Newbie, Needs Help

[Heed_the_Sweed]

Hello all,

I have been a reader since the first day I got my c900 in May. I have not yet found the need to post although the forums have helped me fix my fluctuating fuel guage, replace my clutch, diagnose my seat heater problems, temp selector problems and get my dash lights to actually light up. Now for what I have not yet found it the forums... (actually I probably could but then I would never have reason to post).

When I first aquired the car it just had the oil changed (purcahsed from local Saab dealership). I changed it about 1700km later at 355,000 to Mobil1. The car was really gutless 2.1N/A (insert lack of turbo joke here) and would kindof hesitate/stumble while climbing the rev ranges at a stand still. It also would run much warmer than it does now. I took it real easy for the first few thousand kilometers. I am guessing the car sat for a while before it was traded in.

Also during this time the pinion bearing was making a terrible squak so a clutch job was in order. After that was out of the way I wasn't embarased to take the car in a drive-through. I checked the car all over and it had good plugs, timing was good, air/fuel filters good but still not lots of power. It was getting better though.

Then I began to notice a kindof squeak/sloshing noise at idle... very hard to describe. It could possibly be a pulley a bit lose? The only problem was it began escalating. At 360000k I changed the oil again after the noise was getting quite bad and it temporarily cured it. (coincidence?) But it is back now. As well as you hit about 4000rpm the engine kinda buzzes sometimes, maybe in the head.

The good news is the car now has tons of power (well for the motor), pulls real hard all through the powerband, it just makes this noise. You can always hear it at idle and sometimes its bad enough that you can hear it speed up as the revs climb into a tick.

When you are outside the car it seems like it is comming from the front of the motor (rear of the engine bay) near the belts so maybe it isn't internal at all. I have been thinking of changing the oil again soon before the 2500km mark or possibly a flush although I am a bit skeptical of putting that stuff in my engine.

HELP what do you think this is?!

The car also leaks quite a bit of transmission fluid from what looks to be the inner drivers. I have not done enough research on this topic yet. I have switched to Honda MTF and pretty good shifts though real pain to check fluid by taking that big bolt out.

As well my ABS light sometime stays on, getting worse now with the cold. I guess I should fix that soon too.

I really love the car though and all the "S" goodies, power roof, heated seats/mirrors etc. The body is nearly flawless so I wanto find out what this sound is!

Do you think I should take it to the local "Saab Specialist" for a listen?

Thanks for all your help,

Bevan