7 Common Saab 9-3 Aero/Turbo X Problems (B284) 

The coolant hoses around the expansion tank for me at least, started to leak and I had to replace them but overall no serious issues, great engine

Extremely solid engines, and the fact that we're only able to pin point a handful of common issues tends to prove how reliable they are.

The 2.8 was made at Fisherman’s Bend by Holden in Melbourne Australia!! Great motor!

When it comes to the key, you must have two keys. If you buy the car and are only given one go out and get another because if you get the CIM error and only have one key you’ll end up having to get two new ones when they program the new CIM to the car. If one key stops working but the other works it’s a key issue not a CIM issue. The flacking soft touch coating on the surfaces is the issue. The plastic is fine. It comes off due to oils, lotions and cleaners. The battery, just move it to the trunk. That’s what I’m doing You also didn’t mention the biggest issue with the car and that’s the ECM degrading and causing fault codes. This happened because the ECM is solid mountain to the engine. The vibration and heat cause solid to break down. Extending the harness and rubber mounting it in the cabin is a good idea. Good used ECMs are not cheap nor is the cloning if you take it to a dealer that has techII

Every problem you mentioned, I have had in my 2006 SAAB 93 with the 2.8 V6. But I still love the car.

A problem that happens very often on the Aero 2.8 V6 is the failure of the coils, due to the strong heat in the engine compartment they fail and the engine starts to run badly with less power and tears as if it had one less cylinder. A piece of advice to partially avoid the problem is to remove the upper plastic cover of the engine and when you park the car in the garage to always open the bonnet to dissipate the heat, this also helps to make the cables and plastic parts last longer. I bought my Saab Aero new in 2007, today in 2021 it has about 38.000KM, many years have passed, but I still have the original factory battery. I use the car only on weekends, for this reason it has a few km, but when it is stopped in the box I always connect the battery to a charge maintainer.

4 months = 3-4K miles lol Try 29k in 5 months. I bought the car with 179k and I’ve put another 30k on it, only oil changes and changed the breaks front/rear. Just today I changed the water pump cause it was leaking. Only cost $120 and very easy to change. I’ll be changing the clutch in a month. These cars are very reliable, as long as you do the regular oil changes and tune ups you shouldn’t have any problems. As far as the buttons peeling, just go to eBay they have high quality stickers for your make and year. If you have have problems with the window pinch sensors, just disconnect the battery and reconnect. This way you will have manual up/ auto down. Or you can just setup the pinch sensors by pulling up the window and waiting for a beep and then let go of the button. That solves the problem almost every time.

I looked on your do88 sticker on your car and looked down on my desk and saw the same thing ^^

Bought a manual 07 V6 aero about 5 years ago for 500 bucks, thing was clapped to hell had all the common issues and 240k on it. Was the funnest car I ever owned for the 6 months it lasted before the cim went bad. Been looking for a convertible V6 manual for over a year finally found one 3 hours away for 5k with 80k on it. Jaw dropped when I saw it and it was in my garage the next day, it's been a week and I'm in heaven

Make sure the air intake snorkel is connected to the battery box. This feeds cooler air around the battery. I wrapped the snorkel with heat tape also. My 06 Aero has a stage 1 BSR tune.

I have a Saab 9-3 2.8T v6 -06 and the Buttons have never pealed. They look like new 👍🏻

When I drive my guage lights turn off and on sometimes why does it do that?

I had an issue with my window regulator. I just had to crank the bass up and it started working again.

Is the front subframe from the v6 and 4 cylinder the same

There was actually also the B284E with 230 hp. Not a very common version though and I think it as mainly/only for the US market. Becaure more cylinders equals better. Everyone knows that. P0089 is an early indicator that, most often, the fuel pump is failing. It's specifically means that the PWM signal to the fuel pump has changed more than 25% in under 5 seconds. The B284 uses a PWM controlled fuel pump, not "always on" as all the other cars, so of course, there are diagnostics for it. If you ask me, the absolutely most common problem with the V6 is bad ignition coils. Second most common is stretched timing chains on mid-2007 and later cars. 2006 to mid-2007 seem to fair better.

i have a 2007 9-3 aero 2.8l do you have some links for a new light weight cooling system and what can i do to make the car lighter in general

Hi I have a 2006 Aero Sport Combo 6 cylinder manual transmission. My engine light keeps coming on after trying to accelerate in 5th gear on the highway. My Russian mechanic says it's the turbo and I have noticed a lack of power when I need to "Punch" it. Do you have advice on how to fix and where to get parts? I love my car. It's the only new car I've ever owned and it has to last til I drop dea. I've only put 110,000 miles on it. My fuel indicator went bad about 4 years ago and I did have to glue back together the balance knob on the radio when I wet to turn it one day. It just split and the I bought a replacement sticker for the driver heated seat button, but it doesn't allow the light to come through unfortunately. Also had to replace the amp for the stereo under the driver seat and have already replaced 3 window regulators. Additionally, I've been having issues with the remote door locks being sporadic as to whether some all or none work which triggers my alarm system to go off constantly for no reason and that has led to battery life decreasing dramatically. I can live with everything, but the turbo is an issue as it triggers my engine light and I want to make sure that when the engine light goes off, something worse isn't happening.

P0234 can happen as well. That's a overboost DTC. Usually it's the boost control valve and it's easy to replace. Part number 55558983.

Does anyone know where i can get a 9-3 turbo x oem fuel pump, ive gone thru 4 fuel pumps cz they arent oem. And also i keep getting p0087 for fuel rail pressure sensor high voltage,

I used to have a 9.5 2.3t and can confirm the fuel issue happened to me aswell

Thanks!

We had a Rear Dif go bad on one of the Saabs, Caddy dealer placed a new one for 1K but that was in 2015, nowadays that can be a bigger problem

I just bought a 06 aero for 5k and it seems to be in pretty good condition! It has only 95k miles on it. Only issue it has is the ac fan doesn't work.

I have an 07 aero and would like some assistance with the charging system. I have replaced the alternator and regulator and the dash still says "battery not charging". I checked the harness plug that goes to the alternator and it has no voltage. The b+ cable does have the same power as the battery. I'm really stuck. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi I have a Saab 9-3 2007 and I have a code that popped up .P0 300 do you know what it could mean? I press the gas firmly and it started stuttering and hesitating to go. The check engine light keep going on and off. I have one of those fixed apps and the only thing it says is misfire p0300.

Hi, I have a 2.8 V6 Turbo Signum, every cold start the following the day, the car goes into limp mode and revs go up/down, then it cuts out. When I restart it, it runs absolutely fine. Any ideas? No warning lights or anything 🤔

Huh that explains why I got a mysterious coolant leak it's like super slow though I do get the big bong noise coolant low when it's actaully not so I'm upgrading to a metal expansion tank thanks for that info btw what's your gas mpg like mine says it's getting 26.8 highway I travel 45 miles round trip everyday I'm filling up every four days sometimes I make it a whole week sometimes not should have something checked out is this normal for a saab

P0089 happens at higher RPM when the fuel is slightly starved. I have been told there is a Tech II fix to increase the rate of the fuel pump. I have not tried this. Also make sure the gas cap ie tightened to the first click

Did you buy that charge pipe or have it made? Cause I’m looking to replace the stock plastic one

There also is a problem with the doors. After a while the doors and parts in their mounting system wear out and they begin to make loud noise on the stop positions. On my 9-3 the rear doors are not used often so they work great and are silent, but the driver door has become rather loud and harsh. There is a plastic piece in the door mechanism that wears out and it starts to grind metal to metal so the doors begin to sound like broken.

I've put 10k miles on my 9-3 Aero and I've had not one issue. Common issues are vacuum lines cracking, coil packs, and coolant tank. Make sure to turn off the car when filling up with gas (no battery power either) in order to prolong the life of the fuel sender. Check the service history and make sure the coolant tank and fuel sender has been replaced. Make sure to change the trans fluid; I've seen plenty v6 9-3s junked because the trans fluid wasn't changed and the autobox nuked itself

I got foil insulation and set it on the inside of the battery box. Then some on the outside facing the turbo. The aluminum expansion tank solves the tank problem. Also use silicone hoses do88 to connect. I replaced all the hoses with silicone because of the heat.

The B284 engine in the Turbo X was made at Fishermans Bend, Melbourne, Australia and Saab took care of the turbo part of the engine.

Some of my problems so far...coils, door lock randomly dying, drivers mirror folding doesnt work all the time, remote lock doesnt work sometimes, axle boots tearing, gear knob going off, coolant reservoir, strut mounts and bearings, no power brakes at start up and on and on 😁 engine seems to be tough but it better be for the fuel it uses and performance it delivers

Sorry I’m new to Saab’s, so the XWD Aero, and the X, get the same amount of HP?

Do I have to dismount intake manifold to change the spark plugs on this engine?

P0089 - common problem with "fuel pump" does not have to be related to the pump itself. problem is fuel system being clogged (probably also due to the engine bay heat) and the pump having to work pretty hard to deliver the amount of fuel needed with the needed pressure through that system. Most common fix then is using fuel system cleaner (acdelco for example, but other stuff works too) so that it fixes the flow a bit, then the pump does not suffer and will last much longer compared to when you just ignore the problem and wait for the fuel pump to fail completely, then blame the pump :) Other common problems for sure are ignition coils and sparks - wear out faster also because of the heat. When replacing the coils, you may also find cracked / broken vacuum lines / hoses, that are simply deteriorated plastic / rubber due to extensive heat during years. Same goes for the coolant rubber lines (people replace then with ng95 lines that need to be trimmed a bit, but have additional shield so last longer). Plus in TurboX being XWD, there are nivomats (autolevel) shocks in the back that are expensive AF to replace, so once failed, many people replace them for "Aero" coilovers (remember to replace springs too, springs on nivomats are not able to handle the difference in shocks). There sure are more different issues with that anway, but the car is fine, overall.

You didn't mention Coil packs and spark plugs.

Hi the best way to keep your battery cool is wrap it two layers header wrap top sides and bottom small 12 volt computer fan. Don't run the fan off the battery but on a 12v connection that is only on when the ignition is on.The fan is a little over kill for your car but my car is 850hp and heat is a problem.

Getting rid of that cat-converter that was right beside the battery might help the battery live longer. It's entire job was to stay super-hot as the heat is a catalyst to the chemical reaction it facilitated.

I like the GS expansion tank but from what I can tell the only way to get one is to purchase it with a strut bar for $345.... no thanks. My coolant tank literally exploded a week ago due to a stuck thermostat. Talk about a part that is a PITA to replace on the 2.8L, that would be the thermostat (under the turbo). Best deal I found on the expansion tank is from esaabparts - $89 for the tank and both upper hoses.

Sometimes the motor on my 06 Aero will be "Breathless" (RPM jumping around between 700~1500) when I start my car in the winter, especially when the motor is still warm.

I am in the process to change/swap a B205R vin "K" 8th digit engine on my 2003 9-3 SE CONV. , do you need to do a computer tech reset or the computer with readjust automatically like Hondas after driving it for 8 miles ?

Go for an Enersys pure lead or an Ultracell brand battery. They’re quite a bit more expensive but will last for 3-5 years without service

Cam chains? Haldex? Clutches and flywheels?

Any thoughts on 2006 saab 2.8t 166k miles? (First car)

I just had to replace the CIM.. glad my car is running better now.

Wait a minute, the aluminium inside the hood is suppose to be there? Thought I was the only who had that

Coil pack replacement is a big issue

Tell me why he looks like gabe from office Love your stuff man

Pretty much hit them all on the head. Had them all on my cars, except the CIM issue, thankfully.

The cheap plastic on the door pulls inside. I've already broken my driver side.

I don't know very much about the technical ins and outs of these engines, but the specific hp per liter was uncompetitively low and not up to Saab state of the art standards. The 2.3 liters in the 9-5 Aeros of the day pumped out 260hp, being 113 hp per liter, the 100hp per liter mark was already reached in the early 9-5 Aeros at least 8 years before. Now it was just a big lump not on par with the competition and with excessive thirst. And of course the 4-wheel drive came 15 years too late.

move the battery to the trunk its easy not sure why you said its crazy

Are you intending to leave the plastic engine cover off, and if so why?

Make more videos on this like update videos

CIM!!! Had to have my CIM replaced. It’s about $1200 plus labor at the stealership 😭Out the door repair was $1700 including tax. Now my ABS is failing. $1100 for the part at the dealership plus labor. For the computers to be replaced you need to have the old part divorced from the ECU and then the new one married to it. It’s not a diy job. Fortunately there is a workaround. Get your CIM or ABS computer Remanufactured. No need for the divorce/marriage. (ECU’s can be reman’d too.) I’m doing this for my ABS tomorrow. Taking off the computer and sending it to be repaired for just $380 which includes express shipping. It’s about a 20 min job to remove the ABS computer. Reinstall is quick too. I’m using XMODEX for the remanufacture since they are the only ones out there who work on the TRW ABS unit for the SAAB V6.

Yeah the b207r is definitely the crappier engine when comparing the 2. Especially when trying to make decent power the 2.0 just can’t hold up. Most Gm parts are interchangeable especially with the Chevy cobalt engine variant but the block itself isn’t very good. The v6 is much better at holding power and taking abuse. The v6 also sounds much better obviously 😂 and they don’t suffer from the dreaded Intake valve issues that 2007-2009 2.0s can have like my 2008 9-3 :(

ABS modules and auto transmission fill plug

A battery relocation to the trunk doesn’t seem that crazy

Window regulators are junk, I've replacement my passenger side twice in two years. The second one just went out and I'm done dishing out cash for a shitty part. I wish the pulleys were made of metal instead of plastic.

P0089. Triggered! Lol

I missed out on a Saab 9-3 aero... kms

U didnt mention bad throttle body

Can't watch it

the engine is a holden from australia

⚠️❤️⚠️

You should hit the find my car button in the intro let those eyebrows show

Door locks

B284 vs B207r let's do a comparison and that roll race i been asking you about?!?!

To anyone wanting to own this car to use as a daily driver: This may be a cheap car to buy but THIS IS NOT A CHEAP CAR TO RUN!! To SAAB guys: I upgraded from my 2.0L B207 to the 2.8L V6 because of a local classified showed that there was a TurboX 6-speed in Niles, IL (20 mins from Chicago). While I was impressed how much nicer the facelifted model felt and enjoyed the extra power that came with the Vtuner Reflash. This car is noticeably more expensive when it comes time for maintenance. The alternator is different from the manual to the automatic transmission and OEM parts are hard to come by. Not willing to settle for cheap aftermarket parts my car sat for over a month and I drove my weekend toy BMW Z4 as a daily driver. To non-SAAB guys: Find someone who will agree to work on SAABs before you buy one. I have been turned away from european service centers calling my SAAB a domestic because of too many GM parts and a regular mechanic will be reluctant to work on these. The mechanics who used to work on them are retiring or dying off and not everyone lives in the burbs or the country to have space to turn a wrench like Jacob. TLDR: If you want to drive something rare you gotta pay to play. And when you play with a TurboX, man is it rewarding!

DOU TEHY SEAL NEU PARTS FOR THES CARS..AND WAR

i hear rice is a big problem xD