96 suzuki esteem won't start.

[DVIC]

I previously posted a message regarding my 96 Suzuki Esteem GL not starting. The message I left was very vague sorry. The car cranks but does not start. All fuses are good but my husband does not know how to test the relays. Any suggestions?

[DCDAD]

If the vehicle has not run for two years, and you just bought it, and i think i remember you stating the "good deal" you recieved, Id be a little leary about the sellers full disclosure. Here's where i would start.
1. check to be sure the timing belt is not broken, pull the cover bolts from the top of the plastic cover, and pull back on it a bit, be carefull not to break it, just enough to look in there to see if the belt is on the cam pully, or loose whatever. if so, this is your problem. this condition will cause the motor to crank unusally fast with no compression sound.

2.pull the plugs out and inspect them for wear, and or fouling. the 1.6 motor is very picky about the condition of the spark plugs. the gap should be around .028 thousands. if they are worn of fouled, replace them with a quality plug. I run the Autolite part#3933's in mine. works like a charm. Be sure to use caution when pulling on the plug wires as the are not to tolarable of removale, and pull apart easaly. I broke one of mine, had to replace the set($39) at autozone.

3.If the timing belt,and plugs check out, than be sure the ignition is sending spark to those plugs. pull one of the plug wires and insert a screwdriver into the end, making contact with the metal inside the wire. then, place the screwdriver close to the motor away from any rotating parts, and have someone watch the driver for spark as you crank the engine.DO NOT TOUCH OR HAVE SOMEONE HOLD THE SCREWDRIVER WHILE CRANKING, as they will experiance 30 to 40,000 volts going up their arm, and this could ruin a good freindship. lay the driver down somwhere on its own with the shaft close to the motor. your looking for spark to jump from the driver to the motor. must be relitivly close to achive spark. If you've got spark, thats good. if not, read on to #4
4. Narrowing this down to fuel at this point, If your not machanicly inclined, I would strongly suggest a shop looking into testing for fuel pressure, as gasoline has one specific funtion, EXPLODING. if your not familar with proper proceedure. DO NOT ATTEMPT. Go to a reputable shop.

Hopfully this will help, and if you've got any more questions, i'll check in here later this evening.Good luck

Ron

[jim_naisium]

Your original posting said that it was acting like it was trying to start but wouldn't, that could be a lot of things, the previous posting has a lot of good advice, but I would also question the fact that the gas is two years old and is probably bad. I would have the gas tank completely drained and refilled with brand new gas and then see what happens when you try to start it.

[jim_naisium]

[Copied from duplicate posting]

>removed tank drained all old fuel. new fuel filter and air filter, timing adjusted and it runs great. the horn was easy to fix.

>now i need to know how to get the dash to light up at night the dash panel is dark. also the tail lights dont work.


>thank you for all the help

Glad to hear it is running, gas can go bad in a matter of months depending on your local weather, hot days + cold nights + high humidity = condensation (water) in the gas tank which eventually mixes with the gas.

There is an adjuster that will let you brighten or dim the dash lights depending on how bright you want them underneath the driver's side air vent next to the door, try spinning this up or down and see if the dash lights get brighter or dimmer.

If they will not light up at all you probably have a blown fuse, check the fuse block in the engine compartment, same for your rear lights, check the fuses. According to the 1999 owner's manual the dash and license plate lights share the same 10 amp fuse, the left and right hand tail lights are on their own seperate fuses as well, both of those are 10 amps also. So you are looking for three red fuses according to my book.

Go here for a picture of it: http://home.comcast.net/~lj_robins/p...ne_fuses01.jpg

It is entirely possible (since the car sat for so long) that someone pulled the fuses out to use in another car instead of going to the store and buying new ones which is why everything is dead now.

Good luck.

[DVIC]

The tail lights are not working on my car. I checked the fuses and bulbs and both are good. The dashboard switch was checked but it still does not light up. HELP!!!

[jim_naisium]

Check the fuse block under the dash for blown fuses, it is above and to the left of the steering column.

Do your front running lights and all four side marker lights come on?

If not, is voltage making it to your light switch?

[DVIC]

I solved the problem, it was the tail light relay.
Thank you. I don't have the lug nut key for my tires and was wondering how to get them off.

[jim_naisium]

I have seen a chisel and hammer work to get those off, leave the other three lugs nuts on tight, then put the chisel at a slight angle and pound on it trying to spin the lug nut counter clock wise, eventually it will break loose and spin off although it will be very mangled when it does finally come off.

A few other things come to mind...

1 - Spray liquid nitrogen on it then hit it with a hammer (kidding, umm, sort of).

2 - Use a small drill bit to drill enough holes to make a 3/8 inch square hole then use a 3/8 drive breaker bar to break it loose.

3 - Use a grinder to make two sides of it flat so that you can put the open end of a wrench on it, the bigger the wrench the better, then stick a pipe on the end of the wrench and try to break it loose.

Can't think of anything else right now.

[DVIC]

My car seems to bottom out everytime I hit a bump and turn the corner.
I looked at the rear of my car and there seems to be very little space between the car and the tire. I was wondering if the problem lies in needing struts and or shocks in the rear.

[jim_naisium]

You most likely have collapsed springs, or they are just worn out from rough roads, or someone cut them to artificially lower the car to make it look cool. I would also check under there and see if something is broken, if everything looks fine replace the struts and springs at the same time.