2006 9-3 convertible battery drain

[Vince in Hawaii]

Have read many posts on this subject. My 2006 9-3 convertible has the typical battery drain issue. If car is left for a week without use, the battery is dead. Have done the following with no luck in finding the problem.

Local auto store tested battery, said battery is fine. I have put a 12 volt test light between disconnected negative battery cable and battery post. The light is quite bright. Have pulled every fuse in the engine fuse box, every fuse in the drivers side fuse panel, every fuse in the trunk, all with no change to the light. Checked the trunk and glove box lights and both go off when their doors are closed. Checked the ground under the battery box, cleaned it, no change. Disconnected the cable and plug at the alternator, no change. Key slot does pop up when ignition key is removed. If I remove the positive battery cable that goes to the engine fuse box, the light goes out. Other positive cable is still attached.

Traced a battery drain on another vehicle by pulling fuses, and culprit was aftermarket alarm system. There are no aftermarket systems on this car. I am stumped. My biggest problem is I live on the Big Island of Hawaii and there are no Saab mechanics here. PO said they told him to send car to Honolulu for repair on non operating top. I diagnosed it to be a leaking hydraulic cylinder. Used cylinder for $110 off E-bay, 20 minutes later top works perfect!

Any ideas where to go from here would be appreciated!

[swisssaabist]

no need to have a Saab specialist you need to download WIS on the site then print the electrical schemes and find an electrical car specialist every good mechanic have knowledge for resolving your issue...

[Vince in Hawaii]

Thank you! is WIS available on this site, or is it at another site? I have pretty good electrical knowledge, so will try DIY first.

Aloha,

Vince

[Digger]

Thank you! is WIS available on this site, or is it at another site? I have pretty good electrical knowledge, so will try DIY first.

Aloha,

Vince

Go to the first sticky in the Tech Talk section and you will find a link to the WIS that works with Windows 10

[Vince in Hawaii]

Thanks for the info. I changed to Mac a few years ago and have no access to a windows computer. Any way to get that on a mac?

Aloha

[Digger]

Thanks for the info. I changed to Mac a few years ago and have no access to a windows computer. Any way to get that on a mac?

Aloha

Though I've never tried it with this program there is a MAC program for Windows compatibility, but this isn't your average Windows 10 program. The WIS came from the factory running in XP and a dedicated Saab owner recompiled it to run in Windows 10, so better option than driving yourself nuts trying to get this to run on a MAC, I suggest your time and money would be better spent acquiring a good used XP laptop with a functioning 9 pin serial port. The WIS, TIS and EPC were all written to run in XP and if you are going to self maintain all the little things that could come up, you will eventually want to get your own Tech 2 and that needs to connect to a 9 pin serial port for all of about a minute to gain security access for programming replacement computer modules to the car.

[Vince in Hawaii]

Thanks Digger, Used laptops are pretty inexpensive these days, and will probably be a good investment just for this car. Love the car, but does have some quirks. Had a friend here on the island bought this 9-3 new, and was going to junk it due to not being able to get service done here. He asked if I wanted it no charge! 93K miles, always garaged and runs like a top. Replaced the 2 front lower seat covers with OEM and it looks like new. PO had dogs that tore them up a bit.

Thanks again, and Aloha.

[Vince in Hawaii]

Last question. Do I need to get XP Professional version, or will the home version work?

Thanks

[Digger]

Last question. Do I need to get XP Professional version, or will the home version work?

Thanks

Yes, XP Pro with service pack 3.

I chose the Dell Latitude 620 as it not only has the necessary 9 pin serial port, but it also has a PCMCIA slot that works for backing up the program card that runs the Tech 2. On the plus side this Dell has steel hinges, a steel latch, and a magnesium-alloy case that makes it a good carry to the garage computer, the negative is that it also has a parallel docking port slot and with that most available TIS programs want to default to the parallel dongle which doesn't come with the available TIS copies. It took me a couple of months to sort this out and if you should get one of these I can send you a CD with all the necessary Dell 620 XP drivers and Windows DLL's that I used to get mine running. Downloading Windows drivers to a MAC isn't something I would recommend to most MAC users.

[Vince in Hawaii]

Thanks, May take me a bit to find one. Not a lot of selection here. Might try e-bay. Will let you know when I am ready.

Aloha,

Vince