[Bucket]

I'm making one thread I can update, since I ALWAYS seem to be having troubles with my vitara and am sick of making new threads all the time :p

- I've found even after putting the new CALMINI control arms in that my right hand wheel is sitting further back in the wheel well compared to the left side. I can put my hand into a ball and comfortably pass it between the panel and the wheel on the left and on the right side, I can't push my hand through. Can't remember exact mesaurements but if I went to 31s there'd be rubbing on one side.

- When I start my vitara in the mornings she blows a fair bit of white smoke for a few seconds and then run cleans for the rest of the day. haven't tested it at revvs. Is this just my o-rings wearing?

- While I drive I constantly smell petrol fumes. I have a tear along the zip-up section on my softtop. Would this be where the fumes are coming in, or should I be taking a look at my exaust for holes and stuff?

- Power loss. Esp in the mornings and when she is cold, I can put my foot down and it'll take a few seconds before it picks up OR if I'm already at speed it'll be as if I took my foot off completly and then pushed it down hard. I have no idea where it's coming from but has been happening for a while.

[Joe]

Bucket wrote:

I'm making one thread I can update, since I ALWAYS seem to be having troubles with my vitara and am sick of making new threads all the time :p

- I've found even after putting the new CALMINI control arms in that my right hand wheel is sitting further back in the wheel well compared to the left side. I can put my hand into a ball and comfortably pass it between the panel and the wheel on the left and on the right side, I can't push my hand through. Can't remember exact mesaurements but if I went to 31s there'd be rubbing on one side.

Has it been in a crash???

- When I start my vitara in the mornings she blows a fair bit of white smoke for a few seconds and then run cleans for the rest of the day. haven't tested it at revvs. Is this just my o-rings wearing?

Mine does this too but im not really worried

- While I drive I constantly smell petrol fumes. I have a tear along the zip-up section on my softtop. Would this be where the fumes are coming in, or should I be taking a look at my exaust for holes and stuff?

I reckon the fumes would be coming in through the soft top

- Power loss. Esp in the mornings and when she is cold, I can put my foot down and it'll take a few seconds before it picks up OR if I'm already at speed it'll be as if I took my foot off completly and then pushed it down hard. I have no idea where it's coming from but has been happening for a while.

No idea

[Ben_Sierra]

White smoke for a few seconds in the morning is probably actually steam from condensation in the exhaust, especially now that its winter...

A torn top would explain fumes in the cabin.

Dunno about the others...

[royce]

turn the wheel left again and try again

smoke is likely valve stem seals, something for a rainy weekend

maybe, take the top off and see if it goes away

dont thrash a cold engine, when warm its the accelerator pump on the carby

[Bucket]

@Josef: This is one thing I have considered. I've got it booked in for a visit to Pedders tomorrow for a general check and i'm going to ask if he can check the mounts over and see if the chassis is straight.

royce wrote:

turn the wheel left again and try again

The wheels are pointing straight. It's been like this for a while and I only noticed it once I got my 30s put on. It used to scrub heaps on the inner guard but one day just stopped, then I got the BL and stuff.

royce wrote:

dont thrash a cold engine, when warm its the accelerator pump on the carby

It's EFI. I don't thrash it and to be totally honest, i've hardly driven it since i've installed my CALMINI kit. To get out of my street I go up a hill. I generally just cruise up in 1st or second gear and let it rev at @ 3k whenever I drive.


I forgot to mention that I still have an off-center sqeuak coming from what I think is my front right wheel. I thought it might've been the bearing but I replaced them and the brakes on the front when I installed my suspension and I just can't pick it anymore.

[joeblow]

sounds like you need to drive it up to my place for a good going over!

[steak_knife]

Bucket wrote:

@Josef: This is one thing I have considered. I've got it booked in for a visit to Pedders tomorrow for a general check and i'm going to ask if he can check the mounts over and see if the chassis is straight.

Any money thay tell you that your shock's a FUBAR & you need to fit their brand..

[royce]

have you turned your wheel yet? youll never know by looking if the wheel is straight ahead, if you want to check for damage look at teh rear mount for the control arm, it will be fair crumpled there and fitting your calamari arm would of ben pretty hard

if its efi its an air leak or the tps is set wrong

[Bucket]

joeblow wrote:

sounds like you need to drive it up to my place for a good going over!

And how much would that slug me?! Can you fit me a front SAS too, i'll let you test it for free :p

@Steknig: The guy here is actually pretty good, not like the reports I saw on TV the other day haha. I have another mate with a vitara and he's got the pedders lift (i think anyway) and he reakons it flexs worse then stock.

royce wrote:

have you turned your wheel yet? youll never know by looking if the wheel is straight ahead, if you want to check for damage look at teh rear mount for the control arm, it will be fair crumpled there and fitting your calamari arm would of ben pretty hard

if its efi its an air leak or the tps is set wrong

That's what I thought. Neither side slid in but I wasn't struggling to push the new arms in. I could have the bolts undone and both would move as freely as each other, so it had me stumped. What should I be looking for what I turn my wheel?

I'll probably get it booked in somewhere to get the engine looked over in the near future, because I haven no idea how to check for either of those things haha

[Bucket]

Also forgot to add that I have a rapid ticking sound coming from under my car whenever I touch the accelerator. I'll pay attention tomorrow between the differences in temps/speeds.

[Bucket]

So from the 28pt safety check at Pedders, I only got told that i'll have to tighten my front bearings...thats it.

He also said something about seeing if I can drop my diff MORE because the CV's look like they are binding already when turning or something something. I asked him to have a look at the mounts and he said they're not mangled or look like they've been in a crash, so I got no bloody idea.

It's making more noises driving home now, or at least I can hear more

[experament-u2]

my g16b had some power and accelerating issues
i gave it a good service, dropped all the oils and just this morning replaced the spark plugs and what a difference it has made.

[Fatzook]

Bucket wrote:

So from the 28pt safety check at Pedders, I only got told that i'll have to tighten my front bearings...thats it.

He also said something about seeing if I can drop my diff MORE because the CV's look like they are binding already when turning or something something. I asked him to have a look at the mounts and he said they're not mangled or look like they've been in a crash, so I got no bloody idea.

It's making more noises driving home now, or at least I can hear more

It needs to go on a chassis alignment jig. Pedderes can't tell you shit. Call the NRMA ( or whatever the Vic equivelent is) and ask where the nearest inspection bay is. Will probably cost you $200 for a full inspection, but they should be able to tell you EVERY fault with the car; mechanical or otherwise.

[Bucket]

What is NRMA, so I can find the equivelent lol.
Can they write it off or something if it's not right though?

[atari4x4]

pedders probably installed a fresh packet of ticks & noises while they had it up on the hoist.

can you take a photo of your CV & calmini arm from the front, i'm guessing seeing the coils are still fresh the CV's might be get close to maxing out.

i've read somewhere about the EGR tubes clogging up with carbon & causing all sorts of issues.

is it still making noises when taking off after using the handbrake?

[atari4x4]

Bucket wrote:

What is NRMA, so I can find the equivelent lol.
Can they write it off or something if it's not right though?

RACV? sa has the RAA

[Bucket]

experament-u2 wrote:

my g16b had some power and accelerating issues
i gave it a good service, dropped all the oils and just this morning replaced the spark plugs and what a difference it has made.

I've only just replaced the spark plugs and leads. I also put new engine oil in it a few months ago. Wouldn't have done many k's.

[Bucket]

atari4x4 wrote:

pedders probably installed a fresh packet of ticks & noises while they had it up on the hoist.

can you take a photo of your CV & calmini arm from the front, i'm guessing seeing the coils are still fresh the CV's might be get close to maxing out.

i've read somewhere about the EGR tubes clogging up with carbon & causing all sorts of issues.

is it still making noises when taking off after using the handbrake?

Yes it is, gimme a minute and i'll find a camera and take some.

[joeblow]

Bucket wrote:

Also forgot to add that I have a rapid ticking sound coming from under my car whenever I touch the accelerator. I'll pay attention tomorrow between the differences in temps/speeds.

ticking?....sounds like you have some leaky spark from the leads. would explain your power loss. install new NGK leads.

[Bucket]

There brand new though and it happened even before I put the new leads in.

[Bucket]

Driver side:



Passenger:







Left and right wheels:

[atari4x4]

can you put the [img] codes on those photos?

the cv's look nasty.....

[Bucket]

Done, was just saving space/load times :p

[joeblow]

post a few pics of the engine bay while you are at it.

[Bucket]

What do you want in particular? I'll go snap some

[joeblow]

round the back where the dizzy is.....and around the manifold maybe.

[Bucket]

[Bucket]

Any ideas?