9000 tensioner problem?

I can certainly confirm that my 9000 Aero engine sometimes vibrates a bit at
idle. There is variability of this vibration, which I believe is related to
additional variable load that the Climate control system (AC) presents. At
speed, this additional load is negligible, but may be substantial enough to
be noticeable at idle.

-Dima

"Fred W" <Fred.Wills RemoveThis @SPAMmyrealbox.com> wrote in message
news:ldydnWKi1-KEYiPcRVn-hw@adelphia.com...
 > Richard Sutherland-Smith wrote:
  >> We have just replaced the chains in my friends 1996 9000 Aero
  >> Automatic. He is now suffering from a vibration at low revs which
  >> smooths out to be unnoticable up the rev range. The chains were all
  >> adjusted to TDC and the marks on the balance shafts and cams all lined
  >> up, and were still lined up having rotated the engine a few times by
  >> hand before we put the timing cover back on. We put a new water-pump on
  >> and top engine mounts, replaced the two pulleys and belt, and
  >> reconditioned the starter and alternator. I am wondering now about the
  >> belt tensioner and would like to know how this goes bad and the effects
  >> of it doing so please?
  >> Does anyone else have any ideas to work on?
 >
 > Richard,
 >
 > My experience is that these engines *normally* tend to vibrate quite a bit
 > at idle, especially with automatic transmissions when in drive.
 >
 > If everything smooths out at higher rpm (just above idle) it sounds like
 > the balance shafts are probably OK. Are you sure that the vibes are
 > abnormally high?
 >
 > Have you had an experienced SAAB mechanic look at it?
 >
 > What sort of upper engine mount bushings did you install? I know from
 > experience that the urethane "performance" bushings increase the vibration
 > at idle severely.
 >
 > BTW, I've never heard of a belt tensioner causing engine vibrations.
 >
 > -Fred W<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 9000 tensioner problem? 

My only experience with belt tensioner failure on a 9000 was growing noise
followed by a bang and overheating. Don't remember vibration.

Tom L.

"Richard Sutherland-Smith" <richard.ss.RemoveThis@clear.net.nz> wrote in message
news:1c32da1c4d.Richard@richard.ss.clear.net.nz...
 > We have just replaced the chains in my friends 1996 9000 Aero
 > Automatic. He is now suffering from a vibration at low revs which
 > smooths out to be unnoticable up the rev range. The chains were all
 > adjusted to TDC and the marks on the balance shafts and cams all lined
 > up, and were still lined up having rotated the engine a few times by
 > hand before we put the timing cover back on. We put a new water-pump on
 > and top engine mounts, replaced the two pulleys and belt, and
 > reconditioned the starter and alternator. I am wondering now about the
 > belt tensioner and would like to know how this goes bad and the effects
 > of it doing so please?
 > Does anyone else have any ideas to work on?
 > --
 >
 > Richard Sutherland-Smith
 > 19 Webb Road, Wanganui 5001,
 > New Zealand<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 9000 tensioner problem? 

"Hyperdog" <hyperdog RemoveThis @maine.rr.com> wrote in message
news:HJOvd.64917$AL5.53541@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
 > My only experience with belt tensioner failure on a 9000 was growing noise
 > followed by a bang and overheating. Don't remember vibration.
 >
 > Tom L.
 >
My experience of the serpentine belt going was a bang followed by immediate
loss of power steering......



 > "Richard Sutherland-Smith" <richard.ss RemoveThis @clear.net.nz> wrote in message
 > news:1c32da1c4d.Richard@richard.ss.clear.net.nz...
  >> We have just replaced the chains in my friends 1996 9000 Aero
  >> Automatic. He is now suffering from a vibration at low revs which
  >> smooths out to be unnoticable up the rev range. The chains were all
  >> adjusted to TDC and the marks on the balance shafts and cams all lined
  >> up, and were still lined up having rotated the engine a few times by
  >> hand before we put the timing cover back on. We put a new water-pump on
  >> and top engine mounts, replaced the two pulleys and belt, and
  >> reconditioned the starter and alternator. I am wondering now about the
  >> belt tensioner and would like to know how this goes bad and the effects
  >> of it doing so please?
  >> Does anyone else have any ideas to work on?
  >> --
  >>
  >> Richard Sutherland-Smith
  >> 19 Webb Road, Wanganui 5001,
  >> New Zealand
 >
 >
Hi Richard,
my 9000 2.3 FPT had a really nasty vibration from the engine bay at idle for
about a week, which disappeared with application of power.

Took it straight to my local SAAB Specialist, and they couldn't find a
problem. Checked engine mounts, exhaust mounts and bolts, belt pulleys etc
etc.

It went away after a week, never explained it, and nothing has gone pop
since it went away.

Not a great help I know, but I would suggest you let her "bed in" or a few
hundred miles first.

Al<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 9000 tensioner problem?