Saab 9 5 Ignition Cylinder Removal and Cleaning

Hello everyone, in this video I show you how to remove and clean the cylinder from the ignition lock on a Saab 9-5. This is necessary when the key remote no longer works and the radio stays on when the key is removed.

[@hapapuu]

To the one who posted this originally, thank you very much. It appears to be less difficult that I suspected.

[@garagen-schrauber]

Don´t forget to like and subscribe as it helps this channel a lot, thank you! :)

[@GGEZ-cv4cl]

Just wanted to say thank you so much!

[@garagen-schrauber]

Thank you very much for your feedback! :)

[@nickeiam5946]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@garagen-schrauber]

Thank you so much! :)

[@JohnKowalik-e4p]

I used mineral spirits to clean the cylinder, I put the cylinder and spirits in a clean glass jar, sealed the lid, and agitated. It did not take long. You may have to move the inner cylinder around a bit to truly get all the gunk out. Spraying with Brakleen or similar did not do the trick.

[@garagen-schrauber]

Hey John, thanks for letting us know! Anything that dissolves oil and dirt will work. Theoretically, you could also use regular gasoline or pure alcohol for this purpose. What did you use to lubricate the cylinder afterwards?

[@philipsweeney7935]

Helpful video!

[@garagen-schrauber]

Thanks a lot!

[@screwit8408]

Great video! I'm about to buy my second 9-5, this time the Dame Edna, and was wondering what the solution to this problem might be. Thank you!

[@garagen-schrauber]

Thanks for your feedback, I´m glad it helped :) Enjoy your new Saab, a year or so ago I almost had the chance to get an Edna reeeally cheap (I had an agreement for 300€, some bodywork needed to be done but otherwise great car), but last second someone else grabbed it. I don´t know what he payed, but I found it later the year on ebay for 2k i think. Which one did you get, the Aero? 😍

[@screwit8408]

@@garagen-schrauber Well, I bought a 2008 sedan in black with a white leather interior. It's a 150 HP but it might have a tune. The only problem is that it has a oil leak and the check engine light came on (codes for DIC and CAT). What was I thinking? Well, wish me luck with the repairs! They might be expensive.

[@garagen-schrauber]

I wish you the best with the repairs. The problem need not necessarily be expensive to fix. A common cause of oil leak on this model seems to be the oil pressure switch, at least the one I almost got apparently had that faulty. Problems with the DIC are generally not good, your right. Maybe someone just put in the wrong spark plugs? Check that before everything else! I´m not 100% sure if it´s for the Edna as well, but for my 2003 95 you need specific spark plugs. Hope that helped and keep us updated on how the repairs are going 👍

[@kylekoehler8107]

My key won't move. I have tried lubricant, it is locked in the locked position

[@garagen-schrauber]

Hi Kyle, try removing the cylinder anyway by pushing back the locking bracket with a bent metal or allen key as shown in the video. Although on my model the key has to be turned to unlock the cylinder, I have often read on the internet that the key must be in the off position. Maybe you'll be lucky and this will also work with your car. I know it's frustrating because it's really difficult to reach and if you're not even sure if it will work, you'll tend to give up even quicker. But give it a try. Otherwise, please get in touch again! Best of luck!

[@ericbremer6314]

Thanks....!!

[@garagen-schrauber]

You´re welcome, I´m glad I could help :)

[@tommypersson7020]

I have a saab 9-3 OG. It is not possible to turn the key at all, so what do you do? To remove the cylinder, the key must be turned to the correct position?

[@garagen-schrauber]

Hey Tommy, thanks for your comment! That is really inconvenient that the lock can no longer be turned at all. Have you tried spraying a little oil into the cylinder from above? This could help to loosen the pins enough to turn the key.

[@tommypersson7020]

Thanks! I will try that.👍

[@MrUnknownName]

The teflon spray is alright but what is that other liquids you are using for the first cleaning process? Brake cleaner?

[@garagen-schrauber]

Yes, for the cleaning I used brake cleaner because it dissolves and removes dirt and old grease :)

[@MrUnknownName]

@@garagen-schrauber I just thought I heard something else in the video but yes I understand all of that. Thanks.

[@garagen-schrauber]

You´re welcome! If you have any further questions, please get back to me :)

[@MrUnknownName]

@@garagen-schrauber Have you ever tried to repair a front passenger seat that has got stuck in the rail on a Saab 9-3 1997-1998 model? It's not electrical seats, only mechanical.

[@garagen-schrauber]

@@MrUnknownName I have not, sorry. However, I have previously removed the seats on my 95, there are only 4 screws that secure the seat including the rails in the car. If you remove the seat (as long as you can get to all 4 screws in the current seat position) you may find it easier to find the cause and fix it. Keep us updated! :) If the 93 has a side airbag in the seat, you should disconnect the battery before starting the repair and wait a little before disconnecting the plug of the seat.

[@tereses7200]

Hello. We are going to do this tomorrow. What is the Liquid u have in the Jar?

[@garagen-schrauber]

Hi, it´s brake cleaner to losten all of the old oil and and stuff that clogged the cylinder. It´s highly flamable and toxic though, so be careful with it and don´t pour it down the drain after using it! Good luck with the repairs tomorrow, let us know how it worked out :)

[@tereses7200]

Ah thank u. We are having trouble getting the sylinder out😂😭 cant find the right spot

[@garagen-schrauber]

@@tereses7200 I knowww, i struggled too 🙈 But you can do it! And make sure the key is in the right position, so try wiggling it a bit as the pin is blocked when the key is not in the right position.

[@tereses7200]

@@garagen-schrauber we got it out. And its all clean now, the problem is that the key is «stuck» to the left. Sooo. Well see. Maybe we Need a new cylinder👹

[@garagen-schrauber]

@@tereses7200 Did you lubricate the cylinder again and enough?

[@markostertag1101]

Thanks. This is my second time doing this job. What is the spray you use? Hard to understand. Graphite power? Could you provide links in the Description? Thanks!!

[@garagen-schrauber]

I used Ballistol, which is a multi-purpose oil, that doesn´t resinify. That´s important. www.amazon.de/Pfiff-Ballistol-Universal%C3%B6l-200-ml/dp/B004VM55EE/ref=sr_1_10?adgrpid=74014974867&hvadid=606808095275&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9042716&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=3259201452709467238&hvtargid=kwd-324001615834&hydadcr=21830_2295417&keywords=ballistol+amazon&qid=1695382731&sr=8-10 You can also use graphite powded. The advantage of that is that it doesn´t collect dust and dirt as an oil might do. www.amazon.de/Pressol-1866121-1866121-10589-34-Graphit-50-g/dp/B00DZGABVO/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=graphite+powder&qid=1695382679&sr=8-5 I only had Ballistol at home and didn´t want to buy the graphite powder. My ignition cylinder works perfectly fine since the repair 1/2 year ago, so I can recommend that as well. :)

[@Joseph-bt8ij]

Hi. My key goes in but cylinder will not depress or turn from lock. How can I remove the cylinder?

[@garagen-schrauber]

@@Joseph-bt8ij That sounds like the pins in the lock are not in the right position, so the lock doesn´t recognise that it is the right key (I hope it is? ). Propably they are stuck. You can try spraying some lubricant (Ballistol for example) into the lock, then wiggling the key a bit, slide it in and out of the lock several times. If that doesn´t help, more lubricant and softly hitting the cylinder with a small hammer so that the lubricant get´s onto and around every pin. Let us know if that worked! :)

[@alejandrocastelli4726]

what kind of lubricant did you use?

[@garagen-schrauber]

I used Ballistol, which is a multi-purpose oil, that doesn´t resinify. That´s important. Graphite powder is also doing the job.