Installation: Step #0

[Pilkerton]

Long time lurker, first time poster & newbie Saab owner here…

As part of Installation Step #0, I wanted to survey the cargo area of my 2000 Saab 9-3 hatchback to see where the elusive CD changer connector was situated relative to where the BlueSaab module will one day live. Doing so requires peeling back the trunk liner to get a better look.

The following instructions are what I had to do on my model, YMMV:

1) Remove the two bolts holding the luggage straps. This allows you to pop off the cover surrounding the trunk lock.
2) Remove the hand-tightened plastic nut near the left tail light.
3) Remove the 3 Torx screws securing the left rear speaker.

You can now gently pull back the liner to take a peek.

Note: Pay attention as you remove it, as you'll have to put it back, nicely tucking in the edges of the liner behind the trunk gasket.

Here's what mine looks like:



You'll see that the CDC cable is very short (BTW, that's the antenna motor visible at the top)

My questions for forum members:

Where did you install your BlueSaab Module? How did you mount it?
Please don't tell me you wrapped it in duck tape and it's just flopping around back there…
Do you remove the trunk liner whenever you need to flash new firmware or reset the module? Sounds like a royal PITA…
Does there exist a male-to-female extension cable that would allow the BlueSaab module to live in a more convenient locale?

[Seth]

What I did was, cut a slit in the carpet liner and pushed the connector through so that's it's accessible without removing the carpet. Then I just plug in the module there. I'm probably going to zip tie the module to somewhere behind the carpet when the module no longer needs any tweaks/updates...so that may never happen, but in theory, that's what I would do :)

[Karlis]

I have a '01 9-5 SE. In my case there was no CDC wiring harness installed on my car which (as I found out later) at some point was the default setting on 9-5s when the CDC wasn't installed as an option in the factory. That was a bit confusing in the beginning. I found that there's a a connector behind the trunk upholstery on the top of rear left passenger wheel arch to which this wiring harness needs to be connected. After installing it, it was easy from that point on. There's an incision on the left hand side of the upholstery through which the connector comes out and connects to the CDC changer.

Currently, for testing purposes, I just connect my module to the CDC cable and leave it dangling around (just for easier access). Eventually if (once) we figure out a way of uploading the code via Bluetooth, I will zip-tie the module to the body structure behind the upholstery as I did it years ago with the "grandpa" 3.5mm wired version of BlueSaab project.

[Nickhe]

on 9-3:
1998-2000 needs cable 400 111 738 .
2001-2003 premounted cable

on  9-5:
1998-1999: premounter
2000 vin Y3049931  premounted
2000 vin between Y3049932 & Y3065547 needs cabel 400 111 720
2000 vin after Y3065548, needs cable 400 129 243
2001 too 2010 cable 400 129 243


No idea if you need tech 2 to activate the module as I wasn't able to  build my bluesaab due to postoffice losing the boards :(

[Karlis]

Thanks Nickhe for the detailed information.

There's no need for a programming of BlueSaab module using Tech2. The original CD changer uses a report message that it sends to IHU (the main head unit) every second reporting its current status (e.g. "I'm here. I'm currently at 02min/54 sec of Track 1 of Disc 5"). The most important part of that message is byte 7 - "security".  Now, originally, every original CD changer is "married" to a car via Tech2 and that byte is set so that the car recognizes the changer. If the changer is removed from the car and installed into another car, it won't work unless the changer is "divorced" from the previous car using Tech2.

In our case with the BlueSaab module, we send a customized message to the head unit, basically, telling it "hey, I know you, we are married", the head unit is happy and communication works.

[Seth]

Nickhe wrote

on 9-3:
1998-2000 needs cable 400 111 738 .
2001-2003 premounted cable

I'm not aware of any 9-3 needing a cable....my 2000 Viggen 5-door had the connector waiting for a cd changer (or bluesaab module :)

[Viggen]

Pilkerton:

I doubt theres a premade extender but you could probably make one with a quick trip to the junkyard or figure out the body side CD changer connector and build one. I think it would be easier to just solder in an extra foot or two of wire onto the stock connector so you could tuck it up into wheel well or down in the spare tire compartment.

I'm still in the planning stage of all of this but I was thinking of maybe some velcro strips to the bluetooth housing so I could mount it up to the side of the trunk somewhere but be able to remove it when necessary...

[joopworst]

Hi everyone!

I am the proud owner of pre-assambled model by Karlis but so far I haven't even been able to see wether or not I have the correct wiring harness preinstalled.

These instructions are for a sedan/hatchback, I have a 9-5 estate MY2000. Today I tried to free of the left rear quarter upholstery but I failed to do so. I unscrewed 3 torx screws from the rail where you slide in the bagage cover and managed to free it off. I undid 4 screws that hold the upholstery in place but i wasn't able to take a peak behind the carpets. I think i have to free off more materials going to the left rear seat en wheel weld.
Has someone done this owning an estate?

[Seth]

You can check the front left (US/driver, UK/passenger) side outboard foot well under the carpet; there may be the dual connectors there if you don't wanna keep ripping the trunk apart. If you absolutely can't find any open connectors there, then I would keep trying for the rear again.

Apparently the 9-5 had the cd changer harness stop at 3 different places among model years/VINs. 1 was left side up front foot well, 2 was near C pillar behind carpet near shock tower, 3 was in trunk near antenna.

https://www.genuinesaab.com/psi/files/9-5cd.htm

[sloth]

I had the same issue, I have a MY04 which is supposed to have the cable pre-installed, but I can't find it anywhere. Could it be behind the left side storage compartment? I can get the one loose from the bottom, but getting the side one out of it's place is a bit difficult.

[Nickhe]

No MY04 didn't have it pre installed!

It wasn't preinstalled from 2001 -> 2010 if didn't have it installed if CDC wasn't included with it. So you need to buy a cable 400 129 243 from any saab part dealer. In sweden it cost me 260Kr and is installed on the left side of the car. The connection has a strap attached to it where you gonna install it :)

I'm gonna make a video soon where and how to install it. Just need to get a better camera

[sloth]

Ah, that's too bad,.. Is there a way to connect it to the backside of the HU or do I need the cable?

[Seth]

You don't *need* the cable, but having the connector makes it super easy to plug/unplug of course. If you're good with wiring/soldering, you can easily cut the connectors on the car, and add your own connector (you'll need 8 wires; power, gnd, can H, can L, 2 sets of 2 speaker wires), and you can remove the connector from the bluesaab module (if you even installed it) and wire it up. It's just more work, but it should work if you get everything connected.

[joopworst]

This is the best guide I was able to find so far. It covers both the sedan and the wagon. It's in Dutch.

http://www.saabdocs.com/Dutch/instructions/400129243nl.pdf

This guide also mentions the extra connector cable

[sloth]

Thanks! Cable is in and I'm going to dive in tonight or tomorrow :)

[Nickhe]

Remember to ground it properly , so pick the thickest screw as the ground or else you will have problems