Since the trip to Sweden in June, the ’72 99 has also been to Switzerland and then on to Italy to see the Pininfarina Museum. Anyway, the car developed a new noise halfway through France. It was noticeable in 5th gear at about 55 mph and got louder as speed increased. It sounded like a wheel bearing-type noise but it didn’t seem to be in sympathy with the wheel rotation - I thought the worst, ie gearbox.
While staying for a couple of nights in Interlaken I took the car to a Saab agent a few miles away at Merligen on the road around Lake ThunSee. David Patterson, an Englishman who runs the Agency, was very helpful. The car was checked over, a clip on the main drive gaiter was tightened and the car was road tested. They couldn’t find anything else wrong - but then the roads around the lake don’t allow you to drive on a smooth surface at 55+ mph in 5th gear. The noise did become louder as we continued, but we made it home including some hairy runs up and down Alpine passes.
On arrival home I sought advice. The front wheel bearings were worn, particularly the right hand one. I have obtained new bearings and when they are fitted I will find out if the diagnosis was correct.
The other thing that became very noticeable was a buzzing rattle from the gear lever, particularly on the over-run. A new gear lever bottom plastic carrier and bearing, which I happened to have, fixed that.
I have been caught out again by indicator trouble, this time on my 95 on the way to the National gathering. Last time, after stripping half the 99 dashboard to get at the flasher unit, it turned out to be a cracked end on the fuse. This time, after searching unsuccessfully all over Nuneaton for a replacement flasher unit, taking the cover off the old unit to inspect the inside, etc, etc, it turned out to be a dodgy terminal rivet in the fuse box. Moving the terminal about got the indicators going. It isn’t much fun driving these days using hand signals, only us oldies know what they mean! The problem reappeared, on the way to the pub, but won’t any more - I have soldered the terminal to the rivet.