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51

Suzuki 4x4 Forum / Re: Samurai Owners - are we antique fans now?

« Last post by ebewley on February 01, 2025, 10:43:15 AM »

Hi Jonny - Glad to see you back. I really like your idea of gathering one enthusiast at time and putting together a group activity to share a positive experience together! Keep us in the loop, I'd love to get out there and say Hi and see your rig someday.

-Eric

It’s been a long time since I last visited Zukiworld. I guess you could say that I’ve had quite a few life changes over the last 10 years. Positive ones-marriage and kids.  It was about time.  I still have all of my Suzukis too. 

To this day I occasionally see Samurais on the road here in northeast Oklahoma. . Probably about the same as I did 10 years ago. No more, no less. However, I’ve seen a very sharp drop off in Trackers and Sidekicks. They appear to be almost as rare as Samurais now.  Even Jeep YJs are a very rare sight.

As far as Suzukis now being antiques…20 years ago I had people chatting me up about their Samurai experiences. They have always been that kind of vehicle.  They always left a deep impression. 

Currently, I am building up my own Samurai club, one enthusiast at a time.    My wife and I have three young boys and a fourth son due in about 30 days. All those little hands to help me repair, modify, and resurrect our Suzukis.

In the upcoming years I hope to put an annual Suzuki get together/run in northeast Oklahoma. Probably a spring or fall run. I am just waiting for more of my kids to get a little older and out of the diaper phase. I’ll be happy when the current middle one is out.  Hopefully this spring.

52

Suzuki 4x4 Forum / Re: Samurai Owners - are we antique fans now?

« Last post by Jonny Rash on January 05, 2025, 10:08:26 PM »

It’s been a long time since I last visited Zukiworld. I guess you could say that I’ve had quite a few life changes over the last 10 years. Positive ones-marriage and kids.  It was about time.  I still have all of my Suzukis too. 

To this day I occasionally see Samurais on the road here in northeast Oklahoma. . Probably about the same as I did 10 years ago. No more, no less. However, I’ve seen a very sharp drop off in Trackers and Sidekicks. They appear to be almost as rare as Samurais now.  Even Jeep YJs are a very rare sight.

As far as Suzukis now being antiques…20 years ago I had people chatting me up about their Samurai experiences. They have always been that kind of vehicle.  They always left a deep impression. 

Currently, I am building up my own Samurai club, one enthusiast at a time.    My wife and I have three young boys and a fourth son due in about 30 days. All those little hands to help me repair, modify, and resurrect our Suzukis.

In the upcoming years I hope to put an annual Suzuki get together/run in northeast Oklahoma. Probably a spring or fall run. I am just waiting for more of my kids to get a little older and out of the diaper phase. I’ll be happy when the current middle one is out.  Hopefully this spring.

53

Suzuki Grand Vitara, Vitara, Chevy Tracker (Gen. 2 Platform) 1999-2005 / Re: 2002 tracker 5 spd to auto swap

« Last post by fordem on December 25, 2024, 02:24:09 PM »

Over the years, the general consensus seems to have been "sell what you have and buy what you want".

The reason behind it is this, finding all the pieces you need is easiest done by buying a donor, and if that's what you're going to do, then you keep the donor and get rid of the one you no longer need - they are going to be times when it makes sense to swap, but more often than not, it won't - if you can get a donor cheap (say with a blown engine or front end damage), then by all means go ahead.

What do you need ...

ECU & wiring harness (the 4 speed is electronically shifted and the TCU is usually integrated into the ECU), the transmission and I believe the cross member, the front & rear drive shafts, the front & rear diffs, all the interior bits, shifters. console bits, pedal box.

The 3 speed might be easier, depending on which engine you have in your second gen, but, you're most likely going to be looking at some degree of custom fab, crossmember, drive shafts, and you'll need to figure out axle gears and a vacuum modulator (this is what controls the transmission shift points) and where to connect it.

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Suzuki Grand Vitara, Vitara, Chevy Tracker (Gen. 2 Platform) 1999-2005 / 2002 tracker 5 spd to auto swap

« Last post by Toyhauler1967 on December 24, 2024, 11:33:26 AM »

Merry Christmas 🎄
Just looking for a bit of insight. Thinking of swapping in an auto for my 5 spd. What’s involved in doing a 1999-2004 4 spd auto or is it easier to do a first gen 3 spd??
Might break fewer axles this way 😉

55

Technical Discussion - Beginner / Repair / Re: 2000 GV 4X4 not engaging I have read the many posts!

« Last post by HILLJACK on December 10, 2024, 06:01:44 AM »

I jacked front end up, locked it in 4wd and manually turned the front wheels, and only one wheel turned. 
I tested the air pump with a regulator last night, getting a steady 6 PSI.

56

Technical Discussion - Beginner / Repair / Re: 2000 GV 4X4 not engaging I have read the many posts!

« Last post by fordem on December 05, 2024, 10:50:28 AM »

No 4wd?-I got stuck in the creek.

How does you getting stuck in the creek PROVE you have no 4WD?  You could be stuck simply because of a lack of traction - you only need to loose traction on front & one rear wheel at the same time.

The pump does kick on sometimes. When it kicks on there is air flow at the pump.

If the pump does not turn on EVERY time you apply power to the red & black wires, then there is a problem with it - you can gently pry the square cap off and check where the wires are soldered to the board, see if they are loose.

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Technical Discussion - Beginner / Repair / Re: 2000 GV 4X4 not engaging I have read the many posts!

« Last post by HILLJACK on December 05, 2024, 07:56:34 AM »

No 4wd?-I got stuck in the creek.
The pump does kick on sometimes. When it kicks on there is air flow at the pump.

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Technical Discussion - Beginner / Repair / Re: 2000 GV 4X4 not engaging I have read the many posts!

« Last post by fordem on December 05, 2024, 06:37:22 AM »

First question - how do you know you have no 4WD?
Second question - have you considered checking for air flow directly at the pump?

Take the pump off the vehicle, there are two bolts that hold it, two rubber hoses and a three wire electrical connector - the three wires should be one each, red, black & pink, connect a 12V power source (you can use the vehicle battery) to the red & black wires, the pump should run and you should get air from one of the two hose connectors.

Quick & easy - it either works or it doesn't - and if it doesn't, it can be disassembled and in many cases repaired.

59

Technical Discussion - Beginner / Repair / Re: 2000 GV 4X4 not engaging I have read the many posts!

« Last post by HILLJACK on December 05, 2024, 04:33:17 AM »

It's on a 2001 2.0 Tracker. I'm just getting a slow flashing light, no 4wd.  I separated the metal and rubber lines on the differential end and wasn't getting any air.  After some checking, figured out that the line was blocked with corrosion for about 3-4 inches. I cut that out and replaced to get air flow, still no 4wd.  I ran tubing from air pump straight to differential to bypass the restricted factory line (just in case) and still no 4wd.  Next step is to try using a "squeeze bulb" attached to differential to test the internal actuator. Hoping it's the pump.

60

Technical Discussion - Beginner / Repair / Re: 2000 GV 4X4 not engaging I have read the many posts!

« Last post by fordem on December 05, 2024, 04:17:08 AM »

What's wrong with your air pump?  They are usually quite easy to repair.