Hello all, and a question...

[o2bgpn]

Hello, my name is Mike and I’m a Tracker-aholic. Not really, but I did just buy a Tracker for my daughter as a first car. She thinks it’s cute and best of all when she gets her license she can follow her old man wheeling... on easy trails anyway. Info on it is in the sig.

Since buying it I’ve found a few (3) leaks. One was an easy front diff filler plug, which I fixed with a new gasket. The second is an antifreeze leak I haven’t quite tracked down yet but, it looks like it may be the water pump gasket. There’s a lot of crap on that side of the engine. I’ll tackle that drip last for obvious reasons (much work to get to). And the 3rd leak is (drum roll), you guessed it, the auto trans.

I picked up the Field Service Manual, as I do with all my cars (I’m no dummy), and my guess is either the Modulator or possibly a loose pressure check plug. It’s definitely coming from the driver’s side… and dripping on the cat. I’m going to clean it up this weekend and find out for sure where it’s coming from. My question (finally) is; the FSM calls out a special wrench for the Modulator. What size is that (so I can make one if need be)?

Thanks

[ranger88den]

Mike, Welcome. I don't know the size of the modulator wrench but this is what I did 2 years ago. Measured modulator w/thin caliper and bought a cheapo SAE wrench a little smaller. Grind it down for size and thickness until it fits. If I was at home I would measure it to at least give you an approx. size. To bad your not closer, I'd loan it to you but I'm in Toledo, Ohio. Good luck

[kick-fix]

driver’s side… and dripping on the cat

Left side drips on cat which is left side.
on my 91 , the Dizzy base has an o-ring that always cracks.
drips down back side of block. then for some strang reason always goes left.
(natural air flow ) and then hits my cat conv. input tubes.

how to purchase parts

oem pn ,here, and my west coast LA , Viton alt. source.

yes, mod vavle , thin spanner, custom. (harborfright and grinder?) (that is joke in mispell)

[TheZuke!]

Welcome,
There is a good reason to change the water pump along with
the Timing Belt (and Timing Belt Idler).
It is because it wears out.
This past spring when I changed out my TB and etc, the water
pump had a trail of coolant residue leading from its lower drain hole.

So your daughter's Tracker probably needs its Timing Belt replaced as well.
Don't delay, the 16 valve engine, if that is what it has, will munge the
valves and pistons if the old belt $lip$ or break$.

So consider giving it the 120K mile "tune up"
New timing belt and idler
New water pump
New fan belts
New spark plugs
New spark plug wires
New distributor cap and rotor
New PCV
New air, oil, fuel filters
(not having an Automatic Trans, I'm not sure when that needs service)

Check hoses for vacuum or fluid leaks
_Check the crankshaft bolt/keyway for slippage and proper torque_!!!!
Check that the thermostat is the right one.

If you are DIY-guy it'll cost a couple hundred or so in parts.
Avoid buying Cheap Chinese Commie Crap replacements.

To not do the "tune up" is to risk your daughter ending up stranded
along a dark deserted road with a vehicle worth only a couple hundred
bucks or so at a salvage yard.

These Tracker/Sidekicks are reliable, but this is Routine Maintenance
that should not be neglected!

[kick-fix]

great list.
and some ignore it and wonder why these things fail.
each part on the car has life span, and is very predictable with avg. usage.

these techniques are applied in the Aircraft business to great effect.
every year less failures. due to replacing things before they fail.

great post.

yes, stranded , has no upside. can be really bad.

[o2bgpn]

Thanks for the welcome, all.

Kick-Fix;
Yes, left side. My apologies to all the Tracker/Suzuki brethren across the pond. Now enlighten me, what the heck is a Dizzy? Looking at your link, my guess is it has something to do with the distributor which, in your case, leaked by the seal and managed to find it's way back to the cat. Not so in my case. Over all the engine looks very clean. The leak is definitely ATF - having busted my knuckles on cars for the past 30+ years I know the difference.


The Zuke,
The timing belt was changed in '03 according to the paperwork the previous owner gave me. Whether they changed the pump or not I don't know - and I'm to lazy to look. Rest assured, when I do tear into the front of the engine I will be replacing the pump (whether it's leaking or not), timing belt (it's only have an 8v BTW), idler arm, gaskets, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I don't relish tearing the front off every year or so - or at all for that matter- that's why I'm saving it for last and going to take my time on it.

As for belts, plugs, cap, rotor, etc., good call. I had planned on and will double check all these things. And yes I agree, I don't want my baby stranded anywhere - that's why it's sitting in the garage until I get it to where I'm comfortable letting her drive it.


Sooooo, no one knows what size the wrench is for the Vac Modulator? Ranger, the caliper idea is great and it looks like I may have to resort to it if I find the modulator is in fact the source of the leak. I was just hoping to look around the garage and see if I had an extra wrench of that size to thin out. If worse comes to worse I have scrap steel laying around that I could cut a wrench head out of and weld a handle to it. I've done uglier things.

[kick-fix]

you a wrench good.

no worry 8v is free running.
the wrench. I will look at the fsm see if it calles out the metric size , i know it does call out suz pn for this silly thin spanner wrench.

you got the red juice leaks. gotcha.

all the best, back later..
cheers.

[kick-fix]

suzuki tool pn j23100 , cant find spec.

out of stock too.
Suzuki Pit Stop

[ranger88den]

Mike, the wrench I used for a template was 1 1/16". The reworked size is approx 30mm and thickness is approx. 3/16". Good luck and let us know how you do.

[kick-fix]

this place is amazing... thanks ranger.