Most of the cars sold in the Russian Federation are presented on the secondary market, but there are also "American" cars, but their condition much more often turns out to be much worse.
The car was delivered in two trim levels - three- and five-door. All cars can boast of the build quality - cars from Japan have always been on this parameter in the first sequences. The only thing that is possible note - it's on the fifth door. It often happens that on cars with huge mileage, it sags under the weight of the spare wheel.
This nuisance is easily eliminated by adjusting the loops.
Rust on the car can indicate that the car has been in an accident, at the end which was a poor-quality repair has been made, or the previous owner is not very careful about his things.
electronics and electrical equipment of this car from Japan is reliable, like all Japanese electronics and in most cases does not cause trouble to its owner.
Engines on this model a pair was installed, the most not strong of them - a 1.6-liter gasoline one is often seen in the secondary market. In most cases, there are no troubles with him, and with proper care, he helps reliably and for a long time. The only thing to remember is to change the oil in the engine on time and wait for the engine to warm up before driving.
Such precautions will allow the timing chain that was installed on this engine to last much longer.
Other motors more wonderful, and other than that, they are not problematic. From time to time, small problems are seen, but they do not appear so often and are not constant.
Purchase of a car in order to like the Suzuki Grand Vitara with gasoline engine implies a decent waste, because besides, not the most wonderful 2.4-liter engine in winter will "eat" up to 20 liters of fuel in urban environments. The turbodiesel was installed only in the amount of 1.9 liters, but it was not officially supplied to Russia due to the poor quality of domestic fuel. We would not recommend taking such a car, because its breakdown due to domestic fuel is very possible, and not every master will undertake to repair it.
Two types of boxes were installed on the cars - a five-speed mechanics and a four-speed automatic. Both boxes are reliable enough, but with a mechanical one there are more troubles and it fails a little more often. One of the reasons for the failure of the clutch on the Grand Vitara is driving along a crossroads and crawling out of difficult places without using a lower gear.
Compared to classmates, this jeep looks more joking - a differential lock and a lower gear make it more attractive for fans of extreme travel.
Only an inexperienced motorist can buy a used car and not check the suspension, despite the fact that with Grand Vitara it is not such a huge need - for this car it is very reliable. Yes, repairs can cost decent money, but it justifies itself - the details go for a very long time and do not bother the owner quite often.
There are no particular complaints about brake pads or discs, but the masters note the fact that the latter are prone to overheating from time to time.
In a word, the Grand Vitara is considered not only a hardy car in terms of cross-country ability, but also rather reliable in unpretentious repair, despite the fact that it is quite expensive.
- suzuki
Mandatory reading:
Inspection of used suzuki grand vitara 2010 - cheating everywhere.
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The history of the Vitara brand is quite interesting. For the first time a car with this name was introduced in 1988, and Suzuki itself claimed the laurels of the founder of a new class of compact SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicle). And if the primacy of the abbreviation is difficult to challenge, then from a technical point of view, the Japanese were 11 years late - since 1977, the domestic VAZ has already produced the Niva and supplied it for export. The design of the Vitara itself, with a separate frame and plug-in front-wheel drive without a center differential, was closer to classic SUVs. The result is both not a very good crossover and a rather mediocre SUV. It was this “generic curse” that ruined the model a quarter of a century later, despite the fact that, under pressure from competitors, the frame turned into a load-bearing body, and the front end was connected through a constantly working center differential. And the presence of a lowered row in the transfer case looked quite advantageous against the background of the main competitors - Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Outlander.
Who is the old one?
The new Grand Vitara, following them, also became more modern, more comfortable and more environmentally friendly, but at the same time it was more and more distanced from the Vitara, which almost 20 years ago came to the liking of off-road adventurers. Unable to compete on equal terms with the giants of this class, Suzuki additionally attracted by a noticeably lower price, and now the third generation of the Suzuki Grand Vitara (2005–2014) is a very interesting choice on the used car market in this segment: 5-7 years old copies have recently been sold in the range of 400-900 thousand rubles. depending on the appetite of the owners and the state of the car.
The car was known in other continents as the XL7, Suzuki Grand Nomade or Grand Escudo (short versions with three doors in many countries did not have the Grand prefix) and was produced since 2005. Despite the common chassis with some models of the General Motors concern, technically with "relatives" had little in common. The only "close" relative was the Suzuki XL7 (since 2007). And we have very rare specimens of the Iranian assembly. In 2006, 175 thousand cars were sold worldwide.
Suzuki Grand Vitara interior
The range of power units was wide enough. Until 2008, the base for the long versions was a 2-liter 4-cylinder JB420 gasoline engine that developed 140 hp. For the American market, a gasoline H27A (V6 2.7 liters, 185 hp) was also offered, but on Russian roads it remained a great rarity.
Suzuki did not produce diesel engines on its own, so the Japanese borrowed a 1.9-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel (129 hp) from Renault. Until 2008, the M16 diesel engine (1.6 l, 106 hp) was also installed on short versions. Both modifications were not officially supplied to us and it is quite problematic to find them on the secondary market, and it is not worth it - it has long been known that modern diesel engines save money only to the first owner.
In the anniversary year for the brand in 2008 (20 years from the beginning of production), the Grand Vitara underwent the first restyling, including new engines, now with variable valve timing - an inline four JB424 (2.4 liters of 168 hp and 225 Nm) and completely new V6 3.2 (221 HP and 284 Nm). Small modifications were made by French suppliers to the old 1.9 liter turbodiesel (it was registered under the hood of many brands, for example, Volvo S40, Mitsubishi Сarisma).
Advertising brochures at auto shows and in dealerships bravely stuck out updates: “The 3-door modification has become available with a 2.4 liter engine and an automatic transmission. The updated version introduced a system to hold the car up and down (for a 3.2 liter gasoline engine), improved noise insulation, changed the design of the radiator grille and bumper, new body paint colors appeared, the total length and length of the front overhang of the car increased by 30 mm , the side mirrors are fitted with integrated turn signal signals, and additional airbags have become mandatory on all modifications. "
It was this set that became an important factor that contributed to some restoration of the popularity of sales of the Grand Vitara - after all, it was the only model in the SUV segment with a monocoque body and a lowered row in the transfer case. Subsequent upgrades in 2011 and 2012 affected stylistic decisions, while the technique was no longer changed.
Suzuki Grand Vitara AWD Mode Selector
Morbid nature
But the drivetrain also has its weaknesses. Due to the fact that the Grand Vitara has an "honest" all-wheel drive, the components and assemblies (gearboxes, transfer case, propeller shaft) are heavily loaded compared to passenger cars and require more frequent maintenance. The most vulnerable place in the transmission is the front gearbox, which may require bulkheads as early as 60-70 thousand kilometers. Due to the low location of the ventilation breather, moisture can enter the gearbox, which leads to premature wear of the entire unit. The restoration will cost from 60 thousand rubles. Therefore, overcoming even small puddles, not to mention deep fords, can cause a breakdown.
Since the manufacturer has not done anything to solve this problem, it is advisable to remove the breather on the extension tube under the hood, which will allow the gearbox to work under normal conditions up to the 200-250 thousand km planned by the designers. The rear gearbox does not annoy with such design mistakes, it is enough to monitor the integrity of the seals and the level of transmission oil. After a run of 50-60 thousand km, regular inspections of the transfer case and gearbox seals will be required for leaks or fogging. Replacing worn-out seals will cost at least 14 thousand rubles. due to the large amount of work on the dismantling of the units.
Mechanical gearboxes and transfer cases are quite reliable and do not cause problems with regular oil changes (with an interval of 60 thousand and 45 thousand km, respectively). Automatic gearboxes behave no less decently, since their design Suzuki for the longitudinal arrangement of the engine has long worked (the main drawback is that due to the antiquity of the design, the unit has only four stages), it is enough to monitor the condition of the oil seals and the oil level. The service life of these units reaches 200-250 thousand km, the obligatory oil change, following the accumulated experience, should be done at least once every 100 thousand km, and with frequent forcing off-road or towing heavy trailers (for example, with motorcycles, ATVs, jet skis etc.) and completely reduce the mileage between replacements to 60-80 thousand km.
The most popular power unit on the Grand Vitara is the JB420 (2 liters, 140 hp). This engine is reliable and unpretentious, allows operation on 92nd gasoline, but for a car weight of 1.6 tons, its power characteristics are clearly insufficient. In order to keep up with the city flow, it has to be twisted (and already at the turn of 60-80 thousand km the oil consumption can reach 2-3 liters per 10 thousand km of run). With insufficient lubrication, the chain drive of the gas distribution mechanism will be the first to suffer, which entails the replacement of not only the chain itself, but also the sprockets with the tensioner assembly - otherwise the resource of the new chain will be extremely small. Under normal conditions, it stably takes care of 150–160 thousand km, and the engine itself, before the first ring replacement - 250–300 thousand km.
With active city driving, fuel consumption can easily reach the mark of 15-16 l / 100 km, although on the highway it is possible to keep within 11-13 liters. The JB424 engine (2.4 l, 168 hp) is generally similar to its younger brother. The main brand of gasoline is AI-92, but in the summer, with long trips on the highways, the AI-95 will not be superfluous. Due to the low liter power and the successful layout of the engine compartment, the engines are not prone to overheating - another plus during prolonged off-road driving (but this does not cancel regular cleaning of the radiators at the car wash). The older brother - JB424 - differs in operation by a much higher fuel consumption, which in many respects caused a drop in demand for such modifications among residents of megalopolises - in combination with an automatic gearbox, its value could reach 20 l / 100 km!
Another sore spot is catalytic converters. In Grand Vitara, they lose the required efficiency at the threshold of 60-80 thousand km. Self-repair will cost about 40 thousand rubles. When installing non-original substitutes, the costs will be less - a good location behind the exhaust manifold makes it easy to choose a universal part that is suitable in size, up to the Volgovsky one. The low resource of these expensive units is also noted on other models of this brand, and the loss of efficiency below the allowable value is detected much earlier than the catalyst internals begin to fall apart - this is a clear indication of excessive savings in precious metals in the unit.
Suspension of the Suzuki Grand Vitara resists Russian realities with dignity and before 80-100 thousand km rarely requires serious repair. Traditionally, the exception was the attachment parts of the front stabilizer to the suspension arms and the body, which, with frequent off-road driving, are rented every 20-25 thousand km, even if they are replaced only with original ones. The resource of wheel bearings strongly depends on the operating modes, on smooth roads and 150 thousand km is far from the limit, and with frequent use far from asphalt, the resource can be halved, and the nodes will ask for replacement after 70-80 thousand km. The bearing changes in assembly with the hub, the cost of the original assembly fluctuates between 7-9 thousand rubles. At the turn of 80-90 thousand km, revisions will also require the front levers, which, as a rule, become unusable silent blocks. It also does not hurt to check the condition of the ball bearings, which are made as a single piece with levers.
Tuning for the "rogue"
The main advantage of the Suzuki Grand Vitara is that the off-road car is very good for its class, which expiates many of its flaws. For those who like to "get even deeper" there are a lot of offers on the market for off-road refinement. The simplest are kits that allow you to increase the vehicle's ground clearance by 3-4.5 cm (with a nominal 20 cm). Such an increase in ground clearance does not lead to a critical change in the wheel alignment angles, which has a positive effect on the mileage of tires and suspension parts. The cost of such modifications is 30-50 thousand rubles.
Quite simple solutions, consisting in installing spacers above the springs, quickly kill the standard struts due to the change in the suspension travel and the zero position. With the frequent forcing of water obstacles, the electric drive of the selector for selecting the transmission modes in the transfer case (14 thousand rubles) falls into the risk group, and then not very high-quality seals are brought in.
In general, in the city, the off-road capabilities of the car are clearly excessive (although the confidence on slippery surfaces is akin to the four-wheel drive premium sedans), and for real off-road conditions it is insufficient.
When buying, it is wiser to give the main priority to copies sold through a network of official dealers, having a confirmed history of maintenance and with remnants of a guarantee - such cars have no problems with "crooked" customs clearance, and the overall probability of running into a copy with a criminal past is not very high - - for a specific niche of fans, the car was of little interest to the hijackers, although a certain surge in thefts can be expected with the aim of disassembling cars for parts.
The last samurai: choosing a used Suzuki Grand VitaraNot every SUV combines three qualities at once: excellent cross-country ability, high build quality and an affordable price. One of these was the Suzuki Grand Vitara, but, unfortunately, the car is no longer produced. A driver who chose this SUV over competitors such as the Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail or Honda CR-V could not only save several thousand dollars, but also get a real Jeep with excellent suspension, engine and transmission units.
The legendary generation will be replaced by a new one that has nothing to do with the previous one. Since 2015, Suzuki Grand Vitara can only be found.
History of Suzuki Grand Vitara
The Vitara line was first introduced in 1988. By releasing this model, manufacturers wanted to become the pioneers of a new class of cars - compact SUVs. They really managed to be the first to introduce such a classification, but from a technical point of view, AvtoVAZ did it earlier with their Niva. The design features of Vitara bring it closer to ordinary SUVs: a separate frame and plug-in front-wheel drive. At first, the new Suzuki model could be classified either as a bad crossover or as a parody of an SUV.
After about a quarter of a century, the Grand Vitara was redesigned under pressure from competitors who were ready to oust the car from the market. The manufacturers made the body self-supporting, and the front-wheel drive was connected through a center differential, which worked constantly. In addition, the reduced range of transmission gears turned out to be a very profitable solution against the background of the rest - the Grand Vitara has become very competitive.
In various countries, the car is known as the Suzuki XL7, Grand Nomade and Grand Escudo (while the versions with three doors and a short body did not have the "grand" prefix). So it has been produced since 2005. It is noteworthy that Vitara had a common chassis with some General Motors cars, but from a constructive point of view, these cars were very different.
Properties of a used Suzuki Grand Vitara
It should be borne in mind that the specific completely depends on its operating history. No two identical models can be found. Each Grand Vitara will have its own consequences of use by the past master. One way or another, the car has a number of common features that unite the entire Grand Vitara line.
Now the greatest demand exists for the third generation SUV from Suzuki. It is it that combines excellent driving properties and high quality, while having an affordable price. Thus, the Grand Vitaras, which were produced from 2005 to 2014, are the most coveted among the entire series. Cars 5-7 years old in the secondary market can be found at prices ranging from 400 to 900 thousand rubles.
In the Russian used car market, the most common American and Russian versions of the Grand Vitara. European options, as a rule, are rare, but they also cost more, which negates the availability of the model. Their condition speaks in favor of European trim levels. The Russian version, which was used by us, usually has a lower quality, which is due to the constant exposure to salt on the roads in winter. At the same time, Americans are mostly characterized by a careless style of operation - they pour cheap oil into the Grand Vitara, after which they drive it for several years. Due to this use, the condition of the car deteriorates. In addition, such an ailment cannot be corrected by flushing the engine.
Engine
At the time of sales, the Grand Vitara was equipped with four gasoline and two turbodiesel engines. The weakest of all had a volume of 1.6 liters and 94 horsepower (most often it was installed on the three-door version), while the most dynamic engine had a volume of 2.7 liters and a power of 173 liters. from. (installed only on the five-door version). It should be borne in mind that when buying a Grand Vitara in the secondary market, the driver will be deprived of the opportunity to choose an engine, so you will have to be content with the available one.
More powerful Suzuki engines allow you to quickly pick up speed from the start, but they also consume a lot of fuel. One of the properties of the Grand Vitara's chassis is that when driving on slippery roads, a powerful engine coupled with a short wheelbase makes the car slip. This is especially unpleasant for an SUV.
With regard to operation, all Grand Vitara engines are distinguished by their reliability and endurance. Of course, their condition must be maintained by qualified and timely service. As a rule, the Suzuki driver is forced to clean the radiator and change the antifreeze when the mileage counter “winds up” the next 60,000 kilometers.
Most often on the market you can find the Grand Vitara, equipped with a two-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 140 liters. from. The engine is relatively unpretentious and can be powered by 92nd fuel, but it is clearly not enough to reach the full speed of a one and a half ton SUV. For dynamic trips around the city, it is approximately 15 liters per 100 km.
Transmission
Regardless of the engine, the Grand Vitara was equipped with both a manual and an automatic transmission. This means that any combination of motor and transmission can be found in the secondary market. The mechanical version is characterized by a "tight" shift into reverse gear - you have to make a short pause before the system, which does not have a synchronizer, allows you to switch. The automatic transmission has no complaints about shifting and does an excellent job not only with movement, but also with the transportation of large trailers.
The disadvantage of the Grand Vitara transmission is the "part-time" system. The front axle is connected rigidly in it, which allows the use of four-wheel drive only on slippery roads and for a short time. So, the Suzuki front axle must always be in a disabled state. When choosing a used model, you should pay attention to this - if the included drive is accompanied by blows, then the gearbox is "killed" and it is better not to buy a car.
Suspension
The Suzuki Grand Vitara suspension is excellent for use in Russian conditions. Even on a used car, it needs to be repaired no more often than every 80,000 kilometers. At the same time, there is still a small drawback - the front stabilizer mounts need to be changed every 25,000 kilometers. Their lifespan cannot be increased even by installing original units.
Body
In the five-door versions of the Grand Vitara, the tailgate sags occasionally. The reason for this is the heavy spare wheel. This problem can be corrected with a simple adjustment. Also, over time, the engine fan fails. It can either be repaired or buy a new one - such expenses occur no more than once every 2 years. These small flaws are not critical, so the Suzuki body is highly reliable.
Equipment
In the minimum version of the Grand Vitara, you can find pretty good functionality: six airbags, which, together with a rigid body of later versions, provide reliable protection, climate control, anti-lock braking system and a central locking system.
The most equipped version, in addition to everything, has ESP, curtain airbags, cruise control, built-in computer with navigation, power steering, xenon / bi-xenon and fog optics, leather upholstery, full power accessories and a media system.
Outcome
Each driver should answer the question of whether to buy a used Suzuki Grand Vitara individually. Many motorists consider this model of an SUV to be a family one and purchase it for their respective needs, but there are also extreme driving fans who. One way or another, for its cost, the Grand Vitara provides the buyer with excellent cross-country properties and high reliability. The disadvantage is the "part-time" transmission, which is not the best choice for a real SUV. If this is critical, then you should take a closer look at the more expensive Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail or Honda CR-V.
We don't have a three-wheel drive Vitara, although such theoretically existed in the United States. Five-door cars are equipped with a full-fledged transfer case with permanent all-wheel drive and a reduction gear, but three-doors with a 1.6-liter engine are content with a simpler one without lowering, with a completely ineffective cam "self-block". You can also find cars from the USA with a plug-in front axle, but this is very rare. However, this is easily fixable if a person is ready to get confused with altering not only the transfer case itself, but also the electronics that control it, as well as replacing the wiring harness.
Permanent four-wheel drive with center lock and downshift, and even with an optional rear axle lock - this is quite a serious arsenal for an SUV. And it's also at least four transmission units versus one or two on most crossovers. And for complete happiness - two cardan shafts. Of course, although this whole economy works very reliably, it nevertheless requires maintenance. It is necessary to regularly change the oil, and, judging by the reviews, it is best to pour not the original mineral water, but transmission semisynthetics with a low viscosity. Oil seals should be checked regularly for leaks. But here it is quite easy to do this: any oil leak is clearly visible against the background of a dirty unit.
On machines of the first and second restyling, the reliability of the front axle gearboxes is extremely low. Any excessive load quickly leads to the failure of the bearings, and if you start the situation, then the main pair. Additional risk factors are heating from the engine and the poor location of the gearbox breather: when forcing even a shallow ford, water can get inside. Of course, the breather is led into a rubber tube, the end of which is fixed at the very top of the engine compartment, but for most of the cars the system works normally, which means it is not very reliable.
The transfer case does not have "foolproof", so the 4HL lock mode will not shut off at high speeds and on hard surfaces, and the load on the transmission can be off scale.
The quality of the oil seals, unfortunately, is far from ideal. They flow, both on new cars and on runners. Replacement does not always solve the problem for a long time. An unsuccessful tool, dirty surfaces, a bad supplier - and here again everything for replacement ... But there are more than a dozen oil seals. In general, it will have to be changed often, and sometimes it is corny to "hammer" if the oil leak is insignificant.
The propeller shafts here aren't really propeller shafts. They have CV joints, except that the oldest cars produced in 2005-2007 have exactly cardan joints in the drive. And the CV joints have covers that sometimes break, and it is better to change them right away. But there are no officially covers on sale, and there are no CV joints, there are only assembled shafts, which, as you know, costs absolutely indecent money. All these factors lead to the fact that transmission breakdowns on older cars are one of the most frequent and expensive malfunctions, and also one of the most troublesome. By the way, if all three transmission mode lamps are blinking, then do not rush to repair the transfer case. Most likely, the matter is either in the wiring, or in ESP failures, or in the failure of the ignition system. There are no buggy sensors or vacuum drives here.
Manual transmissions are generally very sturdy. But the clutches, which wear out early, and the gear change mechanism with weak traction fail. The second problem was eventually solved by cardinal strengthening of the part. But the clutch with the hydraulic release remained the same, not particularly resourceful and not very convenient. If you remove the restrictor jet from the drive, it will be more convenient to use it. But the price of a hydraulic cylinder combined with a release bearing is still high. It is easy to damage it if the clutch is not installed successfully, but the clutch itself is still weak and requires very careful handling. Most owners will have to change it every 60-80 thousand kilometers. It is rare for anyone to run more than 150 thousand on one set, and the risk is not justified: when the disc is worn out, the basket breaks very easily, which entails additional costs. In addition, the operation of replacing the clutch is expensive and "traumatic": with careless removal, it is easy to damage the wiring or something else. But otherwise, cars with manual transmissions do not have any serious difficulties.
In the photo: Suzuki Grand Vitara "2012 – present.
With automatic transmission, too, you can not expect any special surprises. Suzuki installed two Aisin automatic transmissions on the Grand Vitara, with the best Toyota series. With engines 1.6, 2.0 and 2.4 liters, and sometimes with 2.7, the four-speed box A44DE, aka AW03-72, worked. If you don't remember that, then it was on the rear-wheel drive Previa and Mark II. And with 2.7 and 3.2 liter engines for the American market, they began to install a more advanced five-speed TB-50LS / Aisin A750F. It is also a "Toyota" series, and it can also be found on the Lexus LX470, Toyota Tundra and many other cars from this manufacturer. All boxes are very strong and reliable, capable of going through more than the engine and the whole car with good maintenance.
The four-speed gearbox is only threatened by overheating due to dirty radiators, extremely cruel treatment with a complete lack of maintenance, and runs far beyond 300. Very "racers" may have an "early" (with runs of 200 thousand kilometers) failure of the gas turbine lock linings. Then you can wait for the failure of the gas turbine bushing, its oil seal and oil leakage.
A reliable valve body, reliable electronics and a solid mechanical part leave almost no chance to break this harsh unit without the help of "smart" servicemen or personal efforts. If the box works, then most likely it will continue to work. It is enough to change the oil on time, and even if there are already jerks, you just need to flush the automatic transmission with the valve body removed, and it will go again. Surprising survivability at the present time! True, fuel consumption and dynamics are no longer so pleasing.
The five-speed automatic transmission is the same unkillable, but with a mileage of more than 200 thousand kilometers, you will have to change the solenoids. By 250 thousand mileage, the blocking linings of the gas turbine engine often wear out. And the consequences of working with worn out linings come earlier and are more expensive. All in all, this is one of the most reliable five-speed transmissions, and also quite dynamic and modern.
Surprisingly, the Grand Vitara has gearboxes that create the least drivetrain hassle. The rest of the nodes are much more troublesome.
Motors
The most popular engines are in-line fours with a volume of 2 and 2.4 liters. Engines with a volume of 1.6 liters are less common, the old "Suzukov" V6 2.7 liters were installed only on American cars, but with a 3.2 liter engine from GM (the same as on the Chevrolet Captiva), the car was officially supplied to us for some time ... Diesel engines were also not officially supplied to us, but cars with a Renault 1.9 engine are still found. All engines are good, although Suzuki's inline-fours tend to have an oily appetite, and the 2008 2.4-liter engines also had problems with the cylinder block that was leaking right through the wall. And since modern engines are made from incomprehensible waste by stamping aluminum cans from cola, it turned out to be practically impossible to brew or somehow eliminate this problem outside the plant. However, more on that below.
Common problems with all motors are related to the design of the cooling system. Radiators are frankly weak, often flow along the junction of the plastic and aluminum parts, and the expansion tank cap does not release excessive pressure.
A common problem with 1.6 liter and 2.0 liter engines is the passage of gases through the cylinder head gasket. And this also does not contribute to the long and normal life of the cooling system.
Catalysts and a weak exhaust system are another common "problem" of all Suzuki and GM engines. The catalyst resource is usually less than 200 thousand mileage, and the exhaust system often does not survive without losses and up to hundreds of thousands of mileage. Of course, first of all, cars that go into the mud and off-road suffer, but even in a car with a purely urban mode of operation, the exhaust system looks completely unpresentable already in the fifth or sixth year of service.
Oil leaks due to a very simple crankcase ventilation system and not the best oil seals on in-line fours are also a common problem, especially the weakness of the rear crankshaft oil seal, for the sake of replacing which you will have to remove the gearbox.
In the photo: Under the hood of the Suzuki Grand Vitara 3-door "2008–12 A 2-liter gasoline engine is the most common. The design of its very venerable age: the j20a / JB420A series was put on the last generation of the model. This motor is 16-valve, with a timing chain drive and is quite reliable. True, his character is not very suitable for a heavy car. Despite the presence of a phase shifter on the intake shaft, there is not enough thrust at low revs, but the "tops" are quite lively. The piston group's resource is quite decent, about 250-300 thousand mileage before overhaul. But this is - if you do not allow excessive loss of oil through the valve seals and leaks. He does not tolerate a low oil level, the liners are rolled up with a guarantee, damaging the crankshaft and yokes of the block.
Running motors prefer a thicker oil, at least SAE40. The pressure on engines with runs above one and a half hundred may no longer be enough, and this leads to accelerated wear of the crankshaft liners.
The valve stem seals and oil seals are a sore spot, they will have to be changed quite often. After hundreds of thousands of kilometers traveled, it is recommended to replace the caps so that the piston rings do not coke. At the same time, it is worth cleaning the intake manifold, it is also very dirty.
In the photo: Suzuki Grand Vitara 5-door "2005-08 At a mileage of 200 thousand, a complete revision of the engine is recommended, and the piston group may still be in excellent condition, but the cylinder head will almost certainly require serious repairs. Fortunately, the motor is highly maintainable. There are repair sizes for almost all wearing parts, and spare parts do not cost space money. And two piston overhaul sizes are just a holiday for these days, although they are rarely needed. In a good scenario, you can get by with repairing the cylinder head and replacing the liners, and the piston group will withstand another hundred to fifteen hundred kilometers.
Timing chain 2.0 lower
price for original
2 668 rubles
The resource of the timing chain cannot be called gigantic, but it usually takes care of 120-150 thousand, which is a good indicator by now. The main thing is that there is no need to be afraid of early chain slip. Although cases of the appearance of extraneous noises in the timing belt with runs of less than a hundred thousand are still encountered, they do not always end with the replacement of the chain and tensioners.
Ignition modules and spark plugs require constant attention. Otherwise, the consumption rises, and the dynamics drops dramatically. Weak plug tips need annual service, and plugs need to be replaced. Moreover, the motor is sometimes capable of "eating up" the iridium Denso, which for some reason it is supposed to be according to the passport. This is especially true for engines that run on 92nd gasoline. So checking and replacing candles every 30 thousand kilometers is highly recommended. It is also not necessary to go broke for "platinum" or iridium, ordinary NGKs work no worse.
The engine mounts also do not differ in excessive reliability; if the vibration level increases, they must be checked. There is a possibility that the motor is just lying on the rubber pads.
The 2.4 liter engine is very similar to the "little brother", but has several features. First, the block is new, and it is not cast, but stamped from secondary aluminum. Until 2008, a robot at the factory was pulling the cylinder head studs. It would seem, what is the connection? It's simple: the material turned out to be weak, the block began to flow over time. A typical problem is antifreeze leak from the cooling jacket under the exhaust manifold. Less common is oil leakage. It will not be possible to weld the crack accurately, extruded aluminum does not hold welding, and such procedures are not recommended due to thermal deformation. Drilling out and placing a patch from "cold welding", as is done on cast-iron blocks, will also fail: the block is weak and the vibrations of the patch will loosen quite quickly. Usually the block is simply replaced. Moreover, the complete shot block changes. Exactly such an operation was carried out with all the warranty machines, but there was no revocable company, so you can find a car with a "leak on the side".
Another nuance is the lack of overhaul dimensions of the piston group. This is not a critical issue as pistons are cheap and liners can be removed with liquid nitrogen and replaced. And the materials are quite durable, the resource of the piston group during normal operation is more than 300 thousand kilometers. The crankshaft has one repair size, but the cylinder head must also be replaced when worn. However, there are always options. In general, the motor is also quite successful, and even pleases with a higher thrust, which is so lacking in a heavy machine. But again, his character is torsional, high-speed.
The small 1.6-liter JB416 three-door engine is a lot like its two-liter sibling. It is not considered especially problematic, but at age it also begins to suffer from an oil appetite, which can lead to serious damage.
V6 engines fit the car much better. Both the native Suzukovsky 2.7 J27, and the GM 3.2, which here received the "name" JB 632. But they are too rare. I have already written about GM motors and will not repeat myself. In short, it has a very successful design, but the timing resource is small and it is very demanding on the operation of the cooling system.
Suzuki's V6 is a little more troublesome. Firstly, the resource of the timing chain is far from unlimited here, but when noise appears on the right cylinder head, you should immediately change the entire timing set, it is prone to jumping, as a result of which the valves on one of the cylinder heads bend, and on the second they work normally the timing mechanism is already arranged. Usually the consequences are even worse than when the circuit is broken. The motor continues to run, ripping off valve caps and grinding pistons and cylinders. There will be nothing to repair there. Of the advantages - the availability of repair dimensions and a common resource. Everything is quite complicated with spare parts, such machines were not supplied to us and there are not many of them in Japan. However, there is a whole paragraph below about the features of contract motors.
For most Japanese cars, contract units from Japan can be easily purchased. This means guaranteed high quality and not a high price for motors. But in Suzuki's case, something went wrong. Motors of 2.0, 2.4 and 2.7 liters are difficult to purchase inexpensively. Prices even beyond the Urals start at 80 thousand rubles for the JB420A, and the V6 is even more expensive. You will have to repair the motor, but only if there is something to repair. In addition, a fairly large number of versions of the block and piston group will deliver a lot of trouble. The lack of mounting holes in the block and a completely different cylinder head can be an unpleasant surprise for those who replace the power unit assembly. In general, Suzuki is not your typical Japanese car in terms of parts. Maybe this is a view from the European part of Russia, but everything is different with you? Are there specialists who are able to find the right node and sellers selling it for a penny? Maybe so. But it is definitely worth warning future owners about this "nuance".
In the photo: Under the hood of the Suzuki Grand Vitara 5-door "2008–12 Renault diesel engines are rare, but a few reviews suggest that they have shown themselves very mediocre, if not worse.
In the photo: Suzuki Grand Vitara 3-door "2005-08 Summary
Suzuki Grand Vitara is very interesting from a technical point of view. Indeed, under the typical crossover appearance, there is a real "rogue". Only its capabilities will not be used to the fullest anyway, because they buy it exactly as a crossover. And in this hypostasis he is not very strong. It rides hard, handles mediocre, and you don't have to nod at four-wheel drive, it just doesn't contribute to good handling. Vitara eats a lot of fuel and is much more difficult to maintain than a typical crossover with a motor "across" and a clutch in the rear wheel drive.
In the photo: Suzuki Grand Vitara 5-door "2012 – present. True, Suzuki tried very hard to make it strong. The Grand Vitara has very good engines, excellent automatic transmissions and a sturdy body that can withstand tough off-road operation. But an old anecdote comes to mind: "Mom, why do we need all these bells and whistles in the zoo?" So I don’t understand. But if you are looking for a serious car for serious tasks, then consider this car. With a little preparation, it will plug many larger and heavier players into the belt and at the same time it will be much more convenient in everyday use.
Suzuki Gran Vitara, being an excellent product from Japanese automakers, has pleased many fans of this brand with its characteristics. But, as you know, in almost any car, many owners discover not only the positive aspects of the car, but also their shortcomings, diseases and weaknesses. This also affected the 2nd generation Suzuki Grand Vitara. It is important to remember that the failure of small and not expensive parts is not a weak point - it is just natural wear and tear, due to the limited resource of the car. In this case, we will focus on the significant and expensive elements of the car, the failure of which occurs before the "metered" resource.
The advantages and benefits of Suzuki Grand Vitara 2
- Several gasoline power plants with a volume of 1.6, 2.0, 2.4 and 3.2 liters. The first two are paired with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission;
- Diesel engine 1.9, 129 horsepower;
- Spacious salon;
- Comfortable fit while driving;
- Good cross-country ability, handling and road stability;
- Four-wheel drive;
- Quiet high-torque motor;
- Large ground clearance;
- The chassis is reliable.
Weaknesses of the 2nd generation Suzuki Grand Vitara
- Body;
- Power plants;
- Catalysts;
- Fuel filter;
- Front axle reducer;
- Valve train chain.
Now in more detail ...
The paintwork of the crossover is of decent quality. Excellent corrosion resistance. Rust is rarely found on the body, even on cars over ten years old. But the inner doorways are poorly painted. Over time, paint is erased on them to metal.
The weak point of the car was the cover of the compartment intended for storing and transporting luggage. The hinges are not designed for such a weight, after a few years they sag, and a distortion occurs. You can fix the problem yourself. It is enough to place the washer under the mount. But sometimes it doesn't help. In this case, a complete replacement of the deformed parts is necessary.
Power plants
Despite the high reliability indicator, the car engines have characteristic sores. A 1.6 engine does not tolerate overheating and lack of oil. The timing chain drive can last up to 200 thousand km, but subject to the use of high-quality lubricant. As soon as the resource of the unit ends, the oil consumption will increase to 500 grams per thousand km. Especially for those who like to drive. In this case, it is necessary to install new rings, valve stem seals.
Power plants with a volume of 2.0 and 2.4 also have weak points. The service life of the drive belt rollers is short and is no more than 50 thousand km. The chain stretches quickly, the tensioner breaks. A symptom of an ailment is the appearance of an uncharacteristic sound when the engine is cold started.
The disadvantage of a diesel engine is the rapid failure of the turbocharger, pump and DPF filter. The disadvantage is high fuel consumption and expensive unit maintenance.
Catalysts.
Depending on the quality of the fuel, catalysts, sooner or later, will require replacement. They were classified as a vulnerability only because they clog up extremely quickly, and the cost of replacing them is not very low. Therefore, when buying, you should definitely ask the owner when the last replacement of the unit was made, and also check them for external signs. Signs of a clogged catalyst include problems with starting the engine, poor speed performance, and a strong smell of hydrogen sulfide from the exhaust pipe.
Fuel filter.
In fact, replacing a fuel filter is not unusual. This work, sooner or later, will be required on any car. But, in the case of the 2nd generation Suzuki Grand Vitara, the replacement will be somewhat more difficult than usual, since this unit is assembled with a fuel pump and, as you might guess, is extremely expensive. Before buying a car, you should know about this, as well as ask the seller when the last replacement was made. If the mileage is in the region of 100 thousand km. and the filter has not been replaced, then most likely replacement will be required in the next 5-10 thousand km. I would like to note once again that the filter can be replaced without changing the pump, but this is a very laborious work.
Front axle reducer.
The gearbox can "die" before the due date only if the Grand Vitara was often used off-road. Signs of an approaching failure of the gearbox are a strong hum, and in especially advanced cases - extraneous mechanical knocks. It is important to remember that in the future, in case of repair, it will cost a round sum, since when disassembling this mechanism, it becomes necessary to replace not only the main pair, but also the bearings with oil seals. Therefore, when buying, you need to drive a car a little and make sure that there are no characteristic noises. It will also not be superfluous to ask the seller when the front axle gearbox was last repaired or at least serviced. If the gearbox has not been repaired, and the car already has a mileage of 80-100 thousand km, then most likely, in the near future, it will need to be repaired.
Of course, the timing chain of any car tends to stretch and wear out. Definitely, when buying a car, it is necessary to check the condition of the chain tension and its condition in general. It is important to remember that this is an extremely important element of the engine, if it breaks down, you will have to invest heavily in repairing the "heart" of the car. That is why, with a car mileage of 150 thousand km, the chain will have to be changed in any case, which in turn will require significant expenses.
The main disadvantages of the Suzuki Grand Vitara II
- Rear door slack. Due to the design features, this car has the problem of rapid abrasion of the bushings and rear door hinges. It is impossible to correct this shortcoming of the "Japanese". The problem can only be cured by replacing the loops. The most that can be done to increase their service life is to monitor the presence of grease in them.
- Increased fuel consumption with a 3.2 liter engine. 3.2-liter engines, of course, will delight the owner with good dynamics and power reserve on the road. But you will have to pay dearly for this, because the power unit loves to eat well. Fuel consumption on this engine, on average, rarely drops below 22 l / 100 km.
- Rigid suspension. Designed as an off-road vehicle, the Grand Vitara will not delight you with the soft suspension of a business class car and should be accepted.
- Weak insulation. Sometimes, when driving on rough roads, it will be difficult for you to communicate with your passengers because of the strong background noise in the car. You can solve the problem by installing additional noise insulation.
- Weak two-liter engine. For those who like to save money, buying a version with a 2-liter engine will be a big disappointment. Sometimes this unit is simply not able to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to it to accelerate the car, which is why many drivers suffer greatly.
- "Crickets" in the salon. When driving on bumps, the panel rattles quite strongly, which is why so-called "crickets" appear in the cabin.
- Ergonomics flaws. This point is already more individual, but many car owners complain about inconveniently located buttons and switches, which often have to be reached.
Conclusion.
Depending on the individual requirements of each person, there are a number of other disadvantages of this machine. But, as for the main sore spots, they were covered as much as possible within the framework of this article, based on the reviews of hundreds of owners of this car. Summing up, we can say with confidence that in general, as mentioned earlier, the Suzuki Grand Vitara is a very good car with excellent parameters, which can easily compete with other representatives of this class.
Weaknesses, pros and cons of Suzuki Grand Vitara 2 with mileage was last modified: November 13th, 2018 by Administrator
