'94 900 convertible - roof misbehaviour...
Discussion
Hi all,
Seems a bit of a shame to introduce myself with a "Help!" post but there you go...
I've had a 1994 900SE 2.3 N/A[1] Convertible for a couple of months now and been thoroughly enjoying it - no it's not the most exciting thing in the world to be but it's a lovely place to be on a sunny (or just dry for that matter) day when you're not in any particular hurry and (unlike the MGF it replaced) you can fit two lanky teenagers in the back!
Anyway, the last couple of times I've driven it the roof has been reluctant to open - symptoms are that it stops about half-way (after the tonneau cover has lifted and the rear window has started to drop back into place, just before or just as the front part of the roof starts to fold back on itself) and looks like it's folding unevenly with one side a little ahead of the other - there's always been a little bit of a clunk as it goes through that point but it's never stopped before and has always looked like everything was staying in sync. Closing the roof up slightly and then opening it again seems to sort everything out so that it then goes down fully with no warnings or further untoward noises and it closes up again fine.
Anyone got any idea what the problem might be and exactly how worried I should be?
Incidentally this is actually my third Saab - I owned a couple of "classic"[2] 900s about 15-20 years ago and loved them both, I wasn't convinced the 'GM' 900 was an improvement over The Original And Genuine at the time but I've got to say that this one's worn very, very well over 16 years and 125K miles, and, as I said, it's really a very nice place to be!
[1] Yes, that's right, the unpopular one :-)
[2] Only they weren't classic then, just old...
--
JG
Seems a bit of a shame to introduce myself with a "Help!" post but there you go...
I've had a 1994 900SE 2.3 N/A[1] Convertible for a couple of months now and been thoroughly enjoying it - no it's not the most exciting thing in the world to be but it's a lovely place to be on a sunny (or just dry for that matter) day when you're not in any particular hurry and (unlike the MGF it replaced) you can fit two lanky teenagers in the back!
Anyway, the last couple of times I've driven it the roof has been reluctant to open - symptoms are that it stops about half-way (after the tonneau cover has lifted and the rear window has started to drop back into place, just before or just as the front part of the roof starts to fold back on itself) and looks like it's folding unevenly with one side a little ahead of the other - there's always been a little bit of a clunk as it goes through that point but it's never stopped before and has always looked like everything was staying in sync. Closing the roof up slightly and then opening it again seems to sort everything out so that it then goes down fully with no warnings or further untoward noises and it closes up again fine.
Anyone got any idea what the problem might be and exactly how worried I should be?
Incidentally this is actually my third Saab - I owned a couple of "classic"[2] 900s about 15-20 years ago and loved them both, I wasn't convinced the 'GM' 900 was an improvement over The Original And Genuine at the time but I've got to say that this one's worn very, very well over 16 years and 125K miles, and, as I said, it's really a very nice place to be!
[1] Yes, that's right, the unpopular one :-)
[2] Only they weren't classic then, just old...
--
JG
ng saab cabs have long history of roof failure.ß just check out autotrader and see how many are for sale without the roof working
i had a ng900 1996 cab, the roof broke twice, the first time it just stopped working altogether, and i got it fixed at 1500quid for the two motors , then after 6 months, the back motor broke, that would have cost another 800 quid , i managed to get rid of the car
now i have a 94 ng900 cab turbo and the hood is working great, except the back window exploded 2 months ago, and saab dont offer a replacement glass , you have to get a whole new roofß 1000quid so i have just stapled a plastic screen on the hood instead
as for your car, if you take it to a garage, they can fix it before you have to get motors, i dont think it costs a lot as the alignment often goes out of place and all they have to do is align it properly. you should get it fixed before the motors pack up
also, frequent use of the hood, up and down, makes the hood system more reliable.
i had a ng900 1996 cab, the roof broke twice, the first time it just stopped working altogether, and i got it fixed at 1500quid for the two motors , then after 6 months, the back motor broke, that would have cost another 800 quid , i managed to get rid of the car
now i have a 94 ng900 cab turbo and the hood is working great, except the back window exploded 2 months ago, and saab dont offer a replacement glass , you have to get a whole new roofß 1000quid so i have just stapled a plastic screen on the hood instead
as for your car, if you take it to a garage, they can fix it before you have to get motors, i dont think it costs a lot as the alignment often goes out of place and all they have to do is align it properly. you should get it fixed before the motors pack up
also, frequent use of the hood, up and down, makes the hood system more reliable.
K321 said:
ng saab cabs have long history of roof failure.ß just check out autotrader and see how many are for sale without the roof working
Ah well. It was cheap anyway...K321 said:
as for your car, if you take it to a garage, they can fix it before you have to get motors, i dont think it costs a lot as the alignment often goes out of place and all they have to do is align it properly. you should get it fixed before the motors pack up
That sounds hopeful - I'll avoid using it until I've at least had it looked at!K321 said:
also, frequent use of the hood, up and down, makes the hood system more reliable.
It certainly gets that - basically if it's not actually raining the hood goes down and often stays down until I get where I'm going even if it starts raining as I've found that (in the front at least) the rain stays out quite nicely as long as I don't have to actually stop :-)--
JG
IIRC the hydraulic reservior and pump are under the back seat, O/S.
Woth having a look as you might get away with topping up.
also you n=might have a large pubble of oil sitting under the seat
Alternatively there are some sensors/switches which tell thwe control unit when the tonneau is fully open.
If this switch is US the roof will go so far and then stop.
Woth having a look as you might get away with topping up.
also you n=might have a large pubble of oil sitting under the seat
Alternatively there are some sensors/switches which tell thwe control unit when the tonneau is fully open.
If this switch is US the roof will go so far and then stop.
I contacted my Local Friendly Independent Saab Specialist this afternoon...
"Doesn't sound like a big problem. Try lubricating the pivots and gears, if that doesn't help bring it in and we'll have a look but as long as it's not making any nasty noises it doesn't sound like anything too dreadful..."
I did[1], it did, but I probably will anyway just to be on the safe side. Apart from anything else things suddenly got a bit rorty sounding on the way home from work and a quick glimpse underneath revealed that the exhaust "back box" has turned to lace. So that'll need fixing then...
[1] With tiny, careful squirts of motorcycle chain lube - it's a heavy-ish grease carried in a volatile solvent so it penetrates pretty well, leaves a non-runny lubricant suitable for heavy loads behind, and it's kind to synthetic/rubber materials to avoid destroying the o-rings on a modern 'bike chain - these properties struck me as being ideal for this sort of job...
--
JG
"Doesn't sound like a big problem. Try lubricating the pivots and gears, if that doesn't help bring it in and we'll have a look but as long as it's not making any nasty noises it doesn't sound like anything too dreadful..."
I did[1], it did, but I probably will anyway just to be on the safe side. Apart from anything else things suddenly got a bit rorty sounding on the way home from work and a quick glimpse underneath revealed that the exhaust "back box" has turned to lace. So that'll need fixing then...
[1] With tiny, careful squirts of motorcycle chain lube - it's a heavy-ish grease carried in a volatile solvent so it penetrates pretty well, leaves a non-runny lubricant suitable for heavy loads behind, and it's kind to synthetic/rubber materials to avoid destroying the o-rings on a modern 'bike chain - these properties struck me as being ideal for this sort of job...
--
JG
good new, however if i recall, there is one bit of the exhaust that is a Saab dealer only part, and i think it could be the backbox, or the centre bit
btw- have u heard anything about the firewallbulhead crack problem?
my noise coming from the front of the car has gone- i thought it was a cracked firewall/bulkheadß which affects one in 3000 saab ng rhd cars
I have a tip on how to manually raise the roof if you should get that issue. i will post it later, as if u manually raise the roof, you wont be able to lock the back bit down to the bodywork and there will be gap where rain can go in
Below is a Top Tip to get the roof to lock down in place if your roof ever packs in:
Get some jump leads.
Open the boot, and pull away the upholstery on the top bit of the boot. you will notice some velcro, tear this off and behind it will be a box with cables in. Find the grey and brown cables.
Attach two screwdrivers to the red and black of the jumpleads, and the other end of the jumpleads to another cars battery.
put the screwdrivers on the grey and brown cable connections and the roof will electrically close and lock down in place
if it doesnt , it means the screwdrivers are on the wrong ends of the jumpleads, swap them over, now try and it should workd.
i have seen loads of saab cabs driving around where the back hood is not locked fully down, as the hood has broken, and the owner not knowing how to lock it electrically down in place.
btw- have u heard anything about the firewallbulhead crack problem?
my noise coming from the front of the car has gone- i thought it was a cracked firewall/bulkheadß which affects one in 3000 saab ng rhd cars
I have a tip on how to manually raise the roof if you should get that issue. i will post it later, as if u manually raise the roof, you wont be able to lock the back bit down to the bodywork and there will be gap where rain can go in
Below is a Top Tip to get the roof to lock down in place if your roof ever packs in:
Get some jump leads.
Open the boot, and pull away the upholstery on the top bit of the boot. you will notice some velcro, tear this off and behind it will be a box with cables in. Find the grey and brown cables.
Attach two screwdrivers to the red and black of the jumpleads, and the other end of the jumpleads to another cars battery.
put the screwdrivers on the grey and brown cable connections and the roof will electrically close and lock down in place
if it doesnt , it means the screwdrivers are on the wrong ends of the jumpleads, swap them over, now try and it should workd.
i have seen loads of saab cabs driving around where the back hood is not locked fully down, as the hood has broken, and the owner not knowing how to lock it electrically down in place.
Edited by K321 on Saturday 1st August 10:09
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