THE TURBO X LIVES!

"Godspeed11- I own a SAAB" (Godspeed11)
02/20/2014 at 21:37 • Filed to: None

Well it was never really dead...but it was at the shop for a good week and a half. Finally picked it up this morning and gosh I know why I was having withdrawals.

The summary of the work done:

New intercooler

That was all it needed apparently. The intercooler had been punctured and repaired poorly, once the patch went it started leaking horribly. I asked the shop to check out the reverse lights and apparently it was a total pain to get to the electrics. The lights were good but the switch was bad and, because Saab, you can't get a new one. This is really the first part that we - my family - has not been able to get for any of our saabs (2011 9-5, 2011 9-4x, 2007 9-3 Aero sportcombi, 2008 9-3 Turbo X). It's a minor issue and nothing I'm dying to have fixed, people will just have to see that my car is moving backwards and there are no lights to accompany said motion.

Now however it needs a new rear driver's side tire. The sidewall has a bubble in it and I really don't want it to blow out (duh). It has Continental Contitrac Extreme DWS 245/35/R17s and they're ok. Apparently from a few review the sidewalls are weak so ideally I could swap them, but they're practically new and have decent grip. Nothing to write home about in the dry, great wet grip, and good snow grip.

DISCUSSION (14)

Tom McParland > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
02/20/2014 at 21:43

Those wheels! The want is strong for a Turbo X Sportcombi...but boy are they rare.

A3R0 > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
02/20/2014 at 21:43

Nice! Sounds like it didn't end up to expensive either.:)

anonsagainstanonymous > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
02/20/2014 at 21:43

<3 9-3

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
02/20/2014 at 21:44

Dem wheels....

Did you notice it just wasn't making power?

Anyhoo Sounds like you have a perfect chance to get one of those single, blinding rally lamps for backing up...and a couple Hella 1000's in the front to round it out.

Godspeed11- I own a SAAB > Tom McParland
02/20/2014 at 21:45

Oh how I searched for a manual wagon... I have seen one and it was dented on once side, in Washington state, with 138,000 miles...too many for me.

Godspeed11- I own a SAAB > A3R0
02/20/2014 at 21:48

Uh...about that.... parts weren't too bad but labor was killer. Removal and installation isn't much but checking for leaks takes a good hour for each system with the smoke machine, so one hour and two guys before new parts + one hour remove/install intercooler + two hours and two guys checking systems again and driving the car = $$$$

It was less than the worst case number, but barely. :(

Godspeed11- I own a SAAB > banjo cat ghost of oppo past
02/20/2014 at 21:50

It started throwing error codes like crazy. The XWD system freaked out and it was due for maintenance anyway. I was driving to get gas one day and every electrical system possible threw and error, ABS, XWD, cornering headlights, engine error, the lot. I pulled over, turned off the car, turned it back on, and everything was fixed. Kinda freaked me out but now that everything is back to working order it's all healthy.

A3R0 > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
02/20/2014 at 21:54

Oh man, that sounds pretty bad. I guess look at the bright side; you still got it really cheap.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
02/20/2014 at 21:57

Christ I feel like I'd have that like sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach, it sounds like one of those epic systems failure scenes on the millenium falcon or one of the Airplane! movies

Godspeed11- I own a SAAB > A3R0
02/20/2014 at 21:58

If I tack on the cost of repairs then it is still one of the cheapest Turbo X's for sale

A3R0 > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
02/20/2014 at 21:59

Awesome! That's still awesome then.

Godspeed11- I own a SAAB > banjo cat ghost of oppo past
02/20/2014 at 21:59

Haha I thought it was basically terminal. The electrics screwed up because the engine management was trying to deal with the massive leak.

Jobjoris > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
02/21/2014 at 05:46

You mean you need this switch:

Kinja'd!!!

Not that hard to get over here in Europe. Check saabcarparts.nl , they'll probably send it to the US if you ask them. I think.

Godspeed11- I own a SAAB > Jobjoris
02/21/2014 at 10:25

Awesome thanks! Hopefully it's the right one, I'm not sure which specific switch it is.