My 2007 Saab 9-3 Is Totalled! Full Expense Report

In today's episode, I believe to have successfully addressed the airbag light and codes on my 2007 Saab 9-3 Convertible. The codes are B0077, B0078, B0100, and B0103. Theser codes linked to side airbag sensors, which when I looked under the two front seats I found two harnesses unplugged to do a bad design. More to come on that front, however I think the value of the car and the repairs needed deem this car a complete loss! The cost to bring this car back to full operation and "good condition" is going to cost over $3,000 if there are no shortcuts we can take! If you want to see this saab saved, be sure to check out my t-shirts and hoodies below, all your support is greatly appreciated! I hope you enjoy. Please like, share, and subscribe!
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[@MassiveTrackHunter]

If keeping it for yourself, it is sooo worth it. You will not find another brand convertible of this caliber for 3k, 6k or 9k. Market value on these is irrelevant if you are the final owner. We love them. -Fuel sender is $30, easy to install on pump. Tank drop, when near empty, is a breeze, done 5 so far in my driveway. Quick connects on all tubes. -Go with a set of Walmart Generals, $400 installed, or pick up a set of used Craiglisters for $100. -Junkyard ECU and Trionictuning.com setup to flash it using an old laptop and $30 cable. Done 4 of them myself without issue. St1 tune option in there as well! (Do not send a T8 out for a "rebuild", as they cannot be repaired. They will either steal your cash, like they did me, or send you a junkyard unit for a nice markup.) -Sway bar links are piece of cake and cheap. -Beware the rear alignment bolts, which seize and have to be cut or drilled out. Still worth the effort. I cut the bolt-sides with a sawzall to drop the suspension and then use a drill press to drill the bolt out. -Timing and balance chain will be due at 150-160k, due to crap design on the balance chain tensioner, but still a DIY. -Body work is a work of love, never worth what it costs on these, but very satisfying to fix the awesome curves. -Never had the seat problems, so I never had them out. No advise for you there. Sorry. I owned one for 5 yrs, did all the work, and still loved it, even though the market value is not there. They are a rare vert that is great in winter and summer, well insulated and quiet, without the cheap vert shortcomings that other makers tend to put out. Find someone like me that loves these cars and they will be glad to buy it and fix it, but you cannot make much money on them if you fix them yourself, unless you bought it for $500. Just don't run the vert hydraulics when it is this cold, tend to bind and can damage things. Love that blue.

[@seaking2290]

Also- triage. Not everything has to be solved at once. Get it to the point where it will pass inspection and continue until you get tired of it. Dents hurt nothing except aesthetics.

[@MassiveTrackHunter]

@@seaking2290 yep. One bite at a time. I would start with that ecu, and get her running right. Bet he falls in love with her once it's pulling like it should. I owned an 05 vert for years and got rid of it for a Viggen vert, ONLY because of that 2.3. The NG chassis, stiffness, aesthetics and handling are light years better, but that OG engine pulls like a freight train, and I could not resist. Now if someone were to swap a Viggen motor into an 08 Aero vert, that would be perfect.

[@AutoAutopsy]

Thanks for the shout man! Glad I could somewhat help. I’m about to fix my airbag light with that same sensor for what feels like the 100th time, and I’ll definitely be using zip ties to hold it down. Cant believe it haven’t thought of that before 😂🤦🏻‍♂️

[@chilidogcats]

Noooo! Don't use zip ties! I solved this issue. The wire goes under the rail mount not over the seat frame. If you tie the wire to the seat it moves and rips the wire out. If the wire is fed under the rail mount it's fixed in place.

[@kayerickatson4814]

Kyle: Save the car, she’ll be lovely!

[@renegadetherapper]

You give me so much hope. The 9-3 was my dream car for years. I finally got mine and the day after it got a check engine light - P0638. Changed the throttle body then my baby threw up P0638 and P0245. I’m in the process of getting a new preprogrammed ECU for her, and hoping it clears everything up. Without channels like yours, I’d feel hopeless and devastated. You and Auto Autopsy are the reason why I have hope my Saab will last me a very long time with just a little extra tender love & care. You make catastrophic situations seem so easy to fix. You are a HERO!

[@carsandtopgear]

Nice, didn’t realize this was a 60th Anniversary car!

[@dennisspors7530]

I restored a 2006 Aero sedan that had been in a mudslide. It took about $5000. I did replace parts with better than stock. At about 18 months the engine was bad so I bought a used engine and trans, and installed a new clutch. That is crazy but it is paid for, runs great and I love it. Insurance and plates are low$.

[@laurat1129]

It sounds like a lot of the work I've had done on my '99 9-3 in recent years. But this is my only car, and I don't have 6 others to keep & maintain like you do.

[@chilidogcats]

I've had the same problem with the airbag sensor on the seat rail. The previous owner munched the sensor plug. Couldn't be fixed. I found a new wiring harness and harvested just that one plug and spliced it in. No more airbag warning lights! I'll send you an email showing how the wiring harness should be set up under the seat. (With photos!) Quick tip: The wire for the rail sensor goes under the rail not over the seat. If you zip tie the wire to the seat, the seat moves and rips the wire out! Thread it under the rail and it's fixed in place. On the passenger side it loops in front of the mounting bolt (There's a little tunnel space for it. Driver's side in goes behind the mounting bolt.)

[@Themadscientist1969]

My '04' 9-3 had a "commnunication failure" with the C.I.M.---replaced my clockspring with a good used one and DONE! no more SRS codes..

[@Mechone11]

The sender is 20 bucks GM same part as chev cobalt ,i did mine years ago. Have had mine 18 years 60k never seen winter garage stored everything works

[@jonathanjohnson6853]

Re airbag - check the VIN at the Recall website to see if the driver airbag has been replaced (you may get lucky). GM replaced the one in my 07 Saab convertible (free of course). There is also a recall for driver belt pretensioner.

[@caractacusbrittania7442]

Great information thanks Just bought an 07 vert with exactly the same scrape as yours. Can I suggest you do the cabin filter mod as your wiper scuttle is choked with leaves, put your wipers in service mode and the undertray lifts out easily. Were your carpets wet? The one I've bought the owner neglected to do the mod, Now blower motor and controller are fried and the climate control panel is dead..... Water is not good. Enjoyed the video thanks.

[@pjackson65]

So I just bought a 2010 9-3 Aero a month ago and it had a crumpled front fender. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried paintless dent repair, but I called this Russian guy out here for 250 bucks I was shocked at how well he was able to straighten out the fender, it looks to be about 95 to 98%. It looks so good I even tipped him 50 bucks.

[@KylePancis]

where you located?

[@pjackson65]

Pretty far away from New Jersey, I’m in Austin Texas. There are a lot of guys out there doing PDR, just find one that’s been doing it a long time. PDR is a skill, like basketball, or playing the trumpet. The longer they’ve done it, the better they are. The guy and his helper that came out were telling me that all of the PDR guys in town were having a real hard time since the Covid, so I bet you can find someone good who’ll do it for a great price. I was looking at $400 for a replacement panel, plus painting and color matching, and that’s with me pulling and replacing the fender myself. For $250 this guy and his helper came out to me and did it in my driveway. It took them an hour and a half, and I didn’t have to do a damn thing :-)

[@cinquedark5ivekamau800]

I have the same car "10" with the same issues..... there's an airbag recall, replacing/repairing that should be free, at a GM dealer.

[@skunkworks9-3]

Car definitely looks to be worth saving. Verts hold their value pretty well too. I'd check rock auto for a control arm and brake rotors. Then snag oil and brake pads from your usual local suspects. 2 of my 3 9-3's have bad senders so I just run 250 miles on the trip then refill/reset. Pumps are robust but the sending unit is gaf and fails on every Ng 9-3 eventually. I'll eventually get around to dropping the tanks but it hasn't bugged me enough yet.

[@Whit_Siever]

7:50 they don't sell bushings/ball joints, they are all-in-one sold as part of lower control arm, I was able to buy 2 control arms from AM-Autoparts for $99

[@powertothesheeple5422]

Every single 9-3 ever built will need a fuel sending unit at some point, no avoiding that. A lot of 9-5's have that problem too but I feel like the 9-5 lasts longer. Probably the weakest link in any modern SAAB IMHO.

[@KylePancis]

yea, its annoying. At least the original saabs can be serviced inside the cabin vs this hunk of metal

[@willamlambert6812]

I have 99 parts car but not sure what fit a 97 probably not a LOT check on that but bring that back that baby

[@chubbyroyston3880]

Thats a £500 car here in UK, really a parts car.

[@willamlambert6812]

Maybe this will help you out on the code thing I'm a saa

[@garypowell4565]

Fix it up, you'll never find another like her!

[@mds2465]

On the next episode of Hoovie’s garage I buy the cheapest Saab 9-3 in the state of New Jersey 😂

[@cbdoil4082]

Or, total it out and others can get parts off it at the bone yard?

[@Saab--kc6xz]

no .-.

[@ExclusiveAutoClub]

Great work Kyle. Just a question for you. Since the fuel pump is in the tank do you have to remove the tank in an OG 9-3?

[@nxthxntbx08]

I’m sure you can lift up the back seats in the og 9-3 and possible ng 900. If I can remember that far back

[@ExclusiveAutoClub]

@@nxthxntbx08 thanks

[@nxthxntbx08]

@@ExclusiveAutoClub no problem

[@derekinbritishcolumbia1449]

Exclusiveautoclub, Lift the seat and have a look at the small plastic access cover. It's recommended to drop the tank. If you access from the rear seat, the access hole to the pump wiring has to be enlarged. It can be done by cutting the seat floor pan, but this opens up the car to moisture and/or CO. If just bent up, the sealing of the floor pan is compromised. Some previous mechanic or owner cut this open on our old Viggen. I wasn't impressed.

[@nxthxntbx08]

@@derekinbritishcolumbia1449 ahh, you see in Australia that wasn’t really a problem for my uncle

[@juancarloslozano3374]

Saab NG has ECU on top of the engine, so it receives all the engine's HEAT and that's no good for a computer. Big mistake from Saab/GMC. The rest is well designed, I have a 06 and right now I'm struggling with the ECU and inyectors cause they flood the engine and burns lots of ⛽

[@nxthxntbx08]

That’s the problem with GM engines

[@browserrr1]

The idiot that came with the idea to put the ECU on top of the engine should be post natally aborted; together with the other idiots who didn't block this from happening.

[@cbdoil4082]

$3000. Is the cost of your content for 2021. Think of it as Bob Ross buying paint and canvas.

[@KylePancis]

lol, i could knock it out in 4 weeks or so

[@cbdoil4082]

Yeah, admittedly, I don’t know what your net is from KZbin? But if you get enough eyeballs it could pay out?

[@KylePancis]

@@cbdoil4082 its nothing to crazy as of now

[@willamlambert6812]

B lover sorry about that I something that sent that get micro meancant I have 3 saabs

[@meme-yc4ks]

Love Saabs. Owned a few and worked and tuned them for years. But, investing 3K into a car probably only worth that amount is not worth it. If that was a business model that business wouldnt be in business very long. Save the money...go find another Saab without so many problems.

[@edgargranados8524]

Agreed! Just bought a low mile 9-3 in great condition for 1,300! Now the SPG can rest in the garage all week!

[@patrickmoodabe9728]

Hey everyone. I’ve been a Patreon supporter of Kyle’s for a while now. Doesn’t cost much, but if a few more subscribers follow my lead - we can help the great content on these fabulous vehicles going. I’m based in New Zealand - with 3 9-3 Saabs. These videos keep my cars away from the mechanics - who are generally not used to working on these. I hope you will support Kyle. Cheers 🤙🤙🤙

[@TheJamesT007]

A Saab being essentially totaled out LOL that's every Saab

[@carsandtopgear]

Came here to say this 😂

[@laurat1129]

Just realized mine was "totalled" years ago!

[@mdcEVO8]

$3,000 is not a lot of money for a car.. If you were to shop for another used car comparable, you're not gonna get anything nicer for that cheap. You would end up buying another 9-3 lol.

[@Brad-jg9vh]

Hello scrap yard will you pick up my car? I will pay you... Some cars especially NG 9-3s are not worth the trouble.

[@nxthxntbx08]

When your a SAAB enthusiast is does

[@AutoAutopsy]

nOt WoRtH tHe TrOuBlE 🤡🤡🤡

[@KylePancis]

Do not disagree

[@caractacusbrittania7442]

Happy you were not around when the first caveman invented the wheel Guess you would have told him Not worth the trouble.

[@TheoPhilpot]

He's a trump supporter, just FYI.