[jonesy]

HAVE BEEN GIVEN A WHITE J REG 2.3 CS TURBO INJECTION. 164,000 MILES ON CLOCK BUT HAD ANEW ENGINE FITTED BY ABBOTTS WITH UPGRADED ECU, DUMP VALVE AND INTERCOOLER, FULLY BLOWN TURBO AND FULL GAS FLOW HEAD. CAR HAD STOOD FOR 12 MONTHS BUT STARTED WITH A JUMP AND RUN OK BUT ON FITTING ANEW BATTERY CAR RUN IRRATIC WITH TCS AND ANTI LOCK DISPLAYED ON DASH. ENGINE DONE ABOUT 32,000 MILES, LEATHER SEATS, WOOD DASH,AC,ELETRIC ROOF AND WINDOWS. ANY GUIDE FOR VALUE HAVE PAPERWORK FOR ABBOTS ENGINE.

 

[Andy M]

I saw an L reg cse turbo at a dealer for £2000 last week if this helps you to equate the value but that was a standard motor with 148,000 on the clock bit shabby here and there

 

[Mark in Ireland]

If you fixed all the problems you would expect to get around £1000 to £1500, if you sold it with the problems you might be lucky to get about £500.
TCS faults can be a number of things and can work out very expensive.

 

[Peteysmithy]

I fixed an ABS fault yesterday for a mere £35 but it took me a long enough time. Replacement near side sensor. That's the most common ABS fault, but I know nothing of TCS and have heard it's troublesome / expensive.

 

[ylee coyote]

it might be negative equity !!

tcs control unit the thick end of a grand and then you have to fit it !!

It sounds as if it is in limp home mode so I guess something is seriously wrong although it might just be a dodgy wheel sensor

I bought a 2.3 carlsson with a fault like this and paid £500
it was a faulty wheel sensor !!

you need to get a tech 2 and pull the fault codes

 

[Mark in Ireland]

I'd use ISAT, as when mine was in limphome mode with TCS fault light up, the Dealer told me my ECU was dodgy...£750 to you sir, when it turned out to be the vaccum hoses on the TCS solenoid had been put back on incorrectly by a mechanic. The fault codes displayed on TECH II are not always correct on pre trionic cars. To be totally sure you need ISAT to get the codes.

 

[ylee coyote]

you are right mark ..
did not notice it was a j-reg !!

 

[mark e]

If it is a TCS unit fault the greatest value of the car probably lies in breaking it. If it was genuinely a new engine fitted, with full Abbott head, that's easily worth £750 on it's own.

Personally, and bearing in mind you got it for nowt, if the rest of the car is in good condition, I'd say that spending up to £700 or so sorting the TCS would be a good investment- it's a fantastic performing engine/head/ECU combination.

 

[andycannon]

When did SAAB drop the TCS system and why ?

Was it that it did prove too troublesome and expensive to fix ?

 

[1989agoodvintage]

Originally posted by andycannon:
[qb]When did SAAB drop the TCS system and why ?

Was it that it did prove too troublesome and expensive to fix ? [/qb][/b]

It wasn't dropped, the old non-switchable TCS was superceded by the switchable one on later 9000 Aero's. I haven't HEARD of the switchable one being quite so problematic as the earlier version. The early version was rushed out pretty soon after (or possibly at the same time as) the 2.3T engine was introduced. As we all know, the low down grunt of the 2.3T makes it very easy to break traction ... and gearboxes!! I've heard stories that the Saab engineers weren't happy with this TCS and wanted to develop an alternative but the marketing men got their way as; a) TCS was a good gimmick and B) perhaps they were afraid that the 2.3T's would have been too wild without TCS, and would have received poor reviews as a consequence.

[edit]Oh, and unlike the Carlsson and possibly the 93 Aero, TCS became optional from MY94 on (IIRC). I know of quite a few Aero's without TCS.

 

[Mark in Ireland]

Just for the record, 2 stoke 2 turbo have developed a kit to remove TCS from pre-trionic cars. They have fitted it to two cars at present and are doing a third as i write. This will be an option I will use if and when my TCS starts acting up again

 

[wrighar]

Tcs reigned from 1991 to 1995 when it was dropped.

It resurfaced in 1998? on the 9-5.

Andrew

 

[wrighar]

At that age, the TCS problems could be in acsending price:-

vacuum hoses,
ABS sensor,
one of the 2 check valves
Throttle position sensor
and finally
Throttle body
TCS ECU

I'd check the hoses, valves, + ABS use. first.

Andrew

 

[Linna]

Little bit offtopic but here is instruction how installing the TCS On/Off switch:
http://quasimotors.com/tcsonoff.htm
This instruction should also work with -91 9000 with TCS(like my Aero/Carlsson).

 

[wrighar]

The tcs off switch will only work on 1991 (and possibly 1992) TCS cars if you retrofit the later TCS ecu.

 

[ylee coyote]

scareo
you forgot the most expensive component ..the tcs/abs conrol unit (I am on my third !!)

btw my tcs is switchable ...
however if it goes wrong you cannot simply switch it off