right, since i just got my vitara 1.6 petrol 5 door handed down to me, i have been busy checking and cleaning every thing.
just got in a new window to replace a broken one, fixed my dash, changed the lights in the dash, and now that the interior is sorted more or less i am moving onto the engine. yesterday i drove pver 200km, then this morning while cleaning the engine i discovered that the car had no coolant in it!!!!!! the little white tank was bone dry! Also i was a little ticked off cos it was idling at about 1200-1500RPM, a lil too high, so i went and got a new set of spark plugs, and some well needed coolant, and now the engine idles at about 800-900rpm, much better!

the engine  has never had a major service, i was all ways just sent in for the basic stuff like oil changes and change of filters for the last 10 years, never has it needed anything changed, i have almost reached 100,000 miles with it now,
i am not too sure if i can trust the past service history of this car, cos of things like this coolant, so i am gonna start doing most of the servicing myself,
What should i look out for?
Also do you have to change the oil in the rear diff, and if so how often and with what oil?, might have the transmission oil and diff oil changed tomorrow

You better get the timing belt replaced!  You DO NOT want that to break while you're driving it!  Well, if it's a 16 valve engine, it will most likely be destroyed   if the belt goes while on the motorway!  It should have been replaced at 80,000 miles.  It's not hard to do, or expensive, and I recommend replacing the timing belt tensioner wheel at the same time.  Cheap insurance.

my zuk was practly destroyed when i got it now it runs like a charm... after 500 bucks and a new engine!!!

Where did you find an Engine for 500 bucks?
Every place I've looked so far (don't need one yet but planning ahead) they want 1200 bucks or more.

Where did you find an Engine for 500 bucks?
Every place I've looked so far (don't need one yet but planning ahead) they want 1200 bucks or more.

                                               Too bad you live so far away, I  have 4 motors here between 350.00 and 700.00, George;

                                               Too bad you live so far away, I  have 4 motors here between 350.00 and 700.00, George;

Bummer deal Dude
I'm just trying to plan ahead. I have a 8 vavle parts car so it doesn't help me in the Engine dept.
My engine is still running strong

You better get the timing belt replaced!  You DO NOT want that to break while you're driving it!  Well, if it's a 16 valve engine, it will most likely be destroyed   if the belt goes while on the motorway!  It should have been replaced at 80,000 miles.  It's not hard to do, or expensive, and I recommend replacing the timing belt tensioner wheel at the same time.  Cheap insurance.

Wouldn't the 8v fair about as well? I always was told that if the timing belt goes while driving, you're pretty much fucked.

No, the 8V engine is a non-interference
engine, a valve can stay open and not hit
the pistons, however it can be very inconvenient
while driving someplace when the belt breaks.

That's kind of reassuring to know...

                                               Too bad you live so far away, I  have 4 motors here between 350.00 and 700.00, George;

THE DIFFERENCE FOR SHIPPING STILL WOULDN'T BE $1200.00  

I have a 91' sidekick that needs a new engine.  How much would an working engine and shipping be out to CA 95050?

I want to get it running for the summer.

You better get the timing belt replaced!  You DO NOT want that to break while you're driving it!  Well, if it's a 16 valve engine, it will most likely be destroyed   if the belt goes while on the motorway!  It should have been replaced at 80,000 miles.  It's not hard to do, or expensive, and I recommend replacing the timing belt tensioner wheel at the same time.  Cheap insurance.

DOES $ 55.00 SOUND EXPENSIVE FOR THE TENSIONER WHEEL    MATTY D.