The first thing that I would do is loosen the data link connector (under the steering wheel) and look for any bent or pushed-out pins. There are 8 pins on the top and 8 on the bottom, so it shouldn't take too long to checkout the connector... Ron

 

Well, I took the connector down and when I pulled on pin 1, it came out of the connector, I then took the pin out, bent the tabs back and re-inserted the pin into the connector. Now it stays tight within the connector.

That might have solved the problem, but I think that I need to find a different indy shop to work on my car. I need a shop that works on more than 1 Saab/year.

 

The BUS system is far different than your OBD2 port. The BUS is the network all of your modules for the SS runs on. The CIM is the Central Electronics Module. It is pretty common for a Saab of your year to have a bad CIM in it's lifetime. The I-BUS is the information BUS, and links thinks like ACC, Display, Speedometer, and some other goodies. What did the indy recommend? More Diag?

 

the Indy wasn't comfortable working on my car and suggested I take it to a more experience mechanic concerning SAAB repair/troubleshooting. Frankly, I didn't have warm fuzzies about their 9-3 knowledge and I was ok with that.

Is there any way to diagnose the CIM module without a Tech 2? How much work is it to replace?

 

Search function sucks!

Has anyone commented on how bad the search function is in this forum? I just did a search on "cim", zero results. Really? I type the same "cim" into the google search function at the bottom of the page and I get 1,300 results!

Based on some of the symptoms I have occasionally pop up. I may have a CIM module which is bad, or going bad. Since the car still starts and goes down the road, I am inclined to let the problems become a little more self evident.

It's mind over matter, if you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

 

Need to have more then 3 letters to search, that's why lol

What are your symptoms?

 

The symptoms are that I get an occasional (once a month possibly) immobilizer failure. I get fairly regular steering lock failures, but only if am really quick about turning the ignition key. I also get lock failures, but I think that is related to the fact that my passenger rear door control does not work.

Other than that it works and runs great.

and btw, I haven't changed my opinion of the search function. It is still a PITA (Pain In The @##). There is lots of information on the site, but sometimes it's really hard to find.

 

CIM= Column Intergrated Module,this is what the fobs are programmed to,aswell as the other fuctions...
you could also have a failing ISM as that is what reads the rfid chip in the fob..

 

Yes the search function isn't great, google is your best bet for real specific things.
Also to be honest, that just sounds like a case of owning an 03 model...
They are wacky

My old 03, I use to just take my time with anything electrical then drove the piss out of it to make up for lost time. Worked pretty well lol

 

I should have mentioned the original "symptom", I couldn't get my AUX jack enabled because the I-Bus was missing.

Since the error reported back mentioned pin 1 and I found that pin 1 was loose, Is it possible that the problem with the communication was just a connection issue? Seems strange to have so few errors with a failed bus.

 

yes it can just be a connection issue..

 

Did you ever get this sorted out? I tried connecting a Tech 2 to my car and got the same message. I haven't had any SID messages about immobilizer failures or anything either so hopefully it's just an issue with the port itself.

 

gnavs,

I fixed my pin1 on my OPDII connector and it seemed to work. I didn't take my SAAB back to the same indy and found a new shop with lots more SAAb experience, they were able to program my aux and key fob without issues. It could be that the previous indy didn't know what he was doing. Although the new indy said that it took several attempts to get everything working.

hope this helps and good luck

 

Thanks for the reply. So it was a simple issue with the port itself? I'll have to have a better look at it when I've got some time, maybe ring some wires out with the multimeter.

 

Yes, it was an issue with the pins in the connector. I just removed the two screws that held the connector and then tugged on the wires. When I did that, pin 1 came out. I just bent the retaining pins so that they would snap back in better and viola problem fixed.