97 Tracker 16v/ auto troubles (long)

DarnThorny · 05-06-2008, 11:15 AM

My Tracker is having some serious problems.. besides the EGR engine codes, it's leaking oil massively from the front.. it's hard to tell where it's coming from because it got thrown around by the fan/belts. A mechanic said crank seal and the rear seal.. and the oil pan are all leaking. The oil at the back looks like it's coming from higher up than the trans... maybe below the distributer? I was under the car and the pan on the trans is pretty well covered in oil too. I don't know how thorough the mechanic's diagnosis was.. he may have just seen oil everywhere and assumed.. I don't know. Anyway, the car starts and idles great, but is REALLY slow getting up to speed, but once there cruises fine. It's not smoking, no oil in the coolant, etc. Now, the first problem I'd like to tackle (it's not being driven) is the kickdown cable has a few inches of slack.. it downshifts hard/eraticly at the slightest throttle movement. The mechanic said there were codes showing for the trans., but when I checked it with my cheap code reader a while ago, I only got the EGR codes. Would the kickdown cable cause codes to show up.. and how big a deal is an apparently loose/diconnected cable? I looked at the autozone page about it, but I didn't get much from it. The Tracker is perfect otherwise.. no rust, new tires.. newer top 100k miles. I'd hate to scrap it. Advise?

DarnThorny · 05-06-2008, 05:44 PM

OK, it's a 1.6 16v, I guess it has a 3sp auto (L2DNR).

captchee · 05-06-2008, 08:13 PM

i found the leak on my sidekick just by accident.
I also had oil all over the front of the engine , the oil pan and back to the trany .
I went and got a ½ dozen cans of carb cleaner and took a tri to the local car wash and cleaned it up .
I had a leak from the oil pan on the drivers back sided . Tightened it up which stopped that leak . but it didt stop the leaking all over the engine and engine mounts .
Finaly I had a friend get in hold the engine at about 3500 rpm .
I didn’t see anything tell I had given up and signaled to let off the gas . As soon as he did that in got a nice run of oil right out of the timing belt cover . At first I though it was the front of the pan so I wiped it off and tried again , same thing .
But this time I was able to see it was coming from the timing belt cover , not the oil pan .
Polled the cover and there she was , a small leak from the cam seal and good signs of the front main leaking . Replaced those “ and the belt while I was in there .
No more leaks as of yet . the oil was leaking from the front . being fling by the crank pully and blown back along the engine by the fan .

The trany codes are normally OBDII / OBD2 .
Your reader has to be able to read both OBD1 and OBD2 for you to see the tyranny codes .
if you have an OBD2 reader it needs to be capable of 5 digits instead of the common 2 digits .
here is a break down

Quote:

First Character - SystemThe first character identifies identifies the system related to the trouble code.

P = Powertrain
B = Body
C = Chassis
U = Undefined
Second Digit - Code TypeThe second digit identifies whether the code is a generic code (same on all OBD-II equpped vehicles), or a manufacturer specific code.

0 = Generic (this is the digit zero -- not the letter "O")
1 = Enhanced (manufacturer specific)
Third Digit - Sub-SystemThe third digit denotes the type of sub-system that pertains to the code

1 = Emission Management (Fuel or Air)
2 = Injector Circuit (Fuel or Air)
3 = Ignition or Misfire
4 = Emission Control
5 = Vehicle Speed & Idle Control
6 = Computer & Output Circuit
7 = Transmission
8 = Transmission
9 = SAE Reserved
0 = SAE Reserved

Fourth and Fifth DigitsThese digits, along with the others, are variable, and relate to a particular problem. For example,a P0171 code means P0171 - System Too Lean (Bank 1).

more info on ODB, OBDII or OBD2 cods can be found here
OBD-II Trouble Codes - OBD-II DTC Trouble Codes Repair Help Site

DarnThorny · 05-07-2008, 08:48 AM

Ok, I'll wash the engine and trans off, top and bottom and go from there. As for the kickdown cable/modulator valve, does the cable attach to the mod valve? I don't think the cable is rusted.. the car is really clean, but I'll check that. What would be a good manual to buy?

captchee · 05-07-2008, 08:55 AM

JT
A question here if I could since we are on codes alittle bit .
Did Suzuki use Japanese code formats like Nissan or Isuzu or did they stick with mainly GM codes for the OBD2 ?
Also at what time did they go to the more controlled CM . As I understand it “which could be wrong : but does not the 89-92 only have a speed sensor on the tranny and the rest is engine systems ?
Also is there a difference in this sensor concerning the 3 speed and 4 speed auto and the manuals

captchee · 05-07-2008, 03:30 PM

thanks . i have a 3 speed in my 89 . is it iterchangable with the 4 speed with a CM update .
just in case i ever have to swap it out
please let me know by PM so we dont distroy this thread and get to far off topic

jtgh · 05-07-2008, 05:50 PM

97 1.6L
a car with a stuck open EGR will be a dog.
gutless wonder .
please see your PM mail for nfo.
this will help you with the kickdown and mod valve.l
recommend a power flush on tranny and new filter , if said filter is clogged
it will starve pump and the will be the end of this tranny.
slipping tranny = heat , heat on the clutch packs etc will kill it quick.
you need full scan tool for OBD2 , coder readers are grossly limited to just engine. but there my be high end readers that can do it.
you can rent a full scan tool from AZ or the like.
rent, barrow, buy.
see pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarnThorny

My Tracker is having some serious problems.. besides the EGR engine codes, it's leaking oil massively from the front.. it's hard to tell where it's coming from because it got thrown around by the fan/belts.

ow, the first problem I'd like to tackle (it's not being driven) is the kickdown cable has a few inches of slack.. it downshifts hard/eraticly at the slightest throttle movement. The mechanic said there were codes showing for the trans., but when I checked it with my cheap code reader a while ago, I only got the EGR codes. Would the kickdown cable cause codes to show up.. and how big a deal is an apparently loose/diconnected cable? I looked at the autozone page about it, but I didn't get much from it. The Tracker is perfect otherwise.. no rust, new tires.. newer top 100k miles. I'd hate to scrap it. Advise?

DarnThorny · 05-08-2008, 05:51 PM

So far- engine/tranny cleaned off. Ran short period to dry... oil dripping rapidly off the back of the low pulley.. looking like a crank seal.. I really hope the oil all over the trans pan is from somewhere other than the rear seal.

jtgh · 05-09-2008, 02:40 AM

oil blows where it wants to go,
only a clean egine and careful quick observance will tell the truth.

top leakers are dizzy oil rings.
valve covers
front cam and crank.

DarnThorny · 05-09-2008, 09:14 AM

If I do actually have a rear crank, or main seal leak, where would I see it coming from? Is it possible that the oil that was all over the oil pan, and the transmission pan could be from the leak at the front crank? After running the motor (idle) for about 5 minutes after degreasing yesterday the leak coming off the pulley was really putting out.