Always impressive how much lighter wheels and decent tyres can make to fuel economy

So... the first start of the day has slowly become an issue again seeming to take a few extra turns to fire up.

 

I looked over the pipes again and saw some signs of a leak under one of the joints but it wasn't wet.

 

It just so happens that this pipe is the only one I didn't replace as it looked ok and was a different material to the rest.

 

I gave it a light wriggle and this happened:

 

 

So I've replaced the pipe now and after purging the lift pump a few times it fired straight up so lets hope that's the end of the starting issues... the next port of call if it continues is the starter motor as they're apparently a bit of a weak point on these engines.

glowplugs???

I don't think so no as the light only comes on for a second and there's no fault showing on dash.

Just been out and started it up and it fired right up after just a few turns as it should do. So hopefully that's cured it.

So the slow starting continues. Sometimes it fires up OK (I say OK as it always fires but seems quite lazy) but other times it seems to turn, pause, turn, pause then spin faster and fire up.

 

I think I've narrowed it down to the starter motor now as all the posts on the Saab forum suggest this. They get a bit tired on the TID/TTID engines and replacing them cures it.

 

I've bought a new Lucas starter motor and plan to fit it in the morning.

 

I filmed today's start around 1pm and sat there since about 4pm yesterday:

 

 

As you can see it does fire ok but feels very lazy and kind of chugs into life.

 

I'm hoping to do a comparison tomorrow with the new starter and hopefully see an improvement. Fingers crossed.

 

Edit:

 

After watching it several times now I've just noticed the rev counter while cranking. Only reading about 500rpm but should be turning over at least 800rpm according to the Saab workshop manual I have.

Edited 4 November, 20169 yr by Phil-E

All fixed!

 

New starter motor fitted and it now fires straight up.

 

A back to back comparison:

 

Edited 5 December, 20169 yr by Phil-E

The useless ash tray was annoying me so some digging around revealed a more useful storage tray replacement. Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

Also ordered some new headlight bulbs. I've always felt the lights could be a little brighter. They are about on par (possibly slightly duller) with the aftermarket HID kit on the Octavia but expected more. I took one of the bulbs out to inspect (D1S) and the little round bit in the middle was completely cloudy and had brown stains. So I've ordered a set of Osram Cool Blue Intense D1S and hoping that improves things somewhat.

Quick fix required this lunch time. Coming back home from a work related visit and the stereo suddenly went off and I could smell burning! Pulled over real quick and pulled the fuse out for the stereo.

 

Took the stereo out and found the problem. The switched live wire had lost it's rubber covering on the bullet connector so shorted to ground which then burnt out one of the traces inside this thing:

 

 

At first I tried without it but there were funny clicks and pops from the speakers (due to the amp I'm guessing). So I soldered a wire inside bypassing the copper trace on the board. Problem sorted!

Couple of bits from the past couple of weeks.

Decided the headlights weren't brilliant. So ordered a set of Osram Cool Blue Intense D1S bulbs. You can see the old ones were very cloudy inside:

Before and after:

Looking good:

Then last week a stone flew up and hit the screen. Didn't half make me jump:

Which has gradually worsened and cracked:

Booked in on Wednesday for a replacement.

Then I also found this in my brand new tyre! Also booked in on Wednesday for a repair:

These days a lot of places will refuse to repair a hole that near to the shoulder.

Yeah it is quite near to the shoulder. But I have measured and it's within the recommended 70%.

 

Don't really want to have to buy a new tyre after less than 2000 miles done on this one!

Fingers crossed that can be repaired Phil :thumbup:

New windscreen fitted. No more scratches which is a bonus.

 

Tyre was repaired for £20 at a local garage recommended to me.

Top result!

Finally managed to sell the 19" wheels.

 

Some guy with a Saab 9-5 (the car they came from) bought them without the spacers (since he didn't need them) for £325. So this goes a fair way to covering the £375 I paid for the new wheels- not forgetting the big saving on the tyres.

 

Just need winter to get lost so I can get the roof down again!

 

The only things I have planned for the car now are to tidy up the USB wires. There are two USB cables plugged into the back with one coming out under the ashtray and one in the armrest.

 

I'm going to replace one of the lighter sockets (one in the armrest and one in the ashtray) with one of these:

 

Just need winter to get lost so I can get the roof down again!

 

 

Good work on the wheels Phil - but all you need from winter is it not to be raining :D

 

Hood can then be down, regardless! You've got heated seats as well haven't you?

Fitted my USB sockets. Much neater than the plugs just hanging out under the ashtray and inside the armrest:

 

 

Gearbox oil changed today. The old stuff was lovely and brown/black. I used original GM oil which is bright red- 7 litres of the stuff required:

 

 

 

The process is a little fiddly as due to the torque converter holding so much in order to change most of the oil (about 75% is changed) you have to drain, refill, drive, drain, refill and then check the levels (same as DSG with checking oil temperature and drain excess off).

 

Gearbox is silky smooth now. Before it would jerk a little when changing to 2nd on a light throttle and it was a little jerky/hesitant when coming off and back onto the throttle.

Edited 7 January, 20179 yr by Phil-E

7L of gearbox oil? Blimey!  :o

 

Is that normal for an auto transmission?

For a torque converter yes. The gearbox itself only holds about 3 to 3.5 litres and over half is then inside the torque converter!

Remember that a 6 speed DSG holds 6.5 litres too! It's because cooling and lubrication are so important to these boxes so they are given plenty of oil to play with!

Interesting stuff, thanks Phil. Hadn't really thought about it before :thumbup:

How are you finding convertible ownership so far? Worth the downsides of a vehicle with less doors and boot space for the benefits of the roof off?

Absolutely!

The boot is much smaller and not as much leg room but the number of times we actually have anyone else in the car is minimal. And if we can fit our luggage in for two and still have the roof down I'm happy.

Just a great feeling to get the roof down. But the big downside is wishing you could have the roof down all the time and waiting for the weather to be good!

So I had this carry on recently:

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/421950-kwik-fit-wrong-oil-used-advice/

 

Kwik Fit putting the wrong oil in and refusing to do anything about it.

 

Bought a bottle of Mobil 1 ESP 0W40 and stuck a new filter on (once I'd found it... it's down at the back on the engine underneath the starter motor).

 

Hey presto no more flashing oil light on cold start. I thought I was seeing things a couple of times when I caught a red flash out the corner of my eye so filmed it.

 

Before with 5W-30 oil and after with the correct 0W-40:

 

Sun's out... which means only one thing: