2001 SAAB 9-3 Electrical Systemignition Problems

WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE-START ONCE TURNED OFF AND THE KEY TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO RE-START THE VEHICLE AND ALSO HEARD A "THUNK" SOUND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE WHICH ORIGINATED DIRECTLY BELOW THE INSERTED KEY. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM UNDER CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION MOUNTING SCREW/BOLTS HAD "WORKED THEMSELVES LOOSE" AND CAUSE THE HOUSING TO UNSEAT. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY RE-INSTALLING THE BOLTS. THE PROBLEM IS NOTICEABLE IF YOU HAVE A STANDARD-SHIFT VEHICLE (NOT AN AUTOMATIC) AND ARE ABLE TO SHIFT DIRECTLY FROM NEUTRAL TO REVERSE WITHOUT NEEDING TO LIFT UP ON THE SAFETY MECHANISM NEAR THE SHIFTER KNOB. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON HOWEVER THE GREATEST CONCERN WAS THAT WHEN...

1) I STOPPED AT HOME ON THE WAY TO ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. THERE WERE NO INDICATORS THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE GARAGE ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT MADE NO NOISE AND GAVE NO INDICATION EXCEPT IT WAS MYSTERIOUSLY COMPLETELY UNABLE TO START. THE LIGHTS WOULD STILL TURN ON, SO IT WAS NOT A BATTERY. I PAID TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SAAB INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. LUCKILY I WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT STOPPED WORKING; IT WAS A COMPLETE FLUKE I HAD STOPPED THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES. IT HAD STARTED FINE THE OTHER 3 TIMES THAT DAY. 2) THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS 2 MONTHS OUT OF THE 4-YEAR WARRANTY. LUCKILY, I WAS AT HOME AND WAS NOT INJURED. 3) WHEN THE REPAIR SHOP CHECKED THE CAR, THEY SAID THE IGNITION CASSETTE...

DIRECTION IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE. CAR SUFFERED COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER, WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX 65 MPH. *NM

I OWN A 2001 SAAB 9-3 AND WISH TO ALERT YOU TO A PROBLEM WITH THE SAAB DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. A DISCUSSION ON WWW.SAABNET.COM INFORMED ME THAT THE FAILURE RATE OF THIS PART IS APPARENTLY 100%. THE DI CASSETTE CAN GO AT ANY TIME AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SUDDENLY STOP IN TRAFFIC. IT HAPPENED TO ME ON A RAINY DAY AS I WAS TAKING MY ELDERLY MOTHER TO HER DOCTOR. SHE HAD HAD HIP REPLACEMENT AND SPINAL SURGERY, AND HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY GETTING INTO THE TOW TRUCK CAB. (SHE DIED TWO MONTHS LATER, NOT RELATED TO THIS INCIDENT- BUT SHE WAS FRAIL). MY CAR'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND IT COST $600 TO HAVE TO DI CASSETTE REPLACED, NOT COUNTING TOWING EXPENSES AND OTHER HARDSHIP. APPARENTLY SAAB KNOWS THIS IS A DEFECT, AND IT IS POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK WAITING TO HAPPEN.

COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH ON LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY IN LEFT LANE. LOSS OF POWER WAS DUE TO DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE (ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN ENGINE IGNITION SYSTEM). *NM

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. LOSING ALL POWER, RESULTING IN NO STEERING, BRAKES ETC,. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK