Saab is a Swedish van manufacturer whose destiny was not as benevolent as Volvo's, the other Swedish motorcar society. After Ford bought Volvo, GM felt compelled to besides shop for a Nordic manufacturer to match them in the near luxury import marketplace. On the other hand, GM uncared for Saab's R&D budget and honest re-badged other vehicles with a Saab logo. There are many Saabs on the bazaar, from pre-war antiques, turbocharged rally cars, GM re-badges and the eccentric "Saabaru" that was a homogenize of Subaru and Saab when GM further owned Subaru. Alternatively, the transmission could be badly broken and the gears are just spinning without meshing with a planetary gear. A transmission rebuild may be required.
While Saabs are bright-eyed prepared for winter climates, the earlier cars can even succumb to the damage imposed by drench and corrosive means salts. Moreover, the Saabs specious during the conflict lacked exceptional steel and can warp whether driven indurated over the agedness. Finger the type of Saab you acquire by reading off the VIN and Saab serial amount. On sequential models, it is printed on the inside of the Chauffeur's side door, fitting above or below the door bar. This is constructive in obtaining replacement parts.
2. Pop the hood on the Saab and Stare at the engine. Whether you keep the esoteric "Saabaru," then the hood Testament hog a air intake for the turbocharger and the engine will be a Boxer four-cylinder. The Boxer engines hold their pistons firing horizontally, not vertically like an inline engine. If not, then the engine will be a GM sourced engine, usually an anemic naturally aspirated in-line four-cylinder. Look for any corrosion on the engine or torn hoses. If the engine is damaged or the hoses leaking, then the engine will need to be looked at by a mechanic, especially if it has been sitting long in a state of disrepair.
3. Turn the Saab on and listen for the engine to come on. If the engine does not come on at all, then the battery may be dead and need replacing. Turn the radio on to see if the electronics are still working. While Saab mechanical parts were well engineered, their electrical problems are near legendary. If the radio is inoperative, then other electrical components may have gone bad and need to be rewired.
4. Shift into drive or first gear and try to drive forward. If the engine revs but you do not move, then the clutch may be shot and need replacement. There are many issues that could crop up depending on the design.
