ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: Ira on October 08, 2007, 07:23:06 AM
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Pure coincidence, or something else?
The Track turned 100,000 last night, and exactly as she turned, my Check Engine Light comes on. (It never did that before.) I'm not talking 99,999 or 100,001--exactly 100,000.
There's nothing in the regular manual about this, but is there something scheduled in the computer to give you that dreaded light at 100,000?
I was a nervous wreck driving into work today, although I'm old enough to know that this light "usually" doesn't mean all that much at first.
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It's a service interval light. Depending on what year Tracker, if you remove the driver's side front speaker and look just inside the speaker hole there should be a switch. Flip it and the light goes out again.
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It's a service interval light. Depending on what year Tracker, if you remove the driver's side front speaker and look just inside the speaker hole there should be a switch. Flip it and the light goes out again.
Whew!!!
Thanks!
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FYI, here's where the switch is on mine ...
(http://www.avalonforest.com/geo/misc/duty-switch.jpg)
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So now I'm confused:
Is that the speaker panel opened there? It says steering panel. Are they right next to each other, and you can reach it different ways?
Mine is a 95.
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Digger was closer for my model year--it was behind the speaker. (And what a pain it's going to be screwing that speaker and cover back in.)
I swear, it took me an hour to find the dang thing. I was going NUTS and had to find it by touch.
But thanks guys! Mission accomplished!
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yea, on some it's behind the speaker and some it's under the steering column.
took me a long time to find mine the first time too :-\
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On mine, the darn thing is only held on by one screw so flops around back in there and was sort of hard to find when I had to. Had the same thing happen to me about 7 months ago... Vehicle running perfect and the second it hit 100K miles, that light came on. If it hadn't been for this forum, I probably would have started throwing parts at it trying to make it go away.
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Does anyone know where it is on a 1997 Sidekick JX 4dr 4x4 auto?
Also, does it come on at 150,000 miles too?
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No, on a 96 and up it is probably the EGR valve plugged up. Do a search on EGR and you will find lots of discussions on it. :)
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My truck seems to be running great. Are there any other symptoms of the clogged EGR?
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It will idle a little low sometimes, but that is about it.
The EGR isn't actually clogging up, it just isn't doing quite as much as the computer thinks it should be. Basically you need to pull it and clean all the carbon out. It only takes a little bit to throw the check engine light, and quite a bit to affect the running of the Zuki.
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My Check Engine light came on exactly at 100,000 miles on my '93 Sidekick too.
I believe that all North American Suzukis/Geo Trackers have switches up to the beginning of the '96 model year when they were equipped with OBDII systems. OBDII does not use a switch to kill the Check Engine light. You disconnect the battery to clear all the fault codes and reset the Check Engine light.
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But the light will come back after a few days. You still need to fix the problem. Sadly... :)
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But the light will come back after a few days. You still need to fix the problem. Sadly... :)
This is where you lost me:
What problem?
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But the light will come back after a few days. You still need to fix the problem. Sadly... :)
This is where you lost me:
What problem?
If you have an older truck with the switch, the light comes on when the odometer hits predetermined points at which time you reset it by moving the switch to the opposite position.
If you have an ODBII-equipped vehicle (which I think that you do not), the Check Engine light is extinguished by resetting the ECM with an ODBII reader or by disconnecting battery.
In either case, if a problem that triggers the Check Engine light (other than switch) is not fixed, then the light will come on again in a short period of time (minutes or seconds).
Referring to the original post at the top, you said that the light came on at exactly 100,000 miles. That indicates to me that your truck (pre-1996 I bet) has the switch under the dash that will, when placed in the opposite position, will turn the Check Engine light off. Further, if the light stays off, your engine is okay and you don't have anything to worry about if you perform regular maintenence and otherwise keep everything in good shape.
Hope that this helps!
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But the light will come back after a few days. You still need to fix the problem. Sadly... :)
This is where you lost me:
What problem?
If you have an older truck with the switch, the light comes on when the odometer hits predetermined points at which time you reset it by moving the switch to the opposite position.
If you have an ODBII-equipped vehicle (which I think that you do not), the Check Engine light is extinguished by resetting the ECM with an ODBII reader or by disconnecting battery.
In either case, if a problem that triggers the Check Engine light (other than switch) is not fixed, then the light will come on again in a short period of time (minutes or seconds).
Referring to the original post at the top, you said that the light came on at exactly 100,000 miles. That indicates to me that your truck (pre-1996 I bet) has the switch under the dash that will, when placed in the opposite position, will turn the Check Engine light off. Further, if the light stays off, your engine is okay and you don't have anything to worry about if you perform regular maintenence and otherwise keep everything in good shape.
Hope that this helps!
Thanks Ack! And yes--1995.
That's what confused me about that post:
It came on at exactly 100,000 miles, flipped the switch, and it hasn't come back on.
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on my geo i have a switch and it came on a few times and most recently it came on at 170000 miles on the dot and the switch did not turn the light off ill flick it a couple times and it dims the light a little but does not shut it off is there anything i can do to get the light off
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Hey, 95--are we made in Canada?
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Not sure if this was mentioned or not, but if your CEL is on because of the mil duty switch, you won't be able to flash the CEL codes by shorting the connector by the battery. The main purpose of this, is so have to take your rig to the dealer for "service" :P
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Hey, 95--are we made in Canada?
Not that i know of Geo is under General Motors and the one i drive has California state emissions and was bought new in New York
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Check the right-side of the driver's door opening when you open the door.
Just noticed it yesterday:
Mine says "Made in Canada," with specs for the tires.
Maybe just the body was assembled in Canada?
I hope so. I want to impress my friends, and that sounds so much better than China.
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on my geo i have a switch and it came on a few times and most recently it came on at 170000 miles on the dot and the switch did not turn the light off ill flick it a couple times and it dims the light a little but does not shut it off is there anything i can do to get the light off
You might try disconnecting the battery for a minute. Of course, you'll also lose the programming on your radio... >:(
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Check the right-side of the driver's door opening when you open the door.
Just noticed it yesterday:
Mine says "Made in Canada," with specs for the tires.
Maybe just the body was assembled in Canada?
I hope so. I want to impress my friends, and that sounds so much better than China.
Suzuki and GM went together in a joint venture and built the "CAMI" plant in Canada where many North American Sidekicks and Geo Trackers were built. Google CAMI for more info.
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Check the right-side of the driver's door opening when you open the door.
Just noticed it yesterday:
Mine says "Made in Canada," with specs for the tires.
Maybe just the body was assembled in Canada?
I hope so. I want to impress my friends, and that sounds so much better than China.
Suzuki and GM went together in a joint venture and built the "CAMI" plant in Canada where many North American Sidekicks and Geo Trackers were built. Google CAMI for more info.
wow i have never paid attention to the sticker mine says the same thing.
i have also noticed what looks to be a mitsubishi logo on the EGR solenoid vacume valve
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Thanks for the info, Ack! Cool to know!
And 95, if I had the SLIGHTEST idea of where the part you're talking about is located, I would look.
I'm lucky to be able to locate the TIRES.
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ya i did not know the name of the part until i looked at the diagram under the hood and it happened to be on the diagram i dont know if your car has it or not because mine has california emissions but its a black cap with a mitsubishi logo on it. its hard to miss it sits about 7in from the throttle cable toward the front of the car and sits higher than the valve cover
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Throttle cable..valve cover:
Yeah, that helps me a LOT!
HAH!!!
I'll investigate this weekend, but I'm too excited about something else right now:
Just got a raise and $1,000 surprise bonus, going into my direct deposit Friday morning. So I'm taking off work Friday to buy my bigger tires first thing in the AM, then off to the mechanic for my spring spacer lift.
Life is good!
(Today anyway.)
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I think you're referring to the EGR Modulator.
ya i did not know the name of the part until i looked at the diagram under the hood and it happened to be on the diagram i dont know if your car has it or not because mine has california emissions but its a black cap with a mitsubishi logo on it. its hard to miss it sits about 7in from the throttle cable toward the front of the car and sits higher than the valve cover
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My light was on for a long time undid the access panel below the steering wheel stuck my finger straight down flipped the switch and no more CHECK ENGINE light thanks for the info.
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The Mitsu logo is above the EGR Vacuum Solenoid Valve. Basically it has 12V on it when the engine is cold. Once it warms up it removes the 12V and the valve should go into an open state and allow the vacuum from the intake to operate the the EGR valve.
You should have a Vacuum diagram on the hood of your Tracker/Sidekick.
There is a picture of the part in question at http://picasaweb.google.com/Drone637/MiscSuzukiPhotos/photo#5119372968624676178
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My light was on for a long time undid the access panel below the steering wheel stuck my finger straight down flipped the switch and no more CHECK ENGINE light thanks for the info.
Pretty cool site, huh?