Thanks for your help:
A month ago, the car was driven until out of gas. The day after, gas was replaced and it worked immediately. Later in the day, it would not start after quick use to the store. After an hour, it started again. There were no issues for 2 weeks. A few days ago, the car stopped while driving. After ~50 minutes of waiting, it started again. A few miles on, it stopped again. 50 minutes later, it started and went on… This seems to be happening regularly now.
Took it to a garage and after their diagnostics they said the culprits might be crank sensor (not getting an RPM signal) and that there was oil in the distributor cap. They said no diagnostic message for the fuel pump, however. The garage seems reputable, but, I would like an internet second opinion.
Again, much appreciated.
They said the crank sensor “might” be the culprit? That doesn’t sound like a confident diagnosis. The oil in distributor problem needs to be fixed.
What year Saab 900? And, what engine? Turbo 4 cylinder, or V6? Sounds like you may have multiple problems. Older 900’s certainly had issues with fuel pumps, and running out of fuel could have clogged the fuel filter, or fuel screen at the pick up in the tank.
Oil in the distributor cap isn’t good, but might not be the main problem. A bad crank sensor would stop the motor, but so would a failing fuel pump or clogged filter. There is more work to do to sort this out.
1997 Saab 900. Yes, I’m wary of the fuel pump, as all of this started after it ran out of gas. Is there a certain type of test to check the fuel pump? At this point, the garage only used a diagnostics machine and said that nothing wrong came up on the fuel pump portion. But to me, that isn’t dispositive of fuel pump correctness.
I understand that the distributor is an issue, but $400+ for a secondary concern is something I would want to put off.
1997 Saab 900. Yes, I’m wary of the fuel pump, as all of this started after it ran out of gas. Is there a certain type of test to check the fuel pump? At this point, the garage only used a diagnostics machine and said that nothing wrong came up on the fuel pump portion. But to me, that isn’t dispositive of fuel pump correctness.
I understand that the distributor is an issue, but $400+ for a secondary concern is something I would want to put off.