My fake Talladega

[swisssaabist]

Respect!! Mr Mandrake

[southsaab]

I've needed to replace the driver's door decor trim

but a seemingly easy job turned into a bit of a chore. PO had attempted to fix the old one with epoxy, not a good plan. Removing the old trim with my "special" tool was complicated by the glue.



As you can see, two of the pin holders remained on the door. Had a hard time removing them.

I assumed that the bushings that fit in the door would be useless, so I ordered some more

I needed 6, and now it's ready.

A comparison of the old and new.

It attached much easier, and looks much better.




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[southsaab]

Back to electrical stuff - ACC display. As noted earlier, the ACC works, but the display doesn't.
Research shows the bulb is probably out rather than a bad screen, so I'll start there first.

I remove the ACC with my special tool
and flip it around to have access to the bulb.

The third from left, the big one, is the one. Using needle nose pliers, I remove it.

It looks burnt.

In goes the new one.

That's done. But before I check it out, I'm going to deal with the annoying temp sensor fan rattling. I remove the sensor

This is the area that needs lube.

After a soaking with WD-40, I replace it. It still rattles. Using a trick I learned online, I take it out and turn it UPSIDE DOWN, and reinstall. No more rattling.

Now to check the ACC.

Ready for the road, top down, heat on (it's cool but sunny in the mountains.)


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[southsaab]

Just been working on little stuff, like cleaning carpets


Straightening seat belt straps





But there is one major thing, new 17" rims

The 16" Alu2 Viking wheels were damaged, two were bent on the inner rim, one was ridiculously bad. Made the car shimmy and shake. Switched them for Alu71 Aero wheels. Rides much better, and to my subjective eye, look better. BUT, by doing that, it's no longer stock. It's a custom now, but after all, it is a fake Talladega...


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[southsaab]

Time for some hard stuff - electronics. The SID, to be specific. My SID display has pixels, but lacks functions; I can't access the left side menu. If the power has been interrupted, it defaults to temp. But the minus button on the left doesn't access the menu.

By using the plus button, I can see both menus, but can't access the left side.

I can scroll down the right side menu fine. Time to check it out.

First thing I do is take the radio unit out
I then insert 2 long M4 screws into the 2 side holes on the SID
It can then be wiggled out using the screws for leverage.
Unplug the connection on back

Now for the fun stuff. There are many YouTube vids on SIDs, but none about my specific problem. First thing is to remove the front casing.
I remove the 2 screws. Then there are 4 clips that need to be depressed, 2 on top and bottom.
I managed to break 2 in getting it apart. But it came apart.
First thing I'm going to do is check the connection.
I remove the white button strip.
Using a very small piece of sandpaper I clean the contacts.
The underside of the button strip has what looks like contacts that make the connection when the buttons are pressed, then spring back.
They look fine. I assume connection is worn due to use, and the button no longer makes good contact. I decide to do some "hackery" , and make the minus button shaft longer by adding tape.
I use 5 pieces, @.020 addition, and see if that works.

Put it back, and IT WORKED!

As with any hackery, you never know how long it will last. Didn't make it permanent yet, just glad it worked. Nice to have a functional SID.


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[Digger]

For taking a chance that you might be able to fix this, congratulations on your success.
For the next time you take on something like this: Soft rubber eraser to clean contacts, you only want to remove the oxidation, not the contact pad. Though it work for you this time cleaning with abrasive can ruin the board.

[southsaab]

Digger, thx for the eraser trick. I used 2500 grit very lightly. The circuit board is worn in that spot, actually needs building up. As stated, it was hackery.

As anyone can tell, I have no fear of going into electronics. Perhaps I should put a disclaimer, "Don't try this unless you can accept breakage ".


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[southsaab]

Haven't updated in a while, but I've been busy. My top is original, but it is becoming more leaky. Having to rub black silicone into the fabric to make watertight.

Looks like shit, but it will do until I get a new top. The curious find my repair fascinating.

I'm rebuilding the right side suspension, with new control and stanchion arms, a replacement fender liner, and a belt guard that was missing.

Don't know what happened to the right front to beat it to hell, but Atlanta streets are really brutal. Amazingly, it still drove reasonably straight, but it rode like a eggbeater.

Head gasket retorqued, valve cover plug sealed, power steering return line replaced.

But I'm not happy with my rims.

The Viking wheels that were on the car were bent and ugly. I swapped them out for 17s from an 08 9-3 Aero, thinking a little "rice" would be nice.

I was wrong. Not only do I not like the way they look on this car, but they are troublesome to balance, and the tire beads are prone to leak. I've got 225/45 R17s Fusion 40,000 mile, probably max width at stock ride height. The ride quality is a bit rough, but not bad. But I would like to go back to a 16" rim and add more tire and narrow it to 205 again. To my eyes, these cars look better lowered a bit, but with my current setup, I'm too wide to lower without rubbing somewhere, and the tire width doesn't look proportional to the car when seen from the ends. Expensive mistake on my part. Not planning on doing anything for a long while. Gotta get my money's worth from these tires first.


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