89 3 door Vitara

[Jimmy L]

I am interested to hear comments from suzuki owners and experts on the following vehicle which I have just purchased:
11 1/2g 89 Suzuki Vitara- suzi sport model? got all the extras like power windows, and it's an auto with a 1.6 EFI ( for the missus), in mint condition.
This one is quite different as it has been lowered and has 18" rims with low profile road tyres. Apparently it has only just been imported from Japan with 60000 on ODO and autos are supposed to be hard to find in that year model. Why would a vehicle have a bloody TV in it and no CD player?

Anyhow, I'm inviting the suzuki forum to make comment as I'm interested what are any known issues which could be attributed to the age and make of the vehicle etc. My wife would like to convert it so she can drive along the beach, but I think it's cool how it is.

Thanks in advance

Jim

[N*A*M]

looks sweet!

i'd mall it!

[N*A*M]

looks sweet!

i'd mall it!

[antt]

bling bling

looks to pretty to cut up..............but do it anyway

[roadrunner]

Bling Bling she rings

Chop it up, it'd look better with 35's and a tube front bar

[Beastmavster]

Too nice as is to abuse off road. Should be fine for mild beach work though.

You can always but a set of decent a/t's on 15" steel rims for the beach and keep the bling 18" ones for the road.

No major mechanical dramas in these - dunno enough about the auto thought.

Cracks in exhaust manifold is about the biggest issue - other weak points are power steering and the front diff.

[Gonzo]

EFI was not available in 89, i dont know about the jap imports tho

my girlie wants a car at the moment too - she wants a sensible car to drive around - nothing too sporty or fast

i showed her a galant VR4 (2L turbo 4wd sleeper), she liked it

[stumped]

bling bling mate.... throw a turbo in it and a stereo with huge subs and ya can blow away all the wannabe ricers!

[Jimmy L]

Well, is there any secret to poping the bonnet?? Second, I've got two red warning lights on the dash, one is of an engine icon thing and the other is like a (!) in a circle.
The car has no servicemanual so does anyone know where I can get one? Also I am spewing about the ODO only having 5 digits.

[-Mandy-]

Well, is there any secret to poping the bonnet?? Second, I've got two red warning lights on the dash, one is of an engine icon thing and the other is like a (!) in a circle.
The car has no servicemanual so does anyone know where I can get one? Also I am spewing about the ODO only having 5 digits.

I'd assume the (!) is the handbrake & try looking in the bottom of the glovebox for the bonnet lever.(That's where they are in sierra's)

I have a (!) light as well,only mine doesn't work,though it should because it would be nice to know that your driving with the handbrake on while your on the highway.

[mtzook]

The (!) light will be on for a few reasons. First is to check the level of the brake fluid. My 89 had a sensor which would put on that light when the fluid was low.

The other is that the handbrake sensor is just not working well anymore. I live in the US now with a 95 Geo Tracker and the light is always on cause the handbrake sensor is out.

It's most likely TBI (throttle body injection) as all of them were in the US since 89.

What did you pay for it??

Vitara's are so awesome. Depending on how they lowered it, you could probably almost just throw some smaller wheels on it and then take it on the beach. See if someone with a sierra or stock vitara will let you borrow their rims and tires to check it out...

[Jimmy L]

Thanks for that, finally found the bonnet lever after much frustration( in glove box). I'll check the brake fluid and top that up and see if I can find a manual somewhere. Being that this is Jap import, all the info regarding tyre pressures, engaging 4x4 etc is in Jap. Also this is an Automatic transmission 1.6 EFI engine which proberly was never released in Oz.

Nowdays import laws state a 4x4 must be at least 15years old, NZ has less strict import regulations and the market has been flooded with all kinds of newer makes and models 4wds in mint condition. Hopefully this suzuki won't give me the same trouble as the daihatsu.

cheers

[No Idea]

the (!) light could also be a warning light for brake pad wear.
does it have abs? if not, look to see if there are any wires going down to the brake area. might just mean you need a new set of pads. now the hard part, if they do, I don't think that local vitaras had that sensor so you might have trouble getting pads for it.

It's most likely TBI (throttle body injection) as all of them were in the US since 89.

Maybe not, as no vitara in Aus had tbi, they were all mpi

[mudfkr]

My '93 jap import the (!) light is a HANDBRAKE/LOW FLUID warning light. On my '92 import some one refitted the seats crushing the wire to the H/brake causing the light to stay on so you might want to look at that also.
The engine light is most likely on for a scheduled service (cam belt etc) theres a switch under the dash on the steering column (or it's the in kick panel) to reset it. Some people have trouble finding them but its there some where

From what I've seen most imports (Escudo's) up till mid '92 were 8 valve TBI and from late '92 on they were all 16 valve MPI, Although our (in NZ) '88 and early '89 Vitaras had Mikuni carbs on them.
BTW front brake pads are a bit smaller then the Vit's but heres a part # you might be able to cross reference for future use : Silverline part #DB1134STD
HTH,
Shane
Now I have a ? Do your Jap imported Escudos get re-badged as Vitaras or sold as Escudos ??

[Jimmy L]

Thanks for the tips. The brake fluid was really low, and sensor was doing it's job so that is good.
The vehicle has got electronic petrol injection and it's got the injector setup similar to the feroza not a carby. It's badged as Vitara, I'm pretty sure any imports are called this too. Anyway I will try locate the reset for the engine icon as the car seems to be running fine.