1997 SAAB manual transmission problem

STREETTB

MEMBER
1997 SAAB 900
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
91 MILES

I've been having a problem with my '97 900 Saab.
Here are the symptoms (and other pertinent info):

(1) There is a fluttering/whirring sound in low gear.*
(2) Car shakes/vibrates when putting into 1st gear after a complete stop.
(3) Car barely makes it up steep hills. RPM's are high and the car moves very slowly uphill. Grinding/whirring sound very noticeable going up hill.
(4) Clutch cable has been replaced 2x in the last two years (last replacement the cable was very, very tight. Very little "play").

*The best way to describe the sound is that it sounds like the sound when one puts a playing card in between the spokes of a bicycle wheel.

4 Replies

FIXITMR

MECHANIC
9,990 POSTS

Sounds like your clutch and possibly pressure plate and throw out bearing are shot! But it's fairly easy to remove/inspect these things as the whole shebang is right on front of engine and does not require trans removal. Odd little devil of a design for convenience I suppose!

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Friday, December 24th, 2010 AT 1:14 AM

FACTORYJACK

MECHANIC
4,159 POSTS

A 97 900 is not easily accessible, and the trans does need to be removed. The reply is describing an earlier 900, circa 94 convertible and earlier. The fluttering in low gear does not sound symptomatic of clutch, The other symptoms do, and it would be wise to inspect at this point. Sad to say that in this case, if a clutch was needed, it should have another cable. The self adjusting design of it make it unreliable, especially after tampering with it.

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Friday, December 24th, 2010 AT 3:37 AM

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