[GreyyDawgg]

Hi all. I've just got my first little 4wd. It's a 96 Vitara 1.6 EFI SWB. I just wanted to ask for some wisdom and advice if anyone would be kind enough to give me a few pointers. The car is in nice condition cosmetically and rides nicely although I have nothing to compare it to other than a few others I took for a short test ride.

First question I have is about the gears. The clutch seams fine and engages but getting into 1st and reverse gears can be difficult. Once used to driving it and changing into 4th before going into R and 2nd before 1st makes it a much smoother change. I hope this isn't a problem with the gearbox? Could anyone give me advice? The owner said he serviced it himself, new 15w40 and filter every 5k. I don't know when last he would have done gearbox oil so I want to replace that and see if it would help.

I got just under 400km on a tank of fuel. Is that alright? Not very light on fuel.

I was looking at a K&N high flow air filter. Wanted to put nice suspension which makes the ride comfortable and also raises it up down the line when I can afford it.

The other thing I want to get soon is a bullbar. Would anyone recommend one? Or where I could find a second hand one? I was looking at the arb one which looks really nice but costs 1200 which is heaps.

I'd appreciate any advice and knowledge anyone is willing to give. It's going to be great to get out in the bush or up the beach soon:-)

Cheers

[want33s]

Gearbox sounds like a clutch adjustment issue.

400Km to tank isn't too bad. Check usual stuff like tyre pressures, wheel bearings, sticky brakes, clogged cat converter etc etc.

K&N filters are great for landfill.

Bullbar is a choice of styles. I'd go with ARB or a custom homemade bar. Used bars pop up in the Getting rid of stuff section.

[GreyyDawgg]

Thanks for the reply. Do you know where a good place to get my car checked and serviced? Also if I do have the clutch adjusted if that is the problem? I am quite keen to learn and work on it myself too. I have tools and have worked on my motorbikes although this is my first car. I need to get hold of a workshop manual and parts manual for it. It would be nice to learn by watching someone work on theirs a few times.

The right front brake does make a noise sometimes until I get up to speed or press on the brake sharply a few times.

How often should gearbox oil be replaced?

[droverdave]

work in litres/100km for fuel usage.

Fill it up, hit the trip meter, drive around till its almost empty, fill it up again and not how many litres you have put in and how many km you have done, then work out your litres/100km (litires/(km driven/100).

for normal road driving, id hope to get around 10L/100km.

[want33s]

GreyyDawgg wrote:

Do you know where a good place to get my car checked and serviced?

I can recommend a few places but really need to know where you live.

GreyyDawgg wrote:

Also if I do have the clutch adjusted if that is the problem?

Huh?

GreyyDawgg wrote:

The right front brake does make a noise sometimes until I get up to speed or press on the brake sharply a few times.

That'd be a good place to start. Possibly a seized caliper.

GreyyDawgg wrote:

How often should gearbox oil be replaced?

You'd have to check the Factory Service Manual (FSM) available at www.suzukiinfo.com but I think from memory it is every 60 thousand kays.

[suzukiboy]

Both my Vitara and Baleno can get hard to find reverse just push in the clutch a few times and try again.

[GreyyDawgg]

Cheers for the replies! I live in Perth. I didn't realize it would be so hard to find the gears. I guess I can live with it. Plus side is that I'd hear if someone was trying to steal it outside my house because they'd be crunching the gears if they didn't know how to drive it. I know it's a old car but its a awesome little car and I just want to get it set up as to drive as well as possible. Gears, fuel economy and suspension.

[sleepdawgy]

You could try adjusting your clutch cable up a bit
K and n filter from repco or eBay
And 400 to a tank is Alrite
You could new plugs and filters that can help with fuel
And also try putting in higher octane fuel and advancing the timing
Autobahn
In Morley are a fair lot

[GreyyDawgg]

Thanks for the reply. I put a new ryco air filter in and a friendly auszooker showed me how to adjust the clutch. W replaced the gearbox oil too. It drives and changes gears perfectly now. Like a whole new car. The clutch pick up point was way to low, had to screw the adjustment bolt in a few turns.

Turns out I just didn't have faith in how low the fuel gauge can go, I did 360km but only topped up about 33L so I still have about 8 or 9 litres in the tank (42L tank I think). I'm going to see how much I can get before running out and at the same time test how low the gauge goes:-) I'll carry a Jerry can with fuel in the car. Thanks again, loving the car!

[1992suzukivitara]

GreyyDawgg wrote:

Hi all. I've just got my first little 4wd. It's a 96 Vitara 1.6 EFI SWB. I just wanted to ask for some wisdom and advice if anyone would be kind enough to give me a few pointers. The car is in nice condition cosmetically and rides nicely although I have nothing to compare it to other than a few others I took for a short test ride.

First question I have is about the gears. The clutch seams fine and engages but getting into 1st and reverse gears can be difficult. Once used to driving it and changing into 4th before going into R and 2nd before 1st makes it a much smoother change. I hope this isn't a problem with the gearbox? Could anyone give me advice? The owner said he serviced it himself, new 15w40 and filter every 5k. I don't know when last he would have done gearbox oil so I want to replace that and see if it would help.

I got just under 400km on a tank of fuel. Is that alright? Not very light on fuel.

I was looking at a K&N high flow air filter. Wanted to put nice suspension which makes the ride comfortable and also raises it up down the line when I can afford it.

The other thing I want to get soon is a bullbar. Would anyone recommend one? Or where I could find a second hand one? I was looking at the arb one which looks really nice but costs 1200 which is heaps.

I'd appreciate any advice and knowledge anyone is willing to give. It's going to be great to get out in the bush or up the beach soon:-)

Cheers

Wish I got 400km to a tank I get around 320 to 350 if I'm lucky on a swb g16a vit


Cheers Joel!!

[Reubs]

GreyyDawgg wrote:

Turns out I just didn't have faith in how low the fuel gauge can go, I did 360km but only topped up about 33L so I still have about 8 or 9 litres in the tank (42L tank I think). I'm going to see how much I can get before running out and at the same time test how low the gauge goes:-) I'll carry a Jerry can with fuel in the car. Thanks again, loving the car!

It isn't a good idea to intentionally run the tank empty. Fuel pumps aren't designed to run without fuel flowing through them.