For $1,500 (750 pounds), I'm "looking" at a 1996 Saab 900 SE Convertible 5 speed with 100,000 miles (160,000 km). The price is pretty much the reason I'm considering this car without actually seeing it yet. I've seen the NG900 Buyer's Guide and know that I can walk away, but I will be flying there to see it so either it's sold to me or I rent a car to get back home.
Anyway, here's the issue. According to the owner, reason it's being sold is two reasons. One is that it won't start, but on the phone I can hear the starter try to turn it, but very low power. Betting it's the battery.
The real issue and reason for my post is this. Owner says that the car had a new clutch cable put on, but doesn't know if it was OEM self-adjusting or aftermarket manually adjusting. 4 weeks driving it, and a "sound" begins to emanate from the transmission area. Seems that at low speed, something between a "whirring" to a "groaning/roaring" sound. Owner says that there was no squishiness or excessive play in the clutch pedal and had no trouble changing gears nor grinding in gears. Further, once car got up to speed in 4th or 5th gear, say 50 mph (80 kph), sound would go away.
That's about all of the information I was able to gather. Owner is sick of messing with mechanic shops, and just bought a new car 4 weeks ago, so Saab hasn't been driven since and memory of circumstances that lead to the funky sound is fuzzy.
1. Anybody want to take a "guess" at the problem? I've thought of low transmission oil and poorly adjusted cable, both of which could be fixed on the spot.
2. Once I see it, I'm not very sure that I'll know the source of the problem as this may be my first Saab. For that matter, on sight only, how can you tell if it's a self-adjusting or manually-adjusting clutch cable?
ANY thoughts or ideas to try would be appreciated. When/if I go see it, I will be limited on the number of tools that I can take with me...airline regulations on weight restrictions and all. Thanks and cheers!
Anyway, here's the issue. According to the owner, reason it's being sold is two reasons. One is that it won't start, but on the phone I can hear the starter try to turn it, but very low power. Betting it's the battery.
The real issue and reason for my post is this. Owner says that the car had a new clutch cable put on, but doesn't know if it was OEM self-adjusting or aftermarket manually adjusting. 4 weeks driving it, and a "sound" begins to emanate from the transmission area. Seems that at low speed, something between a "whirring" to a "groaning/roaring" sound. Owner says that there was no squishiness or excessive play in the clutch pedal and had no trouble changing gears nor grinding in gears. Further, once car got up to speed in 4th or 5th gear, say 50 mph (80 kph), sound would go away.
That's about all of the information I was able to gather. Owner is sick of messing with mechanic shops, and just bought a new car 4 weeks ago, so Saab hasn't been driven since and memory of circumstances that lead to the funky sound is fuzzy.
1. Anybody want to take a "guess" at the problem? I've thought of low transmission oil and poorly adjusted cable, both of which could be fixed on the spot.
2. Once I see it, I'm not very sure that I'll know the source of the problem as this may be my first Saab. For that matter, on sight only, how can you tell if it's a self-adjusting or manually-adjusting clutch cable?
ANY thoughts or ideas to try would be appreciated. When/if I go see it, I will be limited on the number of tools that I can take with me...airline regulations on weight restrictions and all. Thanks and cheers!