Water pump failed and took timing belt with it!
Discussion
My 2008 9-3 1.9 diesel (150) just chewed up its timing belt. It seems the water pump seized and the timing belt heated up so much due to the friction it tore it self to pieces. This happened while going at about 40mph on a country road.
I had the car towed to a saab specialist in glasgow and got the call today. The rockers are knackered but worse than this the cam shaft has apparently snapped. Cost to fix all this? £1900!!!!!
There was some warning that this was about to happen. Earlier on the same day my wife called to say the engine temp had shot up. She stopped immediately and the gauge didn't go into the red. She waited till it cooled down and drove the car 1/2 a mile home. The coolant level was low so I topped it up with about a litre of water and took it for a drive. This is when the belt let go. You live you learn. I won't make the same mistake again.
Anyway, I thought I would post this as a warning to others.
I had the car towed to a saab specialist in glasgow and got the call today. The rockers are knackered but worse than this the cam shaft has apparently snapped. Cost to fix all this? £1900!!!!!
There was some warning that this was about to happen. Earlier on the same day my wife called to say the engine temp had shot up. She stopped immediately and the gauge didn't go into the red. She waited till it cooled down and drove the car 1/2 a mile home. The coolant level was low so I topped it up with about a litre of water and took it for a drive. This is when the belt let go. You live you learn. I won't make the same mistake again.
Anyway, I thought I would post this as a warning to others.
This is getting worse. I still don’t have the car back and every day or 2 the garage is phoning me to tell me they have run into more problems. They have now apparently spent an additional £250 on parts and still the car isn’t running properly. Today I was told they got it running and took it on a test drive and the car went into limp home mode then cut out. They are saying the EGR valve is stuck solid and the particle filter isn’t doing its job. On top of this they are also saying the alternator bearing is gone and the battery isn’t getting enough charge. I have a sickening feeling that the garage is taking me for a ride. The car was running fine before the belt went so I can’t see how the EGR valve and particle filter can be causing problems.
On top of this the 2004 2.0T 9-5 they have loaned me is only getting 22mpg, the heater is stuck on (very) hot, the drivers side window doesn’t work and the rear demister doesn’t demist.
Right now I am tempted to ask the garage (saab specialist) if they want to buy the car from me in its current condition and cut my losses.
This is making my 15 year old Porsche seem very cheap to maintain.
On top of this the 2004 2.0T 9-5 they have loaned me is only getting 22mpg, the heater is stuck on (very) hot, the drivers side window doesn’t work and the rear demister doesn’t demist.
Right now I am tempted to ask the garage (saab specialist) if they want to buy the car from me in its current condition and cut my losses.
This is making my 15 year old Porsche seem very cheap to maintain.
Well I visited the garage this afternoon and the car is back together and running well. He didn't change the alternator as I will do that myself. He showed me all the damaged bits that needed to be replaced and it was quite the pile of parts. Water pump, camshaft, rockers etc. he also cleaned out the erg and exhaust filter.
I didn't take the car away as he wants to give it a proper clean before handing it back but I am looking forward to getting it tomorrow.
The moral of Babis story is - change your water pump!
I didn't take the car away as he wants to give it a proper clean before handing it back but I am looking forward to getting it tomorrow.
The moral of Babis story is - change your water pump!
Gassing Station | Saab | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff