9-5 auto query

[egor110]

A local saab specialist has a t reg 9-5 estate for £995.
No idea what the mileage is, it has cloth seats not leather but what sort of mileage can these auto gearbox's handle?
I currently have a battered s reg manual 9-5 with a very tired clutch so thinking of changing it.

[DavidY]

Lots of miles, mine had 221k miles on an X reg 4 speed auto when I px'd it, just did a gearbox oil change at about 130k, never had a problem with the auto box.

[devondriver]

I was interested in the view that the 9-5 auto gearbox is good for many, many miles. My 2002 Aero 9-5 now has 194000 miles and unfortunately the gearbox has just started playing up. When drive is selected, there is a pause of a second or two and then it comes in with a thump.
It has been suggested to me that maybe a lack of fluid is the problem. The car has regularly been serviced by SAAB specialists and I would have expected them to check gearbox fluid levels. However, should I now assume that this hasn't been done and arrange to have to checked specially or are there other reasons for the problem?
The car otherwise is superb but, of course, its value is very little. I was wondering whether I should spend money on trying to fix the problem or whether it is time to perhaps dispose of the car.
Any thoughts please?
Regards

[bikerPaul]

devondriver said:

I was interested in the view that the 9-5 auto gearbox is good for many, many miles. My 2002 Aero 9-5 now has 194000 miles and unfortunately the gearbox has just started playing up. When drive is selected, there is a pause of a second or two and then it comes in with a thump.
It has been suggested to me that maybe a lack of fluid is the problem. The car has regularly been serviced by SAAB specialists and I would have expected them to check gearbox fluid levels. However, should I now assume that this hasn't been done and arrange to have to checked specially or are there other reasons for the problem?
The car otherwise is superb but, of course, its value is very little. I was wondering whether I should spend money on trying to fix the problem or whether it is time to perhaps dispose of the car.
Any thoughts please?
Regards

For all a gearbox oil and filter change would cost you don't have anything to lose.

[devondriver]

Very true, Paul. I'll give it a go. Do you know if there are other common causes of this problem or is it usually a lack of oil?

[scrwright]

devondriver said:

Any thoughts please?
Regards

linear shift solenoid sticking, mind did it. Can be a diy fix with a set of solenoids (about £120 of the set of 3)

[devondriver]

Thanks very much. That's encouraging. When the gearbox fault occurred I had visions of big bucks, but you've both given me hope!

[BFleming]

devondriver said:

The car has regularly been serviced by SAAB specialists and I would have expected them to check gearbox fluid levels. However, should I now assume that this hasn't been done and arrange to have to checked specially or are there other reasons for the problem?

I don't believe that auto transmission fluid is a service item. ZF (for one) proclaimed their gearboxes 'sealed for life', no oil changes required etc. Absolute rubbish. Oil degrades over time. It's a specific task you can request to be carried out, but no main dealer/specialist is going to check something/change something if it isn't on the list - unless you ask for it. Or do it yourself - it isn't that difficult. And for the cost of the tranny fluid, well worth doing before that box suffers even more damage.