Sharks

Dave, good to see that things are working out.
Let me know if you need help with pulling the engine.

As far as the buy/lease goes ... you have your priorities in order.

A wise man once said ...

Buy what appreciates, rent (lease) what depreciates.

Big Dave

Update 10:00am, Sept 3.:

UPS tracking website says delivery of my new tensioner bolt is delayed "due to a late train". There goes a 3 day weekend for working on the car


While I'm still waiting for the RX8 guy to let me know if they'll swap tires (he called this morning to say they're working out a deal with a local tire store), I've been looking into other possibilities if this one doesn't work out to my satisfaction. Since I've been using my 928 as a daily driver, I'd forgotten how goddamn expensive cars are!!!!!

Big Dave

Tuesday, Sept. 7:

UPS says the new bolt should be here today, so I've got my fingers crossed.

A couple questions:

1. When the belt slipped off, I noticed some coolant leaking out. I drained the radiator, but not the engine, and more coolant came out from the tensioner bolt's hole when I removed it. Is this normal? The water pump is new, and I don't see anything yet that points to another source for the coolant leak besides the bent tensioner bolt. What do you guys think?

2. I've never pulled a relay before. How can I get the fuel pump relay out without damaging it? I need to pull it for the compression test.

3. When I do the compression test, how long (in terms of seconds) should I allow the starter to turn before checking the gauge?

Thanks in advance.

Normy

-Dave I wish you the best. I sure hope you stay with "the program"-

I read the first few pages of this thread, but I'm in Europe right now and it costs me a lot to be online [$6/hour], so I haven't read everything

-You buy a well engineered car, you take care of it with expert advice, and use parts that are well regarded. You should have good luck right? Well, it is understandable when you are ready to "throw in the towel" when for no reason at all the belt slips and you are left with an expensive pile of parts. I'd be ready to wander off to Acura NSX or MB SLK land too.

Did anyone say the word "Supra" or am I just hearing the wind blowing outside my hotel room here in Amsterdam?

BAH. Phony cars built for people with various other priorities.

Dave, fix that car. If nothing else, the number of posts in this thread should tell you WHY!

Best of luck Dave!

N!

Gretch

2a I used a pair of pliers set on wide. Just gently rock back and forth while pulling on the relay.

3a You should let the engine got through at least a couple of full rotations....seen three as recommended norm.

I don't have any advice on the leak,too late to pressure test the system........

Big Dave

I've got to check when I get home, but doesn't the tensioner bolt screw into the water pump housing so that, without the bolt, there is a hole for coolant to escape? I'm still working under the assumption (hope) that the bent bolt allowed coolant to escape. What troubles me is that I assume the bolt was bent before the belt slipped, but coolant only seemed to escape in a noticeable way after the belt slipped. I do recall having to add coolant a few weeks ago, and I was puzzled why since I didn't see drips anywhere. Perhaps that was my only warning......

borland

The pivot bolt screws into the waterpump and coolant waterway.

Also, one of the tensioner bolts screws into the engine block and coolant waterway.

wds928

Dave:

1. Disconnect the ground at the battery.
2. Use a couple of 90 degree picks (available at Sears, Advance Auto, etc) and slip under the relay between the board and the relay.
3. Pull gently, rock side to side, etc to pull the relay.

I tried the pliers approach and pulled the cover off the relay.

Bill

Thaddeus

Still standing by, waiting to hear the prognosis. Good luck, Dave.

Big Dave

Update 9/9/04:

I finally got a new car....2004 Saab 9-3 Arc. The RX8 ceased being attractive after the dealer agreed to swap the OEM summer-only tires....with a different brand of summer-only tires. Moron.

I'll be doing the compression test on Saturday. Keep your fingers crossed, but I'm working under the assumption that at least one valve is damaged and that the engine will be coming out over the winter.

Gretch

Well, you are about to get real "personal" with your shark........

Gretch spent last winter in surgery with me turning the wrenches, and I am more attached to the car now, than I have ever been over the last 13 years.

You have a GREAT looking car there Dave......worth the committment from my perspective.......Good luck.

FlyingDog

Welcome to the SAAB family! My 9000 is sitting out front without 1st, 2nd, or 5th gears. Quote from local shop to repair: $390. Quote from dealer to repair: $150. Price for the broken part from TheSAABSite.com: $20.70 shipped. The more I see you guys complain about your 928s, the more I realize I'm already prepared for Shark ownership and maintenance from my years of SAAB ownership!

TroppoShark

Dave,

the last car I had before the shark bit me was a Saab 9000. That was a great car, with a turbo so smooth you wouldn't know it was blowing except to look at the speedo. Reliable and stylishly understated... The 9.3 can only be better.

Good choice, and good luck with redemption from Purgatory...

Phill.

PatrickP

Dave:

My stomach hurts just reading about this. I am dropping a few thousand dollars off with my mechanic tomorow for belt with broken teeth. Fortunately, mine broke when starting the car so the damage was not extensive. While he's in there he's attending to a few other things. I feel your pain. Hang in there!

Kiwi

I’m sure you will enjoy the Saab, my present DD is a 2002 Saab 93 (3’rd Saab I’ve had in a row). Good enough for 220 km’s on the Autobahn (Nurnberg to Munich), passing a police car on the right doing approx 130 km’s while I was being passed by a 7 series BMW on the left – anyway enough of that … Saabs are OK.

Best of luck with your 928, yours is one of the better ones.