[selaga]

Greetings to all,

I am looking for another Suzuki, after having owned a few Jimmny's, SWB Vitaras, and couple of WT Sierra's, even a high roof Drover once tht I bough from GM Spares in Yenorra for $250 (long time a go...)....

We are looking at a low kay 1995 H20 LWB Vitara, as a compromise between touring/comfort and hard core 4by.

Is there anything SPECIFIC that I need to look at regarding this particular model ? Is there much scope to turn it into a mid level offroad vehicle (30/31's/2"BL+2"spring) ? Is it hard to get a rear locker for this unit ?

Did this model have the steel Front Diff housing ?

Any feedback/advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Fatzook]

No steel diff.

Listen carefully to the motor for timing chain rattle.

[atari4x4]

air lockers are available front & rear, same with auto lockers.

[selaga]

Fatzook wrote:

No steel diff.

Listen carefully to the motor for timing chain rattle.

OK.Is it more likely to manifest itself when cold or hot ?

[Fatzook]

Both. Of it goes away once warmed up, you may want to put that on the to-do list. If it doesn't shut up it will need doing immediately. Not sure what that costs, but parts alone are about $800 I think.

One of the mechanics will chime in soon no doubt... Stek? Scrawn?.........Royce?

[royce]

yeah rattle is mainly at startup till it gets oil pressure

there is nothing else wrong with em, they are a vitara afterall

just remember its a 16yo car so lots of bits could be stuffed or new, things like bearings, fuel pump, radiator, bushes are all things to check out

[steak_knife]

royce wrote:

yeah rattle is mainly at startup till it gets oil pressure

there is nothing else wrong with em, they are a vitara afterall

just remember its a 16yo car so lots of bits could be stuffed or new, things like bearings, fuel pump, radiator, bushes are all things to check out

Unless the tensioner is the ole style one, then it will rattle all the time.

Timing cover's like to leak oil to.

[nissvit]

hi,

they use the same rear suspension as the early vits ie they use a heim joint ( ball joint) to locate the top of the diff. these joints seem to wear out pretty quickly with the additional pwer of the v6, but any heim joint of a standard vit will fit it.

they use a gearbox & transfer case that is more closely related to the standard vits than the GV's.

the front suspension uses cast lower arms like the GV's do.

[selaga]

Thanks for all advice, I will go through it thoroughly, I don't expect too many isues with the kays it has travelled (150-ish).

I will keep you all posted on how I go on Monday.

[Rusho]

royce wrote:

there is nothing else wrong with em, they are a vitara afterall

Front diff

[nissvit]

when you are looking at the body, open the rear door and look up,
the seam just at the top where the door recess is seems to be the place that rusts first in the lwb vits..

[steak_knife]

nissvit wrote:

when you are looking at the body, open the rear door and look up,
the seam just at the top where the door recess is seems to be the place that rusts first in the lwb vits..

I learned some thing today!!!!

[steak_knife]

that should be the same with the h/top 3 door's to then!!!

[royce]

steak_knife wrote:

that should be the same with the h/top 3 door's to then!!!

mines always looked crappy, but it has ERPS so its fine

[selaga]

steak_knife wrote:

nissvit wrote:

when you are looking at the body, open the rear door and look up,
the seam just at the top where the door recess is seems to be the place that rusts first in the lwb vits..

I learned some thing today!!!!

Will do...I will also see the top of the rear tailgate opening where the rubber traps the dirt...

I think the front diff will be OK for the type of driving I planned to use it for.

If it breaks, well then I can always put the steel version in.......

I think they run 16" wheels ? Hopefuly that wont limit the tyre choices ? I really like the BFG AT's........

[Brett]

check the fuel box under the dash, if it looks melted stay away. i know of 3 different lwb vitaras that have had under dash fires started by wiring.

[selaga]

Well what a shit two weks it has been.....The seller jerked me around for five days, wouldn't commit to a time, and then when we made a time to see the Vit, he would change it, etc.....Then on Friday, the tool #1 rings me and says let go for SAT morning, I ring him on SAT morning and he tells me he sold it to his neighbour........

Car two, got passed in on Ebay, I make an offer, I offer to pick it up and pay on the spot. Seller excepts the offer, and asks me to pick it up in two days so he can transfer his personal content number plates. I take a day off work, and about to catch a train up the coast to pick it up,and tool #2 rings me and told me he sold it for $500 above my offer upon which we agreed on........

Doesn't anyone stick to their word anymore, or am I too "old school", when your word was your bond ?

Today my luck changed, a picked up a 1998 GV with the H25 and AUTO from deceased estate for a bargain, so will post up a few pics shortly. Apart from a small miss, it drives perfect, I suspect a dodgy spark plug and/or coil....

[selaga]

Fixed the miss, new plugs, and coil tube #1 and #1 had water in them.
Good thing is no need to remove the inlet manifold, simple 30 min job.

Runs like a clock now, plenty of power.......

Tomorrow I iwll put all new globes in the front lights and polish the acrylic lenses on the headlights.

[fordem]

selaga wrote:

Today my luck changed, a picked up a 1998 GV with the H25 and AUTO from deceased estate for a bargain, so will post up a few pics shortly. Apart from a small miss, it drives perfect, I suspect a dodgy spark plug and/or coil....

I'd say your luck hasn't changed - it was good all along - you just need to look at events from the right perspective - you good luck stopped you from buying a V6 Vitara and pointed you to a much nicer vehicle.

But - all the same - it does make you wonder about people doesn't it?