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Car won't start....again!

543 views 5 replies 3 participants last post by  djtaylor 
#1 ·
Hi Saab fans,

Until this year my 9000 anninversay (113k) has given me 5 years of trouble-free, enjoyable motoring. This year it all started to go wrong.

Firstly, in March the head gasket blew and an exhaust section needed replacing. Well, £1100 later all was fine until about 3 months ago when I started geting problems starting the car. It would start and then die and then start second time. This went on until 4 weeks ago it would not start at all. THe AA diagnosed the fuel pump whch SAAB duly replaced. Three days later, again it would not start. This time SAAB changed the DI cassette and for a few weeks all was well. Yesterday, however, it would not start and now a "check radiator" light is coming on. I know very little about cars but the header tank is full.

I will get the AA to tow me to Saab again but having spent £1700 this year (surely more than it's value??) I am thinking is it time to get rid of it. I really love it and would hate to but can't go on pouring money down the drain.

If anyopne has any ideas I would be very grateful.
 
#2 ·
Hey mate, my car had the same problem of not being able to start too. The RAC guy said it was the fuel pump, so bought a brand new one, fitted it, and still no joy. That was back in mid dec 2006. I had the car taken to a Saab specialist in Tadley, near Reading. It's been there ever since. He has change numerous parts on it, and has finally got it going again, but it's just not getting any boost now.
 
#3 ·
Sounds worrying. Anyway I am going t get the AA to tow it to Saab and hope they can sort it out-fingers crossed. They said donb't get the AA to start it as they want to see it in it's raw state. Will have to bung the guy twenty quid and tell him not to even try.

You must really love yours to keep persevering with it!
 
#4 ·
Here's my take on this.

a) Don't take it to a Saab main dealer, their labour charges are just way too high. I did that *once*. Since then i've either done it myself or the car has gone to an independant with labour charges half that of the dealership.

b) As to spending more than the cars value, I see it that people have three choices:-

1. Buy a new car, be under the illusion that it's worth something when in reality, it will typically cost around 500 a month by the time the finance, depreciation etc. are taken into account and so it's easy to just lose 6000 a year just by buying a new car.

2. Buy an old car, spend absolutely nothing on it, when something goes wrong, buy something else.

3. Buy an old car but figure that because you didn't waste money on the depreciation part, you've got that capital to spend to keep it going. Yes it will feel expensive but not half as expensive as buying that new car for 30,000 then selling it again 3 years later for 10,000.

My 1993 Aero does exactly the same job of getting from A to B, in comfort, in fun as any of the new cars that are around. It's probably only sellable for what? 1000 to 1500 at best if that but that's not what it's actually "worth" to me. The engine is sound, the headgasket and timing stuff has been changed, reconditioned alternator, starter, new battery, suspension bushes changed, working interior, I could go on. Point being that even if I spent 1000 a year on keeping it going for the next 5 years, that's *still* much much cheaper than had I bought a new car.

What I have outside is a car that does just the same job as any other car, getting another old car either means I inherit problems that are about to happen so need fixing, or just stay with model 2. above and chuck that if there's a problem.

A cars worth is individual and I don't place a high value in driving around on an 07 plate which in my opinion says either "I've got a company car" or "Look at me, i'm losing pots of cash in depreciation every day!" :)

David.
 
#5 ·
Wise words! You are absolutely right as to the 3 choices that people have. A friend's mother spent 4k having 1974 96 totally refurbished to make it like new. I thought at the time she was crazy but that car will probably see her out and as you said, if she had bought a new car for 20-30k, she would have lost that amount, the minute she left the forecourt.

I suppose it's just that aside from tyres/exhausts I have had 5 lucky years, and therefore it just feels like everythings going wrong now.

Anyway, thanks for your perspective, I feel better about it now!

Charlie
 
#6 ·
charliew said:
I suppose it's just that aside from tyres/exhausts I have had 5 lucky years, and therefore it just feels like everythings going wrong now.

Anyway, thanks for your perspective, I feel better about it now!
Charlie
Charlie, glad you feel a bit better.

We've had a similar experience with my wife's Volvo. So far it has done 176k miles on the original clutch which I don't feel is too bad. It'll need changing very soon and needs a new steering rack but other than regular maintenance and some discs, an AC evapourator and condenser it has been a great car. I bought a new steering rack off Ebay and the clutch will cost 345 quid fitted. I'm going to be looking at an "expensive" service next time but all in, averaged out over the years of trouble free motoring, it's actually very cheap.

Do see if you can find an independent though. Saab dealer labour prices and their parts prices are just horrible.

David.
 
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