Finally got an AF Meter

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
10/12/2020 at 22:34 • Filed to: Project Dumpster Fire

If any of you remember many, many moons ago my Dumpster Fire Saab was having an issue.

Ok MANY issues, but one persiste -

Ok MANY persistent issues, but I’m focusing on the one where it would randomly buck when you get on the throttle, but eventually even out.

After firing the quarter gun at this many, many times I eventually determined the problem was either the ignition distributor (aka “the distributor”) or the fuel distributor. Since both were going to run me $300+ to repair/ replace, I figured it might be more logical to spend $200 on a wideband air-fuel meter.

So I did.

Then the distributor broke, making my decision moot.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Also a new distributor didn’t help.

Hooray.

Anyway, despite all that, today I finally finished installed the AF meter. I had the shop put in the bung like... a hundred years ago, but the secondary fuel pump failed on the way to the exhaust shop (truly this car is touched) so I’ve spent the intervening months not dealing with that.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Anyway... Air fuel meter .

Looks nice, appears to be reading OK, is hopefully far enough from the turbo that it’ll last. Also hopefully will give me some info as to what is happening. Problem is alllllmost certainly the fuel distributor at this point, but at least now I’ll know.

DISCUSSION (8)

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
10/12/2020 at 22:41

I have a fuel distributor from a five cylinder Audi and a four cylinder from a 1.8 four cylinder gathering dust. I know the Saab flavor can be hard to find.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/12/2020 at 22:45

Thanks! I have two spare Saab ones, one known bad and the other untested, so the plan is to send the known bad one (original to the car) off to get rebuilt. Only way to be sure at this point...

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
10/12/2020 at 22:48

I’ve heard rebuilding them is very hard. But I’ve also heard it’s pretty easy to DIY if you have all the tools, an ultrasonic cleaner, a clean work area, stead hands, and a lot of time.

jminer > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
10/12/2020 at 23:10

Your level of dedication and technical ability amazes me. I give up on a vehicle if it gets to this point (usually). Some have been carried past sanity, but once several particularly difficult repairs show up on a row it’s usually off to the next project.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/13/2020 at 00:12

Yeah... since the rebuild kits are also expensive (~$ 100 iirc ) and I’ve also heard they’re difficult to repair, I’m on board with having an expert do it.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
10/13/2020 at 05:32

Oh wow. I didn’t know they were so much.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/13/2020 at 09:59

I might just be remembering wrong considering they’re like... two gaskets and a bunch of o-rings but I’m too lazy to go and check haha.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
10/13/2020 at 10:05

Honestly that sounds right. There’s not THAT much happening inside.