Carburetor Service?

Evan it may not be a rebuild kit needed, playing about with the air/fuel jets/bleeds etc may well be the issue.

take it to someone

Interesting info el, and good to hear. Whilst googling for info on this engine, I found someone selling Vitara bits on eBay and they had a carby rebuild kit for around $90. I imagine putting that lot together is the half-day job. I got a inside door handle off them and for the first time since about 2007, I can open the door the normal way! (without winding down the window and reaching outside, or using two hands to pull the metal rod). Can’t get rid of the car now, it has a proper door handle.

Sandman said :

Rather than spend a heap of money “trying” to fix possible suspected causes you might be better off simply purchasing a known good carby and bolting it on. What model Suzuki is it and what engine does it have?

It’s a Vitara, 94 (so a G16A engine) – part of the 89-94 series. Simple little 1.6 carby engine. I did a brief googling and saw something with a $590 price tag and backed out in horror, that’s about half the car’s current value. Mind you, with the new front bearings and a hub (wheels actually did almost fall off), new electricals, recently-new suspension, it’s already a tad overcapitalised but I like it.
Gearbox and clutch are good! Ditto brakes.

Sandman said :

Most mechanics deliberately steer clear because of the unknown causes (and therefore times and dollars) often resulting in customers being pissed off due to spending a lot of money for minimal result. Let’s face it, most cars being driven daily these days that still run a carby aren’t worth a heap of money.

Mine’s worth very little, but I’ve looked after it from day one and nothing else on the market does what a Vitara does (those grand vitara plush wagons are awful and the gap between them and the Jimny is too big). The mechanics who did the last service (and they won’t be doing another) said the fuel gulping issue was in the carburettor, a float error. They said it needed a rebuild, and I must admit, I did wonder if replacing it would be a more sensible option.

Umm, how does one go about sourcing a new carby and can anyone put it on or should one get these carburettor people to do it?

Pork Hunt said :

devils_advocate said :

I realise this isn’t helpful, but:

Running carbies in the canberra climate is the worst. Just the worst.

Would you care to elaborate?

Having said that, my bike is fuel injected and my car is a turbo diesel…

The fluctuations in temperature make keeping the things in tune a real pain. Say you set your tune (air/fuel mixture) perfectly during a nice, sunny, 17 degree day, you’ll be running so lean the car will have trouble starting the next time you need to start during a -7 degree morning due to the much colder, denser air. Set the optimal tune on a cool 12 degree day, and a couple of months later you’ll be running rich due to the increased air temps (and reduced density).

Basically, it’s a constant compromise, and not something I miss dealing with in the slightest 🙂

Modern engine management with EFI handles all of this stuff automagically.

EvanJames said :

I started to get my hopes up at the Lonsdale St place, but suspect it’s the old SDs who have decamped to Murrumbateman.

I think you’re right. http://www.sdcartuning.com.au/

EvanJames said :

Apparently, a carburettor is a several-day job and I’m not camping out there, no way.

Not the case at all, unless it’s some kind of exotic/rare setup. Last time I had one rebuilt by the SD guys I dropped it off first thing in the morning and picked it up at lunchtime.

It’s going back a little while now, but I’ve also previously had excellent service/results from Mitchell EFI & Carburettor Service on Sandford St.

Rather than spend a heap of money “trying” to fix possible suspected causes you might be better off simply purchasing a known good carby and bolting it on. What model Suzuki is it and what engine does it have?
Most mechanics deliberately steer clear because of the unknown causes (and therefore times and dollars) often resulting in customers being pissed off due to spending a lot of money for minimal result. Let’s face it, most cars being driven daily these days that still run a carby aren’t worth a heap of money.

The guy at Dyno-tune in Mitchell is a guru with carbs although his name escapes me. He’s very reasonable too.

Kev knows his carbies pretty well, and his head mechanic Matt loves playing/fixing things you can actually do with a screwdriver and tools, rather than plugging into a computer. They are big into their V8 stuff, all carby fed stuff. They’ll be the ones in charge of my carby camaro when it gets here. …. If you havent already called, tell them Damo/Racing Ready said to call

Guys at Hume? I’d be assuming you mean Ed and the guys at Autotech? yes they play with racecars and exotics, but also work on normal daily drive stuff as well, havent had any work done there personally, but havent heard any bad stories either.

EvanJames said :

I started to get my hopes up at the Lonsdale St place, but suspect it’s the old SDs who have decamped to Murrumbateman. Apparently, a carburettor is a several-day job and I’m not camping out there, no way.

This Kev person sounds promising… will see what he reckons for sure, thanks. Has anyone tried the people in Hume? Their ad looks like racing cars and exotics. I had a bad experience with some 4WD mob turning their noses up at my zook, despite it having seen more rough country than most of their soft-handed customers. So I’d hate for a carby mob to do the same thing.

It’s getting increasingly difficult to find people to look after a plain old carburettor-engined car. Emphasis on the “old”.

Bits of it are getting old and cracked, but the people who service it put more oil and filters in, and turn a blind eye to the wheels about to fall off, or the electricals which are a shocking-hazard (both actually happened).

Two more to try… Qbn is tricky as I work in Canberra but for such a vital thing it might be worth it. (not Murrumbateman though).

Yep, it was SD. Must have been more than a couple of years ago! But also for the last decade or so I have been taking my oldie to John Res mechanical at Queanbeyan. 62978557 They definitely know how to fix a carby.

bruce at performance plus in qbyn is fairly good and is a former employee of sd tuning

I started to get my hopes up at the Lonsdale St place, but suspect it’s the old SDs who have decamped to Murrumbateman. Apparently, a carburettor is a several-day job and I’m not camping out there, no way.

This Kev person sounds promising… will see what he reckons for sure, thanks. Has anyone tried the people in Hume? Their ad looks like racing cars and exotics. I had a bad experience with some 4WD mob turning their noses up at my zook, despite it having seen more rough country than most of their soft-handed customers. So I’d hate for a carby mob to do the same thing.

It’s getting increasingly difficult to find people to look after a plain old carburettor-engined car. Emphasis on the “old”. Bits of it are getting old and cracked, but the people who service it put more oil and filters in, and turn a blind eye to the wheels about to fall off, or the electricals which are a shocking-hazard (both actually happened).

mad_kiwi said :

this crowd know subarus inside out
http://www.subaroo.com.au/home.htm

what you say is true….but since the op’s car is a suzuki your recommendation is hardly relevant…….

devils_advocate said :

I realise this isn’t helpful, but:

Running carbies in the canberra climate is the worst. Just the worst.

Would you care to elaborate?

Having said that, my bike is fuel injected and my car is a turbo diesel…

Kev at Canberra Total Service and Repair Belco, 6251 3888 He’s pretty good with playing around with Carbies

I think 460cixy is right. Looks like they are in Murrumbateman these days – http://www.sdcartuning.com.au/

Pots is that the old sd tuning or what ever they were called? Very good but not sure there still there any more bradons for lattes now not car servicing sadly

I realise this isn’t helpful, but:

Running carbies in the canberra climate is the worst. Just the worst.

Pretty sure this is the bomb:

Canberra Carburettor Services: 62476850
Address: Rear 7 Lonsdale St, Braddon, Australian Capital Territory, 2601

They did a great job cleaning up a pair of Stromberg CD’s for me a couple of years ago.

Carburetor? Whats that?

this crowd know subarus inside out
http://www.subaroo.com.au/home.htm