2008 9-5 2.3t 12000 miles. I bought this car used and it has always had some hesitation while starting up, and when accelerating. It takes about three seconds worth of turning over to start, then starts just fine. Anyway, my problem is a loss of power and a general feeling that I'm destroying my engine while driving. I will attach a video or link to showcase the sound the engine makes, but essentially it's rough. It idles roughly and loudly, at around 800 rpm. My gas milage seems to be in the low teens. If I slam on the gas it takes about a second for the engine to respond.
While troubleshooting lately I have changed the oil, run injector cleaner through the gas tank, run head cleaner through the air intake, changed the spark plugs, and added radiator fluid (the tank was almost dry if not completely dry, though the engine temps were fine). None of this seemed to do anything. I have looked online but I dont know if the sound I'm hearing is a whoosh, a click, a thump, a thud, or a knock. Any ideas where I should start (besides a mechanic)? Sorry for the long video but for some reason the forum won't let me upload the shorter but more informative ones I have. Thanks for your interest and I hope we can figure this out together!

I just see a picture, no video.

 

Sorry about that, I added YouTube links

 

It's really hard to make out where the sound is coming from. You aren't there long enough. I did notice that your DIC doesn't look fully tightened down and is missing a bolt. When you start the car, what is being displayed on your SID? Just that the door is open?
Have you checked the condition of your serpentine belt? It could be banging away in there. It could be an exhaust manifold leak (but I've never heard one THAT loud). How's the oil pressure and oil level?

 

I don't know what the oil pressure is (I will Google how to test that). The level is fine, if I'm reading the dipstick correctly. I run it up to temp then park it on a flat surface, turn off the engine, pull out and wipe, reinsert and check. I haven't checked the belts either-or I didn't think that would cause this- but I will.

 

I hear two different sounds. A slap and a noisy valve train.

Do the basics before you go any further, check the spark plugs - correct part number and good condition, correctly torqued - and properly seat the DIC.

The slap sounds to me like either the accessory drive belt coming apart or maybe an exhaust manifold leak and the valve train noise sounds like your standard neglected engine.

How many miles on the beast? Not the 12000 you wrote I'd guess. Change the oil with a high quality synthetic. With neglected engines I like Pennzoil Ultra for its high detergency.

 

Thanks for the input! It's too dark for me to fiddle with it today but I'll get on that tomorrow. Would any of these problems be related to power loss, delayed acceleration, or the start delay?

 

Sounds exactly like my 06 did when it had an exhaust manifold leak. It will make a tick noise just like that. Also sounds like you have another exhaust leak likely at the flex pipe and a weak battery with how slow it cranked over.

 

I did not look at the video but make sure there isn?t a loose spark plug

 

I think I hear an exhaust leak, possibly a belt pulley bearing and a tired battery.
.

 

I'm pretty sure that you are having a exhaust leak, check all your exhaust manifold studs, there is one probably broken. This happened to me (in fact, now it sounds again since my mechanic fit a stud that costantly loses torque, I will fix this in this weekend) Also if you pull throttle hard with your windows rolled down at low speeds, you may hear also a whistling sound, also related to a exhaust leak. I would start by fixing this and comment your impresions when you have it done.

If it's very cold outside, some delay on start could be normal

Good luck ;ol;

 

Hey you might be right. I noticed the center bolt didn't look right and when I went to tighten it it easy turned... and turned... and turned. I think the threads are stripped because there were also little metal flakes in the hole when I pulled the bolt out. Also, the bolt threads have a lot of black build on them but the tip is clean. It doesn't look like the gasket is obviously blown but I guess I could replace it.

 

And now after using some head cleaner, my car won't start. It won't even crank, I just hear a clicking noise (very rapid clicking noise) when I try to start it. And what's stranger is even with the keys out there is a stranger clicking noise (different noise) coming from the engine compartment fuse box and my windows don't have the power to roll up all the way. The only way I was able to stop the noise was to disconnect the battery. Btw I can't get the nut off the bolt/stud that I took out-of-town I wonder if someone tried to remove it and ended up snapping the stud?

 

Head cleaner?

You are descending into a dark place of automotive punishment.

 

I.... I YouTubed..... I... I'm sorry

On the bright side my battery was just dead.
I am going to try some cat cleaner and if that doesn't work read up on replacing that stud and gasket.

 

Recharge your weak battery ..if you left the doors open whilst working on the car it will be flat....sure sign for the clicking!

 

So do you think the loose/broken stud would cause a gasket leak? Do I have to replace the gasket or just drill the bolt out and replace/torque it?

 

Oh and yes my battery was just dead lol. And I already bought the cat cleaner so...

 

You have to replace the stud anyways, so if it it's accesible try it ;ol;

Yesterday managed to fix mine, thread were flat in the cylinder head. I bought a M8 x 1.25 helicoil kit and OEM stud, using helicoil was easy but I was sweating anyways only thinking if it goes wrong. You need to drill where the bad thread is, with engine in the car is not possible since your drill will not fit, so I purchased a 90 degree angle

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...JM7WT97&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=891a5302-4777-5d29-81a5-e35d9523b7c8&pf_rd_i=552806

With this it was very easy, but you have to be very careful and make sure that your drill goes straight

Fortunately all went all right and now there is no slapping noises in my engine :cheesy:.

 

https://youtu.be/M9tpQZFaidg okay so I found two studs for the manifold gasket whose nuts were loose. I also replaced the missing bolt and nut. This is what it sounds like after that and some seafoam in the air intake, and a bunch of fuel additives I probably didn't need. It's quieter and the flapping is gone but I still have some symptoms: the engine is still louder than I think it should be while idling; there is hesitation while accelerating and starting (fuel filter?); and when idling it will shimmer every few seconds.

I am afraid my fuel pressure might be low. I know I can check that. I'm worried I might have to fiddle with the filter because it's an 08, which apparently has it's filter IN THR FUEL TANK (go home, Saab, you're drunk).

 

That sounds to me like it was still in choke mode (cold start mode) due to the volume of sound from the air induction.

Did you take the video immediately after starting the car?
Start the car and wait until the RPM goes down to below 1000 and then you'll have your idle sound.

Hesitation could be fuel pump, could be DIC, could be plugs, could be Cat related, could be injectors, could be fuel pressure regulator, could be the seafoam.