Strange problems

[davep1968]

Hi all, I went on a defensive driving course a few weeks back, my SAAB was in for service so took the Tercel.
When braking heavily it was belching smoke from the exhaust.
Ithought it smelt like brake fluid, everyone said no, how could it be?
Well, master cylinder was leaking into the booster, level was high enough so that when I braked hard, the vacuum sucked a guts full straight into the inlet manifold. Swapped master cylinder and booster, all OK!
How bizarre!
Ciao

[hberdan]

Ooh, I have a Tercel wagon, and a Saab 9-3. Cool. Been driving both in this snowy weather. I have to say I really like the comfort of the Saab, but the Tercel handles snowpacked roads much better for me; it just feels right, to be able to shift into 4x4 when needed, and then out again. The Saab has all the fancy transmission gizmos like the Winter gear setting and the traction control override switch, and mine even has nice snow tires, but the Tercel wagon is Japan's gift to the snowbound. Slow, but a gift.

[splatterdog]

Good thing it didn't happen to the Saab! That repair bill would sting a bit. Had a little exposure to a couple 9-5's recently. Can't say I'd recommend buying one. Of course the owners of them likely wouldn't ever drive an old terc.

Always fun to see something new now and then. I've read of this but you are the first to tell me about it happening. Cylinder 4 should be nice and clean.

[davep1968]

For the record, a Saab 95. Very nice to drive, comfortable etc. All i really want is a Tercel though!
I have a parts car and am thinking of doing a full project car one day. I need to find a factory sunroof car first:)

[davep1968]

Ooh, I have a Tercel wagon, and a Saab 9-3. Cool. Been driving both in this snowy weather.

No snow here, 40 degrees Celcius again this week!

[splatterdog]

I guess my biggest beef with Saab's is the ignition key placement. haha The biggest problem for many owners here are their old bad maintenance habits. These may have worked on older domestic(or euro) cars. Every newer euro car I've seen, for quite a while now, has a sludged engine. Even my thrown rod 3ac looked imaculate inside compared to what can be seen down most euro oil fill holes. I've shown some my "still looks like it's under warranty" view down a 3ac oil filler. Not hard for even the most clueless car owner to be shocked when they see an old turd that's lived twice as long, look better internally. I think most soon forget. One oil change a year whether it need it or not!

If memory serves, a lot of your posts involve your euro car in the shop.

[davep1968]

Indeed you are correct, the other euro car was an Audi, terrible problems with it.
I had almost forgotten that until you reminded me

The Saab have a reputation for oil sludge, I dropped (well paid someone too) the sump and cleaned out, now run full synthetic oil. Apparently the turbo heats the oil, assisting sludge to develop, this blocks the pick up, causes lack of oil flow to the turbo, turbo goes bang!

All Ok so far, it only has 100,000 kms up, should be fine.

Thinking a Tercel with a few more HP would be all I really need, would save the towbar and roofracks on the Saab!

[hberdan]

The Saab have a reputation for oil sludge,

Yep, I have to change the full synthetic oil at half the interval recommended by SAAB, otherwise the turbo might croak.
It's complicated to work on the transverse engine, except that changing plugs is the sweetist thing I've ever done/fast and simple. Oh, and the air filter. And the SAAB owner's manual is a pretty good diy service manual, better than most.

[davep1968]

Ahh, the Saab big end or main bearings seem to have shit themselves. How could this be on a car with 100,000kms on it. My Tercel has done 420,000kms and is still ticking along fine.
More money $5k au.. not happy, not impressed.