The Bronze
02-15-2009, 08:15 AM
http://www.frozenaxles.com/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=99
The 93 Sidekick I recently purchased had the check engine light (CEL) on. Since it wasn't going to pass I/M (and we all know it needs to :cool: ), I decided to run it down and document it to help other Suzuki wheelers out there.
Both Samurai and Sidekicks use the check engine light (CEL) in TWO ways.
1) To indicate a failure in the Fuel Injection system.
2) To indicate that scheduled maintenance is required.
You can pursue this a couple of different ways, but the easiest, if you are at the 50k or 80k mileage range, is to try the maintenance reset switch. The clever Suzuki engineers put the reset switch out of sight to prevent the typical backyard mechanic from skipping over their required maintenance, which is a reasonable thing for them to do. The switch is mounted under the driver's side dash and I have seen them in a few different locations, mostly connected to the steering column support, but they get moved when people are doing repairs under the dash. To improve your chances of finding it you want to be looking for a 3 wire harness with a red, blue and white wire coming from the instrument cluster (usually the lower driver's corner) down to the small microswitch. In this case, it was connected near the speaker, but I had to do some searching to find it, but usually I can do it by feel.
http://www.frozenaxles.com/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=112
Here is the access panel and speaker removed to find the switch. Normally just the center panel needs to be removed to gain access. In my case, I had to remove the speaker to get access to take a picture. Note that the switch has been rotated from facing the steering column to facing the opening for the picture.
http://www.frozenaxles.com/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=111
Now start the vehicle up and check the light. Is the light out now? Then the vehicle is due for it's scheduled service. Alternately, to check to see if it's a maintenance light or a check engine light, you can pull codes. If the CEL flashes a once, followed by two more flashes "flash..one second pause...flash flash" then there are no codes stored and it's most likely service due light that requires flipping the switch. Then perform the required maintenance"? . Any other combination of lights and you are going to be diagnosing a Fuel Injection problem.
The 93 Sidekick I recently purchased had the check engine light (CEL) on. Since it wasn't going to pass I/M (and we all know it needs to :cool: ), I decided to run it down and document it to help other Suzuki wheelers out there.
Both Samurai and Sidekicks use the check engine light (CEL) in TWO ways.
1) To indicate a failure in the Fuel Injection system.
2) To indicate that scheduled maintenance is required.
You can pursue this a couple of different ways, but the easiest, if you are at the 50k or 80k mileage range, is to try the maintenance reset switch. The clever Suzuki engineers put the reset switch out of sight to prevent the typical backyard mechanic from skipping over their required maintenance, which is a reasonable thing for them to do. The switch is mounted under the driver's side dash and I have seen them in a few different locations, mostly connected to the steering column support, but they get moved when people are doing repairs under the dash. To improve your chances of finding it you want to be looking for a 3 wire harness with a red, blue and white wire coming from the instrument cluster (usually the lower driver's corner) down to the small microswitch. In this case, it was connected near the speaker, but I had to do some searching to find it, but usually I can do it by feel.
http://www.frozenaxles.com/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=112
Here is the access panel and speaker removed to find the switch. Normally just the center panel needs to be removed to gain access. In my case, I had to remove the speaker to get access to take a picture. Note that the switch has been rotated from facing the steering column to facing the opening for the picture.
http://www.frozenaxles.com/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=111
Now start the vehicle up and check the light. Is the light out now? Then the vehicle is due for it's scheduled service. Alternately, to check to see if it's a maintenance light or a check engine light, you can pull codes. If the CEL flashes a once, followed by two more flashes "flash..one second pause...flash flash" then there are no codes stored and it's most likely service due light that requires flipping the switch. Then perform the required maintenance"? . Any other combination of lights and you are going to be diagnosing a Fuel Injection problem.