This page offers the following information:

1. Introduction
2. Shop Services
3. Client Requirements
4. History of JGA
5. Present State of Operation
6. Comments on this Website

The JGA website has primarily been created to improve communication between this shop and its clients. Local clients, including other local repair shops needing assistance in SAAB repair, can find out how this shop functions as well as find general reference for SAAB cars.

The secondary purpose of this website is to provide general SAAB repair information world wide. This site offers information on parts, basic descriptions of how various systems function, and provides commonly needed Technical Service Bulletins on 1994 through 2007 SAAB cars. This allows people everywhere a common place to find SAAB repair information. By using this information, anyone, anywhere, can better understand and better repair their SAAB.

This site offers a large sampling of information about SAAB cars, although the examples shown in the Parts and Labor sections are limited to 1986 through 2007 vehicles. This sampling from these years will provide most people the information that they need; however, if you have a more obscure question not covered on this website, then contact the shop.

This particular page should be read for two primary reasons: 1) to introduce new clients to how this shop functions, and 2) to enhance communication with existing clients. At times, this website may use terms that are unfamiliar to the reader, so to assist in explaining these terms, a glossary has been provided. This glossary will continue to expand in 2008; however, if a term is used on this website that you do not understand, please contact the shop.

This is a highly specialized SAAB only shop and because this shop operates differently than most other auto repairs shops, it is crucial for clients unfamiliar with JGA to understand just how this shop functions.

Please note the following basic navigation points: 1) PDF documents will always open in a separate window, 2) external links will always open in a separate window, 3) unvisited links in the body of the text will appear as green while visited links will be grey, and 4) the main menu at the left will always be visible regardless of scrolling down to read text on the right.

1. this shop is a full service SAAB repair facility which repairs all aspects of all SAAB cars--more specifically, this shop routinely performs:
          a. electrical repairs
          b. hydraulic repairs
          c. mechanical repairs
          d. interior body repairs
          e. exterior body repairs
           f. advanced diagnostics
          g. Trionic and other programming
          h. CAN security access programming

2. additionally, this shop offers:
          a. SAAB only repair for every aspect of the vehicle
          b. a complete factory reference library for all SAABs 1957 to present
          c. the only two SAAB factory trained technicians within 120 miles of Roanoke
          d. over 80,000 different parts for all SAAB cars
          e. the latest digital reference for WIS, TIS, EPC, EAC and more

3. this shop has extensive salvage operations
          a. parting out all models of SAABs
          b. large inventory of salvage parts
          c. large inventory of in-house rebuilt parts

1. only SAABs are repaired at JGA
          a. JGA does not work on other vehicles
          b. JGA does offer referrals for other car brands

2. all client vehicles must be evaluated
          a. a First Contact Evaluation must be performed
          b. vehicles that do not pass the Level 1 and Level 2 First Contact Evaluation (FCE) will not be considered for repair at this shop
          c. almost all vehicles pass evaluation--the prime example of a SAAB that would fail the evaluation is an improperly repaired salvage vehicle

James Glass Automotive (JGA) was established in the fall of 1994, and from the same location on Cleveland Avenue in Roanoke, VA, JGA has rebuilt and repaired thousands of SAAB cars.

During the first few years of business, the shop focused primarily on bodywork by repairing salvage vehicles. By repairing accident damaged SAABs to good running condition and then by reselling them across Roanoke, a client based was established. Over the last decade emphasis has shifted toward electrical, mechanical and hydraulic repairs, however this shop repairs every aspect of the SAAB car including bodywork, interior upholstery, engines, transmissions, electrical systems, steering, brakes, suspension and more.

JGA has closed as of April 2009. James Glass Properties (JGP) is the sole business of James Glass. The text that appears below is no longer relevant.

James Glass Automotive only works on SAAB automobiles. While the bulk of the cars repaired in the shop are late model SAAB 900’s, 9-3’s and 9-5’s, there are still a fair number of older cars that grace the garage door. While it’s been since 1995 that a two-stroke engine was billowing blue smoke out the shop door, several customers still have V4 cars, 99’s and, of course, there are still Classic 900 cars on the lift every week.

This is a small and efficient shop. By limiting the growth of the shop I have been able to maintain a high standard of repair quality as training is entirely overseen by me. These repair standards are outlined in written shop protocol and they cover every aspect of shop operations.

Depending upon work load, repair work is typically scheduled several days to two weeks from the time you call for an appointment depending upon the complexity of the repair. Occasionally,there are times of the year when I’m unable to accept new clients; however, this does not happen often. The shop operates this way for several reasons, the primary of which is to place focus on the quality of the repair (and thus the reliability of the car). Exacting repair standards and quality work cannot be achieved through speed—it can only be achieved by taking the time needed to properly fix the car. While most repairs are completed in a few days or less, larger repairs might take weeks or months to complete. In the case of large scale vehicle restoration, clients should plan to be without the car for approximately two years.

Additionally, this shop often fixes SAABs for other repair shops in town when it is outside their interest to repair the SAABs themselves. The most common types of work JGA performs for other repair shops are diagnostics and Tech 2 programming.

This shop is the antithesis of the quick lube oil changing store or the corner garage and appointments are always needed to secure shop time. While highly advanced repairs are this shop’s specialty, it is still crucial that all your simple repair work, such as oil changes, be done here. It is often during the course of the routine oil change that the well-trained eyes at this shop discover other crucial repairs needs.

To qualify as a customer, your vehicle must be scheduled for a First Contact Evaluation (FCE). Repair service wil not be performed on a vehicle unless this evaluation occurs, although anyone may purchase parts at any time. This evaluation takes between 2-5 hours and following the evaluation you will receive a comprehensive written report outlining the condition of your vehicle. In addition to offering a general assessment of your car, the report prioritizes any repair needs into three Class levels: discretionary (Class 1), upcoming (Class 2) and immediate (Class 3).

The shop also keeps an ample inventory of new and used parts for all SAABs from 1979 to present. In 2001 all inventory for vintage SAABs such as the 93, 95, 96, 97 Sonett, and 99 were discontinued. While I still work on these cars, I do not stock parts for them and these parts are special ordered as needed. For a great website that offers a large amount of technical knowledge on vintage SAABs, please visit VSAAB.com.

This website is intended as a general guide to what this shop typically offers for most of JGA clients. Consequently, this website does not address vintage SAABs, the 9000, the 9-2, or the 9-7 as the numbers of these SAABs is comparatively small to the 900's, 9-3's, and 9-5's that are serviced at the shop. The classic 900 is essentially a vintage car now, although many examples and references still abound for this car on this website.

For a SAAB 9000 only website, please visit SAAB9000.com. Additionally, no information is offered on this website for the SAAB 92-x and the SAAB 97-x as neither of these cars are outside of the factory warranty period and are therefore not routinely serviced at this shop.

Though this website doesn't address these vintage or limited production SAABs, James Glass Automotive does repair these cars. This website is simply a means of conveying the most common information regarding the most current and most typically repaired SAABs.

This website covers only a fraction of the services and technical knowledge available at James Glass Automotive. This website can assist you in the following two ways: 1) as a starting point in your understanding of your car and then any subsequent dialogue you might want to have with me, and 2) as a reference for talks we have already had regarding your car and how it works. This website has been created to facilitate communication between us.

James Glass Automotive is not affiliated with SAAB Cars USA. The SAAB trade name, trademark and the SAAB logo are registered trademarks of SAAB Automobile AB. Some of the photos in this website are courtesy of SAAB USA, such as the Viggen photo above, and some illustrations are also courtesy of SAAB USA, such as the ones in the Parts section of this website.

James Glass
January 2008