Pulley Delete

[Shazam]

I keep trying to search SC, but I can't even do that with Boon's creation because I get "server too busy" when I try to look at the post. Anyways, wasn't there an extra pulley in the 2.0 engines that frequently went bad, and a quick way to re-do the belt to skip said pulley once it was removed? Thanks.

[Shazam]

Found what I was looking for finally. It is known as the "Short Belt Modification" and it is done by skipping pulley number 8 (the hardest one to change... apparently). Here is a diagram and great tutorial http://pages.infinit.net/mlbriand/sa...elt/page1.html

[nordwulf]

This is the same for the 9-5 2.3 engine. Some who changed to the short belt noticed increased engine vibration so that's why I went with the long belt when I replaced mine a few months ago. Even if I have to replace the center pulley eventually, I think it will be worth it to keep the belt stabilized.

There is also some info here:
http://thesaabsite.com/900new/NG9004...eplacement.htm

[Shazam]

So, here is the scoop.

The centre pulley was there and then it wasn't (Saab removed it sometime in 2004 and reinstalled it again in 2006).
They found that removing that caused more engine vibration (as Wulf noted).
I just replaced the belt in mine, added the centre pulley and replaced the idler with a Weeze (not sure of the speeling and too lazy to look for it right now)pulley.

Now, I have heard, not through Saab mind you, that the centre pulley was added back in because the vibrations were actually causing the power steering pumps to fail.
Either way, there is no gain to doing the short belt mod other than not having to deal with the centre pulley.
Having said that, I will not put a short belt back on my own 9-5 ... ever.

And, on top of that, any 9-5 we get into the shop that needs a belt, we sell the long belt and 2 replacement pulleys.
It really is in the customer/owners best interest.

Well said... now I know! Thanks Scott.