2003+ Saab 9-3 2.0T Coolant Expansion Tank Replacement 

Its always satisfying to complete a job, no matter how big or small, to make your cars more perfect.

Watched this video months ago and now I’m back because the same thing just happened on my 03 except it was the top plastic piece instead of the bottom. We love it😂

For my 05 9-3, I changed this out last week before driving to Hesperia from LA, the top nipple had 2 micro cracks it was leaking from. Not too bad. While I was in there I installed a new thermostat, temp sensor, aluminum radiator hose tee connection (had a micro leak hard to catch), and two new heater core hoses. The coolant system has been kept mint! No need for a flush drain and fill, the coolant I took initially was still good enough to reuse lol Best of all, No Coolant Leak from the Water Pump! at 142K miles.

Yours apparently had the same issue I'm now facing on my 2008, the equatorial reservoir seam leak. Thanks to your video, I can safely tell my wife that this is only a 1 hour r/r job 😉

One of those long tubes for the intake coolant broke off like yours did there at 5:00 but it was the one on top and my son was driving around with no coolant for a day as it was spraying out of there whenever he accelerated. I freaked when I saw the empty tank. Luckily it didn't overheat or any long term damage I can see. Just ordered new tank and will be replacing thermostat and sensor so thanks for your guides as now I know how to do that on my Vector..

One quick RU-vid search and lo and behold, you had already made a vid about the expansion tank replacement! Why am I not surprised? Coolant has been leaking from the top nipple and I at first thought it was the hose so I replaced both. Still leaking so probably (hopefully) a cracked nipple. New expansion tank should be in tomorrow so with the help of your video, I'll be replacing it tomorrow. Thanks as always for the assist Jacob! Hope all is well.

Thank you!!!! just did this on my 2008 Saab 93, I did the two easy lil ones first when taking it off though and last when putting it back on to make it easier lol

My son’s 2006 had the exact same problem but we haven’t had very good luck with the allegedly OEM replacements. The first one showed up with the float completely loose inside the reservoir, got another one and now my son gets a check coolant light every time he starts up the car even though the coolant level is perfect.

For me, it was the top nipple that broke. I had done a trip to Greece and back, from Romania, plus driving around there for a week (around 2000 mile trip). When I got back, I parked the car and the next day the hose just fell off with the nipple inside of it. Had the same color as this one too, the opaque orange. It was such a pain to clear the hose too, I was afraid I'd leave some plastic crumbs in it or something that would end up blocking the coolant passages in the engine. Wish I had thought of using a pipette to get the coolant out though, I just left the cap on it and hooked up a hose to the overflow tube. With the tank removed from the clamps, I twisted it around so the coolant drained through the tube, but it still made a mess since that thing isn't really water-tight.

Thanks for the vid - doing an inspection of my '05 9-3, "Man, these hoses look so out of plac- CRACK" Well, it wasn't the hoses I should've been concerned about in the long run... One of those things to push you over to correct a few other things at the same time. New thermostat while I was at it (while I had things apart), and replacing the two upper lines with the correctly shaped versions instead of "eh, it'll be fine" generic hoses a previous owner had used.

I just put in a new thermostat last week and removed the tank. I couldn't believe how dirty it was. I blasted brake clean in there and it took care of the dirt. Looks almost like new now!

My project this afternoon. Thanks for the thorough video!!

Thank you for your superb explanation video for this job. I have just changed my coolant tank as it was extremely dirty. Took about 30 minutes to do and it looks fantastic. I can now see the level with clarity. Keep up the good work my saab friend

Mental note: when the coolant is right up the top of an open hose extract more so that you have a safety margin preventing flowing over.

Thank you Sir for sure this videos are life savers, hopefully they have this reservoir at the local auto parts store mine gave up last night

Great video @AutoAutopsy! You made it seem pretty easy to unplug the sensor. Is it really that easy? Also, what coolant do you recommend for an 2008 9-3? Did you put the coolant you pulled out back in? Thanks in advance. I'm looking to do this job myself here in the next couple of weeks.

Nice tutorial buddy! My daughter had a Toyota Celica (sorry for swearing!) - coolant systems sealed for life!!! Not for me, I need to check my levels LOL

Spent an hour today getting the bolt that holds the left rear shock absorber on my V50 (the upper mount for said shock absorber has cracked so it was half undone), in other words I have probably cursed Ford so much today that lighting might strike their HQ to night.

Thank you! Very cool job!! I put the black lid on the tank. Part number 13502353 gm original. I have no problems yet.

Very good I change mine like 3 months ago.. great video

Which brand of coolant reservoir did you go with and can you give us a 2-year update on this repair? Thanks in advance.

Those fronts on the T-X look like you have been having fun with them.....little bare on the edge. XD Yep. Same problem on 3 of mine so far. The nips get a bit brittle after 15yrs. That baster idea is good, I use a section of thinner hose to reach down in there to draw out a bit more. Much easier than snapping off the radiator drain plug(ask me how I know....)

I found the very same issue with 04 93 today. Do you think losing some fluid would cause a misfire? I had that code also today and when I looked I seen the fluid like yours had ..

Thank you man you’ve been so helpful!!! Yes

where did you end up ordering this? thinking about replacing mine as well.

So what’s the “engine coolant” reservoir and why is it there when there’s a separate coolant expansion tank??? I am so lost lol

Great job!! I have to replace mine too, so you just showed my how to!!! :)Thanks!

What coolant did you use is it a specific one

Hey I just swapped radiator and filled system to reservoirs fill line. Do I need any tools to burp out any extra air or will waterflow do that automatically?

I put a different coolant tank in mine is that a problem i have one from a 900 on my 93 og i made some adjustments for a perfect fit just about the same liters but the sensor different location and de tube is a little bigger had a problem putting the hose back the under one

Turbo X looks nice . Did u fix the vibrations issue on the turbo x ?

The reserve tank bottom (i think) nipple broke off while I was driving on a city street. SID showed a coolant warning message. I pulled off asap and saw the hose loose and coolant sprayed. I was able to slide the hose back on and it stayed. Took car to my brother's and he was able to re-clamp it. There was still a little nipple left to clamp to. He got the remainder of the broken nipple out of the hose. I do need to buy a new one thou. Any suggestions on a reliable replacement? Thank you for the video.

I changed mine with a non OEM but the level sensor warning kicks off with the level being perfect. The sensor is not 100% compatible. Anyone had the same problem ? @Auto autopsy no low coolant level warning with this part? Link to where you got it ?

Ridiculous situation in Uk ! level sensor has failed and have to buy complete expansion tank as float level sensor not available seperately 🤬

Where to subscribers send plates to?

Seems like you have a lot of problems with your cars, have a 9-3 myself that I will fix, the only fault now is the generator but many others will come, I wonder if I should sell it and buy a Volvo instead?

Original saab part?

Saab friends are silver spark plugs better than iridium spark plugs. I want to get a map tune eventually.