QuestionQUESTION: Went to start the car to get ready to go to work and it won't start, nothing to even suggest that it wanted to try and start. The lights and radio had good power to it. Went to work and when I got home tried starting the car again and it started right up, went to work the next day, even started at lunch to make sure it would start, stopped for gas and everything worked fine. The following morning went to start the car, and it did it again, nothing. I had it towed to a garage and they told me it was something in the engine and was not fixable. Could you give me some advice to want this may be, it would be appreciated.
ANSWER: Ok, given that you understand I have never even raised the hood on a Vitata, I'll discuss some basics.
You didn't say whether the starter cranked the engine. that of course is simple either a battery, dirty connections, or a bad starter. Note that even if it cranks, dirty corroded connections could be responsible for keeping the electronics from actuating the ignition(spark) the fuel pump, or the injection system. Most computer systems require about 10v, and you should investicgate a marginal connection.
The Engine control module, and all it's sensors are individually replaceable, and so that's not a unrepairable problem.
If it runs, and then doesn't, and then runs again that means there is NOT an unrepairable gremlin in the mechanical parts of the motor.
The biggest problem is going to be getting it to malfunction while the technician has the ability to measure what's not working.
If you're looking for another shop try iatn.net and use the shopfinder on the first page. You can find someone near you that way who will also have the benefit of a network with over a million years cumulative experience. It might not be fast, easy and cheap, but it can be fixed.
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QUESTION: thanks for the answer you gave, as far as the starter, it didn't crank the engine. All that came on was the light, the dash lights, indicating airbag and such and the beeping noise because I had the door open, either then that the car was dead.
AnswerStart by disconnecting and cleaning the battery terminals, and replacing corroded connectors as necessary.
Look at the battery cables, and if they have swelled up near the terminal clamps, they're bad and should be replaced.
A large number of Suzukis also have a spade type connector for the starter solenoid, that actuates the starter. It can get either loose or dirty, and cause your issue to occur.
If necessary, do a voltage drop test.
This consists of getting a voltmeter, putting it on a relatively low DC voltage scale, and connecting it, for example, between the clean positive (red) battery post, and the end where that same cable attaches to the starter.
Then try to crank the starter.
A good cable and connections will show low voltage, less than 0.3 volts when you try to use the circuit because the cable is carrying it efficiently.
You must try to use the circuit (crank) to do this test
A reading of more than a half volt indicates a problem.
Do this on the negative and positive cables, and circuits (this includes for instance if the negative cable goes to the block, and from the negative post to the body)
Also test from the positive post to the starter solenoid actuating wire (this will test the wiring and the ignition switch and any starter relays if it's an automatic trans.
usually that's enough to isolate the problem.
The battery terminals should be clean, shiny metal (you can scrape them with a pocket knife). You can use baking soda and hot water to clean the terminals, just don't get any of that inside the battery, that would kill the battery forever.
