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Suzuki Vitara Maintenance and Repair

314 messages,  Last post on Nov 14, 2009 at 9:43 PM

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What is this discussion about? Suzuki Vitara, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Engine, Suspension, Transmission, SUV

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#61 of 314 Condenser Update by zeke707 Aug 09, 2002 (11:33 am)
I took our 2000 Vitara to the dealer at 8AM today to replace the A/C condenser. They called me at 11AM and said the job was completed. I returned to the dealer and asked to see the old condenser and yes, the damage was just as pictured by a previous poster and his 1999 Tracker. What happened after that you would not believe. As I looked at the damaged condenser, I indicated I planned to place a screen over the fan area (in front of the electric fan) to hopefully reduce or eliminate the same damage to the new condenser. One of the mechanics came up to view and listen to what was being discussed. He said, "Do you know how the damage was done?" He went on to say the fan blades were hitting the condenser and caused the damage. He further stated he was the mechanic that worked on my vehicle and then held up the damaged condenser in front of his chest and stated, "This is what you were looking at from the front of your car" and proceeded to show me the back side (undamaged side) of the condenser. I told him what I saw when I looked into the front of my car was the damaged side. He began to raise his voice, indignant that I would challenge him, the technician, in how the damage was done. It was obvious after looking at the damaged side of the condenser, there was no directional pattern which you would expect from rotating fan blades, but rather as if something had pushed on the fins in a manner consistent with something pressing directly into the fins. But enough of that. The Suzuki is fixed with a new condenser (looks the same style as the old). I notice the electric fan noise is less now when standing near the front of the car with the A/C on. Oh, the mechanic stated if I used a bug screen in front of the vehicle, it would increase "head pressure" and not to do it. Now this guy looks like he knows his business, does OK work and has been around for many years, but I think he has an ego trip thing. He stated they used some spacers to hold the fan away from the condenser so the problem would not happen again. Ha, the foam piece between the electric fan and condenser is the same. They did replace 2 rubber grommet spacers between the condenser frame and the engine radiator and it looks like there may be a bit more space there. Anyhow, I don't think my problem has been fully resolved.
#62 of 314 zeke by bmuelle1 Aug 09, 2002 (2:12 pm)
My own mechanic also at one point stated that the fan blades caused the damage but at NO time did I ever hear the blades hitting the condenser. I still think the condenser looks like it was sand blasted. Did you ask him about the squeaking noise when starting up you vehicle? Also, my mechanic also placed spacers between the fan and the condenser just in case it was the fan blades. I'm going to keep an eye on my condenser before I install that screen that cosmo2 is putting in his truck. Good luck zeke on your new condenser but keep an eye on it.   Bernie
#63 of 314 A/C problems by kck6 Aug 09, 2002 (6:22 pm)
I have a 2002 4dr Tracker less than 4000 miles and having a problem with the A/C. Intermittently freezing then warm with musty odor and now worse after service this week (Chevy replaced low freon) will check condenser but doubt the problem with low mileage. Looking for any input/suggestions to mention to my service rep next week(wants to keep the car all day) Enjoying my tracker. Tx
#64 of 314 The hamster is back! by mopar67 Aug 09, 2002 (6:53 pm)
Got him back today cmoplete with new alternator and wiring harness.   I have also examined the condenser and not to disagree wth those who have issues, but I cannot see any damage as of yet. However, I only have 4200 miles so this may yet happen in the future.
#65 of 314 Condenser Problem by zeke707 Aug 10, 2002 (3:39 am)
I think in order for your vehicle to exhibit the bent condenser fin problem, you have to have driven highway speeds, say above 65mph for some period of time, with the A/C on so the electric fan is on. The combination of air entering the grille area at high speeds in combination with the electric fan additionally propelling the air into the condenser fins, creates the environment. As I post this memo, I can visualize other vehicles I have seen in the past who use an additional (electric) fan to cool the radiator area had the fan mounted so it faced the front of the car, pulling air through the fin area, not pushing the air. Don't know if that makes a difference. Would love to compare a 2002 or maybe a 2003 when available to earlier units to see if there is a design change. FYI, the repair order showed the condenser price at $325.00 plus 2 grommets at less than a $. They did not indicate the time spent to install, but it seems about 2 hours. The dealer stated they needed to return the damaged condenser under warranty requirements. I failed to mention the squeek problem that is sometimes present when 1st starting the engine in the morning. Sounds like the serpentine belt or water pump, don't know though. Will keep an eye on it as it seems more pronounced now. I must say overall, we like this car very much. It is used primarily by my wife to go back & forth to work. Has a great A/C and heater! Power seems OK, and we like the automatic. I guess besides this A/C condenser issue, the only other negative I could comment on is the plastic material used in the cab of the car and the seat material (tends to fuzz out on the edge of the seat back). I think if Suzuki beefed up the overall body materials like the plastic, carpeting, etc., they would really have an excellent car. We have 17k on the clock and I use Suzuki oil filters and Mobil 1 oil. Had the auto transmission fluid changed (pumped out) at 12k. Plan to keep the vehicle for some time. If the A/C condenser issue appears on the replaced condenser, I may have to reconsider keeping the car.
#66 of 314 zeke707 by bmuelle1 Aug 10, 2002 (12:09 pm)
I use a AC Delco PF1245 Oil filter on my 2.0 litre engine. It's twice as big as the Suzuki filter and probably less expensive. I also use Mobil 1 oil.
#67 of 314 A/C condenser update by cosmo2 Aug 11, 2002 (9:44 am)
The service manager at the local Suzuki dealership states that he has seen no Vitara's come in with the same damage to the condenser. To save some labor costs, I think I'll take my Tracker to the Firestone shop. Here is what I sent to NHTSA:   "A/C condenser fins are damaged and freon tubing is abraded in a doughnut shaped pattern on the front side of the condenser. The condenser outside the condenser fan blade area is undamaged, and the radiator is undamaged. The damaged area is free of debris and is shiny. When the condenser tubing wears through and freon escapes, the A/C will become nonfunctional. This will decrease the effectiveness of the defrosting capabilities in high humidity conditions and create a low visibility hazard. The vehicle has been fitted with a mask and screen from April to October each year to keep insects out of the condenser and radiator. The front of the vehicle shows no wear from road debris. Another owner of a similar vehicle experienced the identical problem, and his A/C actually failed. GM did not cover his repairs because the vehicle was out of warranty."   I encourage other 2.0 Tracker/Vitara owners with this problem to submit complaints to NHTSA and emphasize the safety hazard associated with the potential for poor visibility due to decreased dehumidifying capabilities.
#68 of 314 A/C condenser damge update by cosmo2 Sep 18, 2002 (4:10 pm)
I replaced my condenser last week and spent some time talking with the Firestone service manager who did the work himself, and since then I've been looking at the old condenser trying to figure out how the damage occurred. (Okay, so business has been slow.) The service manager, who has been a good friend for fifty years and a mechanic for forty years, believes that the damage was caused by a combination of recurring ice build up and high air pressure inside the auxiliary fan shroud. We noted that the fin damage extends outward to the foam gasket on the rear edge of the fan shroud, at least a quarter inch beyond the end of the fan blades. Also, the fan blades showed no indication of ever touching the condenser, and, in fact, the way the fan blades are shaped, the hub of the fan would have to bore halfway through the condenser before the fan blades could ever touch the condenser. The fins are damaged in a doughnut shaped pattern with a six-inch diameter center with NO damage. The fins are not bent in any one direction, but rather appear to have collapsed upon each other in different directions, as if pushed straight back toward the radiator. The undamaged fins are soft and bend easily. The damaged fins are brittle and crumble to the touch. There is no evidence of rocks, dirt, or insect parts in the damaged area.   I did not install a perforated aluminum sheet between the fan and the new condenser as I had originally planned. I am afraid ice and snow could build up on the aluminum sheet and damage the fan when I turn on the defrost. Instead, I placed two washers on each of the four fan assembly mounting bolts to move the fan assemble 1/8" more forward of the condenser, then I removed the foam gasket from the fan shroud. That leaves a 1/4" gap between the fan shroud and the condenser. Thus, there is no additional air flow restriction, but excess air pressure is allowed to escape around the circumference of the fan shroud. I am amazed at how much air is blowing out of that 1/4" gap when the electric fan is on, so the air pressure with the gasket in place must have been high, especially at freeway speeds. Hopefully, this will also reduce ice and snow build-up within the fan shroud.   I really doubt that driving in rain at high speed could have caused the damage, because the fan blades would turn rain drops into a spray. I know that rocks and insects did not cause the damage to my condenser because the front of my Tracker is unmarked, and I use a mask with bug-screen from Spring to Fall. Besides, anything flying through the small rectangular grill openings could not cause that damage pattern.   Since I live in Washington state, and the two other people who reported similar damage live in Michigan and Nebraska, this problem may be unique to some specific winter driving conditions. Either that, or a lot of Tracker and Vitara owners have the problem but haven't found it yet.   By the way, my air conditioning is a whole lot more effective now.
#69 of 314 Fascinating by mopar67 Sep 19, 2002 (9:05 am)
Good analysis of this problem I gotta tell you though, driving in the summer months in W PA, I have not yet seen this damage but this winter, I will carefully check the condensor for damage.
#70 of 314 how's everyone's hamster holding up? by mopar67 Oct 01, 2002 (6:38 pm)
Any problems? Things that weren't fixable?

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