Hi newbiw owner of a 95 with a few questions

[fish6634]

Hi i purchased a 1999 saab 95 today and have a few questions

1. This may seem like a silly question but it the sump plug a reverse thread? Its very tight and i am worried i am tightening it (anti clockwise) as oppose to undoing.
2. What boost pressure do they run as standard because mine doesnt seem to be boosting very well.

thanks Graeme

[Chris 9-5]

Originally Posted by fish6634

Hi i purchased a 1999 saab 95 today and have a few questions

1. This may seem like a silly question but it the sump plug a reverse thread?

Nope.....

[pegasus50]

with respect to the boost question; it really depends on what Turbo unit you have. Is your car a 4 Cyl or V6?

[zef95]

Originally Posted by fish6634

Hi i purchased a 1999 saab 95 today and have a few questions

1. This may seem like a silly question but it the sump plug a reverse thread? Its very tight and i am worried i am tightening it (anti clockwise) as oppose to undoing.
2. What boost pressure do they run as standard because mine doesnt seem to be boosting very well.

thanks Graeme

Welcome to the club!

1. It is threaded normally. Definitely. Since you just got it, the last quick-change place probably overtightened it with an air wrench. When I did mine the first time, it was extremely tight as well. I got a spare plug and copper washer in case the old ones were deformed. I don't think I really needed the plug, but the washer was good to have, and I replaced them anyway.

2. How are you telling that it isn't boosting very well?

[fish6634]

Well i know how a turbo car should run the way the boost genrally starts to come in about 2000 rpm and should be hitting full boost by 3-3500 rpm. mine feels really flat as though its getting no boost, unfortunatley its the 2.0t the low pressure 4 cylinder one and doesnt have the built in boost gauge so its even harder to see if it is making any positive boost. I have had a look on here and there is a guy who recommends you block off the top pipe of the three on some sort of valve and then it should hit full boost? When i got it the vac pipe off the blow off valve (saab one) wasnt connected so maybe its a problem with that. With regards to the sump plug its that tight the bolt is starting to round off!!

[hiros]

As for the sump plug get a new one while use a vice grip to remove the current one. Get some copper washer too.

Note as per earlier reply it is not a reverse thread.

[zef95]

Originally Posted by fish6634

Well i know how a turbo car should run the way the boost genrally starts to come in about 2000 rpm and should be hitting full boost by 3-3500 rpm. mine feels really flat as though its getting no boost, unfortunatley its the 2.0t the low pressure 4 cylinder one and doesnt have the built in boost gauge so its even harder to see if it is making any positive boost. I have had a look on here and there is a guy who recommends you block off the top pipe of the three on some sort of valve and then it should hit full boost? When i got it the vac pipe off the blow off valve (saab one) wasnt connected so maybe its a problem with that. With regards to the sump plug its that tight the bolt is starting to round off!!

Hm. I have no experience with other turbo cars, but my 2.3 low pressure turbo doesn't really feel like a turbo. By design, there is no lag, and power comes on very smoothly because the turbo is very small; max torque is at 1800rpm and 240Nm for the 2.0. Without a boost gauge I would be unable to tell if it were boosting correctly or not, unless something was very wrong. I'm not sure how you can diagnose your turbo without a gauge beyond making sure everything is connected properly.

And yes, definitely get a new bolt (eEuroparts is a favorite supplier in the States, not sure elsewhere). I don't know what you've tried on the bolt so far, but here would be my approach:

1. 13mm 6-point socket (12-pts are easier to round)
2. 1/2 inch 6-point socket, if it has rounded and it'll fit (haven't needed to or tried)
3. File or grind flats on the bolt head, and remove with locking pliers. This may be fiddly.
4. Get a rounded bolt remover socket or set.

How is the car otherwise?

[fish6634]

apart from slight tapping from cold for a minute (which will probably be cured when i change the oil) and the boost problem which i will source a gauge to make sure i am making positive boost. Which i still need to know what they should boost at max pressure. The car is superb otherwise lovely to drive everything works as it should lovely car i am well impressed and this is my first saab. Great help on here by the way!!!

[helmetvonthrob]

My sump plug was f. tight, I ended up using mole grips and smacking it with a hammer to shock it.

Then there was the gearbox plug!

Read the oil threads here and always run your Slab on FULL synthetic.

Welcome to the pleasure dome.

[zef95]

oh yeah, and can of liquid wrench, or pb blaster, or whatever

[jwwells]

I had a rounded off sump plug. Just get the biggest beefiest pair of locking pliers and clamp them on as tight as they will go- new ones have sharper teeth, so perhaps invest in a new pair. Then just muscle that thing off.

[jneil]

fish6634. I have found if you tap on the drain plug just hard enough to not mangle it for about 20 wacks it will probably come loose. Some ape thought he was doing you a favor.

[fish6634]

why oh why do people over tighten bolts all it needs is a nip! I am gonna get a replacement drain plug before i attempt this last resort maybe grinding two flats as someone has already mentioned. Then i am going to pick up a cheap boost gauge just so i can see what boost i am getting. Its probably just me though i am used to the boost on a 1985 Rs turbo where you wait and wait and then get a kick up the **** at 3000 rpm

[Kermit]

Originally Posted by fish6634

Its probably just me though i am used to the boost on a 1985 Rs turbo where you wait and wait and then get a kick up the **** at 3000 rpm

Almost certainly. Saab light pressure turbos are very subtle and smooth in operation, it will be spinning from 1500rpm and out of puff by 4500rpm, not like the older turbo generation where it was....wait for it, wait for it, wait for it, shiiiiiittt.

[fish6634]

can anyone give me a stock boost level for a 9-5 2.0t? am i right thinking its about 9 psi?