Is this the first sign of sludge?...help please.

[dj.si]

Thanks - I am not a million miles from Park Royal / Alperton and might well look them up if I need the "PCV" work done. How do I identify whether the car has been upgraded with PCV or not?

I'm not sure how to tell if the breather upgrade has been done already. Is there anything in the service history? Otherwise a Saab service centre should be able to tell if it has already been done.

Regarding noises, in my experience a worn pulley makes a rattling noise rather than a whining sound. I've also had a faint ticking in the past which sounded to me like tappets, and my Saab specialist agreed. He recommended adding Wynn's Hydraulic Valve Lifter Treatment (around 9 quid from Halfords) to the engine oil, and it worked - the ticking stopped!

Wynn Oil UK

On a more general note, when was your convertible last serviced, and have you had it checked since you bought it? Even though my 9-3 had service history I regarded its condition as unknown and took it in for service as soon as I bought it in 2010, allowing my Saab specialist to check and advise on what needed doing (of course on the basis of trust, and that he wasn't going to rip me off!) He did the sump clean out and breather system upgrade, checked for evidence of the bulkhead crack problem (affects RHD 900 and 9-3 models - see link below), plus other work that he said was needed. At the end of it I had the peace of mind that I didn't have to worry about anything until the next annual service.

GM900/9-3 Recall. Firewall crack. - SaabCentral Forums

It sounds as though you're keen to avoid any repeat of your past experience of blown turbo/engine. So if you have a Saab service centre that you trust, perhaps you might want to do the same and get the peace of mind? But it's only a suggestion!

[Suemax]

I'm not sure how to tell if the breather upgrade has been done already. Is there anything in the service history? Otherwise a Saab service centre should be able to tell if it has already been done.

Regarding noises, in my experience a worn pulley makes a rattling noise rather than a whining sound. I've also had a faint ticking in the past which sounded to me like tappets, and my Saab specialist agreed. He recommended adding Wynn's Hydraulic Valve Lifter Treatment (around 9 quid from Halfords) to the engine oil, and it worked - the ticking stopped!

Wynn Oil UK

On a more general note, when was your convertible last serviced, and have you had it checked since you bought it? Even though my 9-3 had service history I regarded its condition as unknown and took it in for service as soon as I bought it in 2010, allowing my Saab specialist to check and advise on what needed doing (of course on the basis of trust, and that he wasn't going to rip me off!) He did the sump clean out and breather system upgrade, checked for evidence of the bulkhead crack problem (affects RHD 900 and 9-3 models - see link below), plus other work that he said was needed. At the end of it I had the peace of mind that I didn't have to worry about anything until the next annual service.

GM900/9-3 Recall. Firewall crack. - SaabCentral Forums

It sounds as though you're keen to avoid any repeat of your past experience of blown turbo/engine. So if you have a Saab service centre that you trust, perhaps you might want to do the same and get the peace of mind? But it's only a suggestion!

That's on my agenda. TBH I don't have any existing relationships - my last place where any work was done was Abbotts - but it's over four years ago. I am told that the "rejected" former main dealer people locally are good, but haven't used them since the early days nine years ago now (when they WERE main dealer). There's an indy not far away who I used too (who I was recommended to by someone I met in the MD reception one day). Perhaps I should go back there with THIS car. First thing - this week, since I am tied to the office for three days - is to get oil and filter changed, by local people (general experience).


I will look at the link - first time I have heard of the bulkhead problem when I joined up here. Thanks.

Can someone describe what "the sludge noise" IS? I DEF have a ring / a whine when the car is cold, which vanishes very quickly.

[dj.si]

That's on my agenda. TBH I don't have any existing relationships - my last place where any work was done was Abbotts - but it's over four years ago. I am told that the "rejected" former main dealer people locally are good, but haven't used them since the early days nine years ago now (when they WERE main dealer). There's an indy not far away who I used too (who I was recommended to by someone I met in the MD reception one day). Perhaps I should go back there with THIS car. First thing - this week, since I am tied to the office for three days - is to get oil and filter changed, by local people (general experience).


I will look at the link - first time I have heard of the bulkhead problem when I joined up here. Thanks.

Can someone describe what "the sludge noise" IS? I DEF have a ring / a whine when the car is cold, which vanishes very quickly.

The bulkhead problem is a serious issue if it happens, and can result in MoT failure, depending how far it's gone. Do check the link I posted previously for more info. If the problem is apparent, there's a Saab-approved kit which has to be fitted (by a service centre, not a DIY job) and it's not cheap. Previously I had a 900 SE (1997, with 145k miles) which developed this problem, and the cost of repair was more than the value of the car, which is what prompted me to replace it with my current 9-3.

I can't comment on the "sludge noise" but if you'll be taking your convertible to a garage soon then perhaps they might be able to comment on whatever's making the whining noise. At a wild guess it might even be the oil if it's poor quality - do you know if the current oil is definitely the correct synthetic oil recommended by Saab?

Bear in mind that if you have only the oil and filter changed this week, and then find out later that your 9-3 does need the oil sump dropped and cleaned out and the breather system ("Positive Crankcase Ventilation") upgraded, that will mean another oil and filter change. I appreciate that you're "tied to the office", but if everything could be done at once (assuming the sump cleaning and PCV upgrade haven't been done already) it would probably save you a few quid.

P.S. In case you didn't see it already, I commented on one of the Watford Saab garages in this thread:

http://saabworld.net/f7/headlight-re...30/index2.html