1999 SAAB 9-3 Electrical Systemignition Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START HIS VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE CRANKED, BUT HE RECEIVED NO SPARK. HE ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH DID NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. HE ALSO REMOVED THE SPARK PLUG WIRES AND NOTICED THAT VARIOUS PARTS WERE CRACKED UNDERNEATH THE IGNITION. A JUNKYARD MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V399000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE), WHICH PERTAINED TO THE 2000-2002 SAAB 9-3'S. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $464. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,356.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH ON A SNOW COVERED HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE RECOGNITION CASSETTE MODULE FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. UPDATED 11/3/2006 - ON 11/24/05 THE VEHICLE'S DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE BEING DRIVEN IN THE SNOW. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE THE REPAIR FACILITY ALSO HAD TO REPLACE TWO OXYGEN SENSORS AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT RAW FUEL DAMAGED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DURING THE INITIAL FAILURE OF THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. *NM

NOTE: THIS IS THE EXACT PART AND SYMPTOM DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 05V399000 FOR 2000-2003 YEARS. 1) I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL, AND THE CAR STOPPED DRIVING. 2) ONCE IT CAME TO A STOP, I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. ) THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED, AND THE SERVICE CENTER CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE SAME PART THAT IS COVERED IN THE 2000-2003 RECALL. *AK

IGNITION LOCKED. YH