Saab 9-3 won't start unless battery is disconnected first

donegaldude

Was looking at a 2003 9-3 1.8t today. Price is cheap and the reason is that the car won't start unless you disconnect and reconnect the battery.

Took it for a spin and to be fair everything works in it, plenty of power with no knocks or rattles. Full service history with it and the mileage is respectable for the year.

Had anyone any idea on the fault and possible repair cost?, As I want to factor that in before making a decision.

Thanks

porsche boy

Disconnecting the battery must be resetting something. It will need diagnostics but it might be an immobiliser issue. If it's not a major issue for you, you could run a battery terminal switch into the glove box or something.

donegaldude

porsche boy wrote: »

Disconnecting the battery must be resetting something. It will need diagnostics but it might be an immobiliser issue. If it's not a major issue for you, you could run a battery terminal switch into the glove box or something.

Would it be hard done? Guessing it would be a wire with an on/of switch? I'll see if I can get a mechanic to have a look at it during the week first. If it is a handy I think I'd go for it

irish bloke

At a guess and as mentioned above its probably is the immobilizer.

If you are going to run a switch into the dash to reset battery power, make sure you run the switch through a relay!!!

Stephenc66

A quick google and it seems this is a common enough fault and may be the ECU needs replacing

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/2003-saab-9-3-p0601

http://www.saabscene.com/forum/threads/145453-2004-Saab-9-3-Turbo-Variety-of-Problems-and-now-I-m-a-Pedestrian

Worth getting a diagnostic done

donegaldude

Stephenc66 wrote: »

A quick google and it seems this is a common enough fault and may be the ECU needs replacing

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/2003-saab-9-3-p0601

http://www.saabscene.com/forum/threads/145453-2004-Saab-9-3-Turbo-Variety-of-Problems-and-now-I-m-a-Pedestrian

Worth getting a diagnostic done

Thanks, any idea on what that would cost if it was the ecu? As in said before the car is in great condition otherwise, everything works which more than I can say for my current car!