Expensive repair, any ideas?

BrunoM

Hi

My car (Saab 9-3, 2006, 30k on the clock, bought 21 months ago from an Approved dealer) has been having software issues which eventually led to it cutting out while driving at the weekend; took it to the local Saab dealership yesterday and (as well as £114 investigation charge) they have told me I will need a replacement ECU for £2500-3000!

This is crazy high, and I will at least get a second opinion somewhere else, but I assume I don't have any recourse to the dealers who sold it to me? It had 12 month warranty, but I've only done 5k miles since buying. Or any other ideas for reducing the cost if I do have to go ahead with getting a replacement? Saab computers are apparently quite specialist, I assume shopping around might find me somewhere a little cheaper but it's still going to be a big number

Thanks

**Patty**

I'd definately ask for a 2nd opinion......where in the country are you?

There's a highly recommended independant in the Midlands (recommended by most saab-scene users)

crrussell

check on saab forums to see if an ecu from a second hand saab (same year and spec) can be used and try to get a salvage part from a breakers ecu's are very easy to replace if they can be swapped from 1 car to another without being plugged into a saab computer they are normaly very cheap from breakers too but check to see if they can be swapped on a forum first ( if it can be done but cant tackle thejob yourself call a mobile mechanic they wont charge anywhee near £2500 )

BrunoM

London unfortunately. Google shows a few options around, and a few forum recommendations here and there, have written to a few of them this evening asking if they'll give an estimate for ECU replacement. Then hopefully a second opinion inspection will suggest a less extreme requirement anyway...

Thanks!

**Patty**

http://www.saabscene.com/

kevsproule

Yes kevsproule

londonTiger

more than likely its just a wiring/connector issue and a common fault - check forums for fix

reeac

londonTiger wrote: »

more than likely its just a wiring/connector issue and a common fault - check forums for fix

My thoughts too. Back in about 1990 I had a Montego VDP Efi which started cutting out in an unpredictable manner and after a scary incident in the RH lane on the M25 in darkness and rain I had a good look under the bonnet. I found that the wires to/from the air flow sensor were stretched a bit tight and pulling them gently would cause the engine to stop. I eased some more cable along from elsewhere in the harness in order to take out the tension and that fixed it.