Servicing - A/t: Other Suzuki Esteem I

Esteem

Manufacturer recommends replacing transaxle oil cooler hoses at 45,000 mile intervals. Replace transaxle fluid every 100,000 miles under normal driving conditions. Change fluid every 12,000 miles under severe operating conditions. Severe conditions are same as listed for Grand Vitara and Vitara. See GRAND VITARA & VITARA .

Grand Vitara & Vitara

1. Manufacturer recommends replacing transmission oil cooler hoses at 45,000 mile intervals. Under normal driving conditions, replace transmission fluid every 100,000 miles. Replace transfer case fluid at 30,000 mile intervals.
2. Under severe driving conditions, replace transmission fluid every 15,000 miles or 15 months (4-speed). Replace transfer case fluid at 7500 miles, and then every 15,000 miles or 15 months thereafter. Severe driving conditions are any of the following: Driving Mostly In Stop-&-Go Traffic Delivery Service Towing Average Trip Less Than 4 Miles Average Trip Less Than 10 Miles With Outside Temperature Below Freezing Driving In Dusty Conditions

Swift

Manufacturer recommends replacing transaxle oil cooler hoses at 45,000 mile intervals. Replace transaxle fluid every 100,000 miles under normal driving conditions. Change fluid every 15,000 miles or 15 months under severe driving conditions. Severe conditions are same as listed for Grand Vitara and Vitara. See GRAND VITARA & VITARA .

Transaxle & Transmission (Except Esteem)

1. Engine must be at normal operating temperature. Park vehicle on level surface and apply parking brake. Place selector lever in Park.
2. Start engine and allow to idle. Apply brakes, shift through all gears, and return selector lever to Park.
3. Remove dipstick. Fluid level should be in HOT or FULL HOT range. Add fluid (if necessary) and recheck. DO NOT overfill.

Transaxle (Esteem)

1. Engine must be at normal operating temperature. Park vehicle on level surface, and apply parking brake. Place selector lever in "P" position.
2. Start engine and allow to idle. Apply brakes, shift through all gears and return selector lever to "P" position.
3. Remove dipstick. Fluid level should be between FULL HOT and LOW HOT. If level is below LOW HOT add fluid until level is at FULL HOT.

Transfer Case (Grand Vitara & Vitara)

Remove transfer case fill plug (upper plug) from rear of transfer case. Fill plug is located near speedometer gear housing. Fluid level must be at bottom of fill plug hole. Install fill plug and tighten to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .

Transaxle & Transmission

All models use Dexron-III ATF.

Use SAE 75W-90 or 80W-90 gear oil with GL-4 rating.

Esteem (Transaxle)

Raise vehicle. With engine cool, remove drain plug from oil pan and drain ATF. Install drain plug. Lower vehicle and fill with Dexron-III. Check fluid level. See CHECKING FLUID LEVEL under LUBRICATION.

Grand Vitara & Vitara (Transmission)

Raise and support vehicle. Ensure engine is cool and remove oil pan drain plug. Once fluid is drained, install drain plug and tighten to 17 ft. lbs. (23 N.m). Lower vehicle and fill transmission with 2.6 qts. (2.5L) of Dexron-III ATF. Check fluid level. See CHECKING FLUID LEVEL under LUBRICATION .

Grand Vitara & Vitara (Transfer Case)

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove drain plug from back of transfer case, below speedometer gear housing and drain fluid. Install drain plug and tighten to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-8665-S01494858832000091200000) .
2. Remove transfer case fill plug (upper plug) from rear of transfer case. Fill plug is located near speedometer gear housing.
3. Fill transfer case with SAE 75W-90 or 80W-90 gear oil with a GL-4 rating until fluid level is at bottom of fill plug hole. Install fill plug and tighten to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-8665-S01494858832000091200000) .

Scheme 5

1. Remove drain plug from bottom of oil pan and drain fluid. If removing filter screen, note position of cross-grooved oil pan bolts. (Scheme 5) Remove oil pan bolts, oil pan, gasket, filter screen bolts and filter screen.
2. Install filter screen. Install oil pan with NEW gasket. Apply thread sealant to threads of cross-grooved bolts. Tighten oil pan bolts to specification. Tighten drain plug to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-8665-S01494858832000091200000).
3. Add 1.6 qts. (1.5L) of Dexron-III through dipstick tube. Check fluid level. See «CHECKING FLUID LEVEL»(ref-8665-S38945365402000091200000) under LUBRICATION.

Place gear selector lever and transmission control shaft in "N" position. Ensure cable lock nuts have clearance and have been loosened. Push cable forward until it stops. Ensure gear selector lever is in "N" position. Tighten rear cable lock nut until it contacts transmission control shaft lever. Tighten front cable lock nut. Ensure vehicle will not move with selector lever in "P" position. Vehicle will not drive in Neutral, but can be operated as indicated in all other positions.

Scheme 6

1. Place gearshift and manual shift levers in "N" position. Loosen lock nuts at transmission end of cable. Ensure transmission shift lever is in "N" position. (Scheme 6)
2. Turn adjusting nut "A" until it contacts cable joint, and then tighten lock nut "B". After adjustment, ensure gearshift operates properly in all gear ranges.

Scheme 7

1. Set parking brake. Move gearshift lever to "N" position. Loosen inner and outer lock nuts. (Scheme 7) Ensure transaxle control lever is in "N" position. Tighten outer lock nut by hand until it contacts control lever.
2. Using wrench, tighten inner lock nut. Ensure transaxle operates in all gear positions. Shift transaxle gearshift lever to "P" position and ensure vehicle will not move.

Shift Lock Solenoid (Esteem & Swift)

Remove parking brake cover and console box to access solenoid. Ensure detent pin is locked in park position by lock plate. (Scheme 8) Ensure lock plate is pulled in when ignition is turned to ON position and brake pedal is depressed (this allows voltage to energize solenoid). This allows detent pin to be pushed down.

Scheme 8

Scheme 9

1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Disable air bag system. Remove covers to access upper steering column. Ensure interlock cable clamp screw is tight and cable is attached to release shaft. (Scheme 9)
2. Loosen cable bracket nut at gear selector cable. Place gear selector lever in "P" position, and manually move solenoid lock plate towards front of vehicle. Push gear selector lever lock knob. Insert Special Alignment Tool (09925-78210) into holes in gear selector key release cam and selector lever.
3. Ensure cable is connected to key release cam and tighten cable bracket nut to 114 INCH lbs. (13 N.m). Remove special tool. Manually hold solenoid shift lock plate toward front of vehicle and ensure key release cam moves smoothly when gear selector button is pushed.
4. With selector lever in Park, turn ignition key to ACC position. Ensure when knob is released, ignition key can be turned from ACC to LOCK position. Replace components removed for service.

Note. Shift interlock system will not allow gearshift to move from "P" position unless ignition is on. It also prevents ignition key removal unless gearshift is in "P" position.

Shift Lock Solenoid (Grand Vitara & Vitara)

Remove parking brake cover and console box to access solenoid. Ensure detent pin is locked in park position by lock plate. Ensure lock plate is pulled in when ignition is turned to ON position and brake pedal is depressed (this allows voltage to energize solenoid). This allows detent pin to be pushed down.

Scheme 10

1. Remove console covers. Cable is adjusted at bracket, located near gearshift. Place ignition in ACC position. Ensure cable is attached to key interlock lever.
2. Loosen cable bracket nut. (Scheme 10) Position release cam and insert 6-mm pin punch into holes in gear selector key release cam and selector lever.
3. Ensure cable is connected to key release cam and tighten cable bracket nut to 114 INCH lbs. (13 N.m). Remove pin punch. Ensure key release cam moves smoothly when gear selector button is pushed.
4. With selector lever in "P" position, turn ignition switch to ACC position. Ensure when knob is released, ignition switch can be turned from ACC to LOCK position.

1. Ensure accelerator cable is adjusted correctly. Accelerator cable should not have any end play at throttle body with accelerator at idle position and engine off.
2. Ensure accelerator is in idle position. Measure distance between end of T.V. cable boot and cable stopper. (Scheme 11)
3. If measurement is greater than.031-.059" (0.8-1.5 mm), loosen lock nut and adjust cable length. Tighten lock nut, and recheck measurement.

1. Ensure accelerator cable is adjusted correctly. Accelerator cable should not have any end play at throttle body with accelerator at idle position and engine off.
2. Warm engine to normal operating temperature. Ensure throttle is fully closed. Remove fluid pressure cable cover. Check boot-to-inner cable stopper clearance. (Scheme 12)
3. If clearance is greater than.02" (.5 mm), loosen upper lock nuts and adjust fluid pressure cable length. If necessary, use lower lock nuts to change cable length. (Scheme 12) Tighten all lock nuts.

Scheme 11

Scheme 12

Esteem, Grand Vitara & Vitara

1. Set parking brake. Place gearshift in "N" position. Loosen neutral safety switch adjusting bolt. Align groove on switch with match mark on manual shift lever shaft.
2. Hold switch at this position and tighten neutral safety switch adjusting bolt to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-8665-S01494858832000091200000) . Ensure starter operates with gearshift lever in "N" and "P" positions only.

1. Set parking brake. Place gearshift in "N" position. Loosen neutral safety switch adjusting bolt. (Scheme 7) Move neutral safety switch back and forth until a click is heard.
2. Hold switch at this position and tighten neutral safety switch adjusting bolt to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-8665-S01494858832000091200000). Ensure starter operates with gearshift lever in "N" and "P" positions only.