[Full Leather]

Hi,I have just bought a cheap 91 SE 2.3Turbo auto with SSh and 122k- the problem seems to be that although the car drives quietly and smoothly the turbo is not working. On kickdown the pickup is slow and the turbo guage only shows slight movement- only slightly into the orange. Has the turbo gone altogether or could this be a fault with the APC? Unfortunately the computer display isn't functional so I can't see any error codes- any suggestions?

 

[Toby Mack]

There is a test procedure at http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/archive/files/faq/boost.html<br />
Alternatively, why not bypass the apc completely by blocking the hose to the wastegate. Drive very carefully (so as not to overboost and destroy your engine!) and you should see some decent boost if the turbo is ok.
Might be worth temporaly fitting a better boost gauge (you can buy one for £20 from http://www.speeding.co.uk/) just in case the gauge is bad.
I'm going on what I have read, I've not actually tried any of the above!

 

[MikeH]

Had the same problem just after buying my car,after much headsceatching it turned out to be a seized waste gate,not helped by most of the vacuum hoses aere perished and leaking.PlusGas solved the main problem

 

[Derek]

As well as the above check that the actuator rod hasn't dropped off the wastegate and that the diaphragm in the by-pass valve is intact ( check it by blowing down the the small pipe connected to the inlet manifold, if you can blow through it it's burst)