New owner!

[Duke Thrust]

Hello all!

Just picked up a 2001 9-5 Aero Hot estate and am very happy with it. I'm very impressed with the midrange, great for motoway miles and so comfortable!

Couple of questions though:

1) Gear shift. It feels a little 'mushy' are the selector bushes known to wear? Doesn't feel like a box problem in the slightest, the shifter just feels a little 'sloppy'. (I might be being a little critical, what are your thoughts?)

2) The stereo. I would like to get an Ipod controller, what are my options as the unit looks larger then double DIN. Does it look very silly if fitted with a single DIN and some sort of blanking kit? Can you get a blanking kit for double DIN?

Cheers

[Saabstudent]

Standard saab gearshifters do become sloppy.
Think replacing with new part might help - not sure if there is an S/S kit available for your model.

Blanking the stereo area will look pants IMHO. Why don't you fit something like the iO Play, motorola T605 or if on a budget buy a Pure Highway or more inferior FM transmitter.

I have an iO Play in my c900 - bluetooth streaming of iPod and seperate amplifier plus the benefit of hands free calling through all the car speakers.

G

[Prof Beard]

I play my iPod though a cassette adaptor.

The "posh" solution, is, I suspect:

http://www.granite-embedded.com/products.php

[aeropilot]

Duke Thrust said:

The stereo. I would like to get an Ipod controller, what are my options as the unit looks larger then double DIN. Does it look very silly if fitted with a single DIN and some sort of blanking kit? Can you get a blanking kit for double DIN?

If you have the Saab AS2 or AS3 audio units, replacing your head unit is a lot of grief, because of the unbalanced wiring system Saab used twixt speakers and amp and head unit, and you will loose the s/wheel functions so you will have to fit one of the aftermarket kits to enable the wheel functions to operate, IIRC Alpine do one.

If you have an 01 with AS1 then it's a lot easier, and you can get appropiate double DIN cages to fit a single DIN unit into it.
See here....
http://www.partsforsaabs.com/product_info.php?cPat...

[Duke Thrust]

Thanks for the quick responses guys.

Where would be a good place to get parts for the shifter? Any recommendations?

Re the stereo, how can I tell which variant it is that I have? (AS1 etc) My car is a face-lift model if that helps?

I was thinking of something along the lines of:

http://www.nexxia.co.uk/Car_Stereo_fitting_kits/sa...

With a:

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/pioneer-fhp80bt-p-...

[Rocket Pepper]

The problem is most likely worn bushes in the union at the forward end of the shaft from the gear stick, which bolts onto the selector shaft coming out of the gearbox. It's a sizeable piece of kit just down by the n/s bulkhead, and they are known to wear/break. They're a pressed together unit and parts to repair unavailable. I suppose if you could be bothered it could be made better with a little grass roots fidling! Otherwise it's a Saab part and readily available through dealer and associated outlets. And it's expensive for what it is. Quote chassis number. There are three different types.

[RedLeicester]

Dukey, that car is 01 age, but 02 model year - has AS2...

[Duke Thrust]

Rocket Pepper said:

The problem is most likely worn bushes in the union at the forward end of the shaft from the gear stick, which bolts onto the selector shaft coming out of the gearbox. It's a sizeable piece of kit just down by the n/s bulkhead, and they are known to wear/break. They're a pressed together unit and parts to repair unavailable. I suppose if you could be bothered it could be made better with a little grass roots fidling! Otherwise it's a Saab part and readily available through dealer and associated outlets. And it's expensive for what it is. Quote chassis number. There are three different types.

Thanks I'll get onto them, it's not bad as such, just not as good as it could be. That said, if Saab want a silly amount of dosh for the new part, I'll live with it methinks.

[Duke Thrust]

RedLeicester said:

Dukey, that car is 01 age, but 02 model year - has AS2...

Blast.

Don't mind losing the steering wheel controls as not a huge fan, but the speaking wiring is fairly important

The kit below says all models, would the adaptor for the wiring work?

http://www.partsforsaabs.com/product_info.php?cPat...

Edited by Duke Thrust on Thursday 7th August 10:23

[RedLeicester]

Should do, though may I suggest www.elkparts.com

To be precise - http://www.elkparts.com/product_info.php/cPath/75_...

Edited by RedLeicester on Thursday 7th August 11:39

[aeropilot]

Duke Thrust said:

RedLeicester said:

Dukey, that car is 01 age, but 02 model year - has AS2...

Blast.

Don't mind losing the steering wheel controls as not a huge fan, but the speaking wiring is fairly important

The kit below says all models, would the adaptor for the wiring work?

Not with AS2 or AS3, because of the balanced audio signal that Saab use.

There are ways of doing it if you are good with electrics, or know a good audio place that can make up some adapters.

There's at least one guy (an audio engineer by trade) over on the UKSaabs forum that has changed his head unit etc on his facelift Aero.

http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/

[Duke Thrust]

aeropilot said:

Duke Thrust said:

RedLeicester said:

Dukey, that car is 01 age, but 02 model year - has AS2...

Blast.

Don't mind losing the steering wheel controls as not a huge fan, but the speaking wiring is fairly important

The kit below says all models, would the adaptor for the wiring work?

Not with AS2 or AS3, because of the balanced audio signal that Saab use.

There are ways of doing it if you are good with electrics, or know a good audio place that can make up some adapters.

There's at least one guy (an audio engineer by trade) over on the UKSaabs forum that has changed his head unit etc on his facelift Aero.

http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/

Thanks, I'll give that a good look.

On another note, the shift selection feels much better, the car had been idle for a couple of months so was probably a bit sticky. All good now.