Saab 9-3Coolant Issues

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Speedracer228

Speedracer228

......
I have come across a problem i have not yet been able to diagnose...

To set up the problem, 2 weeks ago one really cold night one of my heater core inlet/outlet hoses cracked and sprung a huge leak..... I replaced the hose and then refilled the system...

On to the symptoms:
-No pressure AT ALL in the system, i can squeeze the rad hoses shut when completely warm
-every 15-20 miles i have to refill the coolant up ( saabs dont have a direct fill on the radatior, the pressurized cap is on the overflow tank which is what is dropping around 3-4" every 15-20 miles)
My little fill coolant light on the info display comes up and its low again
-it only drops while running, it stays normal while off
-there is NO visible leaks that i have found anywhere
-No coolant in the oil, no oil in the coolant, no white smoke to suggest head gasket

Its been like this for a week and a half, temperature never is abnormal, never overheats, i just lose coolant and i dont know where too. If anyone has any ideas let me know i am friggin stumped!:confused:
 
Have you tested or replaced your radiator cap?? I wonder if it still is holding pressure? Are you sure the cooling system has been completly filled since the leak?
 
the cap is fine, id say it has to be full, ive put through 1 & 1/2 bottles of concentrate mixed with the same amount of water, and it never got completely empty when i changed the hose because it came off of the head and it didnt need to be completely drained.....

if i cant figure it out this weekend i think im going to completely flush the system and re fill it and go from there

edit: it doesnt actually have a radiator cap per say, its on the overflow but its definatly one of those pressurized caps... but if it was bad do you think it could cause a loss of fluid like that?
 
This is kinda ironic. My roomate who had a 96' 900 SE Turbo just dropped his car off at a garage for pretty much the same problem. He wasn't losing coolant as fast, but the problem was basically the same. He was leaking coolant from somewhere, and we checked all the hoses and connections - and nothing. We think it might be a pinhole leak in the radiator, but we won't know for sure.
 
I know when a cap is bad for every pound of pressure it loses the coolant with boil off at 10 degress lower temperature. So a bad cap can cause some problems. They are cheap anyhow I would replace it just to see if it fixes the problem before you go through the hassle of flushing out the whole thing.
 
hmm that could be it, im going to check around to see how much a new cap would be and if id have to get it from a dealer because its not like a regular rad cap

I havent had any real problems with this car yet so i hope its nothing major, its just a big pain in the ass
thanks for the suggestions ill let you know when i try it out
 
Maybe your T-Stat is stuck closed and not allowing coolant to pass through...happened on my '86 Prelue all the time.
 
Had a GF go through the same issue.... notched it up to being a Saab and laughed.

If you own the v6 auto.. go ahead and call a certified saab shop and start talking.
 
Bob Vila said:
Maybe your T-Stat is stuck closed and not allowing coolant to pass through...happened on my '86 Prelue all the time.
Click to expand...

did the lude still run at normal temp? my car warms up normally and stays right at half way like its supposed to...
f you own the v6 auto.. go ahead and call a certified saab shop and start talking.
Click to expand...

its the 2.0 turbo 5spd, the most reliable in the line up
 
Could also be that there is more air in the lines still... Some saabs are NOTORIOUS for air pockets... But if you've put more than a few gallons in.... You have a leak.
 
Well it turned out to be a leak in the hose i put on.... It was an aftermarket piece so it didnt fit quite right when i put it on but it fit so i didnt think it would be a problem...

The side that fit on the head was too small so i had to heat it up and really get it on there, so obviously no leak on that end but the side that connected to the firewall was a tad bit larger than the oe piece so the oe clamp didnt fit over the hose so i just used a screw type clamp from Ace hardware... I guess i didnt get it tight enough the first time because just a slight amount of coolant was comming out the back of the hose, not enough to see just looking down in the bay or while it sat, it would only leak when it ran and there was pressure.... A better clamp put on a bit tighter did the trick no more leaks

so it was something dumb, but i assumed the worst with it being a saab thanks for the help guys
 
Well at least you figured it out without having to pay some dealer a shit load of money for nothing. Coolant leaks are a pain in the ass huh!! lol :D
 
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