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Lammertse Techniek

Saab 9-3 Turbo X TJ-587-L Turbo upgrade, timing chains and maintenance.

This turbo X came back for the yearly MOT(APK) and service but showed a Check engine light,

The tech 2 read out fault code P0018 , intake camshaft misalingned to crankshaft


The fault code:


P0018
P0018

At this point it was clear the timing chains where worn out. there where multiple signs that lead me to believe this was the right diagnosis. Not just the fault code.

I have measured the performance on the 5th of march 2024, the performance was not really what we where expecting.





This was with a bigger turbo that should deliver around 330/340HP with this tune.

Still on the stock downpipe and midpipe so we would expect around 500NM


We decided to replace the timing chains and guides. When we replace them we always clean up all the covers and replace all seals and gaskets. That way we can offer the highest quality to our customers.


We started with disasembling:




As you can see everything is black as coal / tar. I believe that the oil has not been replaced as regular as is should have been. And / or the quality of the oil was inferior. wich has lead to increased wear on the chains and guides. The Saab has driven 169 thousand kilometres at this point.


As you can see the tensioners are maxed out.

Even more disturbing is the primary chain wich was worn out quite badly.






Brought the covers to the shop to have them washed first and then cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaner. This week we had two turbo X s for a timing replacement. we try to keep a set of clean covers on stock to switch them out and minimize the downtime.




How the shop looks at this point, 4 Turbo X s, two saloons manual and two automatic estates:



After the cleaning i placed the new gaskets and seals





Layed the new timing parts out for you guys to see what it looks like, it is a strengthened timing chain set.




I have cleaned all the surfaces of the engine to start mounting the new parts.

Mounting all the parts on the right torque.





Everything mounted and ready to be closed up again :




This is the point where you can feel that you are almost there and you can start the engine to experience the fruits of al the work you have put in this project to make it perfect.


Covers on and some more parts like e new belt tensioner, coolant pump, belt, gaskets etc. :



And then finally all together:



Now it was time for the first start up, i wanted to show you how smooth a B284 runs when it has had all the proper maintenance:



I put a 2 euro coin on the engine ( not glued haha just look at the slightest wobble on the coin) to show you what it looks like.


After all this work it was time to test the engine on the german autobahn, i made some Dragy movies and times. Also did a new performance measurement.

The results of the work are good. A good 30 HP and NM more. Here is the dyno and the movies :




After this work its smart to adust the software, the timing has changed and the older software now does not match the engine as good as it could be.




0-100 in 6.08s

100-200 in 18.09s








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