January 2nd. 2009

I figured out (in the bathroom one day) that the long start-up time required first thing in the morning could be due to fuel not getting into the cylinders right away. After ascertaining that there are in fact two fuel pump check-valves (the black one is a return valve), I decided that the culprit must be the white one. Now that I've replaced it, I'm sorry I didn't think earlier just to turn on the ignition and leave the pump on for a few seconds before engaging the starter! I think that would have been proof positive of my theory, before replacing all that other stuff - although it was a good idea to replace the fuel filter and other worn out components I found along the way.

The fact that it now fires up quickly every time proves it was indeed the check-valve all along (it still makes me smile when I start it up, and  I'm sure everyone thinks I'm quite loopy). The battery was being forced into an unnecesary 'workout' every morning, which would have ultimately shortened its life.

The only 'modifications' I've done are relatively minor: One was the rather drastic, but mandatory down-sizing of the serpentine belt from six to five grooves. Too many belts (five or six) had been scraped to their death due to a bent belt tensioner, which I replaced last year. A bent housing was well on its way to claiming its next victim, as the rubber shavings in the engine compartment showed. I cut the belt's width down by one groove, leaving a safety gap between it and the housing. Of course I was nervous about doing it, but it works perfectly, thank goodness! BTW: Autozone has the cheapest full length serpentine belt at $25 (at time of writing). Saab charges around $100..

I didn't like the way the power cord stuck out of the cigar lighter, and couldn't listen to satellite radio without having the ignition (and therefore all the lights) on. I ran a constant 'live' for my Sirius receiver from behind the radio, so there's no great drain on the system if I want to listen with the engine off. The antenna runs under the carpet flashing to the trunk, where it sits under the rear parcel shelf (held in place magnetically).   

Now, this one's a neat little trick: There is a rear fog lamp in the left cluster. The right side has no bulb, but there's space for one if you cut it out. Why would I do this? When tailgaters are getting too close, I switch it on and off as if I were on the brakes. They don't notice that the eye-level light doesn't illuminate. They do back off though, automatically hitting their brakes assuming that's what I've done. That'll learn 'em!