Tire Noise on 2002 9-3
stevan
12-22-2003, 10:52 PM
I've got a 2002 9-3 SE and I love it except...
...except for some troubles I'm having with the tires. I'm getting very loud tire noise and am wondering if this is a common problem or if it's just me.
I had the car for eight months and everything was fine. (~20,000 km) Then I put my winter tires on and everything was fine for another four months. When I had my summers put back on (the 17" Pirelli P6000s that came with the car), they started humming at high speeds. I meant to look into it but never did.
At 32,000 km (20,000 miles) I had the alignment done as part of my regular service. Shortly thereafter, the humming became a very loud almost grinding noise. It sounded like it was coming from the front tires. Strangely, it would disappear when I turned to the right. I took it to the dealer and they told me it was the tires. After a certain amount of arguing over a couple of weeks, and taking my salesperson for a ride (she was amazed at how loud a noise the car made and agreed to help me) and then the service manager, I got them to replace the tires on warranty. (Well, they're ordered anyway.)
And everything was fine, or so I thought until I just put my winter tires on... You guessed it: they're making one hell of a racket too! Except when I turn to the right. So now I'm not sure if it really is the tires or something on the car. Or if some poor alignment on the car has unevenly worn all the tires.
(I'm going to try un-rotating the winter tires to see if that helps things. But I doubt it somehow.)
**
Has anybody else experienced this on their Saab?
Do you think it's the alignment?
Is alignment a problem with 2002 9-3s?
**
...except for some troubles I'm having with the tires. I'm getting very loud tire noise and am wondering if this is a common problem or if it's just me.
I had the car for eight months and everything was fine. (~20,000 km) Then I put my winter tires on and everything was fine for another four months. When I had my summers put back on (the 17" Pirelli P6000s that came with the car), they started humming at high speeds. I meant to look into it but never did.
At 32,000 km (20,000 miles) I had the alignment done as part of my regular service. Shortly thereafter, the humming became a very loud almost grinding noise. It sounded like it was coming from the front tires. Strangely, it would disappear when I turned to the right. I took it to the dealer and they told me it was the tires. After a certain amount of arguing over a couple of weeks, and taking my salesperson for a ride (she was amazed at how loud a noise the car made and agreed to help me) and then the service manager, I got them to replace the tires on warranty. (Well, they're ordered anyway.)
And everything was fine, or so I thought until I just put my winter tires on... You guessed it: they're making one hell of a racket too! Except when I turn to the right. So now I'm not sure if it really is the tires or something on the car. Or if some poor alignment on the car has unevenly worn all the tires.
(I'm going to try un-rotating the winter tires to see if that helps things. But I doubt it somehow.)
**
Has anybody else experienced this on their Saab?
Do you think it's the alignment?
Is alignment a problem with 2002 9-3s?
**
stevan
01-23-2004, 10:16 PM
Latest word from the dealers is that it's an internal transmission bearing. (Kinda scary to require for a two year old car!)
This they tell me after telling me it's a wheel bearing, ordering a wheel bearing in, and booking me in for a one-day fix. Turns into a two-day fix. Turns into a one week fix. They refuse to give me a loaner car.
Needless to say, I'm looking for a new garage.
This they tell me after telling me it's a wheel bearing, ordering a wheel bearing in, and booking me in for a one-day fix. Turns into a two-day fix. Turns into a one week fix. They refuse to give me a loaner car.
Needless to say, I'm looking for a new garage.
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