1999 SAAB 9-3 Electrical System Problems

FOR MY 1999 SAAB 9-3, BASE ENGINE, I REPLACED THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE, AT 128,800 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE PART ALONE WAS $488 AND THE TOTAL INSTALLATION COST AND PARTS (INCLUDING A HOSE AND FOUR SPARK PLUGS) WAS $760. MODEL YEARS 2000 THROUGH 2002 WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PART. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH IN THE SNOW, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN IMPACT OR CRASH OCCURRING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. LATER THAT DAY, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. HER MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND ENSURE MAXIMUM PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE WIRING WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 141,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000.

I HAVE A 1999 SAAB 9-3 WITH MANUAL CLIMATE CONTROL. THE BLOWER SWITCH WAS ERRATIC FOR A FEW WEEKS (ON/OFF POSITION SHIFTED) BUT LAST NIGHT DURING A SHORT JOURNEY THE BLOWER WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND A BAD ODOR BECAME PRESENT IN THE CABIN. THIS MORNING I INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THAT THE BLOWER SWITCH AND WIRING CONNECTOR AND WIRES HAVE MELTED. IT IS LIKELY THAT IF THE JOURNEY HAD BEEN LONGER A FIRE WOULD HAVE RESULTED. THE SWITCH AND CONNECTOR AND WIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE REASON FOR THE BLOWER SWITCH ERRATIC BEHAVIOR NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *JB

DIC (DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE) FAILURE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE IDM CASSETTE OR IGNITION COIL. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE IGNITION CASSETTE FAILING AND THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR, AS WELL. APPEARS THAT THERE IS A PENDING RECALL ON THE 2000-2002 MODELS AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE RECALL EXTEND TO THE 1999 MODELS; SAME MODULE. I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE PENDING RECALL ON THE 2000-2002 MODELS EXCEPT THAT I HAVE A FRIEND WHO RECEIVED A LETTER AND I DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE. PLEASE ADVISE WHY THE DEFECT INVESTIGATION PE05017 WAS CLOSED PENDING GM'S ACTIONS ON THE 2000-2002 MODELS. THE 1999 MODEL AND ANY OTHER AFFECTED MODELS SHOULD BE COVERED BY ANY RECALL, AS WELL. I'M SURE MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF ABILITY TO REPORT ISSUE AND REALIZE THAT IT IS A MAJOR DEFECT. PLEASE ADVISE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, AND THE COMPUTER RECORDED A CODE REFERRING TO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. *AK