Project Dumpster Fire - On The Road Again

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
09/18/2017 at 10:40 • Filed to: Project Dumpster Fire

This weekend was a pretty big one for the Saab. For the first time in 13 years, the Saab visited a gas station. It did not go well.

The way to the gas station was plagued by engine that really didn’t want to rev. Not sure why, but it just wasn’t having it. Also, the gear shift was like stirring a pot of soup and the sunroof was leaking onto my left shoulder. Oh… and the wipers had two settings: “On” or “Fuse pulled”.

Lovely.

Gassing up also didn’t go well. After the pump hit 14 gallons I became suspicious. I popped the trunk and, against all odds, it was dry. “Weird,” I thought, “maybe the tank is bigger than I remember?”

It was not.

Not sure where the leak is coming from but there was an alarming amount of gas coming out.

I left quickly.

The drive back also didn’t go well. As gas fumes started to build in the cabin, the windshield started to fog, and I became impatient with the sluggish engine I decided to give it some revs.

The intake hose immediately ejected from the throttle body and the car died.

Heh.

Despite all this, the drive was encouraging. The steering and brakes worked well and despite the lack of power it did get there and back by itself. There are many things left to check, maintain, tweak, investigate, tighten, and generally fix but… we’re getting there.

DISCUSSION (10)

CalzoneGolem > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/18/2017 at 10:58

There and back again a Saab story.

Die-Trying > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/18/2017 at 10:59

first drives are ALWAYS exciting......

carcrazydan738 > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/18/2017 at 11:17

I give you credit for sticking with it! My parents had a red 1986 900 s sedan similar to that. I also had a similar fuel problem with a 94 Dodge Dakota I had turns out the fuel filler tube into the gas tank was rusty and rotten and my 1st car, a 1988 Cadillac Brougham had the same windshield wiper issue on or fuse pulled too.

Nibbles > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/18/2017 at 11:37

I had that sluggish problem, down to the exploding intake duct, on my 900

I don’t remember what the problem was off hand

Give me some time to think on it

IIRC it was a fairly simple fix, something I neglected to do / did wrong when reinstalling all the things

Come to think of it, it may have been fuel-related Was it? I remember two things at the same time - some shit gas, and something else that I believe was the root cause of this problem but can’t for the life of me remember the specifics

YES I think I remember what it was now! Wastegate. Stuck 100% closed.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Nibbles
09/18/2017 at 11:56

100% will check that. Thanks!

My main suspicion is exhaust, but I am slowly convincing myself that isn’t the case...

Nibbles > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/18/2017 at 12:13

I thought it was too and swapped the cat. No change. I think I still have that spare good cat too (along with two or three large boxes of random 900 parts. Do you need anything? I got stuff to offload. Head, valve cover, KGW MAF sensor, horns, dashboard in reasonable condition, random plumbing, an APC [but it’s an ‘87 so I don’t think it’ll work with your flatnose], tons of other bits and bobs)

KSTN > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/18/2017 at 12:29

As an owner of a 1992 Saab 900i: This is the correct procedure of how to fill up a tank when driving a Saab. I don’t have a sunroof, so instead of that I get the leak from upper/front-left corner of the rear hatch (5d version). Keep tyring!

shop-teacher > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/18/2017 at 18:30

This is a really well named project :)

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Nibbles
09/19/2017 at 14:44

Managed to test the wastegate and APC solenoid during lunch: both good! The actuator move easily at around 10PSI from my compressor and the solenoid passed the test as per the Bentley, no problem.

Next up is to remove the CAT and see if that helps. Also test the knock sensor.

Nibbles > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/19/2017 at 17:41

Butts. The knock sensor can be finicky too, good thought on that