What country are you in?? In the USA, on the 1998, you need either a code reader or a scanner in order to pull the codes from the ECU. I think that Autozone (if you are in the US) will do this for free, or else you can buy a scanner - they are not too expensive. When you are pulling the battery, you are resetting the ECU. Then when you start the car, it is picking up the code again.
The switch that you are talking about is the 'service engine soon' switch (or nag switch), but I do not think that your car has this. I believe they are only on 89-95 cars, at least in the USA.

If you are outside of the US, then your car is probably still OBD1 and you may have the nag switch. On my car, just under the steering wheel, there is a little door or panel. You remove the panel, and put your hand down in there, on the forward (engine) side, and you can feel a switch that you move from side to side.

You need to advise what country you are in.

 

Hi there, I'm in the UK.
I've taken the door thing off under the steering column and looked for the wires the book was telling me but I can't seem to see a switch. Does it only have a few wires to it or loads of wires to it? I did see a plug that was black and what looked like it had a yellow switch on it but was attached to the car and couldn't move it and I didn't want to pull on wires I'm not sure about. What does the switch look like that I'm trying to find? I bought a OBD ll reader but when I plug it in it wont connect to the car. I've taken the car to various garages near me and they all get the same error. It has just hit 64.200 miles could it mean it's asking for a service?

 

At 64,200 miles it is unlikely that this is the nag switch. It usually goes on at mileage like 50,000 or 100,000, etc. It may be that you need to pull codes. Here are instructions:
Check Engine Lamp stuck ON?

However, you will NOT be able to see the nag switch (if this is what is causing the light to go on). You must feel for it. It's just a tiny sliding switch:
my NAG Lamp stuck ON page?

 

A 98 Vitara in the UK will be OBD1 - the only code readers that can pull the codes are the Suzuki dealer type stuff - however you can read the codes with a paperclip and the check engine light.

http://www.rhinopower.org/diag/cel.html

 

Oh excellent thanks for that information, my partner has had a read and believes he can do that. Thank you. Will go out tomoro and watch him.

 

There are no nag switches on UK models. 1998 would be quite late for a first gen. 16V, they were usually 8V 4u models in that year. If its a 16V then I would be very interested in looking at it, are you anywhere near Swindon?

 

Hi there,
Many thanks for all these solutions, it is very much appreciated. Sorry, I'm no where near Swindon, I live on the border of Lancashire and North Yorkshire.
When it origanlly had the distributor cap changed the light was flickering, then my mate took it off to c if that was the faultly part and as we drove to the place to get another one then the light went off but when we changed the cap the light has stayed on ever since. My partner believes he turned the mix thing to low hence why it was conking out. It seems to run sweet now with no stalling at juctions since he changed the mix so it now has a tick over rev of 800 rpm. Could him turning or playing with something set the mixture wrong and thats why its detecting a problem. My partner believes hes messed with the wrong one! Will go out and insert a pin soon and see what trouble codes I get. Thank you.

 

There isn't any mixture adjustment on a 98, I would guess that he has adjusted the idle speed setting which has masked the actual problem.

 

@Rhinoman, I've been out to the car and from you link I poped the bonnet and next to the battery is the fuse box only. I'm I to run a pin from C to B in to the plug that the OBD reader would go in, which is under the steering wheel. Do I insert the pin and turn the ignition on and it will flash??? Thank you.

 

Check by the driver's side headlight, it might be there - it should have a rubber cover over it. The connector under the dashboard is for a scan tool only.

 

I'm uploading a video to You Tube....2kwonderwoman. I started the video and showed all the lights on the dash before I started the engine and I went under the dash and around the engine. Hope that makes more sense. There is plugs next to the drivers head light but theres 3 of em???? Hopefully if you see the video when it eventually up loads u and I will have a better idea.

 

I've found 2 connectors...!!

 

Oh I'm confused now after reading back. In the fuse box there is a empty slot and there is a 4 pin plug behind the drivers headlight which one is best to read? will doing all this be able to turn the light off?

 

Right, Ive been out and found the plugs behind the headlight and there was 2 of them covered by a rubber cover. There was a 4 pin connector (with only 3 wires leading into it)...that wasn't it so I took the rubber thing off the 6 pin connector ( with 5 pins into it) and put the paper clip into that and started the car and it flashed a error code of 34 which looking on the link you sent me is a mass air flow problem....My blokes gone mad cause he always said it was that!!! (He was unsure how to read codes) Many thanks for all your help today and yesterday. ;-)

 

Diag_jumpers

now revised with colors so you can find it easier.

lots of option connectors there are.
cheers.

 

I've managed to get the lights to flash and it flashed a 3 and then a 4, when looking on a link that was sent to me its showing as a mass air flow problem. My partner has taken the top off and we have found the problem, he thinks its got water in it some how and that is the problem, he messed the light went out. After I've changed loads of bits on it it turns out it was the 1st thing he said but was unsure as every other mate said different. Just need to get a circuit board for it now and its not cheep

 

Glad you found your problem.
Now, maybe someone else here on the forum will know if this will work, but as your car is still OBD1 (similar to the 1995 and earlier USA cars) perhaps it is possible for the MAF from the 1995 Suzuki Sidekick to work on your car. Frankly, I find that Suzuki parts are quite expensive over here, and often order from the US. Even with shipping costs, I save a ton of money. And the exchange rate is quite good at the moment. Just in case someone advises that this would work, here is the good deal for MAFs at Rock Auto:
1995 SUZUKI SIDEKICK JX Mass Air Flow Sensor
(Beck/Arnley is a good company)

 

there are 2 types both are over $500 new but stop (hot wire and Vane type air meters)
there are used ones and refurbs.

first test it
Howto-test-a-MAF

then buy it , get used one.

58D00 ?
57D00
or
65D00

how to purchase parts

 

I've been round all the breakers yards today and can't get the part for it, I've looked on eBay but I get replys that it wont fit. Rahhh. It's a pain that it's a 16v and quite a late edition. I think it's gonna have to a Suzuki part unless I know for sure what I need to buy. The car runs fine without it and still starts when the sensor is disconnected. Is the part really needed or is there a way that my partner can solder a wire and use a resister to by pass the problem? When we took the top off you can see it's the curcuit board, when he fiddled and messed the 'check engine' light went out quite a few times.

 

the maf has a part number on it.
some in UK have 57B00 the toilet plunger.
and others are 58B00 hit wire, MAF can see all way thru it. all usa maf are 58b here.
both MAFs are show at the bottom of this web page. (testing)
Howto-test-a-MAF

here is the 58B. ( telling which one helps find them)

 

sure the motor runs,
the ECU mimics it , in limp home mode.
runs rich.
runs loss of power.
hot CAT (melts it)
rpm limits.
and retarded timing , poor fuel economy.
sure it runs.

i thought gas (petrol) was pricey on the queens land.

 

try ebay.

this is a HOT wire, 58B00 MAF, dont know what you have, need photo.

NEW MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR METER MAF TRACKER SIDEKICK X90 | eBay

 

again, 58B00 new
$858 USD, an more at other dealers. find a used on.
13800-58B00
https://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=searchCatalogOEM&siteid=214330

 

you make this hard, tell us the pn of yours, or show a photo.
the number is stamped on side on sticker.

here is Rockauto. All this is my hard to find parts page.

1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK JX Mass Air Flow Sensor

 

I uploaded a video to you tube 2kwonderwoman if that helps. Yes it does run fine. It don't stall anymore since my partner turns the revs slightly up so it was idle at 800 rpm.
It's too dark here now to upload any photos but will go out tomoro and look for the numbers and try to upload one.
Many thanks for all your help guys, I'm so glad you've helped, you've helped me loads and I am very appreciative.

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/2kwonderwoman......my video is on there.