Buying First Saab Today!
 

Hello all! I just joined the forum as I am buying my first Saab today! It's a 1999 9-3 SE silver with charcoal leather interior. I am stating the modding this weekend. Any suggestions? Glad to be here!

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

Sounds like you've got a nice car there. What are your plans for it? What's the milage?

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

Actually have a minor hick up. I went to pick it up this morning only to find out there is a problem with the heate box. I have been researching this online for the past hour or so and see that this is a common problem with the Saabs. I am still trying to find out a quick and easy fix without having to replace the heaer box. If we have to replace the heater box I think I am going to pass on the car. Oherwise the car is really nice.

It's a 99 with 115K. The first things I want to do is make some exterior mods with some Viggen touches. I really like this rooftop window spoiler I saw on a 9-3 but have no idea where to find it.

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

What kind of heater core problem? Is it the couplers that are leaking?

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

https://saabforums.com/m_1067/tm.htmtake a look.

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

No it's actually from the heat control unit not moving well. He replaced it but the control knobs still don't move freely. They are telling me it's a common problem but major bucks to repair if it's the heater box binding up.

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

.... I'm really upset about this b/c I was so looking forward to buying this car as my first Saab (actually it's for the wife but I think I may sell my Wrangler and get another Saab b/c I'm falling in love already!). and I may have to pass on it!

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

Oh that one....I've had that happen on my car...I had to tinker with it for a few days, but I got it fixed...

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

.... and how did you fix it? I am on the fence with this car. If he drops the price enough I will buy it and try the fix myself. From what I understand, I have to remove the entire dash and console, remove and replace the heater box (which I think is really called a Distributor Box) then re-assemble the car. It's suppoed to be like a 9 - 10 hour job!

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

9-10 hours is an optimistic estimate for a first timer...you don't need to dismantle the entire dash though...just the center console, glove box and side covers. I took the passenger side of the "drum" out and filed it to make it slimmer and than also used silicone lubricant....haven't had a problem for two years now...

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

Not to Be off Topic But the my Saab slave cylinder just keeps dying lmao want to talk about a big bucks fix

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

just buy a new one and you'll be set...I bet you keep rebuilding it...

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

So you think I should spring for a new heater box and do the full install? Are there sponsors on this forum that cary Saab products with discounts for members?

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

I think you should crack the existing boxopen and see if you can fix it before throwing parts at it. for parts I always use eeuroparts.com, which isn't a sponsor, but are very good with shipping the same day and prices are good.

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

Ok cool, thanks. I will post an update Monday with where I am at with the car. I drove around all day and couldn't find a car that touches this 9-3 I'm hoping to get....

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

That's the thing about Saabs... quick, comfy, cheap to service...

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

"cheap to service" - I don't se that. A stupid little issue with the heater box that should never happen in the first place costs around $1000 to fix (unless I want to eat up a day fixing it myself). That's not cheap to me. It worries me about the rest of the maintenance of the Saab. It's made us second guess buying a Saab all together. I am a part of 2 foprums for Saab and it seems like all the threads are about problems with the owners Saab. I hope I am wrong here b/c I really like the style and drive of it. I just need more info. and experience with the Saab I guess.

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

The heater bot is one of the expensive issues if you don't do it yourself just because of the time involved. The parts are comparable in price to those of my old civic. It's an annoying thing, but it's only gotta be done once in the car's lifetime. I'm part of pretty much all of the saab forums and it is fact that everybody posts about problems, but that's normal since most people join forums to get help with a problem.

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

Ok that's cool. I just can't afford to buy this car and have to dump a bunch of money into it. If it's the kind of car that I can work on myself than I am all for it. As long as it's not a "specialist only" type of car. I will probobly end up buying it for like $3600 with the new heater box, cable and controls done. The rest of the car is in great shape, the inteior charcoal leather.. perfect! I already bought a used right side fender in silver from a wreck here on LI for $40 and it matches perfect. After that all I will need to do is a good tune up, oil change, rims/tires and possibly some Viggen touches~!

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

If you want I can get you a copy of the workshop manual for this car. It's nothing a DIY-er can't handle since I had a pretty much identical problem and got it fixed...I'm no professional, I just love doing my own work.

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

Yeah tht would help, thanks. I guess it's just a matter of what the dealer is going to tell me tomorow morning. Hopefully he works with me on the price considering the poblem or takes care of it. We'll see.

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

Push for him to completely fix it. By the way if you end up with this car don't ever take it to the dealer for service...that's a ripoff. I'll find somewhere where I can upload the manual to so you can DL it.

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

Thanks for all your help! I'm not spending a ton of money on this car so I suppose I can expect to have to do some work to it. In my previous life I owned an exotic auto customizing business so I am familiar with the ins and outs of cars but I am far from being a mechanic. It helps to have someone like yourself to tun to for some advice. Thanks again. I'll post an update tomorow with the outcome.

BTW - People on another forum are telling me to look out for sludge. How do I check for that? Just with the oil dipstick and the quality of the oil in it???

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

Well you can only check for it in two ways really... you can pull the valve cover or pul the oil pan...or actually both. I would clean the oil pan regardless when you get the car. If you want a relatively accurate way of checking without actually doing those two things than grab a coat hanger and extend it so that it reaches throught the dipstick tube into the oil pan and wiggle it around. It should feel smooth. However you can imagine that this isn't a too good of a method to check... ask the dealer if he will pull the pan in your presense as part of the pre-purchase inspection.

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

Very good. Thanks.

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

Well we agreed on a lower price for the car but it means I must install the new heater box :(. I am heading out in a little while to look at another car. This time a '99 9-5 SE with 116k. This car needs an exhaust and a rear bumper cover or bumper cover prep and paint. Midnight Blue.

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

I would just go for the saabsport exhaust right away...

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

Ok the drama has ended and I decided to buy the '99 9-3 SE. We worked out a good price with a new heater box and cable included but I get to install it all!!!![:@]

Is there a really good tutorial anywhere on how to do this? Does the entire dash have to come out or just the center console and side panels?

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

the dash doesn't have to come out. Wait 'till I upload the manual somewhere. I just need to find a place where I can uplaod it to.

RE: Buying First Saab Today!
 

ok great. I don't think I am going to do it unil Saturday so in case it takes longer I have the weekend to get it done.