[tzotsi]

Friends, my 2005 Saab Aero wagon has recently (and more frequently) been acting erratic.

1) The red triangle and battery lights go on intermittently, almost always coinciding with acceleration (up, down, sideways).
2) Often, all dash lights will come on. Sometimes this is shortlived, sometimes it throws the CEL and powertrain lights. Code = P0563
3) When the code is thrown, the power seems to be severely reduced and it enters a limp-home kind of feel.
4) The radio sometimes reboots
5) Powering off the car and turning it back on again will clear the behavior, and often the CEL as well.

I've checked the voltages at the battery:

* Running = 13.8V
* Stopped = 12.7V

This hasn't drifted at all.

I was able to take a video of the behavior:
https://goo.gl/photos/X4vtDbpRMLLQTTnVA

Please help if you can!

 

[Vtsaaber]

It sounds like the ignition switch to me. All those sorts of things were going on for me early winter and it turned out to be the ignition switch.

 

[tzotsi]

(VT = Vermont?)

Hey thanks for the response.

Due to the intermittent nature of it a switch sounds probable. When yours failed was it something you could push (or jiggle) to make fail or work?

 

[swisssaabist]

from common website OBDE codes it could be come from :
Battery defective Loose or missing alternator drive belt Faulty alternator Open or short system voltage circuit

Read more: https://www.autocodes.com/p0563.html

 

[Alej]

You can check the battery cables and grounds for corrosion. It may help to clean all of the connections on the battery and the. I think it is the ignition switch though. Mine went bad a couple of months ago and I had a similar experience.

Here is how mine acted, the dash would flash and die when I tried to start it, sometimes after the engine started the gauges would start to turn off, then eventually everything shut down. I would have random voltage related CELs at different modules including the fuel pump. Restarting would fix everything:

Here is the thread for mine with links on how to remove the shifter if yours is a manual: http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=647170

Cleaning the battery cables and grounds did help my idle. It ran buttery smooth after I cleaned all of the connections under the hood, but still acted strange since the ignition switch was failing.

 

[tzotsi]

I ran the Torque app with OBDII reader this morning and found that the voltage would spike to 17.9V corresponding with the dash light freak out.

This seems to me to indicate the voltage regulator on the alternator is flaky.

This is frustrating, since I replaced this with a reman 20k miles ago... And, that thing is a real... pain... to remove/get back in.

 

[Vtsaaber]

Yes, VT
You can change just the voltage regulator without removing the alternator all the way. I am not sure of a way to diagnose the switch, it is kind of a seat of the pants sort of thing. I would start with the voltage regulator or a remanufactured Bosch alternator although the best way would be to have it rebuilt by someone who does starters and alternators. Take the alternator out the top if you replace the whole thing.

 

[tzotsi]

OK, I ordered a reman Bosch (I just couldn't do new... $$$)

I have read of some people just swapping out the voltage regulator with the alternator disconnected but not removed. I may try that first as the last time I replaced the whole thing it was an absolute bear to get it out, through the top as you mention.

More symptoms:

1) Voltage drops to 11.5, then continues to drop
2) Voltage jumps to 15, then to 18 for ~20 seconds
3) Voltage goes to normal @12.8 for a while.

I'll be glad when all the "Bing bong!" chimes stop!

 

[EdT]

While I was in there, I'd want to check the condition of the brushes and clean the slip rings. I'm not sure if those come as part of the regulator assembly. Cleaning the copper slip rings that the brushes contact can't be very easy with the alternator still in the engine compartment.

 

[tzotsi]

Thanks for the reality check... i think i'm better off following SAAB VIP's video and just swapping out the whole thing.

 

[tzotsi]

Just a quick follow-up... I replaced the alternator with a reman Bosch and normal operation has been restored. I did have to file ~.050" off each of the mounting studs to get them to fit into the engine recesses.

Holy moly is there some short-sighted mechanical engineering under that hood...

 

[swisssaabist]

don't forgot to retake the voltage at battery and cables just for your personal knowledge.
it's really cool you've fixed your issue.