Old Rusty Discontinued Cars & Obsolete Parts
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Date: 2022-12-13
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Comments and reviews: 14
Craig
Suzuki sold small cars. Honestly it should had been a lesson for EV makers, that Americans do not like small cars. Like it or not, the majority of Americans are gas guzzlers and will likely always be. Its in our strive to be the biggest and baddest. Anyway, I remember a friend of mine owned a Suzuki sedan and there was no way you could fit a grown American adult in the backseats, unless he was laying horizontal across the whole seat.
I understand your point of view, for some shops its better to just get stuff in and get that stuff out as soon as possible. A part coming from overseas would definitely throw a wrench in the business plan. In my case, I likely would had just let the owner decide and tell them that if they go ahead with the repair then they gotta pay for the part upfront. That its coming from overseas and explain the hassle/wait time for the part.
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Suzuki sold small cars. Honestly it should had been a lesson for EV makers, that Americans do not like small cars. Like it or not, the majority of Americans are gas guzzlers and will likely always be. Its in our strive to be the biggest and baddest. Anyway, I remember a friend of mine owned a Suzuki sedan and there was no way you could fit a grown American adult in the backseats, unless he was laying horizontal across the whole seat.
I understand your point of view, for some shops its better to just get stuff in and get that stuff out as soon as possible. A part coming from overseas would definitely throw a wrench in the business plan. In my case, I likely would had just let the owner decide and tell them that if they go ahead with the repair then they gotta pay for the part upfront. That its coming from overseas and explain the hassle/wait time for the part.
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Zach
Down here in in the south where things don't rust, cars last so much longer than in the salt belt. I see a lot more Suzukis and Isuzus down here than you do I'm sure. That said, most places still won't touch them because of the parts issues you mention. I don't mind working on them, but I just make sure people understand that if I have to order something from Japan they have to wait, and pay accordingly. I've become the only guy in the area that does this and I've carved a nice little niche out doing it. Just rebuilt the rear end, replaced u-joints, and resealed the transfer case in an 88 Samurai a few weeks ago. Parts took 4 weeks to come from Japan. Owner was happy though.
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Down here in in the south where things don't rust, cars last so much longer than in the salt belt. I see a lot more Suzukis and Isuzus down here than you do I'm sure. That said, most places still won't touch them because of the parts issues you mention. I don't mind working on them, but I just make sure people understand that if I have to order something from Japan they have to wait, and pay accordingly. I've become the only guy in the area that does this and I've carved a nice little niche out doing it. Just rebuilt the rear end, replaced u-joints, and resealed the transfer case in an 88 Samurai a few weeks ago. Parts took 4 weeks to come from Japan. Owner was happy though.
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Mike
I would have done the same thing, as a matter of fact we was working on the work truck a 09 Ford F-250 looking for a wiring short. we found it ford decided to wire two grounds to one holder very smart of them so when it corrodes both grounds go bad, also smart on fords behalf is they placed said grounds inside the frame above the rear tire holder which also holds the evap canister. Had to grind the heads of the rusted bolts off just to move the evap holder up just enough to get to the wires. The evap holder looked lie Swiss as well as the spare tire holder. Got more rust off with a hammer then the grinder at least a quarter inch of rust. Pain in the neck vehicles
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I would have done the same thing, as a matter of fact we was working on the work truck a 09 Ford F-250 looking for a wiring short. we found it ford decided to wire two grounds to one holder very smart of them so when it corrodes both grounds go bad, also smart on fords behalf is they placed said grounds inside the frame above the rear tire holder which also holds the evap canister. Had to grind the heads of the rusted bolts off just to move the evap holder up just enough to get to the wires. The evap holder looked lie Swiss as well as the spare tire holder. Got more rust off with a hammer then the grinder at least a quarter inch of rust. Pain in the neck vehicles
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Allister
Absolutely Eric, right call. I actually repaired a Suzuki Samurai ECU at component level. I thought well it is scrap so I had a go and got success. Capacitors had leaked all over the tracks and burned them. New caps and a couple of links and it worked. Time involved was about 2 hours. Much more and it would have been the crusher. No OBD2 on this vehicle.
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Absolutely Eric, right call. I actually repaired a Suzuki Samurai ECU at component level. I thought well it is scrap so I had a go and got success. Capacitors had leaked all over the tracks and burned them. New caps and a couple of links and it worked. Time involved was about 2 hours. Much more and it would have been the crusher. No OBD2 on this vehicle.
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autos
In this case If I can fix it, then you probably can't fix it either! This Suzuki would be good for someone who has time on their hands. Perhaps some kid who just bought their first car. I bet on a forum somewhere there is a solution to this problem. I would not expect a business owner to be searching through searching through such forums to find I solution!
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In this case If I can fix it, then you probably can't fix it either! This Suzuki would be good for someone who has time on their hands. Perhaps some kid who just bought their first car. I bet on a forum somewhere there is a solution to this problem. I would not expect a business owner to be searching through searching through such forums to find I solution!
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James
In terms of time I think you'd be worse off after spending the hours trying to fabricate something to replace the crumbling parts, no sense digging a hole for yourself when you can be working on the next car making money. Sucks for the customer but they have a diagnosis and a suggestion for next steps, even if those steps aren't with you.
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In terms of time I think you'd be worse off after spending the hours trying to fabricate something to replace the crumbling parts, no sense digging a hole for yourself when you can be working on the next car making money. Sucks for the customer but they have a diagnosis and a suggestion for next steps, even if those steps aren't with you.
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TargaWheels
Locally the last time I could get Suzuki parts for my Grand Vitara was around 2010. And it was through a Toyota parts dealer. After that I couldn't get anything except online. On another note, Toyota doesn't stock parts for Toyota vehicles older than 20 yrs old. Been a while since I could get parts for my '95 Corolla. Online only.
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Locally the last time I could get Suzuki parts for my Grand Vitara was around 2010. And it was through a Toyota parts dealer. After that I couldn't get anything except online. On another note, Toyota doesn't stock parts for Toyota vehicles older than 20 yrs old. Been a while since I could get parts for my '95 Corolla. Online only.
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krugerblue
I don t recall Suzuki ever making a good car (they are pretty much hated here in Europe. I wonder why people bought them, were they cheap new? Do you get them for free SH? I understand being a fan of some brand or whatever, but why. why not choose a decent car?
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I don t recall Suzuki ever making a good car (they are pretty much hated here in Europe. I wonder why people bought them, were they cheap new? Do you get them for free SH? I understand being a fan of some brand or whatever, but why. why not choose a decent car?
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autos
What's a guy to do with unobtanium? You either have to butcher something and try to make it fit and it might not work or be legal, spend hours trying to find it, or let the customer find it themselves and revisit should they get one. No warranty.
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What's a guy to do with unobtanium? You either have to butcher something and try to make it fit and it might not work or be legal, spend hours trying to find it, or let the customer find it themselves and revisit should they get one. No warranty.
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Spinonemaster
I think Eric O needs to buy a Crusher. just think of how therapeutic it would be? . once a quarter, or so, live steam, BBQ, Mrs. O's potato salad. maybe a local Heavy Metal band. and fund raise for St Judes Hospital or a local charity
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I think Eric O needs to buy a Crusher. just think of how therapeutic it would be? . once a quarter, or so, live steam, BBQ, Mrs. O's potato salad. maybe a local Heavy Metal band. and fund raise for St Judes Hospital or a local charity
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skorpiius
Makes perfect sense, when the manufacturer itself has bailed on the US market you can only expect shop owners to do so much. Realistically Suzuki's need to be on the 'maybe ok to own if you do your own repairs' list.
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Makes perfect sense, when the manufacturer itself has bailed on the US market you can only expect shop owners to do so much. Realistically Suzuki's need to be on the 'maybe ok to own if you do your own repairs' list.
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mattmanyam
Here for the traditional elegant segue to the outro! Your tongue-in-cheek delivery always makes me chuckle!
Hopefully the customer understands why they got such a great deal on the Suzuki when they bought it.
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Here for the traditional elegant segue to the outro! Your tongue-in-cheek delivery always makes me chuckle!
Hopefully the customer understands why they got such a great deal on the Suzuki when they bought it.
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Rohan
Your business, your call. You can't be blamed for not wanting to try to fix the unfixable. You're a talented man Eric O, a fact highlighted by your ability to recognise that you can't polish a turd.
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Your business, your call. You can't be blamed for not wanting to try to fix the unfixable. You're a talented man Eric O, a fact highlighted by your ability to recognise that you can't polish a turd.
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Shane
Yep done that more than a few times however I did make a few adaptations to get through a few more years but again that was a personal choice and it was a personal vehicle too
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Yep done that more than a few times however I did make a few adaptations to get through a few more years but again that was a personal choice and it was a personal vehicle too
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