[Chapel976]

I always hear people complaining that DI Cassettes fail.
Why do they fail and who has the best price for them?
My friend told me I should consider having a spare one lying around just in case.
Might come in handy considering I might have two 9-5s soon...

 

[Raven18940]

Why do they fail, no one really knows. Perhaps they just get old and begin to suffer from electron migration. Considering they last 70K usually, people complain about them for lack of other bits to complain about. They really aren't that bad, it's the possibly of sudden failure that scares most people.....and me.

As for where to buy them, the best price I've seen is on eeuroparts.com for $320 for a brand new DI. I got a used spare for my trunk on ebay for $120.

 

[Chapel976]

Someone told me there's some cooling oil inside the cassette that burns off and causes it to fail.
Any truth?

 

[Raven18940]

Couldn't tell you, but that sounds very feasible.

 

[Kermit]

There is a conducting oil in the 4 wells of the DI. Whether its this that fails after time or another part of the DI i don't know. A failed DI is normally accompanied by a foul smell of an electrical fire.

 

[Shiston]

I think my DI casstte is on its way now as all of a sudden lately the car takes a little longer to start. I'm gonna try and see if I can get a second hand one to keep in the boot.

 

[Chapel976]

I think my DI casstte is on its way now as all of a sudden lately the car takes a little longer to start. I'm gonna try and see if I can get a second hand one to keep in the boot.

I assume it's just something we all have to deal with then?
In my opinion, it's still cheaper an easier than replacing a cap, rotor, wires, distrubutor and plugs.

 

[joshd2012]

The DI cassette is meant to replace the spark plugs, wires, and distributor. Those things wear out, why wouldn't a DI cassette?

 

[Kermit]

Thank you Josh, at long last somebody else who treats DI's as a consumable. (as does Chris) [before he butts in] :cheesy:

 

[Raven18940]

Just looked on eeuroparts for the price of a V6 DI, $355 for 1! I can see why the V6 guys complain about these.

 

[Kermit]

The I4 guys have the PCV system, the V6's boys have 2 DI's. We all have our cross to bear.

 

[mjlee]

The DI cassette is meant to replace the spark plugs, wires, and distributor. Those things wear out, why wouldn't a DI cassette?

Um, not to be too anal, but you still need spark plugs with the DI cassettes.

 

[Chapel976]

The DI cassette is meant to replace the spark plugs, wires, and distributor. Those things wear out, why wouldn't a DI cassette?

exactly. And at least it only takes about 3 minutes to replace.

 

[Saaby]

Lost mine at just under 40k in a fast food drive through better than at a stop light though. I actually had the (auto) car sitting in neutral and was just sitting there with my window down, sunroof open, radio off, listening to the lovely music of the engine thinking to myself: "It sounds like it's idling a little rough." I had paid for my food and was waiting for them to bring it to the window (Why should I have to get out of my car car, I'm American ) when the car died and refused to restart.

Long story short, made the fast food employees push me out of their drive through (Why should I have to get out of my car, I'm American )dealer tow truck came after an hour later and said it was the seventh!! Saab he'd towed that day. DI Cassette replaced under warranty and all has been well since.

 

[aero1116]

Hold on, the DI is replaced under warranty assuming it's not expired? Dammit Jim Ellis, you lied to me! :evil::evil::evil:

They also said they must reprogram some crap when they install it and said it's not a diy for the 02. Son of a....

Are they right about that?

 

[Chapel976]

Hold on, the DI is replaced under warranty assuming it's not expired? Dammit Jim Ellis, you lied to me! :evil::evil::evil:

'

Jim Ellis in Marietta GA?
Go search the vwvortex.com for that guy... apparently he was fired after much negative press on that site that the VWoA head, Len Hunt, came onto the board to get info!

 

[Raven18940]

My car threw a CEL yesterday morning at startup, but showed no signs of illness. I think it's the dreaded cylinder misfire, but I haven't got the code read yet.

 

[jmartin]

I have a good one for sale

I replaced mine that had only about 10K on it -- one for a '99 9-5, but fits various models -- to fix a problem, but it turned out to be the throttle body. Now that my car has been totaled, I don't need it as a spare.

Anyone interested before I send it off to ebay?

JM

 

[Chris 9-5]

I replaced mine that had only about 10K on it -- one for a '99 9-5, but fits various models -- to fix a problem, but it turned out to be the throttle body. Now that my car has been totaled, I don't need it as a spare.

Anyone interested before I send it off to ebay?

JM

You may advertsise it free of charge on the classifieds but not on the forums, thanks

 

[mjlee]

Here's Saab's explanation for why the DIC's fail:

"…the primary failure mechanism involves overheating and burnout of the isolated gated bipolar transistor (IGBT). Approximately 80% to 90% of the inoperative field return parts analyzed for the model years 1999 to 2001 have exhibited an overheated IGBT. The IGBT is critical to the charging and discharging of the ignition charge capacitor, consequently the result of an inoperative IGBT is a no-spark condition."

I have no idea what they're even talking about but in case someone else is a little more knowledgeable regarding ignition systems.