2002 SAAB 9-3: Valve Cover Gasket Replacement (Similar on Many Other SAAB Engines)

In this video I go over replacement of the valve cover gasket on my 2002 SAAB 9-3. This process is very similar on many other Saab engines: later OG 900s, NG 900s, OG, 9-3s, 9000s, and 9-5s, with the 2.0-2.3 liter engines

[@thingserik7269]

The pcv nipple that goes into the valve cover has a lip on one side. You have to pull the piece out applying pressure to the opposite side or the lip will snap off. I actually crazy glued the lip back on. It's that way a year later. Didn't have time to wait for a part.

[@lcintl8294]

I have a newly acquired 2001 9-3 SE. It is leaking from the cam plug. I don't have a vacuum pump attached there. Any idea why not or if I should have had one originally? I thought the threaded holes there were for distributors on older cars, but a company in England, Abbott, sells an in-house fabricated plug.

[@sethsaylor760]

I believe the automatic cars had vacuum pumps, the manuals did not. The caps for the manuals like to leak frequently, I’ve replaced a few

[@lcintl8294]

@@sethsaylor760 Thanks, yes, after writing my question, I found this information in the Haynes manual. Your video was helpful because I could see the vacuum pump part number and ID it as such. Does the vacuum pump assembly contain a cap/seal? I read elsewhere that people use Permatex #1 to seal it from the outside because you have to remove the valve cover and some non-tamper torx bolts to get at the cap, unless I am mistaken.

[@sethsaylor760]

@@lcintl8294 That I’m not sure of, but I would guess that there is in fact a seal there of some type

[@2smokeHennerz]

My cover is stuck on i can’t get it off