep power to the engine management to keep the car running. The stereo went first, then the AirCon, then the lights then the ABS (and the speedo!). Even though it was a pain in the ass to get towed and fixed, it was an amazing sight to see the self-preservation abilities of the car.
Simon, that is one hell of a story!! I’d love to have seen it too…. I am almost positive that none of my American cars would have done that. My mustang would have just stopped. That’s why I’m a strong proponent for buying higher output alternators than OEM.
Simon: ditto! I saw the same thing! Cool!!
Well, I’m off 5 hours late but ready to go! I love the internet!!
Sounds like the story of my 99. Every time I pick it up from the shop, I get half way around the block before something else breaks. >=|
Wow, Simon, that’s really cool. It’s like the car was fighting tooth and nail to keep running for it’s driver.
This made me think of something: the Michigan GOP is lobbying the NAIAS to have a Republican candidate debate in the middle of the show. Interesting stuff.
On a positive note, the car looks better in these pictures than in the earlier picture you posted. Hope all goes well.
Andy, I was thinking the same thing. Nice looking color and car.
I can’t wait to hear the rest of the drive impressions. I’d always been an older-Saab owner and when I got into my first newer one I was just blown away by how good they were to drive. I’m sure this trip is going to blow Eggs’ mind, too.
Mind sufficiently blown. EnG
I just replaced mine today as part of the 96K (60000 mile) service.
What worries me about your belt snapping is that it means that other maintenance items were probably also skipped. If your 9-5 follows the same intervals as my 9-3, you are also due for a coolant flush (make sure you use the red stuff) and air/fuel filters. I hope for your sake that oil changes were not skipped.
Thanks for the concern. Actually, this car has a very documented history of maintenance, which the good people at French’s confirmed. This is a fluke thing that likely had something to do with road debris. EnG