Great video! I had a bikini blue tracker in the mid 90s, but rolled it on black ice. I really loved that little truck! Lately Ive been thinking about getting another one for heading up into the woods for hiking and fishing adventures. It seems like well cared for ones show up a lot, having been maintained as RV 'towed's.
I lived on Martha's Vineyard in the late 1990s and had a '95 Sidekick 2 door. I loved it and it was perfect for the island where the top posted speed limit was 45 mph (although when I brought the car off-island it had no trouble cruising at 85mph). I have no kids so it was perfect for my wife and myself yet we had the back seat for the week or so a year that I needed it. I'd go out into the dunes of the beach and Chappaquidick after deflating the tires to 15 psi and it NEVER even came close to getting stuck in even the softest sand. Deep snow, muddy unpaved roads were also no problem. A turbo would've made it close to perfect but many cars are made better by this.
Have you considered wrapping the hood? We did a vinyl wrap, for 300 bucks the entire tracker. Did it ourselves. Was easy. Protects the original paint, looks great and you can get the same color if you want.
Pick a dark color, easier to hide your mistakes due to your original paint. We didn’t, so the slightest error screwed us. Bright blue on black. Heat gun is your friend with wraps, it will let you do anything to it. But don’t overly rely on it. Cold pulling the vinyl works well. The last tip I would say is yes, everyone wants perfect with no overlap or lines. But at some point we gave up and instead of having one huge single piece thats intricately laid and cut, we just starting doing it in segments. No one even notices, only we do. Good luck!
Thanks for the tips! I was thinking of doing the hood in satin black. That way I don't have to try to match the color. I'll definitely post a video when I do it.
Nice video! I have a 92 4 dr. Sidekick that I bought back in 2015. I absolutely love this vehicle for all the reasons you mentioned! I get 25 mpg when driving in the mountains in 1st and 2nd gear for a bit of the drive. The 4 dr. Model is easy to camperize. I built a system comprising a 4 ft square piece of wafer board and a separate 2 ft by 4ft piece that clips on. When stopping somewhere for the night, I can fold my fronts seats all the way back, clip the 2 ft by 4 ft piece on and in 5 minutes I have a full sized bed platform to sleep on, it’s so awesome! It’s surprising how many places it will go, never been stuck ever, but even if I did, it is so light I don’t think it would be that hard to get out of a situation. I run 235/70/16 tires, and the power train is adequate to run with slightly oversized tires on. I don’t think I will ever be able to sell it.
I don't think I'll ever sell mine either. It cost me so little, and it would be very hard to replace. I'll probably just stuff it in the back corner of the garage if I stop driving it :)
Thank you, your comments are incredibly helpful and makes us happy because we're getting a four-door Sidekick next week. Great video we have subscribed of course
Nice Job on your vid. Great little ride, goes just about anywhere and most importantly, always gets me home. I have a small collection now, big fan of the simplicity.
@@thisisnotatest2 In England these are known as a Suzuki Vitara, a friend bought a brand new van version quite a few years ago, it came with a 1.9 litre turbo diesel engine (supplied by lsuzu) and with only all terrain tires fitted it was very capable offroad, on the highway at a steady 60mph it used to do around 35mpg. l had a lwb Samurai 1.3 and on the highway would get to the legal limit of 70mph with a bit left!
Had a Sidekick 2 door, a 96 Tracker Two door, 97 Sidekick four door, 99 Grand Vitara, and even a 12 SX4. All excellent vehicles. I wish Suzuki would return to North America
Sorry for the delayed response! I keep them folded down for the dog and for camping, but it's super handy to be able to flip them up and throw a couple of kids back there!
I got a 98' but 4 doors because I really needed that extra trunk space. currently fighting with vacuum leaks (high idle), wonky automatic transmission, and looking how to rebuild a lot on the electrical system, so far I still love it.
I bought a Geo Tracker about nine months ago. I put the 2 inch lift kit on it and the 235 tires on it. I love the little thing. I also bought mine under similar situations where it was just towed behind an RV, most of its life. I went out with my local jeep clubs, and they laugh at me when I show up and then when I leave, they tell me I got a hell of a deal.
I have a 1997 sidekick with a hard top. I like the outward view also, but I don’t like the inward view. You can walk passed it and see every thing inside. I am thinking about tinting just the side windows for more privacy. I also took out the back seats and have a lot more room. Also I have 235’s on my Suzuki. When I turn all the way to the left, my left front tire rubs on the frame. Do you know if there is a adjustable stopper to prevent that? If down the road you are in need of a new top, I guess Best-top make a top for your Suzuki. I used to have a CJ 5 and have bought a few tops from them I also live in Oregon. I live on the coast.
There are adjustable stoppers for the pitman arm and the similar arm on the passenger side. You can see it on the bottom of the frame in the upper left corner at 00:58 in this video.
Tinting changed the game for us. It looks great, and a hot tip for the tracker. Check your state laws but in CA we can tint 4 inches of the top of the windshield. Did dark tint for that. Looks great and really reduced heat and glare due to angle and size of window.
@@thisisnotatest2 Hey Jay. Were your windows already tinted when you got you Suzuki or did you tint them or have them tinted? I saw this tint kit on line and each window was already pre cut. The problem was the tint kit had a windshield tint and a back window tint. I thought it was illegal to tint you windshield. And I don’t know enough about then to know what shade to get and still be legal. If I’m not mistaken I think they were selling for 66 bucks. Supposedly here in Oregon if you can see your drivers license thru the tinted window they are legal.
The tint is only on the soft top, not the glass windows. It came that way from the manufacturer (Rampage Tops 98835). I like it so much think I might buy a spare in case they go out of production. I don't know anything about the legality of tint on front windows.
So from what I’ve gathered (I live in a place with a lot of these floating around) is that sure there isn’t a huge aftermarket support for these trucks however you can steal so much off other cars and just shove them on to this thing and they work great
Just picked up a 89 sidekick today with 110k for $4800. In Redmond Oregon. Was not exactly what I wanted but the price was right. 8v 3 speed auto don’t like much over 50mph. Needs a few run ability issues fixed but nothing big. They guy I got it from literally found it in a barn. The last it was driven was before 2001. He put new 235 AT’s on it along with a bunch of other new stuff. If I find another later model 96 newer I may pick it up and sell this to my son. He loves it.
@@allenwisor I got it tuned up, adjusted the valves and it runs great. I don’t think it’s to bad of a dog. I’ve wheeled it a few times on the 235’s. I have no problems with power in low range or high really. Things will change a lot after I install some 5:13’s a set of 3:1 transfer case gears and a rear spool. After the tune up I have not problem maintaining 60 now. But the motors spinning close to 4K.
I just bought a 1996 Tracker, 2 WD, 5 speed manual. 78k miles, most were from being towed behind a motor home. It’s a Texas vehicle with absolutely no rust.
That is the riginal color as our 91 modle with the 8 valve. It's black and goes bout anywhere year round and we live waaay off grid and road system. Up in the mountains. Love it. Better than a side by side and way cheaper. The Samurai are Kool but very frail compared to the sidekick/tracker. Way stronger.
What is your lift setup? It really looks good on 235's. I have a 98 same color, 5spd soft top with under a 100k I paid a little more than a 1k for it. No rust, runs geat but the top is junk and the interior needs some deep cleaning, I might even jsut swap the seats. I am a Jeep guy but picked this up as a cheap side by side for our farmette, its grown on me as a super capable little utility. I dont think I am going to cut it up but instead put a small lift, tires and enjoy it.
I’ve been looking for a Samurai for like 10 months. Clean ones are are legit an arm and a leg WHEN they show up. Only seen 2 or 3 legitimately clean ones. Might pick up a tracker. There’s a few in my area that are reasonably priced and clean.
I was in the same boat. I started looking for a Samuri, but they were priced high, ran poorly, and the nice ones had Sidekick motors swapped in them. Then I started looking at Sidekicks!
I used to have a 95 Tracker RWD 8 valve and I loved it (front engine dune buggy). I would love to get another someday (8v only but 4wd would be fine). I would not be doing hard core off road so no need for significant mods. BTW what is the tow rating on these?
Great looking truck! Your vids have been super useful for my own tuning of a 1997 stock that I recently acquired. Is that a 2" inch hitch? Do you know which one it is? I've only been able to find 1" that say they fit. I would like to add a hitch for an existing cargo box or light towing (motorcycle).
Thanks for the feedback! Yep, 2" receiver on the hitch. My truck came with the 1". I sectioned it and welded in the bigger one. I use it for bike racks.
@@thisisnotatest2 Great idea. Thank you! I have a ROLA Adventure Hitch Carrier box I'd like to use on this vehicle that has a 2" receiver. I could use an adapter to the 1" but I'm concerned that may drop the safe tongue load too low. The emissions/vacuum/fuel system on my Tracker has been a challenge to get it to where it will pass smog here in CA. It has only 86K miles, great exterior condition, and runs quite well... but it seems to have missed a tune up or two. It misfires so I'm swapping in new plugs, rotor, etc this weekend and hoping that will also resolve the ODB2 reported lean running issue. Your vid in that regard helped a lot.
@@thisisnotatest2 New plugs and rotors made a huge difference in drivability. But I definitely seem to have a vacuum leak somewhere that I need to address to pass emissions. Both my EVAP and EGR on the ODB2 report as faulty. I've checked the various solenoid valves and they seem to function properly. I did notice that none of mine are OEM though so they've all been replaced at one time or another. Time to DIY smoke. Thanks for the great videos.
My EGR and Catalyst never go "ready" for emissions. OR follows federal standards so you can have two monitors not ready and still pass. Note that I don't have any OBD2 codes showing or pending. It takes quite a bit of driving to get the EVAP system ready for testing.
Hey Jay, loved your videos ever since I found them over a year ago when looking into Trackers/Sidekicks. I bought a 1990 2door Tracker, sold it and now have a stock 1997 4door Sidekick that I'm working on getting her running right. She has good bones, good compression, just needs a little love and attention. Just purchased a Scan Gauge after seeing your a while back. When watching reviews and setups of the Scan Gauge, I'm seeing it's more than plug in and go. Are there any tips or suggestions you could make on how I might best set it up? Also, mine isn't running perfectly and I'm hoping the codes provided by the SG can help me narrow down my issues.
Have you done any further modifications since you released this video 9 months ago? I like your creativity it stands out from all the other suzuki videos with stuff I've never seen before.
I just yesterday bought a 1996 Tracker, bright red 5 speed manual 2 WD. 78k miles of which most were towed behind a motor home. It has the aftermarket black hard tops. It was stored inside when not towed, It looks like 2 year old vehicle.
If you have the tools, skills, and space to work on it yourself, definitely. But these are 25 to 35 year old trucks now, so there will always be something to fix.
Check out my lift video for details on the wheels: ua-cam.com/video/MDMOVbW1C2A/v-deo.html And my lights video: ua-cam.com/video/ZYztrSvjAg4/v-deo.html
Best cars ever,I've owned 3 and wish I could find one great shape. Except this time I would get a four door for added weight since I lost my last one to black ice 😢
Its an UltraGauge OBD2 Scanner. You can get them online directly from www.ultra-gauge.com/. Highly recommended. Check out my series of videos on getting the engine running right to see how I used it.
Jay I am just starting to look at these and have some questions. I am looking for something to tow behind and have found one with manual transmission, 4 cyl, locking hubs, and no power steering. Anything you would shy away from there? Going to do a little bit of 4 wheeling.
The biggest enemy of these trucks is rust. Try to find the cleanest body you can - ideally rust free. I wouldn't worry about not having power steering.
Id like to see a video comparing this sidekick to a 1998-2005 suzuki grand vitara. Similar vehicles, but the grand vitara is a bit bigger and way more power. Also pretty cheap used.
got extremely cold near Louisville Kentucky. Snow on the ground I wanted to get the Geo tracker out so I can get up the hill on the driveway. It did not start. I finally went under and found the bill house and is coming loose from the engine which means the ground wire was very loose. Found a better place to ground it and it still won't start. It just clicks. Sounds like the solenoid is clicking. Do you think it's the starter relay ? I caught three mice in there this year.
The wire insulation is made with some kind of soy product and the mice love it, and will destroy a wiring harness. I use moth balls in an old sock, several of them, and place them in several places under the hood away from the exhaust manifold/pipes. You can also get some, I think, peppermint oil and mix it with water and use a little pump spray bottle and spray it under the hood and even inside where there is wiring.
Setup an automated alert for new stock at Pick'n'Pull. I get updates whenever new vehicles come in. I also tried calling local wreckers near me and they searched their online system.
Thanks for the feedback! I'd love to have more power, especially more torque at lower rpm, but I'm going to keep the motor stock for now. I was really pushing it with some climbing in soft sand this weekend. It worked great as long as I kept the revs up! Hope you are subscribed and watch for my next video!
@@thisisnotatest2 Thats no worries mate ahaha and yeah thats fair enough, if youre wanting more torque lower in the rpms a small supercharger would probably work a treat. also way easier to set up but im for sure subscribed and keen for the next one ahaha
@@the_mystery9803 there’s a guy on UA-cam that sells a complete kit to turbocharge the Tracker, I watched his video and he seems to know what he’s doing.
Yes, and how much depends on the tread shape at the sides. My 235 BGD MTs just barely kiss the frame at full lock with reduced back-space rims. There is a limiting bolt on the steering linkage. I haven't touched mine.
You can also install a set of wheel spacers that are made of billet aluminum and come in 1”, 1.25”, 1.5” and even thicker. They are plenty strong enough.
I have put a oil change a tune-up a sensor and my tracker still will not start can you please help me to know is there a reset button or something I'm missing
When I try to start mine it makes a clicking noise. You might have to go under the vehicle and find the ground wire. Black wire bolted to the engine. 12 mm wrench. Make sure it's tight. You might look at your fuse panel for the starter relay. You should see a identical one beside it. Switch those two. If it starts you know that relay needs to be replaced.
Ground wires seem to be somewhat of a problem with these cars. There are several videos on UA-cam about it. I remember something about the ground wire on the starter being prone to problems.
Put the transmission in neutral while the engine is idling, foot on the brake. Shift a little shifter to low. Look on the wheels on the front you might see lockouts. They have to be turned for the four wheel drive to work mine does not have that. Remember when you take the transfer case out of four-wheel drive and back into two wheel drive, put the transmission in reverse and back up a few feet so the four-wheel drive will disengage before getting on the road.
If you have manual hubs, like mine, you'll need to turn them from "free" to "locked" on both sides. Then you can engage the transfer case on the center console.
Thank you for this! I've been researching Sidekick/Trackers for a while now and am looking for a nice one. Can you point me to a good source outside of facebook/craigslist? Looking for something well-loved and I don't mind paying what it's worth. Thanks!
My 19 97 tracker has a lot of rust. First thing that happened is the trailer hitch fell off, rusted off. There's no place to bolt another one on. Another odd thing is the bell housing is coming loose from the engine and is making a lot of noise. My advice is don't pay too much because you're likely going to have to spend money on it. I paid $1,000 for mine. Now I have 3,000 invested in it
Sorry for the delayed response! The biggest thing is the region they come from. The West Coast is excellent as you can find trucks with no rust. Avoid rust like the plague - everything else can be fixed!
They are becoming harder to find and prices have really jumped since I bought mine in 2019. They are still out there. The most important thing to look for is NO RUST. These trucks have very thin bodies and rust kills them.
Talk about color; my 1994 Sidekick JX color Bermuda Green with a large SIDEKICK decal that sweeps from back end of the front fender into the doors, this is factory. I only seen two of same within the last 13 years of ownership. Does any one out there have the same?
😊😊 I have a 1996 automatic 4 x 4 locks on 30 10 15 tires and 15x10 wheels no lift at all but my is real strong compare to yours or OEM my is 16 valves with headers aluminum pulley Free flow exhaust system and 272 Delta cam plus I took everything I don't need like air conditioning unit power steering pump back seat carpet plus everything else that I don't nd is a jeep no a Lincoln town car my don't even have a rug jjj 😁 I travel a lot on highway streets and back roads on snow mud rain etc high up mountains trails every where really I have my old school style nothing fancy but in gd condition from frame to engine transmission suspension etc like I said my is different flares out gd tuff looking and sound like a old Ford gd on gas easy and cheap to maintenance and easy to work on and believe me he will do hundred miles like nothing on highway but I mostly go 65 to 80 on highway I build my own my radio and speakers is my ph and to Bluetooth 3 in speakers loud like hell CCR born in the byouooooo
@@thisisnotatest2 put a 272 Delta cam regrind crankshaft aluminum pulley header and free flow exhaust system and gd air filter amigo and you will be surprised how strong and fast it become twice a Geo tracker and will sound like a ford muscle car dp nice sound that old school sound at 65 don't touch the gas pedal will pull like hell jjjj difference from original as well coming out the light beautiful plus better on gas to beliefs me my is build for all seasons and all roads from highways to back roads mud snow etc trails hills big boys don't believe it how my little rascal can move better than big money jeeps short and light weight try to build him up probably around 120 or little less or more HP gd enough for a bit of money probably 1,200 dollars or less no bad amigo kp rolling CCR born in the byouooooo
@@noahdunaway I used oil my don't have rug or back seat or nothing like that old school style is oil up inside out from the frame to everything else mix with Rust-Oleum paint like I said my is old school style but I kp my healthy used it every day every where I made a bikini for him old school style renegade plus I build behind the seats with a piece of plastic and a tarp the rear window like I said old school no rust at all under or anywhere frame and parts like new oil and Rust-Oleum kp water salt moisture alway enough for me the Geo tracker is for me the best of all gd on gas easy to maintenance and cheap plus can go anywhere fun on winter and summer I travel with him all over no problems .And the best Honda is the CRX I have one too old school style look tuff and sounds beautiful tuff 272 cam 10.1 to 11.1 compression and I never will sale neither of them I build them up myself my way and kp them in gd shape like you can see I have the best of both worlds the boy the Geo tracker 16 valves the girl the CRX jjjj 😁 CCR born in the byouooooo amigo
Got a 96 tracker 6 months ago, good condition..great video..appreciate your time.
Great video! I had a bikini blue tracker in the mid 90s, but rolled it on black ice. I really loved that little truck! Lately Ive been thinking about getting another one for heading up into the woods for hiking and fishing adventures. It seems like well cared for ones show up a lot, having been maintained as RV 'towed's.
I lived on Martha's Vineyard in the late 1990s and had a '95 Sidekick 2 door. I loved it and it was perfect for the island where the top posted speed limit was 45 mph (although when I brought the car off-island it had no trouble cruising at 85mph). I have no kids so it was perfect for my wife and myself yet we had the back seat for the week or so a year that I needed it. I'd go out into the dunes of the beach and Chappaquidick after deflating the tires to 15 psi and it NEVER even came close to getting stuck in even the softest sand. Deep snow, muddy unpaved roads were also no problem. A turbo would've made it close to perfect but many cars are made better by this.
Glad you enjoyed your Sidekick too! Check out my new video taking the Sidekick to the dunes: ua-cam.com/video/kgePNBzW5cs/v-deo.html
You are so right about the vacuum system.
Have you considered wrapping the hood? We did a vinyl wrap, for 300 bucks the entire tracker. Did it ourselves. Was easy. Protects the original paint, looks great and you can get the same color if you want.
You've read my mind! I'm going to do that as soon as it warms up here.
Pick a dark color, easier to hide your mistakes due to your original paint. We didn’t, so the slightest error screwed us. Bright blue on black. Heat gun is your friend with wraps, it will let you do anything to it. But don’t overly rely on it. Cold pulling the vinyl works well. The last tip I would say is yes, everyone wants perfect with no overlap or lines. But at some point we gave up and instead of having one huge single piece thats intricately laid and cut, we just starting doing it in segments. No one even notices, only we do. Good luck!
Thanks for the tips! I was thinking of doing the hood in satin black. That way I don't have to try to match the color. I'll definitely post a video when I do it.
@@thisisnotatest2 Good Videos. I would really enjoy seeing a wrap video.
How many feet did you need to do the whole geo?
I got a 96 tracker on 31” mud tiers I love it it’s crazy how capable it is! I like your tracker a lot too!
Straight forward , to the point vid. Nicely done.
Thanks for the feedback!
Nice video! I have a 92 4 dr. Sidekick that I bought back in 2015. I absolutely love this vehicle for all the reasons you mentioned! I get 25 mpg when driving in the mountains in 1st and 2nd gear for a bit of the drive. The 4 dr. Model is easy to camperize. I built a system comprising a 4 ft square piece of wafer board and a separate 2 ft by 4ft piece that clips on. When stopping somewhere for the night, I can fold my fronts seats all the way back, clip the 2 ft by 4 ft piece on and in 5 minutes I have a full sized bed platform to sleep on, it’s so awesome! It’s surprising how many places it will go, never been stuck ever, but even if I did, it is so light I don’t think it would be that hard to get out of a situation. I run 235/70/16 tires, and the power train is adequate to run with slightly oversized tires on. I don’t think I will ever be able to sell it.
I don't think I'll ever sell mine either. It cost me so little, and it would be very hard to replace. I'll probably just stuff it in the back corner of the garage if I stop driving it :)
Thank you, your comments are incredibly helpful and makes us happy because we're getting a four-door Sidekick next week. Great video we have subscribed of course
I have a 95 Tracker, try 18 psi in the tires. These are so light they jar your guts out with truck tires. Rides way smoother now.
Good tip, thanks!
Nice Job on your vid. Great little ride, goes just about anywhere and most importantly, always gets me home. I have a small collection now, big fan of the simplicity.
Thanks! I love the simplicity too. Watch for my next video on a recent trip to the Oregon Dunes - it got me there and back and we had a great time!
@@thisisnotatest2 In England these are known as a Suzuki Vitara, a friend bought a brand new van version quite a few years ago, it came with a 1.9 litre turbo diesel engine (supplied by lsuzu) and with only all terrain tires fitted it was very capable offroad, on the highway at a steady 60mph it used to do around 35mpg. l had a lwb Samurai 1.3 and on the highway would get to the legal limit of 70mph with a bit left!
Thanks for the info!
@@clooperman3745 I bet that is a sweet setup with the Isuzu diesel.
my first car ! had a tin top that was black with all the extras side bars etc
Nice - sounds like a great looking truck!
Had a Sidekick 2 door, a 96 Tracker Two door, 97 Sidekick four door, 99 Grand Vitara, and even a 12 SX4. All excellent vehicles. I wish Suzuki would return to North America
Thats quite a run! Suzuki does well in the foreign markets. I would buy a Jimney in a second if they sold them here!
I have found Suzuki to have very good quality machinery in their motorcycles and cars.
The four door sidekick is badass extra storage I’d you keep them folded down 😂
Sorry for the delayed response! I keep them folded down for the dog and for camping, but it's super handy to be able to flip them up and throw a couple of kids back there!
I got a 98' but 4 doors because I really needed that extra trunk space.
currently fighting with vacuum leaks (high idle), wonky automatic transmission, and looking how to rebuild a lot on the electrical system, so far I still love it.
I bought a Geo Tracker about nine months ago. I put the 2 inch lift kit on it and the 235 tires on it. I love the little thing.
I also bought mine under similar situations where it was just towed behind an RV, most of its life. I went out with my local jeep clubs, and they laugh at me when I show up and then when I leave, they tell me I got a hell of a deal.
Thats awesome! It's always fun to do way more than it looks like you should be able to!
Subbed my dude! This is exactly what my tracker looks like 🤙🏽🤙🏽
Thanks for the sub! I love the Forest Green - should have mentioned that in the video too!
I have a 1997 sidekick with a hard top. I like the outward view also, but I don’t like the inward view. You can walk passed it and see every thing inside. I am thinking about tinting just the side windows for more privacy. I also took out the back seats and have a lot more room.
Also I have 235’s on my Suzuki. When I turn all the way to the left, my left front tire rubs on the frame. Do you know if there is a adjustable stopper to prevent that?
If down the road you are in need of a new top, I guess Best-top make a top for your Suzuki. I used to have a CJ 5 and have bought a few tops from them
I also live in Oregon. I live on the coast.
There are adjustable stoppers for the pitman arm and the similar arm on the passenger side. You can see it on the bottom of the frame in the upper left corner at 00:58 in this video.
Tinting changed the game for us. It looks great, and a hot tip for the tracker. Check your state laws but in CA we can tint 4 inches of the top of the windshield. Did dark tint for that. Looks great and really reduced heat and glare due to angle and size of window.
I forgot to mention that I love the tint on my soft top. I not only provides privacy, it hides any imperfections in the plastic windows.
@@thisisnotatest2 Hey Jay. Were your windows already tinted when you got you Suzuki or did you tint them or have them tinted? I saw this tint kit on line and each window was already pre cut. The problem was the tint kit had a windshield tint and a back window tint. I thought it was illegal to tint you windshield. And I don’t know enough about then to know what shade to get and still be legal. If I’m not mistaken I think they were selling for 66 bucks. Supposedly here in Oregon if you can see your drivers license thru the tinted window they are legal.
The tint is only on the soft top, not the glass windows. It came that way from the manufacturer (Rampage Tops 98835). I like it so much think I might buy a spare in case they go out of production.
I don't know anything about the legality of tint on front windows.
Great video. Great info! Have a 1995 Tin top I just restored. Turns heads, get tons of comments.
Thanks! 235's with at 2.5" lift. Check out my lift video for more details ua-cam.com/video/MDMOVbW1C2A/v-deo.html
@@thisisnotatest2 great will do! What state are you in?
I'm in Oregon. I hope you are subbed - more videos to come.
Great overview vid. Question: Where did you find that 2" hitch receiver? All I can find are 1.25".
So from what I’ve gathered (I live in a place with a lot of these floating around) is that sure there isn’t a huge aftermarket support for these trucks however you can steal so much off other cars and just shove them on to this thing and they work great
You're right. That's a great excuse to fab the parts yourself too!
Great video. Thanks for the details.
Thanks for the feedback!
I have Sidekick 1997 4 door,still use until now
Thats awesome, enjoy it!
@@thisisnotatest2 daily my car & family holiday
@@KaptenViralTV I daily mine to work in the summer!
Well done. Enjoyed your video like you other ones.
Thanks for the feedback! Glad you enjoyed it!
Just picked up a 89 sidekick today with 110k for $4800. In Redmond Oregon. Was not exactly what I wanted but the price was right. 8v 3 speed auto don’t like much over 50mph. Needs a few run ability issues fixed but nothing big. They guy I got it from literally found it in a barn. The last it was driven was before 2001. He put new 235 AT’s on it along with a bunch of other new stuff. If I find another later model 96 newer I may pick it up and sell this to my son. He loves it.
The automatic with the eight valve engine is a dog
@@allenwisor I got it tuned up, adjusted the valves and it runs great. I don’t think it’s to bad of a dog. I’ve wheeled it a few times on the 235’s. I have no problems with power in low range or high really. Things will change a lot after I install some 5:13’s a set of 3:1 transfer case gears and a rear spool. After the tune up I have not problem maintaining 60 now. But the motors spinning close to 4K.
Glad you found a Sidekick! A tuneup helped with power and drivability for me too.
I just bought a 1996 Tracker, 2 WD, 5 speed manual. 78k miles, most were from being towed behind a motor home. It’s a Texas vehicle with absolutely no rust.
That is the riginal color as our 91 modle with the 8 valve. It's black and goes bout anywhere year round and we live waaay off grid and road system. Up in the mountains. Love it. Better than a side by side and way cheaper. The Samurai are Kool but very frail compared to the sidekick/tracker. Way stronger.
I love this color - definitely want to keep it - it's just right for the 90's! Glad you love yours too. They are very under-rated little vehicles!
I have one as well. Love it.
ive been wanting a 99- 03 chevy tracker 2 door manual trans w the ZR2 package
What is your lift setup? It really looks good on 235's. I have a 98 same color, 5spd soft top with under a 100k I paid a little more than a 1k for it. No rust, runs geat but the top is junk and the interior needs some deep cleaning, I might even jsut swap the seats. I am a Jeep guy but picked this up as a cheap side by side for our farmette, its grown on me as a super capable little utility. I dont think I am going to cut it up but instead put a small lift, tires and enjoy it.
Check out my lift video with all the details! ua-cam.com/video/MDMOVbW1C2A/v-deo.html BDS 2.5" Suspension Lift
Ive had two '96 Geo Trackers. I sold the one with the automatic and kept the 5 speed manual transmission one
Are the automatics any good?
Nice shape!!!
Thanks!
I’ve been looking for a Samurai for like 10 months. Clean ones are are legit an arm and a leg WHEN they show up. Only seen 2 or 3 legitimately clean ones. Might pick up a tracker. There’s a few in my area that are reasonably priced and clean.
That’s why I bought a Geo tracker. Dude they are so much fun and they only weigh 2500 pounds
I was in the same boat. I started looking for a Samuri, but they were priced high, ran poorly, and the nice ones had Sidekick motors swapped in them. Then I started looking at Sidekicks!
Me encantan....he tenido 4 Geo y 3 sidekick
Translation "I love them....I have had 4 Geo and 3 sidekick"
Thanks for the feedback! I love mine too!
Quiero comprar un Sidekick o geo Metro de los 1990s, no soy tan problemáticos ?
I used to have a 95 Tracker RWD 8 valve and I loved it (front engine dune buggy). I would love to get another someday (8v only but 4wd would be fine). I would not be doing hard core off road so no need for significant mods.
BTW what is the tow rating on these?
its look so good.and u give a nice explaining/
Thanks for the feedback!
Great looking truck! Your vids have been super useful for my own tuning of a 1997 stock that I recently acquired.
Is that a 2" inch hitch? Do you know which one it is? I've only been able to find 1" that say they fit. I would like to add a hitch for an existing cargo box or light towing (motorcycle).
Thanks for the feedback!
Yep, 2" receiver on the hitch. My truck came with the 1". I sectioned it and welded in the bigger one. I use it for bike racks.
@@thisisnotatest2 Great idea. Thank you!
I have a ROLA Adventure Hitch Carrier box I'd like to use on this vehicle that has a 2" receiver. I could use an adapter to the 1" but I'm concerned that may drop the safe tongue load too low.
The emissions/vacuum/fuel system on my Tracker has been a challenge to get it to where it will pass smog here in CA. It has only 86K miles, great exterior condition, and runs quite well... but it seems to have missed a tune up or two. It misfires so I'm swapping in new plugs, rotor, etc this weekend and hoping that will also resolve the ODB2 reported lean running issue. Your vid in that regard helped a lot.
Glad to hear! Search thoroughly for vacuum leaks, that was the biggest culprit in my case: ua-cam.com/video/8crZB8Ofyeg/v-deo.html
@@thisisnotatest2 New plugs and rotors made a huge difference in drivability. But I definitely seem to have a vacuum leak somewhere that I need to address to pass emissions. Both my EVAP and EGR on the ODB2 report as faulty. I've checked the various solenoid valves and they seem to function properly. I did notice that none of mine are OEM though so they've all been replaced at one time or another. Time to DIY smoke. Thanks for the great videos.
My EGR and Catalyst never go "ready" for emissions. OR follows federal standards so you can have two monitors not ready and still pass. Note that I don't have any OBD2 codes showing or pending. It takes quite a bit of driving to get the EVAP system ready for testing.
I would like to know where you found the light mounts that are just under the windshield?
I made them - see my video: ua-cam.com/video/ZYztrSvjAg4/v-deo.html
Hey Jay, loved your videos ever since I found them over a year ago when looking into Trackers/Sidekicks. I bought a 1990 2door Tracker, sold it and now have a stock 1997 4door Sidekick that I'm working on getting her running right. She has good bones, good compression, just needs a little love and attention. Just purchased a Scan Gauge after seeing your a while back. When watching reviews and setups of the Scan Gauge, I'm seeing it's more than plug in and go. Are there any tips or suggestions you could make on how I might best set it up? Also, mine isn't running perfectly and I'm hoping the codes provided by the SG can help me narrow down my issues.
Informative and to the point. When you have your soft top open do you strap it down or just flip it open and go?
Thanks for the feedback! I just flip it back. Never had an issue and it stays put on the highway!
Have you done any further modifications since you released this video 9 months ago? I like your creativity it stands out from all the other suzuki videos with stuff I've never seen before.
Thanks for all your feedback! I'll be making time this summer to put out a few videos on other small mods and how things are holding up. Stay tuned!
I just yesterday bought a 1996 Tracker, bright red 5 speed manual 2 WD. 78k miles of which most were towed behind a motor home. It has the aftermarket black hard tops. It was stored inside when not towed, It looks like 2 year old vehicle.
Right now in my area the most dilapidated Trackers are selling for $3500. Top-quality low-mileage units are getting close to $10K.
Would this make a good daily driver over an accord for someone that would enjoy having the collectors item but still on a budget ?
If you have the tools, skills, and space to work on it yourself, definitely. But these are 25 to 35 year old trucks now, so there will always be something to fix.
I LOVE THE SEATS!
Very nice tracker, can you put the link of the top, it’s great!
Its one of the best I've seen: Rampage 98835 - Black Diamond vinyl with tinted windows.
@@thisisnotatest2 where did you get your hood lights and what kind of wheels do you have?
Check out my lift video for details on the wheels: ua-cam.com/video/MDMOVbW1C2A/v-deo.html
And my lights video: ua-cam.com/video/ZYztrSvjAg4/v-deo.html
Best cars ever,I've owned 3 and wish I could find one great shape. Except this time I would get a four door for added weight since I lost my last one to black ice 😢
Thanks for the feedback! Good luck in your search. They are still turning up on Craig's List here in Oregon.
There’s a ton out here in Florida
@@dannyboii5296 Good to know! Thanks for subscribing!
Can you add the link to the OBD II readout you had adjacent to the lighter?
Its an UltraGauge OBD2 Scanner. You can get them online directly from www.ultra-gauge.com/. Highly recommended. Check out my series of videos on getting the engine running right to see how I used it.
Jay I am just starting to look at these and have some questions. I am looking for something to tow behind and have found one with manual transmission, 4 cyl, locking hubs, and no power steering. Anything you would shy away from there? Going to do a little bit of 4 wheeling.
The biggest enemy of these trucks is rust. Try to find the cleanest body you can - ideally rust free. I wouldn't worry about not having power steering.
Can you use your 4 high without using your hub lock?
Id like to see a video comparing this sidekick to a 1998-2005 suzuki grand vitara. Similar vehicles, but the grand vitara is a bit bigger and way more power. Also pretty cheap used.
The is a direct axle swap to put the solid axle from the Vitata on the tracker. They have exactly the same frame.
If you are in Oregon, I'd be happy to do a side-by-side comparison. I've seen those cheap too!
got extremely cold near Louisville Kentucky. Snow on the ground I wanted to get the Geo tracker out so I can get up the hill on the driveway. It did not start. I finally went under and found the bill house and is coming loose from the engine which means the ground wire was very loose. Found a better place to ground it and it still won't start. It just clicks. Sounds like the solenoid is clicking. Do you think it's the starter relay ? I caught three mice in there this year.
Sorry for the delayed response! Hope you got yours going!
The wire insulation is made with some kind of soy product and the mice love it, and will destroy a wiring harness. I use moth balls in an old sock, several of them, and place them in several places under the hood away from the exhaust manifold/pipes. You can also get some, I think, peppermint oil and mix it with water and use a little pump spray bottle and spray it under the hood and even inside where there is wiring.
Hey mate what tyres are you running
I'm looking for an 1997 Geo Tracker transmission Any ideas?
Setup an automated alert for new stock at Pick'n'Pull. I get updates whenever new vehicles come in. I also tried calling local wreckers near me and they searched their online system.
awesome man, it is a beautiful truck. would love to see a little turbo on it ahahaha
Thanks for the feedback!
I'd love to have more power, especially more torque at lower rpm, but I'm going to keep the motor stock for now. I was really pushing it with some climbing in soft sand this weekend. It worked great as long as I kept the revs up!
Hope you are subscribed and watch for my next video!
@@thisisnotatest2 Thats no worries mate ahaha and yeah thats fair enough, if youre wanting more torque lower in the rpms a small supercharger would probably work a treat. also way easier to set up but im for sure subscribed and keen for the next one ahaha
@@the_mystery9803 there’s a guy on UA-cam that sells a complete kit to turbocharge the Tracker, I watched his video and he seems to know what he’s doing.
Do you think the 235's on the stock 15 X 5.5 inch rims with the 15mm offset compared to the 5mm offset would rub at full lock?
Yes, and how much depends on the tread shape at the sides. My 235 BGD MTs just barely kiss the frame at full lock with reduced back-space rims. There is a limiting bolt on the steering linkage. I haven't touched mine.
You can also install a set of wheel spacers that are made of billet aluminum and come in 1”, 1.25”, 1.5” and even thicker. They are plenty strong enough.
How’s the mpg and towing?
I have a 1994 Suzuki Sidekick 16 valve 4 wheel drive with 165,000 miles on odometer and still drive it here and there
Where did you get the top with the removeable windows?
It was brand new and came with the truck. It's a Rampage 98835R. I just ordered a spare from Summit Racing. I'll post a video when it arrives.
I have a 2door vitara 1994 jlx. This one my second choice
I have put a oil change a tune-up a sensor and my tracker still will not start can you please help me to know is there a reset button or something I'm missing
There's no reset button! The best place to start is to scan the OBD codes. Most parts stores will do this for free if you don't have a scanner.
When I try to start mine it makes a clicking noise. You might have to go under the vehicle and find the ground wire. Black wire bolted to the engine. 12 mm wrench. Make sure it's tight. You might look at your fuse panel for the starter relay. You should see a identical one beside it. Switch those two. If it starts you know that relay needs to be replaced.
Ground wires seem to be somewhat of a problem with these cars. There are several videos on UA-cam about it. I remember something about the ground wire on the starter being prone to problems.
i have a sidekick 4 doors 1995 model, automatic, but i don know how to use the 4x4 and i mod to mine too i can share on a video
Put the transmission in neutral while the engine is idling, foot on the brake. Shift a little shifter to low. Look on the wheels on the front you might see lockouts. They have to be turned for the four wheel drive to work mine does not have that. Remember when you take the transfer case out of four-wheel drive and back into two wheel drive, put the transmission in reverse and back up a few feet so the four-wheel drive will disengage before getting on the road.
If you have manual hubs, like mine, you'll need to turn them from "free" to "locked" on both sides. Then you can engage the transfer case on the center console.
Is the Chevy tracker the same vehicle?
Do you like the Tracker better than the FJ Cruiser, and if so, why?
Mine is a Chevy tracker 2002 4 door 4x4
It's still a Suzuki underneath! Enjoy!
Nice rig, but man, you sold an FJ for that?
Thanks! I planned to keep the FJ for ever, but it was totaled-out in an accident... The FJ was much more substantial. The Suzuki is a fun toy!
Thank you for this! I've been researching Sidekick/Trackers for a while now and am looking for a nice one. Can you point me to a good source outside of facebook/craigslist? Looking for something well-loved and I don't mind paying what it's worth. Thanks!
My 19 97 tracker has a lot of rust. First thing that happened is the trailer hitch fell off, rusted off. There's no place to bolt another one on. Another odd thing is the bell housing is coming loose from the engine and is making a lot of noise. My advice is don't pay too much because you're likely going to have to spend money on it. I paid $1,000 for mine. Now I have 3,000 invested in it
@@kyana3374 Thank you this is very helpful.
Sorry for the delayed response! The biggest thing is the region they come from. The West Coast is excellent as you can find trucks with no rust. Avoid rust like the plague - everything else can be fixed!
Are they still available in decent shape?
It's not an easy task but You can find some one. It took me 6 months.
They are becoming harder to find and prices have really jumped since I bought mine in 2019. They are still out there. The most important thing to look for is NO RUST. These trucks have very thin bodies and rust kills them.
I just found a 1996 Tracker in Texas that looks like a 3 year old car with 78k miles, mostly towed behind a motor home.
Iv got a european diesel one, its called vitara here.
I have Suzuki Samurai 1.3 i 👍👏
That's awesome! I love Samurais!
are you willing to share what you paid for it?
Dark paint gets hot. Hot cars have the paint burnt off. They use more fuel running air conditioning...Given a choice, get a white car.
Talk about color; my 1994 Sidekick JX color Bermuda Green with a large SIDEKICK decal that sweeps from back end of the front fender into the doors, this is factory. I only seen two of same within the last 13 years of ownership.
Does any one out there have the same?
Thanks for the feedback. Really love my Forest Green!
😊😊 I have a 1996 automatic 4 x 4 locks on 30 10 15 tires and 15x10 wheels no lift at all but my is real strong compare to yours or OEM my is 16 valves with headers aluminum pulley Free flow exhaust system and 272 Delta cam plus I took everything I don't need like air conditioning unit power steering pump back seat carpet plus everything else that I don't nd is a jeep no a Lincoln town car my don't even have a rug jjj 😁 I travel a lot on highway streets and back roads on snow mud rain etc high up mountains trails every where really I have my old school style nothing fancy but in gd condition from frame to engine transmission suspension etc like I said my is different flares out gd tuff looking and sound like a old Ford gd on gas easy and cheap to maintenance and easy to work on and believe me he will do hundred miles like nothing on highway but I mostly go 65 to 80 on highway I build my own my radio and speakers is my ph and to Bluetooth 3 in speakers loud like hell CCR born in the byouooooo
Sounds awesome! Glad to see there's so many of us who appreciate these trucks!
@@thisisnotatest2 well I do amigo compare to this computer jeeps gas hugs and expensive parts and price I think we got the best of all real simple
@@thisisnotatest2 put a 272 Delta cam regrind crankshaft aluminum pulley header and free flow exhaust system and gd air filter amigo and you will be surprised how strong and fast it become twice a Geo tracker and will sound like a ford muscle car dp nice sound that old school sound at 65 don't touch the gas pedal will pull like hell jjjj difference from original as well coming out the light beautiful plus better on gas to beliefs me my is build for all seasons and all roads from highways to back roads mud snow etc trails hills big boys don't believe it how my little rascal can move better than big money jeeps short and light weight try to build him up probably around 120 or little less or more HP gd enough for a bit of money probably 1,200 dollars or less no bad amigo kp rolling CCR born in the byouooooo
@@salrivera7578 The bed liner spray works great on the flooring and looks good.
@@noahdunaway I used oil my don't have rug or back seat or nothing like that old school style is oil up inside out from the frame to everything else mix with Rust-Oleum paint like I said my is old school style but I kp my healthy used it every day every where I made a bikini for him old school style renegade plus I build behind the seats with a piece of plastic and a tarp the rear window like I said old school no rust at all under or anywhere frame and parts like new oil and Rust-Oleum kp water salt moisture alway enough for me the Geo tracker is for me the best of all gd on gas easy to maintenance and cheap plus can go anywhere fun on winter and summer I travel with him all over no problems .And the best Honda is the CRX I have one too old school style look tuff and sounds beautiful tuff 272 cam 10.1 to 11.1 compression and I never will sale neither of them I build them up myself my way and kp them in gd shape like you can see I have the best of both worlds the boy the Geo tracker 16 valves the girl the CRX jjjj 😁 CCR born in the byouooooo amigo
Please stop calling it a truck.
The Tracker/Sidekick is officially a truck as defined by the US government.
Why do you keep calling it a truck? Thats not a truck....
do you have an instagram i can follow for more tracker content?
Sorry, no insta. I try @trashpandaoffroad for trackers.