On Tuesday (July 2nd, 2013) last week, as I was driving to work, the 'Stability Control Fault' popped up and the car came to a rest. Towed it to the dealer (Saab dealer) and they said it was a 'low-voltage' problem. Had them change the battery and they also changed the grounding cable. All seemed to be fine on Wednesday (7/3/13), when I put 100 miles on the car. Thursday (7/4/13) was good, just ran to the store. Friday (7/5/13), I had a different shop put on new tires, do a full 4 wheel alignment and they did an inspection. As I was driving home from the shop where this was done, the car died again. I was driving about 20mph at the time and on a straight, residential road. This time, I looked at the tachometer, which read about 750rpm, just enough to give me power brakes. The same fault popped up on the screen.
Now, here's where it gets weird. If I put the key into the 'intermediate' position, all gauges pop up to normal for about 5-10 seconds. Then, they all drop out and the fault pops up. If I try to start the car, there is absolutely nothing. (A no-start situation). If I try to just start the car, without waiting in the intermediate position, it was completely dead too. I had it towed again back to the dealer. This Monday (7/8/13), my mechanic suspected a module in the transmission, falsely telling the computer that the car was in a gear, other than park or neutral. When they swapped it out, it didn't help. They checked the ignition switch and it is sending the start signal to the relay before the starter. Next is to check the wiring from said relay to the starter. All of the traction control sensors have checked out alright. The problem is, they cannot even start the car to get a reading off of the computer.
Can anyone give me anything else to check or to relay to my Saab mechanic? This is a situation they have never encountered. If there is anything else that I have missed, I will post as replies to this post...so keep an eye out. I will be checking daily, as my mechanic has had the car for 2 days now and cannot get it to start.
Thanks in advance!
BTW...the car is a 2007 Saab 9-3 with a 2.0T engine and auto tranny.
Notes: The mechanic has checked the following: 1) ISM, 2) Transmission control module / neutral safety switch, 3) Double-checked the ground cable, 4) Battery is new, as is the grounding cable; there are other things, as he has had the car for almost a week now. He's a service manager, where Saabs used to be sold / serviced, so he knows his stuff. He just hasn't seen this problem before. :confused:
Now, here's where it gets weird. If I put the key into the 'intermediate' position, all gauges pop up to normal for about 5-10 seconds. Then, they all drop out and the fault pops up. If I try to start the car, there is absolutely nothing. (A no-start situation). If I try to just start the car, without waiting in the intermediate position, it was completely dead too. I had it towed again back to the dealer. This Monday (7/8/13), my mechanic suspected a module in the transmission, falsely telling the computer that the car was in a gear, other than park or neutral. When they swapped it out, it didn't help. They checked the ignition switch and it is sending the start signal to the relay before the starter. Next is to check the wiring from said relay to the starter. All of the traction control sensors have checked out alright. The problem is, they cannot even start the car to get a reading off of the computer.
Can anyone give me anything else to check or to relay to my Saab mechanic? This is a situation they have never encountered. If there is anything else that I have missed, I will post as replies to this post...so keep an eye out. I will be checking daily, as my mechanic has had the car for 2 days now and cannot get it to start.
Thanks in advance!
BTW...the car is a 2007 Saab 9-3 with a 2.0T engine and auto tranny.
Notes: The mechanic has checked the following: 1) ISM, 2) Transmission control module / neutral safety switch, 3) Double-checked the ground cable, 4) Battery is new, as is the grounding cable; there are other things, as he has had the car for almost a week now. He's a service manager, where Saabs used to be sold / serviced, so he knows his stuff. He just hasn't seen this problem before. :confused: