Can anyone help?? I purchased a used SAAB sation wagon 9-5 in 2004. It ran pretty well for the first year and then I ran into major problems! Te car will sometimes (at least once a day) not start when I put the key into the ignition. The lights, window, stereo all work--but, the engine won't "crank". Then, after waiting between 5 and 30 minutes, the car will start (after several attempts to unsuccessfully start the car). I have taken this car to the dealer and several other places to get the problem fixed. No one seems to know what the problem is... can anyone help!! I have two small kids and I need a reliable car!!
mbperotti@hotmail.com
Sounds like an imobiliser problem to me. On most modern cars the ignition key and the car electronics communicate with each other electronically when you insert the key in the ignition... if their codes match it lets you start the car. Get your workshop to check this.
If the car fails to crank the first time, you must turn the key all the way back to the off position before trying again. If not, the lights and radio will work, but the car will refuse to crank unless you turn the key back. Sounds silly but I sat confused for a bit trying to figure out why it wouldn't crank.
I own a Saab, and its the worst build quality of any car I have ever owned. A delight to drive but totally unreliable and prone to breakages and faults like you could never imagine.
My suggestion would be to get rid of it, because that's what I will do before the warranty runs out and it costs me a fortune in ongoing problems.
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