[Sarah Howerd]

Hi, I'm new to Saabs but it's great to be part of something that has so many enthusiasts.

I've just bought (2 weeks ago) a 9000 CS K reg. (private sale no warranty) and haven't been too lucky so far - we knew the gear box pinions needed replacement as it sounded like a washing machine, and there's also a small hole in the exhaust which will need fixing soon, then a week after I bought it the direct ignition failed and I had to have a new module fitted. Fortunately I found an independant Saab garage (SaabFlight) who are really good and fair.

Now I seem to be having trouble with the air con button. I'm sure when it was demonstrated to me by the seller the button stayed depressed when you pushed it and I could hear it working. Now it just comes straight back out again and I can't hear it unless I keep it held down. Is it a fuse problem or a switch problem or something worse? I've also noticed some of the lights on the dashboard are only on intermittently - the heated seat light for driver's seat mainly. Is this linked? Sorry I'm not very up on technical things - but am reading the manual - and can't find anything on this.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Mark B]

Welcome.

What sort of air con do you have? Manual air con or climate control (lots of buttons and a digital temp display). If the former, then maybe the switch is just tired. You should be able to get a second hand one for reasonable money. My seat heating is only sporadically illuminated. It seems to be typical. You can buy the bulbs from electronics suppliers, but it's a fiddly job to replace them and not really worth the effort.

 

[Tricxy]

David at Saabflight should be able to sort you out with a second hand AC switch - it sounds like yours is worn out.

The bulbs can be replaced quite easily with subminiature bulbs from maplins (costing pennies). The do require soldering in, but it is not that bad a job - and makes all the difference to the inside of the car.

I see you're in East Sussex - have you had a look at the East Sussex Saab owners club?

 

[djtaylor]

FWIW, on my 9000 with manual AC, if I press the AC switch slowly, it doesn't latch, it requires a quick stab to make it engage and stay put.

The mechanism is like that on cupboard doors where you give them a little stab to latch or open, nothing electrical, no fuses on this, just basic mechanical. Might be worth stabbing it to see if that helps.

David.

 

[Paul Harrison]

I had this problem on my 9000 manual aircon button. Would push in and then spring back out. I took it apart and cleaned it up, helped a bit. Then found it more likely to stay in if the switch was put in the dash upside down, that is, take it out and turn it 180° and fit back in.

Other option, as demonstrated by an aircon specialist when checking the system, is to push it in with a small screwdriver down the side of the button, or even card and this will hold it in place.

Later it got to the point when it would hold in but when pushing again to release it, it would stick in. Really should have just replaced it but by then the car was replaced.

 

[Sarah Howerd]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions - surprised to see so many replies so quick - you're all really kind! I'll try some of these out and ask David at Saabflight to get me a second hand one if nothing works. Will also check out Saab owners club.

By the way, I'm only getting 27.8 or 28 mpg - is this because I'm just taking short journeys most of the week or is something not tuned right - I saw something on one of the posts that said 9000 generally gave 30 + mpg - sorry can't remember which post it was.

Thanks!

 

[djtaylor]

Fuel consumption is very subjective and dependent on too many individual conditions.

I can only compare my two 9000's on the same 260 mile round motorway trip @ 60mph (I've slowed down a lot! )

9000 2.0t returns about 30mpg
9000 Aero 2.3T gives about 38mpg (true, 42 on the display)

The Aero gearing is much higher and I wouldn't find 28mpg as anything wrong for short journeys for either car.

David.

 

[john]

Originally posted by S Howerd:
[qb]I'm only getting 27.8 or 28 mpg - is this because I'm just taking short journeys most of the week or is something not tuned right - I saw something on one of the posts that said 9000 generally gave 30 + mpg  [/qb][/b]

Welcome to SSc, S Howerd

As David says - it depends on a number of factors. That fuel consumption does not sound unrealistic for me given that you say you have been doing short journeys. I don't think you have anything to be unduly concernaed about.

Good to see another Saab driver from Sussex on the board