2008 9-3 1.9tid Coolant issues
Discussion
Bought my 9-3 back in January just before it stated to get warmer the coolant warning I dictator cam on and I had to top it off twice, never had any actual issues regarding engine temperature but now it's started getting cold again the car has started to use coolant with the indicator letting me know at least twice this week it needs topping up, problem is I'm flat out at the moment and have no time for at least another week to get it into a garage.
Could this be possible head gasket failure?
Could this be possible head gasket failure?
Had similar frustration in my wife's 95 with the same engine.
If your car has it, check the heater bypass valve on the bulkhead. Very prone to failure and cheap and very easy to change yourself. Get a genuine one as imitation ones fail quickly.
Secondly, for about 10 quid, you can get a UV dye and pen kit on amazon. Sling all the dye in the coolant tank, run engine for a bit through normal use, wait until its dark outside (to make it easiest to see the leak, even with the dye in it) and use the torch to hunt the issue. Should be obvious where it is.
I thought I had headgasket issues but turned out it was the bypass valve, and my water pump was probably hours away from complete catastrophic failure. As its cambelt driven, that would have totaled the engine.
I got a new cambelt kit and waterpump, and valve, and fitted it all myself. Not a huge job if you are ok with the spanners
If your car has it, check the heater bypass valve on the bulkhead. Very prone to failure and cheap and very easy to change yourself. Get a genuine one as imitation ones fail quickly.
Secondly, for about 10 quid, you can get a UV dye and pen kit on amazon. Sling all the dye in the coolant tank, run engine for a bit through normal use, wait until its dark outside (to make it easiest to see the leak, even with the dye in it) and use the torch to hunt the issue. Should be obvious where it is.
I thought I had headgasket issues but turned out it was the bypass valve, and my water pump was probably hours away from complete catastrophic failure. As its cambelt driven, that would have totaled the engine.
I got a new cambelt kit and waterpump, and valve, and fitted it all myself. Not a huge job if you are ok with the spanners
Gassing Station | Saab | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff