Saab progress! (aka, "the joy of working on a modern car")

[mckitterick]

Kind readers of this blog who weren't in Lawrence in mid-June probably don't know that my lovely Saab 900 Turbo Convertible was barfing up engine coolant right before the SF Writers Workshops started. Everyone is probably aware that I have a little less than no free time during the summer, so for the past couple of months, the Saab has remained motionless under my carport, slowly growing a coat of alley-dust.

A short time ago, I purchased a new water pump from eBay, my home of car parts. It just arrived a couple of days ago, during which time I've been studying the shop manual and examining the Saab's engine compartment. If you've ever peered under a Saab hood, you're probably aware that the engine is mounted longitudinally and backwards; that is, all the pulley-driven accessories face the firewall at the back of the compartment, with barely enough clearance between the bolts and the body to squeeze a wrench into position.

Well, I'm here to tell you that the photos in the manual are lies, lies I tell you! One shows the water pump being gently lifted out of position... but that was on a car sans-A/C. Naturally, mine has A/C, and the compressor stands right over the water pump, rendering it virtually inaccessible. Yesterday, fatigued and grouchy after hours of cursingly removing bolts I couldn't see as I worked (joy!), I decided I'd just have the thing towed to a garage to have them finish the work.

I woke up this morning feeling like a wuss. I mean, heck, I've done all manner of restoration work. I've rebuilt engines with my own two hands! I can fix this thing!

So I resumed work. And - viola! - only several hours later, the water pump is out! Just a few minutes ago, I got back from the parts store bearing all-new belts, because those previously on the car all got soaked with coolant (oh, did I mention that one must remove all five - yes, FIVE - belts to remove any one? Hooray!).

Just finished a ham-and-cheese-on-rye sandwich for dinner, cooled down a bit, and am about to head outside and hopefully finish the job.

PS: Re: the subject line: Some of you might not consider a 1990 vehicle as "modern," but compared to most every other car I've ever owned, it's at least a human generation newer. That's, like, 12 generations in vehicle-years.

PPS: Oh, not sure I mentioned before that I repaired fuel-pump issues in early June. Next up: A/C repairs. Woohoo.

Later!
Chris

Comments

[mallory-blog.livejournal.com]

:::munch munch::: red convertible huh???

Is that like "mid-life-crisis-red?" and "trying-to-impress-hot-chicks-red?"

I mean, like, you COULD toddle down to yer VW dealer and buy a perfectly dependable bug, like mine, only not in a femme color - of course... neato babe magnet and you like turn the key and it runs...fun :)

[fortyozspartan.livejournal.com]

and you like turn the key and it runs

Where's the mystery and adventure in that I ask?

[mallory-blog.livejournal.com]

::hee hee:: I had the SENSE to SELL my 1984 Porsche last year when I learned I had the commute to Berkeley - it hadn't broke but I could HEAR the bits wearing down (the pilot bearing at the back of the tranny) - there is a point where the FUN is in not worrying about when it will break and how many kazillions of bucks it will cost at that point... :)

BTW - my 1969 Vette is parked in the driveway with ALL its parts in my garage - I know ALL about the lure of old junky cars...

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Heh; this is my beater, see. My mid-life-crisis-red car is my Crossfire (or so I'm told), and that's as reliable as all get-out.

The Newport is soon to be my Corvette equivalent, only with back seats *g*

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I must confess to owning a reliable car, too. Ho-hum.

[fortyozspartan.livejournal.com]

epic fail

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Well, at least it's both reliable and sexy.

[siro-gravity.livejournal.com]

ooooo, sorry about the broken car! how can you stand doing all that car-stuff? :)
sandwich? yes.
car repair? no.

:)

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Oh, I enjoy working on cars when they're put together in not-irritating ways, like the Newport, whose engine compartment is roomy enough to house a family of four. Mechanical labor is a pleasure much different than the cerebral stuff I do most of the time.