2002 Saab 9-3 misfire with engine stutter

[mnewk41]

Hi all,

I have had a problem with my saab for a while now. Been trying to dig deeper online and no real luck. I have the CEL on for a misfire Cyl 2. Things I have done thus far is swap spark plugs (no change) and attempted to see if the injector is firing which i think it is. The engine does not stutter in park but when shifted in to drive you can begin to feel it. I have not checked the coil yet as it is one unit and I am unfamiliar with how to check it. Has anyone had this issue or one similar?

Here is a photo of what the coil looks like. Any help or tips is appreciated! I ordered a coil to "Troubleshoot" Maybe it will fix it (Fingers crossed)

 

[We're Metals]

Swap with a known good Cassette (coil Pack)

 

[Trav]

2002 93 SE are notorious for killing the coil pack. This uses the Trionic 7, do not be tempted to buy the nice red tops, they are the 2.3 only.
Pull the coil pack and inspect the boots, if any are cracked or damaged the lower assy with boots is available. If everything looks okay time for a compression and injector test if good, it is easy to enough to swap 2 injectors around on this engine just get new o rings.
If no difference time for a new DIC $300 from eSaab, do not cheap out with aftermarket crap on this.

The 2002 were recalled for these DIC. If doesnt help you now but they were not good. Lug bolts were all swapped under a dealer campaign for the newer 2 piece lug bolts a worthwhile update, no more stuck lug bolts.

https://www.arfc.org/autos/saab/9-3/recalls/000022248000096307000000214/recall.aspx

 

[Kira]

For all the stuff we did with the Saabs, we never opened up a Direct Ignition Cassette*.
I hope the one you ordered was a Saab part. The aftermarket ones were uniformly garbage.
Back then, OE examples were $435.
El Cheapos were $280.

One friend got his misfiring Saab onto a "Tech II" (official Saab/GM diagnostic program) and one of his coils had ~7,400 recorded misfires.
Big +1 on NOT substituting for a real Trionic 7.
Also, if you happen upon a blue one (highly unlikely, but you never know) don't buy it either as it's a specific testing tool.

* The initials of said cassette resembled a dirty word so Saab changed the name of that part to Ignition Discharge Module.
IDM was the new DIC.

 

[Trav]

* The initials of said cassette resembled a dirty word so Saab changed the name of that part to Ignition Discharge Module.
IDM was the new DIC.

That is just woke insanity. Good God when will this lunacy end.

 

[Kira]

Saab changed the nomenclature in 2004-5, way prewoke.
In other words, the lunacy hadn't begun.

 

[Trav]

Hi all,

I have had a problem with my saab for a while now. Been trying to dig deeper online and no real luck. I have the CEL on for a misfire Cyl 2. Things I have done thus far is swap spark plugs (no change) and attempted to see if the injector is firing which i think it is. The engine does not stutter in park but when shifted in to drive you can begin to feel it. I have not checked the coil yet as it is one unit and I am unfamiliar with how to check it. Has anyone had this issue or one similar?

Here is a photo of what the coil looks like. Any help or tips is appreciated! I ordered a coil to "Troubleshoot" Maybe it will fix it (Fingers crossed)
View attachment 294970

Do you own a Tech 2 scan tool and have Saab WIS? There is a procedure for diagnosing the Trionic 7 with the Tech 2.
If you need the WIS I have it and can find a site to upload it if you need it, you definitely 100% need a Tech 2 if you own one of these cars and want to work on it.

 

[mnewk41]

Do you own a Tech 2 scan tool and have Saab WIS? There is a procedure for diagnosing the Trionic 7 with the Tech 2.
If you need the WIS I have it and can find a site to upload it if you need it, you definitely 100% need a Tech 2 if you own one of these cars and want to work on it.

I don't have a Tech 2 scan tool. If you could upload the WIS it would be appreciated !!

 

[Trav]

I sent you the Saab WIS and OE parts catalog.

 

[Kira]

you definitely 100% need a Tech 2

During our Saab time (2002-2019), a Tech 2 "was $3,000". Sound right?
I forgot about the WIS. I miss those cars as they were thoughtfully designed.

 

[Trav]

Yes they were expensive 3K is about 6K in today's money. I have an original that I bought used from a Cadillac dealer friend but there are clones that seem to work okay for under $400. The problem is not so much the tool but getting access to unlock security using TIS on a laptop or PC. I can help him out with that also if need be. I have Tech 2 cards for Saab, GM, Opel and one that does the Saturn Sky (Opel GT).

 

[dkryan]

mnewk41:

How many miles on that Saab 9-3?

 

[Kira]

^^That's my line.