Thanks for the help i will talk to them today and find out whats up. Ill keep you imformed.

 

Most V6's use a chain due to the design of the engine. I'm guessing that the oil leak is coming from the timing chain cover, which they will have to remove to replace the gasket/sealant. Now, while they were looking for the leak, I'm guessing that someone noticed the ticking noise, and said,"While we have the timing cover off, it's a good opportunity to replace the tensioner and both chain guides, which will eliminate the ticking noise, the customer will go away happy, and we make a few more dollars at the same time..." I think you'll find that there is a common problem with the chain tensioner/guide setup in the Suzuki, and they know that's what's causing the noise. In fact, check with Suzuki USA to see if there is any recall on that engine for that problem, you may still be covered by warranty. I checked the following website Alldata and they only mention a loud rattling noise on startup, but Suzuki may know more.

 

Iasked about the hours to change the tensioners and timing chain cover gasket
They said the book says 10.5 they are chargeing me 9hrs at 87.5 app 790 in labor
They are replacing 3 tensioners, the gaskets that are the culprit,and oil change.
total charge will be 950 .The work comes with 18 month 18000 mile warrenty. I called
another shop and they wanted to charge 300 more no warrenty.
Also i have a coupon for 10% off so what i am getting charged is 875 and change

 

By the way, Thanks to all with the inputs. Your help was greatly appreciated .

 

87.5 dollars and hour for labor, ouch man thats hurts, my local mechanics charge 35 and 40 respectfully, my guess was the timing cover gasket as well

 

Yup it 87.5 hurts. I guess the one thing i need to keep looking at is it is the family
ride. I dont know if one mech could do it better than onother but that warrenty
is nice.

 

atvaddict01, The 2002 XL7 does have a few TSB's related to your oil leak(timing chain cover gasket leaking), ticking noise and timing chain tensioners (only one of three tensioners are a problem, as stated in the TSB). The Vin #'s affected for the XL7 and this TSB were between JS3TX92V224104358 thru JS3TX92V424116207. I'll have to agree with the other guy on the tensioners breaking, If they break you wouldn't be running very we'll and they couldn't tell unless they pulled the cover. The TSB states that the #1 tensioner is not self adjusting properly and causing the ticking noise, and to change only the #1 not the #2 or #3. The oil leak is another issue just happens to be with the timing chain cover. If I was you, I would take it to another Suzuki dealer for a second look and estimate. Even though you are out of your warranty, theres a flexibility issue that any dealer can use to help you if they so choose. I can fax you a copy of the TSB's if you give me a call early, 8am tomorrow morning(Arizona time), 6027630359. Rich

 

Coming from an ex-mechanic......i worked on about every type of cars and suvs and have never came across any import or domestic engine with 3 timing belt tensioners. I have not worked on that particular engine though so anything is possible. What I can tell you is this. Find an experienced mechanic that has worked on that engine that might be paid by actual time and not book time. Every domestic car book times are almost always accurate and fair for both the mechanics and the owner. But everytime we worked on import cars and SUVs the book times were outrageous. I think almost every job we ever did was in half of what the book time was. I have a 87 nissian 4x4 truck that i just pulled the supposed 12 hr transmission out of in 3 hrs. I ended up with that truck when i was a mechanic due to inacurate book times also. It had a coolant leak somewhere on the top side of the motor and book time was 10 hours just to pull the intake off. Needless to say I had it off in 1 hour and had the truck fixed in 2 hours. Bad deal for the ex-owner but good for me. So there is a little backround from what i have ever found with imports.

Good Luck

 

I worked at Suzuki's headquarters in the service and warranty department. I was the guy that paid the claims on warranty work so you may have a small chance of getting help from the company. That said there is no guarantee. Being that there is a tsb on the item in question and being still "close" to warranty I would have the dealer contact the District Service and Parts Manager and set up a meeting with him. He's going to be the one to talk to because the buck stops there. Basicly raise a stink but be nice about it. Too many times people will **** these guys off and they get squat. Ask him to take a look at the vehicle because you think the dealer is trying to pull one on you. Forcefed is correct, how do they know what is wrong with out getting into the motor? I will say that if it's a recurring problem in the line, dealers will just take a guess and that's just bad business.

All major auto companies have set aside "goodwill" money and that's what your looking for. Tell the DSPM how upset you are and ask him if he will cover the repair being so close to warranty. If not then try to work a deal that you'll pay for the parts if they'll pay for labor. More than likely you'll be suprised at the outcome. These guys are there to balance making the customer happy and saving the company money.

If it does come down to you having to cough up the money then I earge you to shop around for other dealers to do the work. There is ALOT of variance in dealer pricing. There are good dealers and bad ones out there and it really pays to go shoping for service work. Unfortunetly you may be in an area where other dealers are hard to come by and labor rates are excessive. Nationwide, labor rates depending on area go for between $35/hr to $110/hr. Like I said, it pays to shop. As far as the labor time I remember that being about right. You have to pull alot of stuff to get in there.

Good luck to you.

 

Quicksand, Very well said. Rich