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Hey guys, I'm, fairly new to the world of self maintenance and car enthusiasts. I drive a 06 9-3 2.0t. Haven't had many problems with except recently the driver side window will not go up or down. The first time this happened this summer I took it to the dealership and got it replaced. Then over this last Christmas holiday, I got the car detailed, after all the festivities were over and I started my drive from DC back to school in Atl, The driver-side window refused to go up or down. Along with a grinding noise. It sounds more like cables being crushed rather than glass being cracked. With that info I was wondering is someone could link or explain how I take the door panel off, I've youtube'd without any luck.
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Feb 7, 2011 23:34
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Viggen posted:First not-a-goddamn-Zombie I've seen here in 3 years. What's a zombie? A car that survives only to eat the parts of the living. Yeah, I was pissed, but, what can you do? Also, you make a good point. I've seen only two condition types for C900s: "why aren't you in the junkyard yet?" and "slightly above average."
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Feb 8, 2011 00:55
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It seems like half the posts in this thread are about mechanical problems. Should I be expecting some down the line on my 08 9-3?
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Feb 9, 2011 21:55
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MALCOLM XTREME posted:It seems like half the posts in this thread are about mechanical problems. Should I be expecting some down the line on my 08 9-3? I have a '09 9-3 and 9-5 in the family with no problems whatsoever. That said, Saabs are not the most reliable cars but I've never had one just up and die mechanically. Most of the time it's some electrical glitch.
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Feb 9, 2011 23:26
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Francis Baconator posted:I'd be on that poo poo faster than you can say what, but I'm crazy for the old C900. Is it possible to obtain pics? Also, how's the interior? NA or turbo? Etc, etc. It's a 900S, automatic, and it's going to need a steering rack, amongst other things. It's had a bit of a hard life. Taken care of, but not incredibly well. The owner is a known back-area hiker, and I'm sure it's seen it's fair bit of pain driving places it probably shouldn't have been. It's posted here. No interior pics, but it's not very close to me; it happened to be over at the shop I sometimes order parts from, and I was told 'it'd be a good college kid's car', so I avoided it. Vrigg Chan posted:Along with a grinding noise. It sounds more like cables being crushed rather than glass being cracked. With that info I was wondering is someone could link or explain how I take the door panel off, I've youtube'd without any luck. Try this thread; all I have pictures of are for the 9-5, and it's setup didn't change much between 1998-2009. MALCOLM XTREME posted:It seems like half the posts in this thread are about mechanical problems. Should I be expecting some down the line on my 08 9-3? Depends on how well you maintain the car. Stuff wears out, but if you outright ignore things that need to be done, I'd agree that SAABs are less forgiving of abuse.
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Feb 10, 2011 20:21
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I'd say that if a Saab is feeling unloved that day and you look at it wrong, it's gonna break something just to spite you. Mine is down today and possibly tomorrow because I'm replacing the timing belt, window rollers on the passenger window this time (just did the drivers side 2 months ago) and unsoldering/resoldering the 3 post batteries in the alarm module. I may even do an oil and filter change just because I have it up on the rack right now.
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Feb 10, 2011 22:49
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Not to mention, why post if everything is fine? I drove my Saab today and liked it! But do remember: Something Almost Always Broken
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Feb 10, 2011 23:25
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Viggen posted:It's a 900S, automatic, and it's going to need a steering rack, amongst other things. Have you considered driving over here? You have no idea how many cute things I'd kill to own that.
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Feb 11, 2011 03:46
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MALCOLM XTREME posted:It seems like half the posts in this thread are about mechanical problems. Should I be expecting some down the line on my 08 9-3? Every car, bar none, will have problems "down the line"
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Feb 11, 2011 06:18
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Faerunner posted:Every car, bar none, will have problems "down the line" Some cars (including the new-gen 9-3) won't have the sludging, DIC failures, and early turbo failures. Last-gen 9-3s are nice cars, but they demand an extra level of engagement from the owners if they're to be in good shape.
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Feb 11, 2011 06:43
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kimbo305 posted:Some cars (including the new-gen 9-3) won't have the sludging, DIC failures, and early turbo failures. Last-gen 9-3s are nice cars, but they demand an extra level of engagement from the owners if they're to be in good shape. And they will have their own specific problems that the last generation of 9-3s didn't have. That's just the way of things. There is no such thing as an object not subject to entropy.
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Feb 11, 2011 07:40
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Faerunner posted:And they will have their own specific problems that the last generation of 9-3s didn't have. That's just the way of things. That's abstractly true, but I think there's at least something behind the reliability rankings that have certain makes at the top. There are models out there that can reach 200k with just maintenance, and other cars that can't.
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Feb 11, 2011 07:44
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Francis Baconator posted:Man, I love the look of those. Really gives a Volvo a run for its money. I'm a bit of a prissy bitch when it comes to my cars. I hate autos (despite having them), and I am not a fan of non-turbos unless they're classic-classics. I drove a 9000 non-turbo w/ a 4 speed auto and I swear I was passed by a schoolbus going uphill. I don't think that a 1992 need apply. I'd love a hatchback, but 'good for college kid' means it's thrashed to me. I did get a pic from the current owner, however:  If you want me to go have a look at it for you, I will, but I'm not really interested since I almost had a cherry 89T for twice the price. Always gonna miss that one.  If I could get it for a grand, I may consider it (Pretty sure it could be had for $1200 and does pass Nevada smog, which is good), but what the hell do I need ANOTHER car for?poo poo, wrapping a timg in url tags causes THREE goddamn windows to open. Did not know that. Viggen fucked around with this message at 02:02 on Feb 12, 2011 |
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Feb 11, 2011 20:02
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hey saab guys.. got an issue with my 99 9-5 2.3L, It's had all the sludge work done to it. Under hard acceleration, it seems like the engine will "hiccup" or something. It's happened at different RPMs/different gears It's like it just shutters, almost feels like it stalls, but the engine doesn't shut off. No lights come up, every now and then the engine will throw an evap code, (could this cause it?) fluids are all clean/topped up. What could be causing this?
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Feb 17, 2011 00:38
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If you're accelerating and it feels like for just a second (well, really less than a second, more like .25 seconds) it 'stumbles' or stops accelerating then there is a chance the engine is missing. It's possible for the engine to miss without throwing a code (mine does it every day, many times a day)-it's possibly a bad DIC or could be something as simple as old spark plugs. If you want you can check the date code on the DIC (you have to take it out, there should be a screwdriver for the torx screws in the trunk), if it's from 1999 it's almost certainly the problem. Also, check the plugs and replace them; they're cheap.
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Feb 17, 2011 00:48
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Four Banger posted:hey saab guys.. got an issue with my 99 9-5 2.3L, It's had all the sludge work done to it. This happens to my 2 Viggens all the time, same engine. I had good luck with changing the o2 sensors, intake sensor, and plugs. When's the last time you changed the plugs? They are cheap and the job takes all of 10 minutes. edit: Doing all the filters and poo poo on the new Viggen. Car may have had a couple ciggs smoked in it, generally stinks. Steam cleaned it, auto freebreezed, took apart the false bulkhead only to find...  Click here for the full 800x478 image. That's really loving foul and probably never been changed. Mcqueen fucked around with this message at 01:02 on Feb 17, 2011 |
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Feb 17, 2011 00:57
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aw thanks guys. No idea about the plugs, I only got the car in september, (also my first car and newly licensed so I'm not too experienced with self diagnosing) so I'll pick up some plugs and swap them. Any plugs that are recommended/avoided?
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Feb 17, 2011 01:03
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Four Banger posted:aw thanks guys. No idea about the plugs, I only got the car in september, (also my first car and newly licensed so I'm not too experienced with self diagnosing) so I'll pick up some plugs and swap them. Any plugs that are recommended/avoided? Whatever the manual recommends. Do not deviate from that plug number unless you are driving is some extreme temp. No quad spark shenanigans, just basic replacement plugs. Fancy plugs don't work well in our cars. Make sure they are gapped well too.
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Feb 17, 2011 04:15
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Just finished up the service on my 9-5. Total work done: replaced timing belt, replaced water pump, replaced broken motor mount, changed the oil, replaced batteries in the alarm module, replaced broken window roller. Total cost $375 including timing belt tool kit. I could only imagine the skull loving I would have got had I taken it to the dealer.
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Feb 17, 2011 17:43
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Four Banger posted:Any plugs that are recommended/avoided? Use NGK. Always.
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Feb 18, 2011 03:05
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MALCOLM XTREME posted:It seems like half the posts in this thread are about mechanical problems. Should I be expecting some down the line on my 08 9-3? I think 2008 is a pretty good year for the 9-3. If I recall correctly, that year was actually "recommended" by Consumer Reports. I had an '03 9-3, which was pretty much the worst year reliability-wise. I loved the car to death, but it wasn't the most reliable car, if I'm honest. There seemed to be a bunch of weird little things going wrong with it - one headlamp was out of balance, the automatic windshield wipers broke (followed by the manual windshield wipers), the emblem peeled off, the windshield washer stopped spraying, etc. In between all that, a couple of big things went wrong. The radiator cracked and needed to be replaced. Then, the entire transmission needed to be replaced. Luckily, the car was a Certified Pre-Owned, so I never had to actually pay for any of that stuff. Regular maintenance and fuel charges weren't bad at all. The broken headlamp made for an interesting drive across the state of Pennsylvania one night. It was like the headlamps were alive. They would point straight down at the ground, then swivel back up, then randomly go back down. The movement didn't seem to be based on what the terrain was like, either. Just completely random.
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Feb 18, 2011 11:17
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Just thought I'd ask this, wondering if ti's worth the hassle to fix it or not. Every time I start the car I get a Service Theft Alarm Message, I'm assuming it has something to do with the horn/siren, as when I set the alarm, the lights flash but there's no audible, and if I set off the alarm, only the lights flash, again no audible. Is this something that likely simple to fix? I really don't care THAT much, if it's expensive/difficult I'll just clear it every time I start the car, if it's easy/cheap I'll fix it.
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Feb 18, 2011 19:00
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Mcqueen posted:
Oh man that reminds me I need to change that thing. I bet the one in my 900 hasn't been changed since it was new, and I can't imagine what sort of filth it will have filtered out. My sunroof decided that it wont close when opened. It opens just fine, but when I hit the switch to close it, the motor clicks and struggles. I can close it with the little screwdriver slot, but electricity won't do it. Since it opens the motor isn't burnt out and there are no electrical issues, and if a gear were stripped it probably wouldn't open as smoothly as it does. Has anyone else had this problem? I just hope it doesn't require dropping the headliner...
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Feb 19, 2011 03:36
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Lately I've noticed a rapidly pulsing wobble sound from the front right wheel (I think) of my 2k 9-3. It only appears when I'm going 55 mph or above, and the steering wheel tends to vibrate a bit when accelerating above those speeds. I've been driving around on a lot of badly paved roads filled with ice potholes this winter which has knocked the car around quite a bit, so would I be correct in thinking that I need a wheel alignment?
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Feb 20, 2011 15:26
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Nuclear Tourist posted:Lately I've noticed a rapidly pulsing wobble sound from the front right wheel (I think) of my 2k 9-3. It only appears when I'm going 55 mph or above, and the steering wheel tends to vibrate a bit when accelerating above those speeds. I've been driving around on a lot of badly paved roads filled with ice potholes this winter which has knocked the car around quite a bit, so would I be correct in thinking that I need a wheel alignment? If it stops vibrating when you let off of the gas, its most likely your motor mounts. On my 99 9-3, I was able to see how worn the mounts were by having the hood open with a friend watching the engine while I held the brakes down and slowly gave it some gas while in reverse. You were able to see the entire engine tilting as two of the mounts were completely worn.
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Feb 20, 2011 15:43
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Nuclear Tourist posted:Lately I've noticed a rapidly pulsing wobble sound from the front right wheel (I think) of my 2k 9-3. It only appears when I'm going 55 mph or above, and the steering wheel tends to vibrate a bit when accelerating above those speeds. I've been driving around on a lot of badly paved roads filled with ice potholes this winter which has knocked the car around quite a bit, so would I be correct in thinking that I need a wheel alignment? Bent rim/unbalanced tire?
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Feb 20, 2011 16:12
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Nuclear Tourist posted:Lately I've noticed a rapidly pulsing wobble sound from the front right wheel (I think) of my 2k 9-3. It only appears when I'm going 55 mph or above, and the steering wheel tends to vibrate a bit when accelerating above those speeds. I've been driving around on a lot of badly paved roads filled with ice potholes this winter which has knocked the car around quite a bit, so would I be correct in thinking that I need a wheel alignment? Check your wheel bearing on that side too. When mine started to go, the wheel would shake a bit in a left turn (right wheel bearing).
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Feb 20, 2011 19:25
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Four Banger posted:Just thought I'd ask this, wondering if ti's worth the hassle to fix it or not. Yeah. It's drat trivial to fix, too. You just need to pull it out and replace the battery (need a <$10 soldering iron if you don't have one). What year/model do you have again? I seem to remember a 1998-2003ish 9-5, but I don't remember. If so, Joe made a nice little howto.
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Feb 22, 2011 01:38
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Viggen posted:Yeah. It's drat trivial to fix, too. You just need to pull it out and replace the battery (need a <$10 soldering iron if you don't have one). Just so you know, I tried twice to fix mine, both with new caps and a battery pack of 4 AA lithiums. The alarm kept going off on its own (what will happen if you leave the STA long enough), so I got BBA to rebuild mine. It only cost $70 or something after shipping, and now I have no STA and no alarm going off in the middle of the night. Supposedly the battery isn't the problem, or is the problem because you can't buy them, or something. I don't know, nor do I care anymore.
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Feb 22, 2011 02:49
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blindjoe posted:Supposedly the battery isn't the problem, or is the problem because you can't buy them, or something. I don't know, nor do I care anymore. I assume that you did the math on the drain; I just don't see 4 AA liths holding for too long without being recharged. I've fixed one, and only one, but never had a problem with it (I turned chirp off to save minimal drain as well). Interesting to know, though. I used BBA to fix a SID for me, because I knew there was no way I was going to end up with a good result when I saw the ribbon half-shorn.
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Feb 23, 2011 00:47
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I just fixed the alarm module myself, this is the battery you need to get. http://store.batteryspecialists.com/cr17335seft.html You'll need 2 of them. Also you'll need a soldering iron. If you're going to do it correctly, I'd suggest a solder sucker then resolder the new batteries. Don't forget to take the jumper off first.
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Feb 23, 2011 23:18
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Viggen posted:I assume that you did the math on the drain; I just don't see 4 AA liths holding for too long without being recharged. I've fixed one, and only one, but never had a problem with it (I turned chirp off to save minimal drain as well). Interesting to know, though. I used BBA to fix a SID for me, because I knew there was no way I was going to end up with a good result when I saw the ribbon half-shorn. Well, they were those long lasting lithium aa's, not rechargables. The CR17335se doesn't have the right discharge curve, all the guys who bought them had STA again in a few months. Hopefully you bought a few spares and like resoldering. Some people have had more success by just changing the caps and leaving the orginal batteris I hate fixing poo poo more than a few times, so after two attempts I just sent it in and got my warrenty. Ive got a spare now that was chopped open by the PO, then had a battery pack soldered in by me, then had the capacitors changed, and then had the wrong size caps soldered in by accident if anyone needs a book end or a place holder. The alarm part still works, but STA regardless. Maybe if someone needs a core?
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Feb 24, 2011 00:28
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Winters posted:I think 2008 is a pretty good year for the 9-3. If I recall correctly, that year was actually "recommended" by Consumer Reports. I have an '02 9-3 SE hatchback and I love it, but it's had its share of problems. It only has 65k on it, but I now have 2 kids and drive to the mountains regularly so I'm looking at the 9-3 Aero XWD. Any opinions, particularly about the 6-speed manual?
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Feb 25, 2011 06:36
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blindjoe posted:The CR17335se doesn't have the right discharge curve, all the guys who bought them had STA again in a few months. Hopefully you bought a few spares and like resoldering. Some people have had more success by just changing the caps and leaving the orginal batteris So far, so good.  I've found that disabling the chirp extends the life a bit too, but that may just be something I keep telling myself to justify not hearing that glorious noise. Plastic Jesus posted:I have an '02 9-3 SE hatchback and I love it, but it's had its share of problems. It only has 65k on it, but I now have 2 kids and drive to the mountains regularly so I'm looking at the 9-3 Aero XWD. Any opinions, particularly about the 6-speed manual? Try to find someone who has a Turbo-X they want to unload?
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Feb 25, 2011 17:23
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I'm looking now at replacing my (childish looking to me) Mazda with either an '06 9-3 Aero V6 sedan or an '07 9-3 Aero V6 Sportcombi. I read the thread and noted the mechanical things that should have been taken care of with this particular generation and the 2.8, but the whole European-car-thing with electrical glitches scares the poo poo out of me. Should I be worried?
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Mar 2, 2011 04:02
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If you're mechanically inclined or have a disposable income where you can take it to the shop when anything breaks then no. Saabs are fun to drive but unfortunately they looooooove to break. It usually won't be major issues but just small nitpicky items like window rollers, high beam relay, fading sid, failed heater control valve, ac blower motor likes to stop working mine has died twice in a year. Small things like that that cost $10-$100 (usually closer to $30)and some time to replace but if you take it to a dealer then you'll be getting raped heartily and repeatedly.
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Mar 2, 2011 16:29
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keykey posted:It usually won't be major issues but just small nitpicky items like window regulator, These are things that actually sometimes break on 06+ 9-3s, of course it's only been 5 years so issues might crop up. Aside from the minor 2.8 issues you've already read about (coolant expansion tank, not just 2.8 but pre-07 springs) they really don't seem any less reliable than any other car of the era. There are always lemons, of course. edit: oh yeah, another fun 2.8 thing, the oil level sensor likes to give false warnings on long drives (as in > 300m), that was a worried rest stop oil check. Don't get me wrong though, it's an excellent engine with very few issues, the only notable ones have been poorly heat treated timing chains on the cadillac version and some weird failure of the ECU to retard spark timing in response to knock, also in the cadillac srx. astropika fucked around with this message at 21:58 on Mar 2, 2011 |
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Mar 2, 2011 21:35
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Saw a 1996 9000 CSE with only 62,000 on it. Wanted $5995.00. Passed.
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Mar 8, 2011 23:24
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My gf's 1999 9-3 has had horrible gas mileage for a while. She got a new exhaust and cat about a year ago. There's no emissions/engine warnings coming through the SID. But in the past 6 months or so, the economy (city driving only) has gone from 20ish to 18 to 16 to 14 now. I figure a few mpg can be attributed to the weather and winter gas, but what else could it be? Which things could use an inspection or tuneup?
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Mar 8, 2011 23:47
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Is it throwing any codes for oxygen sensors? That would be my guess.
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Mar 9, 2011 00:27
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