Suzuki Swift 1.3 GL buying guide?

[j666eds]

Hi,

Im potentially being made to buy my girlfriend the above car. I just wondered if anyone had any specific areas/things that i should check? Also i can't seem to find a definite answer whether it has a cam belt or chain or both???

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks

James

p.s. its a 2006

Edited by j666eds on Tuesday 2nd September 01:17

[nickofh]

One of my mother and father in laws cars is the entry level 1.3 swift. Reliability to me is one of the most important things in a car and that one has been totally reliable.

It is a 2005 with 115000 miles on it and it has never broken( just pads / discs and fluids replaced ). It hasn't been maintained fantastically , just the minimum required & its had a hard life with a family to ferry round in its early years.

I also heard of the gearbox problems and I thought that the gearbox would go on that one about 20k miles ago as I heard a whirring coming from it & the mother in law isn't the best gear changer! But it is still in daily use and I would have a swift tomorrow if I needed a small car. Our best friend also has a 2007 1.3 with 57k on it , also faultless.

[VWDaz86]

little late replying, only just seen the post.

I work for a suzuki dealer and own a swift sport

It will be a chain engine

common problems I come across are

lower suspension arm bushes, tend to go around 5 years old - budget 170 per arm for genuine, aftermarket much cheaper, although couldnt say if the aftermarket are any good.

gearbox - v.loud whine in 1st and maybe 2nd(a slight whine is normal, I'm talking very loud, as in "somethings borked") - gearbox input shaft bearings gone, common problem, gearbox out and strip required - price will vary massively depending on where you take it

For some reason they seem to like popping cigarette lighter fuses, might be what people are using or dropping metal things in the cig lighter, I just seem to come across it alot. It knocks out top display, radio and cig lighter.

Thats about it really save for the normal owner/maintainance/condition things

hope this helps

overall reliable decent cars

[ali786-1]

Hi vwdaz i need some help. My daughter just bought a suzuki swift 2006 1.2 ddis with 6990k miles there seems to be a lot of noise coming from the clutch but wen you press the clutch pedal in the noise disappears but let go of the pedal and the noise is back took it to the local garage and was told its the dual mas flywheel please can someone give me some advise thanks.

[viciousj377o]

ali786-1 said:

Hi vwdaz i need some help. My daughter just bought a suzuki swift 2006 1.2 ddis with 6990k miles there seems to be a lot of noise coming from the clutch but wen you press the clutch pedal in the noise disappears but let go of the pedal and the noise is back took it to the local garage and was told its the dual mas flywheel please can someone give me some advise thanks.

Sounds like a release bearing issue to me.

[Kev880]

Morning VWDaz86
Sorry to hijack thread but I'm thinking of buying a 2011 Suzuki SX4, as you work in a dealership I just wondered what problems you have with them? My other concern is that now they are not made will spare parts still be available in say 5 years?
Cheers Kevin

[VWDaz86]

Kev880 said:

Morning VWDaz86
Sorry to hijack thread but I'm thinking of buying a 2011 Suzuki SX4, as you work in a dealership I just wondered what problems you have with them? My other concern is that now they are not made will spare parts still be available in say 5 years?
Cheers Kevin

not to many issues with those to be honest.

common things are:
broken front springs
drop links split/leaking
lower arm bushes
rear shocks leak

that's about it really, overall good cars and parts supply isn't an issue

[VWDaz86]

ali786-1 said:

Hi vwdaz i need some help. My daughter just bought a suzuki swift 2006 1.2 ddis with 6990k miles there seems to be a lot of noise coming from the clutch but wen you press the clutch pedal in the noise disappears but let go of the pedal and the noise is back took it to the local garage and was told its the dual mas flywheel please can someone give me some advise thanks.

I'd agree with the other reply, sounds like release bearing. the engine and gearbox isn't suzuki made unlike the petrols, its a fiat unit.

[Kev880]

Thanks VWDaz
The sx4 sounds good to me!

Edited by Kev880 on Sunday 14th May 21:20

[battered]

Kev880 said:

Morning VWDaz86
Sorry to hijack thread but I'm thinking of buying a 2011 Suzuki SX4, as you work in a dealership I just wondered what problems you have with them? My other concern is that now they are not made will spare parts still be available in say 5 years?
Cheers Kevin

Yes they will be available. The law says dealers have to supply parts for 10 years after last production, in reality theyg do that and more. Suzuki are a mainstream manufacturer, the last thing they want are people thinking their cars have poor parts supply. Bear in mind that service items like brakes will be around for decades to come. You can still buy brakes for pretty well every 60s car ever made, after all.

[ali786-1]

vwdaz just another question wen i tried just to push the gear in without pressing the clutch in and holding it the noise seems to disappear and let go the noise is back could that still be the release bearing my daughter still drives it about to work will that cause more damage all response appreciated thanks.




and thanks everyone for the reply