Help identifying engine!

iaind

iaind

iaind

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Hi guys,

I recently bought a Saab 9-3 TTiD (twin turbo) from a dealer. One thing that has been niggling at me is the fact the engine cover and rear badge both say TiD.

The registration matches up to the VIN number and all the registration documents clearly come up as "Vector Sport TTiD 180", but the 8th digit of the VIN should be a "P" for the TTiD, mine is a "W" which corresponds to the 150 single turbo.

The obvious answer is look for the turbos, but I cant even find a single turbo!

Reassuringly, I have found other cars (http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif.../1501/postcode/ex25ez/keywords/ttid?logcode=p) which are the same but it's a bit strange.

So, any ideas how I can get to the bottom of this? It certainly drives very well and has plenty punch throughout the rev range, but I havent driven the 150 so I cant compare!

It's fully HPI clear etc, so it's either a TTiD with the wrong badges or a TiD thats been incorrectly registered.....does that happen?
 
If the engine is installed the same way as in Vauxhalls the turbo will be at the front, I also thought the 180s had twin exhausts, one on each side ? If it is the 150 engine you would have significant lag under 1700 revs.
 
well after doing a little research, from the looks of the advert images it seems it would be a single turbo the TTID looks a lot different with different plastic cover and the top of the upper turbo wastegate actuater peeking out at the front of the engine bay.
can you get some better photos looking down the front of the enginebay between the rad and engine please?
 
Dangerous Dave said:
If the engine is installed the same way as in Vauxhalls the turbo will be at the front, I also thought the 180s had twin exhausts, one on each side ? If it is the 150 engine you would have significant lag under 1700 revs.
Click to expand...

It/they seem to be, but behind a big headshield so I cant see for sure

The Aero TTiD had twin exhausts, mine has one concealed exhaust but its a Vector Sport not an aero

There's very little lag, it pulls quite hard from 1100~1200 rpm
 
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paradigm said:
Pics of engine bay (sans plastic covers) please. Preferably a photo of the exhaust manifold side.
Click to expand...

steve45 said:
well after doing a little research, from the looks of the advert images it seems it would be a single turbo the TTID looks a lot different with different plastic cover and the top of the upper turbo wastegate actuater peeking out at the front of the engine bay.
can you get some better photos looking down the front of the enginebay between the rad and engine please?
Click to expand...

It does seem to. The thing is, that advert isnt my car! I've found a couple which are advertised/registered as TTiD 180 but look like that.

Pics here anyway

http://i.imgur.com/UZysr.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/MSj4W.jpg

The question is, if this is indeed a 150 TiD, how is it (and seemingly others) registered as something else? And what should I do if it is a 150? The dealer obviously bought it in good faith but if it is a 150 then it's worth less

I'm sure it must be an early version of the ttid or something else innocuous - the odds of it being some wierd **** up seem quite low, especially as there are others out there!
 
Don't suppose you can see any markings indicating an engine code?

Googling suggests a TTiD should be a Z19DTR, whereas a TiD 150 would be Z19DTH.
 
image of a Saab 9-3 1.9 TID VECTOR SPORT [150]
saab-9-3-estate-1-9-tid-vector-sport-150-5dr-6637774-640x480.jpg


Saab 9-3 1.9 TTiD 180 Vector Sport
ac-other-models-S137085-9.jpg
 
steve45 said:
image of a Saab 9-3 1.9 TID VECTOR SPORT [150]
saab-9-3-estate-1-9-tid-vector-sport-150-5dr-6637774-640x480.jpg


Saab 9-3 1.9 TTiD 180 Vector Sport
ac-other-models-S137085-9.jpg
Click to expand...

Yep I've seen those, which is what raised my concern

But there are others, such as the one I linked to which have the same engine/cover and layout but seem to be registered as TTiDs

It also seems the TTiD was revised at some point as the tax for cars after feb 09 is significantly less so there were obviously mechanical revisions
 
Kenai said:
Don't suppose you can see any markings indicating an engine code?

Googling suggests a TTiD should be a Z19DTR, whereas a TiD 150 would be Z19DTH.
Click to expand...

Couldnt see anything obvious, no

Physically, it looks identical to the 150 engine, the pictures of most 180s show a turbo actuator clearly at the top of the engine. So the badging and engine itself seems to suggest it's a 150.

However, it's recorded as a TTiD 180, the VIN on the registration matches that on the car and it drives like i'd expect a 180 to. It certainly has much better power delivery than other 4 pot diesels I've driven. The fact there are others out there in this situation seem to suggest it was just a mechanical/trim revision at some point. Another one here:

http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=90454

Registered as a TTiD, badged as a TiD and no boost guage (like mine)
 
Just seen your photos, the engine looks identical to the 150 cdti engine in a Zafira

Edit, the link you have posted advises that the Victor has twin exhausts but not exposed like the Areo. That was from a driver of both so looks like another thing to check.
 
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pretty sure its a single turbo 150, the reason you cant see the turbo is its located under the heatshield at the front/centre of the engine.
 
steve45 said:
pretty sure its a single turbo 150, the reason you cant see the turbo is its located under the heatshield at the front/centre of the engine.
Click to expand...

Doesn't explain how is happened, or indeed how there are definitely others out there though

Planning to go down to Saab on Monday to see what they can tell me
 
iaind said:
However, it's recorded as a TTiD 180, the VIN on the registration matches that on the car
Click to expand...
Unfortunately that doesn't mean much. The DVLA are notorious for having the wrong information against the rego. It's more of a problem with imports, but it's only as accurate as whoever filled the paperwork in.
 
PobodY said:
Unfortunately that doesn't mean much. The DVLA are notorious for having the wrong information against the rego. It's more of a problem with imports, but it's only as accurate as whoever filled the paperwork in.
Click to expand...

So if it does turn out to be a 150, what should I do? Only had it a week and purchased from a dealer. Keep it and live with it or try and get a refund?
 
that all depends on you, if you are happy with the car try push for some sort of reimbursement, if not then try push for refund.
but i wouldnt just except it and leave it, it might not be entirely there fault, but you have paid for a better specced car than you have received, so long as it wasnt rediculously cheap i'd be pushing to return and refund personally and go out and find a proper TTID.
 
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I'm not yet convinced its definitely a 150, I either need Saab to confirm or be able to see the presence of only one turbo. It's still conceivable that it's a trim quirk with a mechanical revision. Given how well it drives, I'd be surprised if it was a 150.

If it does turn out to be a 150 I'd be conflicted, the condition is so good that I'd doubt I'd find another for the same money in reasonable time
 
Taking an alternative approach to this, I founda video on YouTube of acceleration in a ttid180 from 80kph in fifth, so thought I'd go and film mine and compare

Playing the 2 videos side by side, hitting play at the point both cars start accelerating. My speed warning is set at 90 and the guy in the video had his set to 150k (92). In the videos, my speed warning bonged a fraction of a second before his did.

Obviously it's not scientific, he could have been uphill or something but it expect a 150 to be noticeably slower
 
iaind said:
Taking an alternative approach to this, I founda video on YouTube of acceleration in a ttid180 from 80kph in fifth, so thought I'd go and film mine and compare

Playing the 2 videos side by side, hitting play at the point both cars start accelerating. My speed warning is set at 90 and the guy in the video had his set to 150k (92). In the videos, my speed warning bonged a fraction of a second before his did.

Obviously it's not scientific, he could have been uphill or something but it expect a 150 to be noticeably slower
Click to expand...

I have just watched that video and it doesn't look a great deal quicker than my wife's 150 CDTI Zafira as at 50mph the revs are around 1800 which is right where the turbo starts to produce full boost. You really need to try from 45-50 in 6th which would result in significant lag from the 150 engine, looking at other videos the 180ttid revs fairly freely to 5k this is not possible in the 150 the power starts to drop off rapidily at 4k and won't rev past 4.5k
 
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