How to ID your vehicle, so you can buy the correct parts and use the correct troubleshooting procedures, and manuals.
My web page is USA mostly, but I depart here, just to show how complex things can be, world wide.
The USA VIN code, can help you buy parts, but not all parts. Not G16 engines nor of car runs California or Federal (USA) parts.
VIN or V.I.N means Vehicle Identificaton Number (as seen or car and on your title)
A real Suzuki Sidekick VIN fails to have a unique engine codes (Suz used 0 for both) for both the G16A and G16B engines, making parts buys, harder.
If you know the valve count that answer is easy, 8 valves or 16v, the latter engine has 4 injectors, not just 1.
The 16v engine valve cover (plenum) is marked (as is the timing cover) 16Valves.
The auto parts stores (not their fault), love to mix up, 3 classes of Suzuki Sidekick parts, (G16A/B and J18 engines) Seen here.
Even mixing in narrow frame 89-98' suspension parts, etc, for 1.6L cars with Suzuki "Sport" wide FRAME 1.8L 96-98" Vast differences exist between Sport and non Sport sidekicks.
The after market parts makers get this wrong (due to Suzuki VINs wrong ,bingo FAULT) and all autoparts stores, repeat this same wrong coding for engines. or other parts.
Some sellers call engines by different names, see mid page here KC and KV how to find engine codes and GM's cure using RPO codes.
To get the correct books , each FSM is sold by , MARKET. "factory service manual"
Each country can , and may have its own ECU (PCM) to match and control that countries mandated, smog system or parts. My ECU PDF covers all our ECUs.
Some ECU's have almost no smog parts at all. (JDM ECU, is one example)
One engine size (G16?) in all countries, may have totally different Spark and Fueling systems. (ever Carburettors) (so if buying parts, out of your country,watch out, I maybe the wrong part?)
Tag City:? (sticker, plates, etc)
Places to look for all tags: (USA LHD cars) {left hand drive}!
The build date and tire pressure tags are on the drivers door jamb.
The hood sticker under hood (look up) see EPA large sticker, with vacuum map , spark gap , spark timing and if car is FEDERAL or California equipped.
Note that even a Geo Tracker has a Suzuki hood sticker ( fancy that!)
When you see the words California there, that means both, CAL/FED ! compliant.
Calif. cars run very unique , EGR, Exhaust, ECU(PCM) and EVAP system parts. (regulated by , C.A.R.B , California Air Research Board , or some times called now, ARB (oddly)
The 2 cars have its own cab and engine harness wiring, too. (do not mix these parts or you will not be a happy camper)
There is a under hood tag, for A/C Freon too, R12 or R134.
Some cars have and accessory belt routing sticker , under the hood.
The engine block has stamped codes too.
The Tracker (GM) glove box, has a RPO code sticker.
The below is a common USA VIN tag, under windshield glass (newer) or on the left side of end cap(older) of dash (open the left front door ,gander)
Below is left is with windshield glass removed.
BINGO a USA car.
(Most other countries use different tags and locations and different coding of said tag. this is USA/Canada VIN only, below )
USA V.I.N . Canada real deal 28 market code
The 2CNB tells you , made in CAMI assembly Plant.
Canada shares our border, and they drive USA cars or real honest to gosh, Canada market cars. (4+ choices in all)
If you see an Maple Leaf anywhere, that is a true Canada car.
In 1998 gray market cars ended in Canada, as their new laws requires real code 28 market cars to be sold. and OBD2 EFI !
Prior to 1998 , some cars in Canada are gray market cars.
In a real parts counter Suzuki (gone after Chapter 11?)
Market code 33 is California, 03 is USA FED, and 28 is Canada. if they ask ? but all Suzuki real parts books show market clear as day.
GM has a glove box door RPO tag, showing engine type clearly.
The Engine VIN (17) position varies new cars are 8th digit, on some older cars its the 6th in USA and Canada. Below is a short list, there are 53 markets.
The engine Serial is marked G16 (no mater what head it has) H20, and J18, J20, engines are maked like that. (I have an H25) The below is to sort out G16's
Outside USA the body tag has a type code , that tells the G16 owner which fuel and spark system and head is on your engine. (all very unique) Seen as "87 and K" below photo.
Table 1:
| Market |
Engine |
VIN: SUZ /GM | GM codes and others |
Comments |
| USA FED |
G16A |
0 / U |
KC, and LS5 (rpo) |
8 engine head valves , Market 03 |
| USA
CALIF |
G16A |
0 / U |
KC, and LS5 (rpo) | 8 valves, Market 33 |
| USA FED |
G16B |
0 / 6 |
KV and L01 (rpo) |
16 valves , Market 03 ,GM code 6
means 16 valves |
| USA CALIF |
G16B |
0 / 6 |
KV, and LS5(rpo) | 16valves (white hood sticker shows
"California) Market 33. |
| Canada |
G16A/B |
0 / U or 6 |
G16A =8v G16B = 16v |
8 or 16v code U is
8. code 6 is 16v , Market 28 The Maple leaf is the dead give away here. |
| Others |
G16A/B |
complex
codes |
see code links this row. |
See
complex tag page., Omg the Spain made Santana's |
| JDM |
G16A/B |
unknown |
? |
Only documented in the Japanese
language. "日本語。" got that ? |
| General
01 |
G16A/B |
unknown |
? |
these is sold by Suzuki to General market
code 01. |
USA G16 History (only)
The 16v G16B motor was introduced by Suzuki in the USA in 1992, For the Geo Tracker, that was the same year, for this 16 valve head, as an option.
The 16v is a tighter smog engine, (with dry runners) that is, it runs cleaner with MPI injection. and 15 more HP with 8 more valves (16v) sucking air.
(The Cailf. Air Reseach Board "CARB" banned the 8v in 94' for new car sales )
The TBI engine runs a wet intake, manifold and runs poorly under some conditions (colder worse).
(MPI was the cure) The MPI has vastly better cylinder by cylinder Fueling mixes, and are more equal.
The G16B became law in California Trackers in 1994 (smog rules), then all 4WD Trackers in '95 got the G16B, and all models are G16B, 1996-1998+ (USA) or the 1.8L DOHC Sport engine.
(These facts above (introduction dates), don't apply in Canada or other countries, GM Trackers, etc , Wiki that?, good luck! )
end USA.
The Rest of the world, ROTW, not USA , not Canada (unless a gray market car there):
They may not have a real 17 digit VIN tag like above, it's called a Chassis tag and does NOT conform up to ISO or international VIN coding , till way later in time.
See market 24 Australia below:
A V6 2.0Liter, even, in early 1995.
Down under, code 24 plain as day.
All these other codes are complex and mean something. (they tell body type and full drive train)
The codes change each year (or by class car) and are very hard to document. The real Suzuki Parts catalogs, do cover this. (at the end)
The Suzuki parts catalog systems all have this data and decode, so talk a Suzuki dealer in your market.
The Suzuki dealer in Australia can read this tag, these cars and tags are not found in the USA. (they are illegal here, EPA and Import regs)
This tag is on the Firewall, just to the left of the main car battery (right, facing battery)
LRN875K (24 is the market)
L = Metal top
R = Class SV620 body (wide frame? to fit V6?)
N = 5 seats , no Sun roof
87= H20 v6 2.0L engine + 5 speed box
5= JLX grade, no bags, no ABS
K = type 1 engine.
As you can see, the body tags outside USA are way better at telling you what parts fit your car.
ROTW: (rest of the world) See my collection of body tags , chassis tags, etc. It helps to ID the car, or parts will NOT fit.
The Non-USA cars, have this Firewall Chassis number plate on the engine bay side , top center?.
All Market codes here, world wide, different markets have different parts for engine ,brakes, lighting. etc....
The VIN in USA does not tell the market code, only the white sticker under the hood ,(look up) discloses that fact ,on market USA cars.
How ever GM cars show this in the RPO if in fact it is a GEO.
Other like cars? Sidekick/Tracker like?
The Sidekick like cars, are sold all over the world and under different names:
Tracker, Sun Runner under the Asüna /Pontiac brand, in Canada. and VITARA ! ,
The ESCUDO
or even the Santana 300 and 350 in Spain.
Some are still made, in Ecuador by GM.
Off the wall? we have: Japan Domestic Market:
(this means cars made just for JAPAN only but are sold world wide to places with zero smog regulations "seen on islands, in the PACIFIC")
JDM cars are 100% unique and mostly undocumented, (sure in Japanese language only) Some have no EGR, no O2 sensors , and no CAT.
Some JDM cars are tuned via a hand held CO meter. (carbon monoxide tuner tool)
Here is my VIN and body tag slide show (added more all the time) for all countries, mixed.
SUZUKI VIN information:
My manual decoder, VIN motor Identifier table.
RPO TAGS: GM cars have 1 more important tag to help buy parts, it's a GM RPO TAG
General Motors Regular Production Option On the glove box door, (never seen on any actual SUZUKI !)
You need to know your Tracker RPO, so you can get the correct documentation , parts and schematics. (correct service INFORMATION)
Geo Tracker GM RPO codes shows 13 export and local codes built at the CAMI factory (back when).
5 codes ,for USA, 3 for Canada and 4 for Korea, Africa, Mexico and Russia.
CAMI even built Suzuki's Vitara's for Germany , exported at E22 cars. (I saw one, see slide show above)
Here are some common codes.
NA5/NF2 = Fed48 tier 1 and 2 smog.
YF5,NB2 and NB6= Calif.
NG1= New York
Canada has many, Z41,Z49, Z7A(SUN RUNNER)
In addition, Canada has imported real Suzuki's from Japan. (many market versions)
Suzuki in Japan has built Trackers for the USA and Canada in 1989 (before April 89 Cami start up) Complex ,yes....
Suzuki JAPAN ,even make Trackers in 1998 during a CAMI plant refit and shut down. (yes, it has mixed parts !) Stuff happens..... Good luck there...
95 Tracker RPO codes are in Glove box. This one is FEDeral.
ALL TRACKER RPO codes 1989 to 1998 .
ENGINE? It too has numbers , serials. G16Txxxxxx is 1996 and uses the T code same as VIN rules or YEAR made.
T for VIN is 1996 , T for Engine is 1996 and my 5speed box serial (top of bell) is T for 1996. not true, ROTW (most have no year codes)
The engine serials numbers disclose the year made, so does the transmisssion, but not in other countries.
This is USA Data.
USA coding.....!!!
Lower left side , 5sp mounted to engine , here.
Some Trackers and Sidekicks have a mix of CAMI parts and real Suzuki Japan made parts, in some cases, they are not compatible. HVAC is the top example, as is speedo clusters.
ROTW (more rest of the world) More here.
Other countries the body tag is somewhere in the engine bay fire wall up high.
There are Spain made VITARA's, called Vits and have all unique markings and unique CARBs, spark and wring, and brakes, and..... yah. SANTANA's
OMG what is this? Good luck bro.... A SANTANA VIT (VITARA) Fire wall tag. this is a CHASSIS tag, the serial is embossed (die stamp) there.
These cars have tags hidden all over , in odd places, even under passengers feet or kick panels , I'm told. "Spanish laws, no doubt"
Read my who's on first page, first. "what are you driving"
I made this page for friends that kept buying the wrong parts, or buying books for the wrong car, etc, etc.