No dash/rear lights on 97 Suzuki Sidekick

"Brian Pipa" > wrote in message
r.com...
> Well, I can't figure out what the problem is. I guess I'll take it to a
> mechanic. For something like this, is it better to take it to the dealer
> or to a good local mechanic?
>
> --
> ---
> MP3 Automagic CD Cover Creator
> http://maccc.filenabber.com
>
Hi, Brian. If u know a good local mechanic who's good in electricals,
he'd be usually cheaper. In our 3-town area, the new-car dealers all send
their "we couldn't fix it at the dealership electrics" to one local
independent mech--best around. Better believe I quickly made a personal
friend here!
Also, car mfg's. usually put dash and taillites on same fuse/circuit so
driver is warned when his taillites fail by the lack of lite in his dash.
HTH & good luck, sdlomi

(for those not familiar with my situation, I included my original post
at the bottom of this one)

Well, I took it to my local mechanic and he said the combination switch
is bad. He called the Suzuki dealer and it's $652 new (special order
too). I poked around online and found a used one for ~$150 shipped (with
90 day warranty).

He said they tried splicing the tail and dash wire into the headlight
feed and that seemed to work, but he didn't know if doing something like
that would work as a permanent solution. He said he wasn't sure if
adding the additional draw from the dash and tail-lights onto the
headlight path would blow the headlight power feed.

I looked on ebay and found some combination switches for other cars
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=2453265477
and it looks like it is the part that has the turn signals on it and is
mounted just behind the steering wheel (on the column).

Would it be worth my while to call around to some local scrap/junk yards
and try to get one? is $150 shipped for a used one with 90-day warranty
a good price?

Any thoughts/advice would be most welcome. I REALLY don't want to spend
$650+ on this but I really know nothing about this. I definitely want to
get this fixed somehow though since the car only has 40K miles on it.

Help! Please post replies instead of emailing. Thanks!

Brian


Brian Pipa wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have what looks to be some sort of electrical problem with my 97
> Suzuki Sidekick. When I turn on the lights, the headlights come on but
> that's about it. No running lights come on, and none of the rear lights
> come on at all. Also, the warning beep saying the lights are on when the
> car is off does not come on. The radio and everything else as far as I
> can tell works.
>
> I have checked (with a continuity tester even) all of the fuses under
> the hood and under the driver's side dash and they all are ok. I also
> checked all of the bulbs in the rear and they were all good too. The
> only bulbs in the back I didn't check were the bulbs that light the
> license plate - I couldn't figure out how to get to them.
>
> Anyone have any ideas on what else I need to check to get all my lights
> working again? They just stopped working one day for no apparent reason.
> I haven't done anything to the elecetrical system recently (I did
> install a car radio myself about a year ago but never had any problems).
> I do NOT have a trailer hitch/wiring installed.
>
> Any help/hints would be much appreciated. Please post replies instead of
> emailing. Thanks!
>
> brian
>


--
---
MP3 Automagic CD Cover Creator
http://maccc.filenabber.com

(for those not familiar with my situation, I included my original post
at the bottom of this one)

Well, I took it to my local mechanic and he said the combination switch
is bad. He called the Suzuki dealer and it's $652 new (special order
too). I poked around online and found a used one for ~$150 shipped (with
90 day warranty).

He said they tried splicing the tail and dash wire into the headlight
feed and that seemed to work, but he didn't know if doing something like
that would work as a permanent solution. He said he wasn't sure if
adding the additional draw from the dash and tail-lights onto the
headlight path would blow the headlight power feed.

I looked on ebay and found some combination switches for other cars
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=2453265477
and it looks like it is the part that has the turn signals on it and is
mounted just behind the steering wheel (on the column).

Would it be worth my while to call around to some local scrap/junk yards
and try to get one? is $150 shipped for a used one with 90-day warranty
a good price?

Any thoughts/advice would be most welcome. I REALLY don't want to spend
$650+ on this but I really know nothing about this. I definitely want to
get this fixed somehow though since the car only has 40K miles on it.

Help! Please post replies instead of emailing. Thanks!

Brian


Brian Pipa wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have what looks to be some sort of electrical problem with my 97
> Suzuki Sidekick. When I turn on the lights, the headlights come on but
> that's about it. No running lights come on, and none of the rear lights
> come on at all. Also, the warning beep saying the lights are on when the
> car is off does not come on. The radio and everything else as far as I
> can tell works.
>
> I have checked (with a continuity tester even) all of the fuses under
> the hood and under the driver's side dash and they all are ok. I also
> checked all of the bulbs in the rear and they were all good too. The
> only bulbs in the back I didn't check were the bulbs that light the
> license plate - I couldn't figure out how to get to them.
>
> Anyone have any ideas on what else I need to check to get all my lights
> working again? They just stopped working one day for no apparent reason.
> I haven't done anything to the elecetrical system recently (I did
> install a car radio myself about a year ago but never had any problems).
> I do NOT have a trailer hitch/wiring installed.
>
> Any help/hints would be much appreciated. Please post replies instead of
> emailing. Thanks!
>
> brian
>


--
---
MP3 Automagic CD Cover Creator
http://maccc.filenabber.com

One more question. Anyone know if a combination switch from a Geo
Tracker of the same year would work? I am almost positive that their
parts are interchangeable - anyone know if this includes the
comabination switch?

I found four switches for Geo Trackers for $39-$60 - much cheaper than
the $113 for the Sidekick one.

Brian

--
---
MP3 Automagic CD Cover Creator
http://maccc.filenabber.com

One more question. Anyone know if a combination switch from a Geo
Tracker of the same year would work? I am almost positive that their
parts are interchangeable - anyone know if this includes the
comabination switch?

I found four switches for Geo Trackers for $39-$60 - much cheaper than
the $113 for the Sidekick one.

Brian

--
---
MP3 Automagic CD Cover Creator
http://maccc.filenabber.com

On Thu, 08 Jan 2004 23:08:39 GMT, Brian Pipa
> wrote:

-One more question. Anyone know if a combination switch from a Geo
-Tracker of the same year would work? I am almost positive that their
-parts are interchangeable - anyone know if this includes the
-comabination switch?
-
-I found four switches for Geo Trackers for $39-$60 - much cheaper
than
-the $113 for the Sidekick one.
-
-Brian

Yes it would. They are the same vehicle with a different badge.

I drive a 92 Geo tracker, and when I looked for parts the Chevy
dealer referred me to Suzuki to see if I could get a better price, who
referred me back to the Chevy dealer because the Suzuki price was way
more expensive,

Ian

On Thu, 08 Jan 2004 23:08:39 GMT, Brian Pipa
> wrote:

-One more question. Anyone know if a combination switch from a Geo
-Tracker of the same year would work? I am almost positive that their
-parts are interchangeable - anyone know if this includes the
-comabination switch?
-
-I found four switches for Geo Trackers for $39-$60 - much cheaper
than
-the $113 for the Sidekick one.
-
-Brian

Yes it would. They are the same vehicle with a different badge.

I drive a 92 Geo tracker, and when I looked for parts the Chevy
dealer referred me to Suzuki to see if I could get a better price, who
referred me back to the Chevy dealer because the Suzuki price was way
more expensive,

Ian