1999 Saab 9-3S Hatch 2 DR 2.0L L4 FI 16V Help............

[wonghe]

Guys, SAAB owners I need some advice on how to proceed....
I have a 1999 Saab 9-3 where I purchased from a friend of mine for about 3 months. It was working fine until I drove it from Toronto to Montreal (500 KM). On my way there I noticed a pipe that burst and my car was linking prestone. I quickly got that fixed and still noticed a whistling noise when I kicked into my turbo. Later on when I drove my car back up to Toronto I noticed that my car started to have alot of white smoke coming out of my exhaust. My car still runs... however the smoke is just way to much. Now my car is in a garage in Montreal while Im in Toronto. The mechanic told me that my turbo is gone which makes sense and also I need a new Catalytic Converter. Now he also said that I need my head is warped. I find it hard to believe that my head is warped since my car never over heated. Guys, what do you think... Any insight... He is charging me $1600 CAD for a new engine and $650 for the new Catalytic Converter. If my head is not warped all I need is a turbo. The price for the Catalytic Converter is way to much. Too pricey.....
The body on the Car is great and I love this car can someone help me

[mrzuzzo]

I can't really help you with your engine but tell him to not replace the cat unless it is clogged. Your car can run fine without it and it is more of an emissions thing. You can get a CatCo cat on eBay for ~$50 + shipping. $600 is wayy too much...

[SaabLV93]

all that white smoke, does it mostly happen when you slow down or at idle? does it go away when you're at cruising speed? if so, then you're mechanic wasn't exactly wrong about you're turbo being gone. All that white smoke is because you're turbo is oil and water cooled, and one or more of those lines is burning up its contents in the turbo. There's a good chance your CAT is damaged, but I wouldn't go as far as replacing it just yet...not until the big problem is fixed. I don't understand why your guy could just assume that the head was warped, but it IS a possibility if all that prestone completely leaked out and you ran the car for an extended period with practically no oil. but, as you said, temps would have run high. go get a second opinion.... find a saab specialist. good luck!

[wonghe]

Hi guys,
It turns out that I need a 99 Saab turbocharger B204L. My Vin # is YS3DD38N8X2006756. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Henry

[mrzuzzo]

All you need is a Garrett T25 turbo off of another Saab. Look for them used, they are cheap. I've seen them for as low as $100 used..

[wonghe]

Guys the cheapest one I can find is 500$. Does anyone know where I can find one cheaper....

[hkayssi]

Dimitry AKA DIP on the forum is close by you in Toronto and he rebuilt his turbo.

http://photo.platonoff.com/Auto/2005...Turbo_Rebuild/

Maybe you can do the work or convince him to help you rebuild yours for $ or to give you advice on where to buy one. He's one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and a SAAB enthousiast.

[lrr81765]

mrzuzzo - do you know how this compares to a race cat? Thinking about doing the 3" exhaust and was looking at this.

Larry

[SStone]

I have my T25 I removed from my car. It was fried as well, although it might be worth a decent rebuild.

[Tweek's Turbos]

Ok, slow your roll. Firstly, you need to find a good you pull it junkyard. turbo 900s (Same as your 9-3) in Baltimore have turbos all day long for $52.


2ndly, replace the "Cat converter" with a 3" stainless V2 downpipe from Taliaferro. www.genuinesaab.com Wait on the "engine replacement".

It sounds like from your description the coolant line to the turbo leaked out and your bearing in the turbo split. The white smoke is coolant being burned after leaking into the intake from the turbo.

1st saab rule you need to remember is if something other than a window switch breaks, stop driving Get a membership to CAA or something and tow the car.

If you do need a new head, I have a spare I could send you but you may wanna have it reconditiond. I would ask the mechanic to just plane your stock head.