Hi, just bought a 1996 Saab 9000. As I was driving it home the lights suddenly decided to go out ! After turning the light switch on and off a few times they came back on again. Well this has happened a few times now, the best way seems to be to open and slam the drivers door. Does sound like a loose connection but where do i start looking. Is this a common problem ?

Welcome to SAABScene, Winston.

The problem is most likely the big red (or orange sometimes) elay that controls the headlamps. IIRC it is in the relay panel in front of the battery. If you are nifty with a soldering iron they are fixable. Otherwise put an ad in the parts wanted section here, try E-Bay, your local scrapper, the usual suspects (breakers) or go to your main dealer and have your wallet emptied.

If you use the search facility here, you should find some idea of what is wrong and how to fix it.

Winston11,

I agree with TB. Search out the Big Red Relay in the box next the battery. The annoying thing is that just taking it out and replacing it will probably fix it for a while but really you need to replace it or get in with the soldering iron. My previous LPT did just this when I got it. It's fairly disconcerting when barrelling along a country road at night. I took to leaving the spots on just in case.

Paul @ Kippen.

Winston11,

Take a look at BillJs site. Procedure by John Carlyle-Clarke.

http://www.saab9000.com/procedures/electri...dlamp_relay.php (http://www.saab9000.com/procedures/electrical/headlamp_relay.php)

My 93 Aero did exactly the same.
After faffing with the relays/switch it turned out to be the dip/main beam stalk on the LHS of the steering wheel.
Managed to change it without taking the steering wheel off too.
Loosing lights is never fun!!