My 9-5 isn't happy. This morning I got 1/2 mile down the road, check
engine light came on, and it was dead. Rolled into my parents' driveway
and parked. Classic DI cassette symptoms, right mileage (92K), so I
bought a new one and installed it. Wouldn't start. Disconnected
battery for 5 minutes, hooked back up, runs OK. BUT. The check engine
light is on, the car dies at stop signs unless I put it into neutral
(auto transmission), and the cruise control won't come on.

Any ideas? What's going on here?

Dave Hinz <DaveHinz (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:
When my '02 9-5 Aero acted like that (check engine light on, died at stop
signs), it was a faulty throttle body controller. I don't know about the
cruise control -- I was in town and didn't try to engage it -- but probably
the car disables it in its "limp home" mode.

I took it to the dealer and described the symptoms, and the service manager
immediately diagnosed the controller. (I said "Whatzzat?" He popped the
hood and pointed it out to me. I said, "Damn, that's $500." He went in
and looked up the parts & labor cost and it was $506.34. *sigh*) He stuck
a Tech2 on it and confirmed his diagnosis, so it's easy to verify.

BTW I'm at 77k miles right now. I should probably familiarize myself with
DI cassette symptoms and replacement procedure. Any pointers?

Gary

On Tue, 20 Feb 2007 15:59:14 -0000, Gary Fritz <fritzxxx (AT) xxxfrii (DOT) com> wrote:
OK that was my other guess.

4 screws and a connector. Undo the 4 screws, there's a red yoke type
thing on the connector, slide that sideways which lets the plug unplug.
Lift out. Change the plugs while you're in there. Line up the new one,
plug in the plug & slide the red keeper back in place. 5 minute job.

Yick. $232 to have one on hand "just in case." Is it a near certainty
that it will go out sooner or later?

If you get a CEL it could be many things. (I just got one for a coolant
sensor.) You can't just toss in the DI any time you get one, though it
would definitely be good to have if you had the "bad" DI failure.

I guess if you keep the DI in the car at all times, and you get a CEL and
take it in and it turns out to be the DI, you can always tell them to use
the one in the trunk...

- Bob - <uctraing (AT) ultranet (DOT) com> wrote:
Oh really!? They have Tech2's there? What do they charge?

I went to my usual service guy when I had the coolant sensor CEL. He
wasn't there and his assistant charged me $50 to read the Tech2 code. Grr.

On Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:34:30 -0000, Gary Fritz <fritzxxx (AT) xxxfrii (DOT) com> wrote:
Well, that's what the commercial claims.

I suppose AutoZone's theory is that you'll probably buy parts from them
once they tell you what the problem is.

- Bob - <uctraing (AT) ultranet (DOT) com> wrote:
Yeah, it's smart. See if I'll go back to my Saab mechanic to read any
future CEL codes!!! :-)