New to Suzuki's Just bought a 96 Sidekick

[RenegadeMXZ]

Hey all I'm new to this site and just wanted to say HI

Just purchased a 96 Sidekick on Sat, It has 138000 KM and is in great shape.
But on the way home after about 50 km it broke the timing belt. Not a great way to start off but once I get it back up and running I'm sure it will be fun.

I was just wanting to know what else I should be looking at for required maitenance so I can be out driving it instead of fixing it.

Also what are the chances that all I will need to replace is the timing belt?????? Got one coming today and am going to try putting it on and starting it before I take the head off. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed

Hopefully Some of you Suzuki Guru's can keep my Sidekick running.

Kevin

[TheZuke!]

Okay,
If your engine is an 8 valve engine, you are lucky...
because if the timing belt breaks on a 16 valve 1.6L engine,
the pistons will hit some of the valves now held open by the
unpowered camshaft. Some valves will bend, some may break,
pistons may get chipped, the head may get damaged,
ugly and expen$ive.

Along with the timing belt, replace the timing belt tensioner,
the water pump, the fan belts. Don't by CCC
(Cheap Chinese Crap) parts.
Check/adjust the valve lash.

Check JTGH's webpages on changing the timing belt...

http://carfix.stufftoread.com/

As the timing belt wasn't replaced at 120Kmiles, maybe
the previous owner didn't do a tune-up either.
Tune up for a Zuke means
Replace spark plugs,
Replace spark plug wires,
Replace distributor cap and rotor.
Replace air, oil and fuel filters.

Did it come with the Owner's Manual?
It lists scheduled maintenance.

Consider buying a Factory Service Manual, not a Haynes!

[RenegadeMXZ]

Well Thanks for the infoe ZUKE,

But unfortunately mine is a 16 V, and I was cruising down the highway at the time of breakage. So I pretty sure she isn't going to be pretty. But my buddy is a mechanic here in town and he has seen a few other interference engines with broken belts and no damage.
Also where would I find a factory service manual??? On Cd or hardcopy if you could give me a line on one. As I was already suckered in by the Hanes one.

[jtgh]

welcome to zuk land.
sorry, ouch
your mech never saw a zuk. i bet?
the valves may be bent. so easy , just drive it with belt loose and find out.
someone drove mine until, the belt cut thru the front cover. but , the belt hadn't slipped yet, (by a hairs breath)

if the belt slips, more than 20 degress. valves will hit the piston. (quote Mitchel's. on line)

i hope , it recovers.

ebay , search 1996 Tracker service manual.
and go to zukwarrie.com and see STICKY for acks faqs and click on line 96 FSM.

you ask, i deliver.
Ack's FAQ: Your 4X4 Portal To All Things Suzuki/Geo

edited out , bad midnight post. (was packing to go home) cheers.

100% US DA, guaranteed, INTERFERENCE MOTOR !!! FUR SURE

[TheZuke!]

Originally Posted by jtgh

welcome to zuk land.
sorry, ouch

if the belt slips, more than 20 degress. valves will hit the piston. (quote Mitchel's. on line)

i hope , it recovers.

ebay , search 1996 Tracker service manual.
and go to zukwarrie.com and see STICKY for acks faqs and click on line 96 FSM.

100% US DA, guaranteed, INTERFERENCE MOTOR !!! FUR SURE

JTGH,

I was messing around with a 16V at the boneyard,
apparently it had lost the crankshaft key.
Without the timing belt I was able to rotate the camshaft
about 20 degrees before real resistance stopped it.
So, I'm guessing Mitchel is right on that...

Now I wish I'd pulled the head to take a look inside before they
crushed it.

[jtgh]

bless you for that ,and no other book says, how to carefully re-align a 16v, slipped. course its obvious, just use fingers.

but knowing the variance is real nice,

bless you for trying that in the field.. !!!!


and of those , that dont believe. Trust theZuke ! it is interference motor.


cheers.
PS
if you see a right hand plastic on bottom of RH seat. 2door 96-98 ,
i will pay good $$ for same. black or gray, no matter.

Originally Posted by TheZuke!

JTGH,

I was messing around with a 16V at the boneyard,
apparently it had lost the crankshaft key.
Without the timing belt I was able to rotate the camshaft
about 20 degrees before real resistance stopped it.
So, I'm guessing Mitchel is right on that...

Now I wish I'd pulled the head to take a look inside before they
crushed it.

[RenegadeMXZ]

I must have been blessed by the Suzuki Gods or something but believe it or not I lined everything up, put on the new timing belt and turned the key. Much to my surprise she fired up and ran just like it did before. So I'm not sure what happened but somehow it seems to be ok.

[elonja]

jerry,is that plastic thing your referring to the one that has a slot u can put things into at the side?

[jtgh]

yes. the lower plastic RH set bottom has a plasitc panel and the round cover for the spring recline is missing on mine.
but i think only 96 and 2doors fill fit. (unk, lots of pn, on seats)

thank you..