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Suzuki Grand Vitara 2006 through 2008

1048 messages,  Last post on Jan 14, 2012 at 11:29 AM

You are in the Suzuki Grand Vitara/Vitara Forum.

What is this discussion about? Suzuki Grand Vitara, SUV

Messages Page 104 of 105

#1029 of 1048 ...yet another GV with bad alignment... by xostnot

May 24, 2010 (3:09 pm)

Many people have had this exact problem. Many of those have had a lot of trouble getting it fixed. It is a rear alignment issue. There are more than one set of specs for the rear alignment, and you have to find someone who has this problem nailed down.
 
Besides the squirming and tire wear, you are also getting bad mileage and prematurely wearing the drivetrain. Worst of all, this is a serious safety hazard, since it is like being a little out of control all the time.
 
The GV owners who never had this problem, or have had it fixed, find the GV is extraordinarily sure-footed. The worse the conditions, the better it seems compared to everything else on the road. The original tires should be good for 50,000km or 30,000miles. Good luck with it.

#1030 of 1048 Excessive & Persistant Tire Wearing on My Grand Vitara by vitaraownr07

Aug 18, 2010 (4:42 pm)

Well I purchased my Grand Vitara brand new in 2007 and I have to say the vehicle runs excellent in the snow and carries itself well over highways I can't complain about that. However, I am currently at 59,000 miles and I have just replaced my tires for the 3rd time in 2 years. I have local Suzuki dealerships trying to convince me its "the roads around here" and that they're terrible conditions are causing the tires to wear down. I have had 3 different tire brands put on, and within 6-12 months the treads are worn down entirely. This is costly and I know the other consumers out there that are having similar trouble will agree. Even in spite of routine alignments and rotations, I can't seem to avoid this problem. First set of tires were replaced at 17,000 miles, now at 59,000 i just put on my 3rd set...the vehicle would satisfy me entirely if this problem wasn't persistant because it does ride well.

#1031 of 1048 Re: Rear Tire Wear [boydp] by vitaraownr07

Aug 18, 2010 (4:29 pm)

Replying to: boydp (Apr 25, 2010 8:07 am)
I feel your troubles boydp. You purchased yours the same year as me although you have about 5,000 miles more on your Vitara than me. I bought my car with 2 miles on it due to test drives and at 17,000 miles my tires were worn down already. They came with Goodyear I believe when I bought it. In 2008 I had another set put on at 45,000 miles, and by 2009 I was suggested to get another set put on. I put it off for a while but unfortunately now as of august of 2010 I had to put my 3rd set on at 59,000. They seem to wear in the rear more as I witness on mine too. I keep up with alignments and rotations but that doesn't seem to help. Local dealers convince me its the road conditions around here which is not at all true since this problem is occurring all over the country. if it weren't for the tires wearing I'd be happy with the vehicle as it runs excellent in the snow and over the highways.

#1032 of 1048 Do I need to dump my GV? by luvmygv

Aug 19, 2010 (12:15 pm)

I have a 2006 Grand Vitara, AWD Luxury package with 124,000 miles on it. I am still making payments and owe more than it is worth. I absolutely love it and want to keep it. But it is starting to require work done on it and all mechanics I have talked to are telling me to drop it quick. I took it for an oil change last month and the mechanic told me I had to replace the steering arm assemblies (don't remember exact terminology) and engine had a bit of an oil leak. I paid over $1,300 for all that. About 2 weeks later I started hearing a rattle or knocking sound and check engine light goes on every single time I get gas. I turn it off, unscrew and re-screw cap and restart 3 or 4 times and light goes out every time.
I took it in to same mechanic, where it sat for 2 days without being looked at. I got nervous and took it to a different mechanic that my landlord (a Porsche mechanic) recommended. They ran a diagnostic and took all belts off to see about rattle. They said that the 2 sensors that control the air/ gas ratio are bad and that all my tensioners for 3 timing chains are bad and I need to pay over $2,600. Does that sound right?
I don't have experience with Suzuki vehicles and I love my GV but is it pretty much downhill from here? If I did get the repairs done is everything else pretty reliable? I am hearing so many negatives about Suzuki, that they are just throw-away vehicles with no long life expectancy. I thought they were better than that though.
Anyway, thank you for your time in reading this and any advice or opinions you have are greatly appreciated!

#1033 of 1048 Re: Do I need to dump my GV? [luvmygv] by revjim64

Aug 22, 2010 (8:29 am)

Replying to: luvmygv (Aug 19, 2010 12:15 pm)
Maybe you need to get a third opinion from another shop. Did you have the dealship mechanics look it over?
 
There should only be 1 timing chain.
 
I think you should be able to get 200k out of this vehicle if you keep the maintenance up.
 
Good Luck!

#1034 of 1048 Rust Problems with 2007 GV by revjim64

Aug 22, 2010 (8:34 am)

I noticed a lot of rust on the inside of my stock steel rims on my 2007 GV.
I have the base model with no frills.
 
Also the undercarriage suspension parts seem to be pretty rusty.
 
Any one else having excessive rust problems? I live in Pa and in the winter the township salts the roads.
That may be one of the culprits of pre-mature rusting.

#1035 of 1048 Re: Do I need to dump my GV? [luvmygv] by NW07GVitara

Nov 14, 2010 (8:17 am)

Replying to: luvmygv (Aug 19, 2010 12:15 pm)
luvmygv,
 
From what you have said it indicates you have a high millage vehicle. Autos with over 100k mi usually become exponentially more expensive to maitaine. It is a universal rule that "parts ware out." and you should expect this as your vehicle ages. The only difference with the Suzuki GV is that it is an all Jap import and parts must also be imported to the west making parts replacements more expensive still.
 
As far as your Suzuki being a "throw away" vehicle. That all depends on it's overall condition. If it has been abused and repair is not worth it to you than it would be considered throw away. Cars with over 100k miles could be put in throw away category if certain conditions apply. With any car you can continue to replace parts and just keep it running but it may not be worth it if getting a new vehicle would be cheaper in the long term.
 
If you love the GV so much consider trading it for a new 2010 GV. The 2010 has more HP and a more advanced engine. If you do get another GV than I would recommend using Full Synthetic Engine oil from the start and change every 3000k to 6000k miles depending on sevarity of your driving conditions.
 
Good Luck

#1036 of 1048 luvmygv and revjim64 by xostnot

Nov 17, 2010 (3:14 pm)

revjim64 - Our '06 GV is regularly used on salted roads. I try to keep it washed off, but in winter that's often not possible. It gets stored in an unheated garage, which means any salt on it stays wet, and wet salt means corrosion. The first winter, lots of underbody parts rusted (bolts, exhaust hangers, muffler shell etc), but none of them are serious, as body/frame rust would be. Since then the rust hasn't gotten any worse, and the GV appears to be basically very well built to resist rust. We have alloy wheels, and they too corrode.
 
If you're worried about it, just get it treated every year or so by a business applying spray-on rust preventer.
 
luvmygv - surveys on truedelta indicate the GV is of average reliability for small suv's. This does not support Consumer Reports claims, but I think the truedelta survey is better done. With any vehicle, it seems there are some lemons and, without pointing a finger, there are also differences in how people treat their cars. The GV's 2.7l engine is also used in an airplane, and is reputed to be very durable despite not being the smoothest operator.

#1037 of 1048 Re: luvmygv and revjim64 [xostnot] by revjim64

Nov 21, 2010 (1:14 pm)

Replying to: xostnot (Nov 17, 2010 3:14 pm)
Xostnot, thanks for your advice.
 
My 07 GV has some rust on the undercarriage and frame, but nothing serious as of yet. The exhaust pipe heat shields/and hangers rusted away.
I think I will just spray on some Rust Converter and Undercoating spray and see if that slows down the undercarriage rust.
As far as the "Steel" wheels, I will
hit them with a wire brush and re-paint them.
If the steel rims get to rusty, I may go out and get some Chrome plated aftermarket rims or alloy type rims.

#1038 of 1048 Re: 2007 GV REAR END ISSUES [shooshoo] by fishwar

Mar 24, 2011 (3:08 pm)

Replying to: shooshoo (May 24, 2010 10:21 am)
I also own a 2006 Grand Vitara. It is a tire eating machine. I have about 75,000 and I have never got more than 18,000 on any brand I tires I have installed. When you go around corners you can actuall feel and hear the AWD system gripping and grinding the tires away. The bottom line you either replace the tires at 18,000 miles or sell it.

Messages Page 104 of 105

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