2008 Saab 9-3: check engine light

Filed Apr 21, 2020 · Engine · 109,500 miles · WA

Experienced hard starting in cold weather in the pacific northwest the past few years. Did research and found a tsb regarding the intake valves for 2.0 ecotec 4 cylinder. Had a compression test following several check engine lights and multiple readings diagnose a p0300 engine code . Cold and warm compression test showed cylinder 2 compression well out of specification. Documents available upon request. Quoted $4000 for engine rebuild.

Filed Nov 7, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 90,000 miles · CO

Recently, while starting the car it started up very rough. A few weeks ago the check engine light also came on and the mechanic told me there was an issue in cylinder 2. We replaced all spark plugs and coils, and the issue did not go away. In addition, the car has also started stalling randomly. Luckily, I haven't been driving at high speeds when this has happened but it's now shut off about 7 or 8 times in the last month. Been wondering if its intake valves, fuel pump, powertrain control module, camshaft timing... Sounds like lots of other people have experienced similar issues and hoping mines not because of the intake valves. Please email [xxx]@hotmail.com if you have experienced similar issues and know the fix. Car is a manual transmission.

Filed Sep 9, 2017 · Fuel system · 25,000 miles · CA

Fuel pump is defaulting to check engine light , error code for fuel pump , while driving the fuel pump intermittently does not send enough fuel to motor resulting in not enough power stalling while driving.

Filed Jul 31, 2017 · Engine, Fuel system · 99,000 miles · NC

Reached 100k miles, and car began running very rough. Engine light came on and diagnosed as bad ignition coil. Paid for tune-up, ignition coil, and and fuel service. Less than a month later, same issue. Car running fine, then suddenly almost stalls and engine light blinks then stays on - car runs very rough at idle and acceleration. Replaced 2 more coils. Less than one month issue, same issue - car running ok, then just almost stalls and runs rough - engine light blinks then stays on - relaced #5 coil. When diagnosing, service tech advised that issue was likely worse, not maintaining compression - likely required valve job. Have already paid several thousands of dollars on ignition coils and other service to dealership for this issue, now facing large bill for valve job.

Filed Jan 4, 2017 · Engine · 130,000 miles · WI

I have owned my 2008 saab 9-3 for about a year now and I have had an ongoing rough running issue that seems to be getting worse. When I start my car up in the morning it runs very rough and recently the check engine light has been turning on and off with cylinder misfire codes. I have done some research and had this problem diagnosed, several times, as having bad intake valves. After doing more research on this problem, I have come to find this is a rather common issue with this specific year make and model. This is concerning because I have had this repair quoted at over $2000.00. I am very familiar with manufacturer recalls and have been told by multiple dealerships to submit a complaint in order for this problem to be covered under a manufacturer recall due to faulty parts.

Filed Feb 16, 2015 · Engine · 81,704 miles · NJ

Check engine light on.. Shop found multiple engine misfires.. Checked engine compression.. Compression below manufacturers specs.. Needed complete valve job per saab recommendation.. Parts sent to machine shop for repairs and re-condition.. Re-install of cylinder head assembly with new head gasket and all other needed gasket and seals.. Flushed and refilled all engine transmission fluids.. Complete valve job with intake and exhaust valves.. Defective valve is reported issue on saab 9-3 2008..

Filed Feb 14, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 103,000 miles · PA

We purchased a 2008 saab 9-3 in 3/2011 with 34,000 miles. As of 2/2015 the vehicle has 104,000 miles. Last month the vehicle barely started after sitting overnight and would take several minutes to reach a normal idle. It would then start the rest of the day, sometimes after a "hard" start. The check engine light came on and the mechanic said the code read as a "cylinder misfire" code. 8 days ago the car would not start and is now sitting in my driveway. I called a saab specialist about 2 hours away from me who knew exactly what the problem was. He explained the intake valve problem that a lot of saab owners are experiencing due to defective materials used by gm and/or suppliers. He said the cost will be at least $2,200 but could easily be more depending on the severity. This is a known defect (a service bulletin has been issued detailing this issue) that should be subject to a recall. We cannot afford to fix an engine that does not work due to substandard valves. This is not a normal "wear and tear" issue, but an issue dealing with parts that were doomed from the beginning.

Filed Feb 9, 2015 · Fuel system · 82,559 miles · TN

My check engine light came on while traveling across the state of tn and I noticed that my vehicle began stalling when I accelerated quickly. I immediately took my vehicle to get checked out and was told that the code yielded "lean at idle". The mechanic adjusted a vacuum hose and said I was good to go...I pulled out of the parking lot and noticed my gas gauge showed less than 35 miles but no gas light indicator was lit. I tried to test my car by quickly accelerating and my check engine light came back on. I took it right back to the mechanic and they replaced the vacuum hose. When I left the mechanic on 8feb2015, I filled up my gas tank but noticed my gauge only showed half full. I drove it 1 mile and parked it for the evening. This morning I started the vehicle back up and noticed that there was a little hesitancy and kickback when accelerating...I drove back home 225 miles and less than 20 miles from home my engine light comes back on. The code is now indicating a fuel pressure regulator issue...hence the reason for the stalling hesitancy and the incorrect fuel gauge/indicator light. Upon researching online, there is not a noted recall for the fuel pump on my car, but I did notice a special bulletin gm failed fuel system program...listed below:service bulletin number: sb-10054 replacement service bulletin number: sb-10054d the federal safety agency id #: 10041526 bulletin date: thu, 09/01/2011 failing component(s): 091200 fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system why is my car not showing as covered when the classic premature system failure is occurring at only 82k miles whereas I run the risk of my fuel pump completely failing and could lead to a car fire if I was unknowledgeable on the subject matter???? Please assist with explaining how my car is not showing up as covered via the VIN information system with the federal safety agency.

Filed Jan 20, 2015 · Electrical · 130,000 miles · AZ

Upon starting my vehicle it had a rough idle, I went ahead and put it in gear and began to leave my garage, then my check engine light started blinking and there was a burning smell. I then put it back in park and got my husband to check it out when he opened the hood smoke was coming from the first cylinder on the engine. He quickly unhooked the battery and removed the oem bosch coil pack with gloves on because it was extremely hot (took over an hour to cool down after removed from the car), so hot that the coil pack came apart, had split open and melted. I have pictures and kept the pack for evidence. I do believe had he not got the pack out it could have very quickly been an electrical/engine fire. Part number from coil pack #12613057.

Filed Jun 25, 2014 · Fuel system · 10,700 miles · UT

Engine light went on beginning of winter 2011, and code indicated failed fuel pump. Gm (this is a gm car) and saab indicated faulty part, and continued to indicate back order of part, and then method to rebuild available fuel pump, which apparently is also on back order. Engine light goes off after several months, but reappears the next year, and has occurred each year since. Part was covered under warranty at time of complaint, but is now off of warranty. Saab north america has indicated in response to complaint that replacement part plus rebuild would work, but the part has never been available for rebuilding, and saab dealership (ken gaarf) claims it has been on back order for close to 3 years. Car bought new in december 2009 with 3 year gm full warranty in place.

Filed Feb 28, 2014 · Engine · 75,000 miles · NE

The problem of a cold start rough idle initially started last year around february 2013. The check engine light did come on every so often and would eventually reset itself. I had the code checked out, and I was told it was misfiring of the spark plugs. I had the spark plugs replaced, but unfortunately this did not solve the problem. I did not have the car looked at again till this year, february 2014, as I wanted to make sure I didn't have bad gas, or it wasn't carbon buildup in the engine. After informing the dealer of the problem I was having, they suggested I leave it overnight so they could test it out the next morning. That morning they called and told me the problem was with the intake valves going bad. They are in the process of ordering the parts and I will have the work completed in march 2014. I have contacted saab parts north america to see if they would be willing to help in anyway since my car was just out of warranty, and I was told they would not and that gm probably wouldn't either due to the bankruptcy. I will be attempting to call gm and see if they are willing to help in anyway since my vehicle was manufactured while saab was still owned by gm. I have also found out at saab central forums there are numerous owners of the 07-11 years that are experiencing the same problem at about the same mileage. I have also learned there is a spna bulletin that has been sent to dealers, so they know about this problem and have chosen not to stand behind their product by issuing a recall.

Filed Jan 21, 2014 · Engine · 74,916 miles · MA

I'm not certain if this is a safety issue but it certainly qualifies as an emissions issue and a manufacturer's defect. On every cold start, the engine would run rough until I put it in drive and would run fine after a few minutes. I let it sit and idle for a while once and the check engine light came on as a result. A local dealership found low compression across 2 cylinders and informed me it was the dreaded valve issue (intake valve cupping they called it). The dealership had fixed a number of these and from various online forums, I see that a number of 2007 and 2008 saab 9-3 owners seem to have experienced the same problem. The repair consisted of removing and replacing all 8 intake valves, hand lapping them, removing and replacing all valve seals, and refinishing the head mating surface. The repair was very expensive, several thousand dollars. I've had the car back for a couple of weeks and the problem is gone. I was told this issue seems to happen around this amount of mileage and in cold weather states. Of course my warranty had expired 6 months earlier and I imagine this is the case with many other saab 9-3 owners with '07 and '08 vehicles. With the new parts, I was told I shouldn't run into this problem again.