CEL out, cannot pull OBD1 codes. How to fix?

[fixkick]

a bad thermostat is a big problem, on any modern car.
worse on yours.
burns up cat and carbon fouls EGR and everthing.
bad thermostat (STAT) , missing stat, wrong stat 160f is dead wrong, only looking worsk
or some one put in the right STAT then used the wrong gasket, say your car has the 4mm lip inside and the goofy guy before use paper gasket and now STAT floats on the lip and acts as a missing STAT.,, nobody read TSB on this car, never learns there are 2 STATS, never to be mixed up.
the 4mm rim needs 5mm think rubber surround gasket, OR IT WILL FAIL.
and fail hard. it will.

forget the gauge for get the ECT
only issue there is STAT Failure hard hard failure only WHY remains, could it be 27 years old that be why. all those are bad,


all modern cars run well, if like 5 things wrong, by design, that is the purpose of FAILSAFE/limp home.
to get to the shop, no $300 tow charge.
and to not be stranded, in a dangerous situation (endless) or even reach a hospital, not stranded.
some think this is running good with a trail of black smoke , endless but sure, many do think that.
some think the 15mpg is ok, not me but some do.... but sure gasoline now is cheap , cheapest ever, (adjusted for inflation)

learn that limhome causes all these things, pleased
gross fuel usage, horrid.
and causes timing advance to go retarded. more wasted fuel
it also causes a huge HP lost, power lost. this is the penalty for limphome, but gee car drives.
the thermostat needs to be fixed first. ( lighthing and brakes and all that other stuff sure. )

just drain the coolant only 1/2 way, to a bucket.
then the thermostat housing is now dry.
now remove the thermostat hosing.
see if the thermostat lip is 1mm or 4mm..
1mm = ~ 1/32" inch , 0.040" ! we say 4 thou. (paper flat gasket) never used on newer sidekicks, 92/93 factory transition.
4mm = ~ 3/16" inch, 0.16 " ! (rubber surround gasket 5mm think) modern.
learn that car changed intake manifold about the time yours was made.

ONLY LOOKING matters, then we buy thermostat and the right gasket.

I'd not touch the engine until STAT DEAD FIXED< id not even drive it and cause more damage. not me. (but fresh oil and filter sure)
IF
re-taping that oil sender hole, that invites putting metal shavings inside, oil gallery and then lands in the ROD bearing port, and now it seizes up, bomb dead engine.
if must after pulling out the jerry rigged plug.(a respectful term after all it almost let the Germans win?)

[fixkick]

ok, vin shows very early 1993
says rubber ring thermostat fits this car,

the VIN Pxxxxxxxxx
P= 1993
P4 means the 4 means made in Iwata, Japan Plant.
your next digit is 0 means early engine, 1mm lip themostat.
but gee cards this old have engine switch, or wow even intake swaps
so only looking in the stat pIT works. that and only that.
or buy the thermostat 180f and be sure it comes with both gaskets, some sold you must buy them separate those gaskets.
each maker has there own rule here on what is in the box. new/'

good luck!

[z1joshmon]

The vin says P6..well P64Xxxxx

Here it is 2S3TA01C7P6402927

I looked on ur manual vin finder and it says CAMI made.. So that IS the 4mm accorsing to ur book? I see visible gasket sealer around the thermostat edgea.ill bet anything ur right and theyve put in wrong gasket cuz it is behaving like the thermostats stuck open.and thatd do it.

I am.going to remove it and measure manually like you said in case the engine was swapped. Im not going to delay..i will change it THIS weekend.

Thank you so much for all of the help. I have everything i need to know now AND the tools to work on it. Now its on me.

I'll update you once ive changed the thermostat as to my progress and confirm everyrhing.

Thank you again. Without you I'd be a whole lot dumber than i am lol. 

Josh

P.s. i just read the "youre.on first" book..dunno how i missed that. I will take care to look thru the forums or thru your manuals before I ask too many questions on here. Also thank you for the link..i am going to buy a good OEM FSM

[fixkick]

nobody can guess what is there,
the vin is listed early 93 (means as early as  july 1992 factory made (years are built 6 months (can be)early.
what is there nobody knows.  why any PO used sealant nobody can know what was in their head then, impossible that.
all you can do is look, and 1mm lip is early intake manifold (stat PIT /well)

the later rubber 5mm surround gasket will never ever fit any early 93' with 1mm lip.  it will  not  fit 5mm of rubber into that lip ever.
the counter to that is using a paper flate gasket , on any 4mm lip well later 93  and this happens.
called very bad STAT FLOAT  the thermostat floats on the huge 4mm lip and leaks, coolant, caused 2 problems (the leak and stat goes nuts with leakages)
click the link please. learn what it does, seen many do this.

let me guess no 2nd car to fix 1st that it.?
no others that can drive you to store buy a good stat and good matching gasket?(seal)

why not just buy the thermostat with both gaskets,  (paper, and rubber)

the change over day and date is NOT THE SAME in all Suzuki factorys WORLD WIDE, so there is never a 100 % sure way to know, unless you LOOK first.

one can buy this, and if needed you have it.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/fel-35432/overview

and check out rock auto
see this page, see the 2 gaskets used, on just one year car.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/suzu...+seal,2136

stat

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/suzu...ostat,2200


the rubber ring is slotted inside and surrounds the thermostat,  do no just slap the rubber ring on top, it must be fitted correctly if the car has a 4mm lip.

the 1mm car, the lip rim is no taller that the stat rim itself. (a dead give away that fact as seen by you looking)
a    4mm car, is huge lip, for the HUGE rubber surround rim

here i dug deep in to my photo archival server. bingo,  best photo on sender.


next me changing out late model thermostat.   4mm rim here, deep rim intake manifold, only LOOKING Works. 
wax side down, and jiggle pin(bleed) pointed to front of the car, always.  note that is marked the 1 wire dash engine heat gauge, sensor.

[z1joshmon]

Yep no 2nd car lol. Parts store is a half mile away tho lol..i can bicycle or hoof it. 

I'll do like u said and look/measure it myself..but also if they have the thermostats with both gasket and o ring then I'll just get that for sure like you said to save the trip later.

I'm an idiot and have missed MULTIPLE links that you have posted, not knowing they were links...D'OH

I have a lot of (re-) reading to do.

thank you so much again for all of your help and thanks for digging for that picture of the oil pressure switch as well. Can show that to my buddy who aint good with computers but helps me out.

I'll update on Saturday night or Sunday morning as to how shes running after these fixes and if i run into anything else I will make sure to pour over the archives n pages you've made before i post to ask.

I go to you pretty much exclusively with the occasional suzuki-forums visit just to read the old threads. I think that most of the info thet im getting there is actually from you..if not then you have a doppelganger haha