[DougR]

The one in the front closest to the bottom:

I apologize for the double post of sorts. I had a longer thread about the issue leading up to this question, but I have not recieved a reply yet. I thought I would make another post just getting to the point of the specific question.

I need to talk to the service place about the issue, and I want to be able to describe the issue clearly.

Basically that particular pulley wheel is rattling and causing an awful noise, and I need to know what that pulley is related to.

 

[PMI]

That is the AC compressor pulley

 

[earthworm]

The pulley most forward is the compressor drive .

AKA (also know as) the AC magnetic clutch, part number 46 34 903

 

[DougR]

Thanks for the info, I cannot seem to find that part however, only the whole compressor.

Well the air conditioning went warm yesterday while driving home, then I heard a weird noise. I turned off the air, and then turned it back on a few minutes later. THe air came back on cold, but the noise continued. I noticed the frequency increased as the RPM's went up. Now it seems to make that noise all the time. I left the car at home today, and plan to take it to the shop. Looking under the hood I noticed when the sound was generated, I noticed that particular pulley wheel was wobbling.

I would imagine the compressor is ok if the air was getting cold again...is this going to be a big job?

 

[PMI]

A remanufactured compressor at a shop that specializes in AC work might cost less than a new clutch from a dealer. The Saab a/c parts seem a bit pricey, and rebuilding compressors is nothing new. Earthworm, opinion?

Example of one on ebay, around $200:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33543&item=7979393806&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

An '02 would be under warranty, not?

Otherwise I might just bypass that pulley with a shorter belt until I found a reasonably priced part.

 

[DougR]

Well the car has 56k on it, I don't think it is under warranty anymore.

 

[PMI]

I would not drive with it that way, except to a shop. They can fail pretty violently.

 

[DougR]

Thanks for the PM PMI, I am totally bummed at this point...

Here is the deal:

I found a saab specialist about 30-35 miles away which I am afraid to drive to, since lord knows what could happen. There is the dealer, which is about 15 miles away. And there is some local garage about 5 miles away I could go to. I know I will get fleeced by the dealer, but I am afraid to get involved with someone I know nothing about, and am unsure if they will even use the correct parts.


The only place other than a mazda dealer that I have any relationship with is a local Midas that did the work on my wife's old car, and on my hyundai, they always seemed like good guys and always kept you very well informed of what they were doing, and gave you all the options.
I don't know if I should take this car there though.

 

[earthworm]

I would still pursue the warranty route, the time and mileage - well - nickpicky !

IMO, all automotive components should last 100K - check out the Korean car offerings..
And Saab is a "near premium" brand and should be better..
PMI, I agree, the air conditioning shops should be employed for this and I don't thing there should be any problem as this is a GM compressor and clutch..

 

[DougR]

I would still pursue the warranty route, the time and mileage - well - nickpicky !

IMO, all automotive components should last 100K - check out the Korean car offerings..
And Saab is a "near premium" brand and should be better..
PMI, I agree, the air conditioning shops should be employed for this and I don't thing there should be any problem as this is a GM compressor and clutch..

Ok, I just recently got this car, so I don't know what I would do. Do I call up SAAB about the problem and see if they will authorize a warranty repair? To be honest I have never had a car where major stuff like this happened, always just he normal wear parts(hey you need new rotors, etc...).

I was thinking of calling up the place I bought it from, but they basically give you a powertrain warranty of 4500 miles/90 days with a warranty company. The warranty I have does not cover AC components.

I still overall think it will be a good car, engine and all feel very strong, I think I am just hitting a really bad streak of luck.

 

[PMI]

The only place other than a mazda dealer that I have any relationship with is a local Midas that did the work on my wife's old car, and on my hyundai, they always seemed like good guys and always kept you very well informed of what they were doing, and gave you all the options.
I don't know if I should take this car there though.

I see no reason why not. You need someone who knows how to replace a compressor, or compressor pulley/clutch and has a lift, and won't charge extra for the make of the car.

 

[boxman]

its the bearing in the pulley thats gone, thats all, this happened to me last year and i just replaced the bearing, so find a bearing supplier and get one from them the bearing number is 35BG05S7DL and the dimensions of the bearing are 35x50x19.75 and any properly aquiped work shop should have the tools to replace it

 

[DougR]

its the bearing in the pulley thats gone, thats all, this happened to me last year and i just replaced the bearing, so find a bearing supplier and get one from them the bearing number is 35BG05S7DL and the dimensions of the bearing are 35x50x19.75 and any properly aquiped work shop should have the tools to replace it

So you had the same exact symptoms and such?

I did a search for the bearing, but could not find anything by that number. I also did a google search and only found that number on some hong kong bearing supplier page, but could not read it.

Thing is, would it make sense that it now still does it with the AC off? I guess the belt still spins that pulley no matter what, and the A/C clutch engages if A/C is needed, is that correct? Is that why you get a slight loss of power with AC, because now the belt actually needs to drive that wheel too?

 

[DougR]

That would certainly make sense as far as the bearing...it completely looks like the hole the pulley is mounted with is too big for the pin, and that is why it spins awkwardly. I guess I am lucky that the belt did not come off.

Is this the type of thing that a mechanic would be able to order and fix, or will they want to try and replace the whole stinkin thing unless I provide the part?

I would like to be able to just take to the dealer and have them just replace the bearing, but I doubt they will do that

I did a search and I found that pulley wheels for AC on older 900's and pulley wheels for the idler pulley are sold for the 9-3, but I cannot seem to find anything specific for the a/c pulley of the 9-3.

edit:

Is teh A/C pulley and the idler pulley one in the same, the idler pulley on the websites looks just like the pulley I am talking about, although I don't know if the size is different.

 

[PMI]

I did a search and I found that pulley wheels for AC on older 900's and pulley wheels for the idler pulley are sold for the 9-3, but I cannot seem to find anything specific for the a/c pulley of the 9-3.

the clutch and pulley are the same part, so they call it the clutch... p/n 4759981 from the EPC CD, since the clutch is part of it, it is likely to be expensive as a new oem part...

 

[PMI]

Is teh A/C pulley and the idler pulley one in the same, the idler pulley on the websites looks just like the pulley I am talking about, although I don't know if the size is different.

??! are you sure we are looking at the same pulley...

 

[DougR]

Well I am only seeing it from the top, so I am just seeing the grooves. Basically the idler pulleys have grooves too, whereas the a/c pulleys for the old 900's look smooth. That is definitely where the pulley is though where you have a/c compressor labled.

 

[DougR]

the clutch and pulley are the same part, so they call it the clutch... p/n 4759981 from the EPC CD, since the clutch is part of it, it is likely to be expensive as a new oem part...

cant find that part on partsforsaabs.com or eeuroparts.com. Is that the official part number I should ask about if I call saab or something.

 

[PMI]

Is that the official part number I should ask about ...

yes, from the Saab Electronic Parts Catalog on CD, (EPC).

 

[DougR]

I called the local dealer about that part number. $393 just for the frickin part...sheesh. I think I will just let the car sit for now, till I can figure something out. That is waaay too much money for a stinkin little wheel

And the guy said that it does not show as there being a separate bearing or anything...who knows what to believe, I am totally defeated at this point, I am just tired of dealing with this car, it's taking up way too much of my life...lol