| Timeline: A major maintenance must be perfromed every 30,000 miles or every three years. Under adverse conditions such as driving in areas that are sandy, salty, nearer the equator, or above 30 ° N latitude it is acceptable to change the fluids every two years. For Virginia, three years is typically acceptable. In the harsh environments noted above additional inspections must be made to the chassis for rust, the windshield for pitting, and latches and hinges for additional lubrication above the standard service.
This maintenance is ideally performed at the following mileage intervals:
30,000
60,000
90,000
120,000
150,000
180,000
210,000
240,000
270,000
300,000
If the vehicle is still in service at 300,000 miles, a system wide vehicle evaluation should be performed with particular attention paid to engine emissions, engine compression, and transmission function to determine if the vehicle should receive substantial overhaul or if it should be scrapped.
Note: maintenance is determined both by mileage and time.
Objectives:
The objective of a major maintenance is to return the vehicle ’s engine management system and the fluids of all ancillary systems to a baseline state. With age and wear, the components and fluids of these systems diminish because theses systems use components and fluids that break down under normal driving conditions. Regardless to the quality of the fluids and filters used, all fluids and filters take on debris and/or breakdown with time and driving. To that end, replacing these continually wearing components and fluids is critical to the ongoing safe operation of the car.
Additionally, it is important to perform all aspects of the major maintenance at one time. The ultimate benefit of the preventative maintenance is that the baseline condition of the engine management system and vehicle fluids are within a nominal state to offer the best conditions for reliable driving. Because all aspects of the fuel management system must operate in concert it is critical that each individual part of the system be capable of performing as intended. To increase the reliability of the car requires that the individual parts that make it run every day—parts like the fuel filter, vacuum lines, spark plugs, and so on all be of the same age and condition. Fluids and filters must also be regularly changed to prevent the systems that they serve from becoming overly contaminated which leads to, among other unwanted things, premature failure of components.
SAAB has designed the items listed below to be readily replaced so the car can supply ignition, fuel and air as these three things are mandatory to a vehicles good operation. As the engine wears with use due to friction and entropy, it is increasingly important to ensure that good spark and sufficient fuel are delivered along with the correct amount of air.
In addition to replacing all the bushings, filters and ignition components, it is crucial to replace all the fluids. The fluids wear out by picking up contaminates from the systems they serve and subsequently their ability to function as intended decreases. Additionally, some fluids can pick up water from the atmosphere. A common example of this is the car’s braking system—over time as water is taken into the hydraulic circuits of the brakes two disastrous events can occur: 1) more water in the brake system lowers the boiling point of the fluid and will cause the brakes to fail prematurely and 2) water in the brake system will promote corrosion of the system.
The following maintenance is performed to keep cars running properly and within their designed specifications.
Before performing work, pressure wash engine bay sufficiently to allow for clean working conditions.
1. replace all wearable igniting components
a. spark plugs
b. ignition wires
c. distributor cap
d. ignition rotor
e. set timing
f. note newer cars with Trionic do not have b through e
2. replace all filters
a. oil
b. fuel
c. air
d. fresh air (newer cars)
e. coolant (coolant filters are not recommended)
f. transmission (generally only automatics; however, a filter is available for the C900 manual)
3. change all fluids
a. engine oil
b. transmission—remember automatics have many special needs
*correct type of ATF (Type F, Dextron, ATF 3309)
*correct level
*change both ATF and oil in automatic transaxles with integrated differential
c. differential, AWD, XWD cars
d. coolant
e. power steering
f. brake
g. check/top off washer fluid
4. replace, clean and inspect the induction system
a. inspect and replace if needed all intake manifold bushings
b. clean throttle body
c. clean intercooler (turbo cars)
d. inspect all induction plumbing for cracks, air leaks
e. clean all induction plumbing
f. check fuel injector seals for air or fuel leaks
g. check vacuum systems for leaks
h. check evaporative emissions system for leaks
i. inspect and replace vacuum lines as needed
j. inspect and replace vacuum check valve if needed (turbo car only)
5. casually inspect the drive train /engine compartment for possible failures and carry out minor maintenance
a. with emphasis on anything affecting drivability
b. inspect the exhaust system for breaches
c. inspect for any fluid leaks
d. casually inspect crankcase ventilation system for breaches or signs of blockage
e. inspect all drive belts, related pulleys, and tensioner
f. casually inspect cooling systems including water and oil subsystems
g. inspect the axles, CV boots, and related seals
6. casually inspect the vehicle's body for possible failures and carry out minor maintenance
a. lubricate all hinges and latches
b. clean HVAC drain hose
c. inspect/clean sunroof drain hoses
7. casually inspect the brake system
a. inspect/clean ABS sensors
b. casually inspect all rotors, calipers, lines, flex hoses, master cylinder, etc.
c. inspect for brake fluid leaks at all fittings, seals, etc.
d. check/adjust parking brake function
8. casually inspect the steering system
a. inspect the tie rod and ball joint boots
b. inspect for excessive play in steering
c. check ball joints for excessive play
9. casually inspect the suspension system
a. inspect bushing and pivot points
b. inspect shocks for leaks, breakage or anomalies
10. perform battery maintenance
a. clean terminals and apply anti-corrosive agent
b. check battery fluid quantity and quality (if accessible)
11. inspect tires and rotate if needed
a. check air pressure
12. degrease and pressure wash engine bay
13. perform a comprehensive test drive
a. check function of all controls (MIU, cabin, etc.)
b. check all lighting systems
c. verify overall drivability regarding alignment (steering), tire balance, drive train, brakes
d. reset service indicator
e. reset all client radio settings and set clock time
f. perform a casual inspection on the overall condition of the car |