224 messages,
Last post on May 18, 2013 at 1:24 AM
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Suzuki Forenza Forum.
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Suzuki Forenza, Auto Repair, Electrical, Engine, Paint, Transmission, Sedan, Wagon
#215 of 224 ACCELERATION PROBLEMS
by jbrownnc
May 01, 2012 (7:16 am)
TO SAY THAT I AM IRATE WITH THE 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT, THIS VEHICLE HAS CAUSED ME MUCH STRESS BUT NOT AS MUCH AS THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPT. WHOSE TECHNICIANS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SPECIALIZED TRAINED TECH'S FOR SUZUKI'S VEHICLES. HERE ARE THE PROBLEMS I AM EXPERIENCING WITH THIS VEHICLE...on Jan. 25, 2012 as I was driving the car, the check engine light came on and I noticed that it was not accelerating, I pressed on the gas pedal but it was not getting gas, now the car was still mobile and it coasted at a very slow pace the more I pressed on the gas nothing would happen (no revving, no acceleration). I took the vehicle in for service and was told that it was the gas pedal position sensor, to repair this they had to remove the entire gas pedal (b/c the sensor is attached to the gas pedal) which cost me 337 dollars! I drove the car for 6 days only for the same problem to occur again. Returned it back for service to be told that the computer (PCM) is bad, the PCM was replaced (service charge and part charge extra!). Two days later the same problem continued, now the service department is saying that it is the throttle, which they replaced only to find the problem continues. The codes for the vehicle is reading P2106, P2110 and P161B (Throttle and Torque) however, the problems with the vehicle still continues. My vehicle has been with the service dept. for 30 straight days (they offered no rental) and they still has not fixed the problem and basically told me to take my vehicle that there was nothing else for them to do. This vehicle continues to suddenly stop accelerating while driving causing possible harm to others and me and the SUZUKI SERVICE department only response is that they do not know what the problem is. If anyone know of a solution to this problem of acceleration please let me know.
#216 of 224 Re: 2006 forenza struts ...replaced already?? [forenzafool]
by jbrownnc
May 01, 2012 (7:35 am)
I agree, I also have a 2006 forenza and the struts need to be replaced with only 68,000 miles on the vehicle. Suzuki needs to do a recall! The vehicle is a real
#217 of 224 Re: ACCELERATION PROBLEMS [jbrownnc]
by wayne6372
May 01, 2012 (7:37 am)
I feel you.I took my car to Mr Tire for a inspection, it passed emmissions but failed safety due to front upper strut mounts and brake pads.My car didnt shake or rattle before I went there.It does now.I had to find a suzuki dealer to get the mounts first of all and found out they didnt need replace and my check engine light is on as well.So now I have to fight with this company to fix my car.
May 02, 2012 (6:39 am)
I feel you guys' pain, but you have to remember something: the Forenza was actually an old Daewoo design from Korea that was badge-engineered for Suzuki by then parent old GM. The Daewoo model was originally designed back when Korean cars were mostly cheap, not as reliable as Japanese cars, but offered a lot of features for the money (just as in earlier Hyundais and Kias). Daewoo did not keep up and old GM did not help them very much to do so. Thus the nameplate has gone under and been mostly replaced with Chevrolet.
So, given the low purchase price of the car, and given that it was merely ok transportation but hardly quality stuff, and given that your cars are now 6 years old, you may want to think about cutting your losses and buying something else used to replace it. Lots of people still have fairly trouble-free Forenzas, but if you have trouble, that is problematic on many levels.
Some people, unfortunately, were suckered into paying more than these cars were worth when they bought them used. My mother bought a low mileage 2007 Forenza still under some warranty over two years ago, and only paid a bit over $6K for it. Other than an intermittent engine light, she has had no trouble with it yet. However, if she does, my advice would be to dump it.
Also, Suzuki makes good vehicles (they no longer sell Daewoos), but they are faltering badly in the US marketplace, and may have to pull out entirely. Fighting the company may not be worth the effort. Your call.
#219 of 224 Major Buyer's Remorse
by dukesuzuk
Nov 21, 2012 (6:09 pm)
I purchased a used '06 Forenza only 5 months ago. It was a panic purchase (my prior car had finally crapped out at almost 2k miles). I thought I was getting a great deal for my Suzuki - only 80k miles on it and for $6000. Well, I should have known the day I drove it off the lot that this car WAS NOT a good purchase. On my way home on the day I signed off on the car, the alternator died. Fortunately, the used car dealership fixed it for me at no charge, but I immediately lost faith in the car at that moment. After that incident, I began to notice that the car had a rough/hard start, and sometimes would sputter and not turn over entirely. I also realized the notorious broken indoor door handles, as my passenger front door handle has cracked and had to be gorilla glued together. This past October, my blower motor died - replaced for $295! Literally 2 weeks after that, my CEL came on and my engine was having more starting problems and it seemed as if I was going through more gas than normal. Had it scanned at AdvancedAuto, two codes came up P0133 and P2135. Took the car to a mechanic and was told that it was my O2 censor AND my throttle position sensor (which I found out shortly after is ANOTHER common problem with this car). I had my O2 censor replaced this past weekend for $315.60 and they were hoping that this "lazy" censor was causing other codes to go off. Well, only 4 days later and the CEL is back on again, so this means I will likely need to replace the TPS after all, which according to my mechanic and other folks I've spoken to, I may not be able to get just the sensor, but will need to replace the ENTIRE break pedal system. I have no idea how much this is going to cost, but I know it will not be cheap, especially since it has to come from the dealership itself, which there is only 1 in the state that I live in.
I have read so much about this car, and I cannot believe that I purchased it. I had no idea at the time what I was getting into. All I know is that someday down the road, I will say that I have learned from this, and when I get another car, I will do my HOMEWORK.
Oh, and I tried to possibly do another trade in since I am now terrified of this car, but I owe too much negative equity to do so, so I am stuck with it for awhile. And according to kelly blue book, I paid more for the car than what it is really worth.
Again, I have only owned this car for 5 months - this is completely insane.
#220 of 224 Re: Major Buyer's Remorse [dukesuzuk]
by wayne6372
Nov 21, 2012 (6:53 pm)
There was also some recall recently sent to me for these suzikis between 2004 and 2006 about a faulty wiring pack, don't have it near.Plus unfortunately I was hit by two cars in July of this year and the car got repoed do to my wife being out of work.There have been a lot of issues on theses cars
Nov 21, 2012 (6:57 pm)
You know they have stopped making the Forenza. The wiring on my car was recalled a few weeks after I paid $240 to have it fixed. They reimbursed me $70!!! Two weeks after I cashed the check, they sent it back to my bank. Their check bounced!!! They have filed bankruptcy!!!
I had a new engine put in this car at 50,000 miles. There has just been one thing after another. I just want to get rid of this car. Nothing but trouble!!!! Piece of junk!!!! Beware!!1
#222 of 224 Re: Major Buyer's Remorse [dukesuzuk]
by gregg_vw
Nov 24, 2012 (4:43 pm)
Yes, you learned a tough lesson. First of all, Kelly Blue Book usually overestimates a car's value. Use one of the sites that is not a favorite of dealers like Kelley is (they like to show you how much the car is allegedly worth), and find the real selling price of a model (e.g., Clearbook, Edmunds, etc.). $6K was at least $2K too much, even if the car had very low mileage, and that is without even looking it up. Yours sounds like a car with a lot of miles on it already.
Unfortunately, when you do have CEL problems on modern cars, the sensors or other problems are not inexpensive to replace. That is all cars, not just well-used Forenzas. Of course, a loose or improper gas cap can also trigger the CEL.
Your car is going on 7 years old, and you don't know how it was driven or serviced before you got it. My mother's 2007 Forenza has had the CEL on most of the time she has owned it, but she has gotten good service from it, despite that. CEL does not always mean a serious problem, at least not with an older car where it may not make sense to pour lots of money into it. THe CEL indicates a code error, not necessarily a hazardous condition. However, when the CEL flashes, rather than burns steady, you need to pay attention, even in an old car. It may only mean that you have two error codes, rather than one, OR it could mean STOP RIGHT NOW, or your engine may be toast. You don't know. But yours is not flashing.
So, rather than putting hundreds into a new throttle body, check the thing over yourself, or have a reasonable, not expensive, mechanic do so. Is the coolant ok? Has the oil been changed recently? Are the components under the hood fairly clean, and unfrayed? Do all hoses, vacuum and otherwise, seem to be in reasonable condition, and connected? Is anything leaking?
If it is dirty, clean it up. Run a fuel injector cleaner through the gas, and use carb cleaner to get any grease or oil off the underhood components. You will then be able to see if anything is leaking (there should be no leaks and no spots on your driveway). Some of this you can do yourself.
What you want to avoid is imminent breakdowns, and/or take care of developing problems. If the computer thinks your car is not being completely smog-free, according to the standards of 2006, it will light the CEL. However, it may or may not mean much in terms of the actual operation.
You have only had this car for 5 months and you already have a lot of money into it. Cut your losses, figure out if you can get some more miles and months or years out of it, even if the CEL comes on adn stays on. You can chase a CEL-free existence when maybe all you need is to use better gas and get your injectors cleaned. A little care and a little observation of what is under your hood can go a long way.
#223 of 224 What to do ?
by kat811
May 17, 2013 (3:50 pm)
I bought a 2005 Forenza brand new, had no problems until the timing belt destroyed many parts. Thank goodness there was a recall that covered the $2500 repair to rebuild half of the motor. That was in 2007. That same year, I had problems with my exterior lights. When I took it to the dealership, they said my car had be wrecked and that was the problem, I had not wrecked my car. I took it to a friend who spliced the melted wires (I think) but, I had lights again. Last year I had problems with the clutch cylinder, that had to be replaced, my car's transmission is manual. Around that same time, my lights went crazy again. I did get the recall letter for that. My CEL is on constantly now, and the SSPS light and airbag readiness light probably came on a year after I bought the car and will not go off. The dealership told me the airbag light is probably a loose wire under the seat. I cannot get an inspection sticker as long as the CEL is on and different auto shops tell me different things are the problem. Catalytic converter, O2 sensor and something else. I am so confused, who can I trust to not rip me off replacing the converter if it's the sensor? I'm fairly new to Houston and don't know any reputable mechanics, a trustworthy one. I haven't been able to drive my car because of the expired sticker. H E L P!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#224 of 224 Get rid of it iif you can.
by wayne6372
May 18, 2013 (1:24 am)
There was also a recent recall again about wires in the head lights which can cause fire.Had the same problem with the airbag light.This call has a lot defects can only suggest you stop wasting your money and by another call somewhere.