Warning

[Dalai]

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The new Saab 9-3 16v and 8v diesels are prone to water pump failure resulting in catastrophic failure of the engine. This can occur at any mileage above 60000 miles, Saab service schedule for the cambelt change is, models 2005 2007 72000 miles or 8 years and 2007 onwards is 90000 or 5 years.



The cambelt is serviceable to these mileages but the quality of the water pump is sometimes not.



It can seize thus stripping the cambelt teeth resulting in internal engine damage and in extreme cases damaging the engine beyond repair. If the cambelt strips at idle or the car just will not start we can usually repair the damage, this however we cannot determine until the cam cover has been removed. Early indications of water pump problems are usually signified by water loss from the expansion tank and this may come up on the display inside the car.



We recommend every 60000 miles/4 years to change the water pump and timing belt kit as a matter of course. If you have just purchased a 1.9 TiD 8 or 16v we strongly advise that you determine if the water pump and cambelt have been changed as you may have purchased the car with the seller saying he has had it changed, the cambelt is not the problem, it is the water pump.



Water pump £59.00
16v Cambelt kit £114.00
8v Cambelt kit £103.00
Anti-freeze & Gaskets £17.50



On both cambelt kits these comprise of cambelt, tensioner and pulley's.
Labour 3 Hours @ £59.50 plus VAT
All prices are subject to VAT standard rate.