Central display unit flickering – 12th February 2010

Oh no, the central display keeps going dim, then bright, then dim. Randomly.

I know there’s a sensor to adjust the brightmess, but the light levels aren’t changing around the car, so why so inside?

Central display unit failing – 8th February 2010

Strangely enough, just hours after visiting the local dealer, the clock/radio/warning display has stopped working.

At first there was nothing, then the clock came back to life.

After a few minutes the warning area began to work (temperature etc), but still no radio output.

Then, after a few miles of driving, the radio element came back to life.

Is this a temporary blip, or something more sinister?

There’s a fault, but we don’t know what it is…

The rattling suspension is simply driving my passengers and I mad. It’s a continual chatter, so I popped into the local dealer to investigate.

The answer was… wait foir it… it doesn’t sound right but we can’t identify what it is. Bring it back if it gets worse.

Having spoken to a Saab expert, I have it on good authority that it’s the dampers. Getting a Saab dealer to agree is simply another thing.

Just what is it with modern cars?

Approved used car schemes

I wonder what’s in it for a Saab dealer (or any other marque) to find faults in Approved Used cars prior to sale to a customer?

The reason I ask this is that someone will be paying to fix those faults. It isn’t in the dealers’ interest to do this surely; they either pay for their staff’s time out of their own pocket, or they claim it back from the manufacturer. I’d be fairly confident that the manufacturer would give each dealer a specific target each year (and perhaps a bonus) if they claim less than, say £100, on fixes per vehicle prior to sale. A dealer is not going to thank a member of its staff for finding faults wither – it’s just eating into profits.

What interest is there for a dealer to rectify faults I wonder? I’m no mechanic, but I’ve found so many blindingly obvious faults that I can’t help but think that no check was made to my vehicle.

I’m pretty sure that dealers wait for customers to identify faults themselves. It’d be very interesting to hear what other people think about this!

A letter to Saab

Overall my car is good. The suspension still rattles though. This should have been identified prior to sale, and I’ve now spent 2 days at the originating dealer in the hope that they can diagnose and fix the problem. We’re not talking rattles over bumps, but a continual chattering over what would appear to be smooth roads – the sort that exist on all roads. This is especially evident at low speeds. At motorway speeds there appears to be no sound made at all.

Earlier this week the engine also seemed to repeatedly surge and shudder at about 1500 rpm. No idea what this is about. I’ll keep an eye on it.

I’ve just written to Saab Uk explaining my situation. Hopefully they’ll reply soon

Whatever next? 3rd January 2009

On my way home the car reported dipped beam failure. The headlamp appears to be working fine though!

On inspection the manual suggests that an incorrect bulb might have been fitted. Saab approved… I’m really beginning to wonder.

I called my local dealer this time to see what’s what. They’ll take a look but a bulb will cost me.

Hang on – I’ve got a 3 year warranty and a special Saab 1 year guarantee. I haven’t broken the bulb. Do Saab really think that a car with illegal lighting is acceptable within the first month of ownership?

I called Saab UK and they might consider a contribution.

We’ll see what they say.

Thinking of buying a Saab? Think very carefully would be my advice.

Garage visit number two – 2nd January 2009

I arrive at the dealers at 9.15 only to be questioned as to whether I’d arranged a courtesy car. After some discussion they agreed to loan me a Vaxhall Corsa. They called my insurer on my behalf and added the loan car to my policy. There was no warning or explanation that they were going to do this – just a request to see my insurance documents and a swift call to my insurer. How odd.

At 4pm they told me that the audio could not be fixed but that the suspenion had been rememdied. The car was so much quieter, but the dealer did say “let’s see how we get on”. Personally I reckon the fault is in a ball joint or a drop link (I’m no mechanic but people have offered this as likely causes for the problem).

Garage visit number one – 22nd December 2008

The 93 visited the dealer on 22nd to get the faults recified. 6 hours waiting at a dealership isn’t much fun, however:

• The suspenion rattle was indeed a known 9-3 fault requiring new top bearings at a date to be decided by the dealer. Parts are required.
• The driver’s window did require lubrication to “see how we go”
• The gear shift did require some adjustment and is far better now
• The technician can hear the high frequency buzzing and will address on the next visit to the dealer

The technican also spotted a slow puncture and remedied this ASAP. I reckon this wasthe reason for a lower than specified tyre pressure on delivery…

The dealer also washed the car – very good of them. This time they didn’t bother waxing the windscreen which I find rather thoughtful of them.

I await a call to arrange the audio and suspension fixes.

Another water in fuel alert

The water in fuel light has come up again.

Saab will be investigating a week on Monday.

If they can’t fix this and the suspension I feel that I’ll have no option but to reject the vehicle.

Double charged

My debit card has stopped working. A quick call to the bank has solved it – the car dealer put the sale through twice. How inconvenient