Weird CVT Problem?

[skijosh]

Hey - I have been lurking here for a while. I love the DIY section. Now I need some help!

Okay - I just had a pretty weird experience. Hoping to get some insight from some other Kizashi owners.

2010 Kizashi GTS - has 44,000 miles on it (so outside of bumper to bumper warranty, but still covered by powertrain warranty).

I was driving from Salt Lake City to Sun Valley Idaho over the weekend. Right around the Utah-Idaho border (86 miles from the nearest Suzuki Dealer) my transmission started acting really weird.

First, my car felt like it was struggling to maintain speed over 70mph (speed limit was 80mph). I thought that a slight headwind in conjunction with bikes on my roof was to blame. Then I realized that I was literally flooring the accelerator and the car was only going 65mph. The RPM's were steady around 2800. I tried turning on cruise control - it didn't help. I switched the CVT to manual and tried to downshift, but car wouldn't move from 6th to 5th. I switch back to manual and the RPM's kept jumping then falling, and the car started to decelerate. I pulled over to the side of the highway. Turned the car off and sat for a few minutes. I realized I was not stopped in the best spot so I tried pulling the car off the road a few feet. Car seemed to struggle to accelerate so I didn't want to push anything and risk ruining the car, so I idled forward into a better position. The car had a very hot smell to it, but the heat sensor seemed normal. No warning lights came on.

I called Suzuki Roadside (even though I was outside of the 36/36,000 warranty. They notified me that I would have to take it to a Suzuki Dealer to get any warranty service performed (since this was drivetrain it would qualify). They also notified me that it would cost $625 to tow it 86 miles to the nearest dealer.

Long story short - after the weekend was over the dealer was finally able to look at my car. They couldn't get any codes to pull and said the symptoms were gone. They drove it for hours and couldn't reproduce any of my symptoms.

So...

1. What is going on with my car?

2. Any chance I can get Suzuki to reimburse part of my towing charge? It seems unfair that they told me that I had to go to a Suzuki dealer when there was not a dealer nearby. Their own warranty guide says that when a Suzuki dealer is not close by that service can be performed at any competent shop - and the owner can then be reimbursed for any repairs. Had Suzuki Roadside presented me with that option, I would have taken it to a shop 10 miles away in Snowville where a mechanic could have looked at the car while it was still presenting symptoms. I would have a better idea of what part of the powertrain was causing the problem, and I would not have spent $625 on towing.

Thanks in advance.

[LPSISRL]

It sounds like you definitely have a transmission problem. Especially since it wouldn't shift in manual mode. I think that the problem did not show up at the dealer or for you again simply because the tranny has not gotten as hot as it was when you were on your trip. Take another of the same type and it will probably happen again. I had a Chrysler mini-van that would lose power and stall but only after 5 hours on the interstate. Could never figure out what that was even after a shop drove it 70 miles on the interstate. If possbile, I'd take it on a similar trip again and then try to get it to the dealer as fast as possible or at least a shop where they can verify the symptoms.

As far as reimbursement goes, lotsa luck. I don't think towing reimbrusement is part of the power train warranty, but I don't recall exactly what it says. May not even be part of the bumper to bumper since Suzuki will arrange for towing in that situation. As you know, you're not even close to being in the bumper to bumper.
Tim

[Ronzuki]

skijosh,

have a read through this thread from a former member. One of the first CVT replacements on the forum as I recall.

http://www.kizashiclub.com/forum/viewto ... f=13&t=807

[skijosh]

skijosh,

have a read through this thread from a former member. One of the first CVT replacements on the forum as I recall.

http://www.kizashiclub.com/forum/viewto ... f=13&t=807

This seems to be my exact problem. Now I am debating if I call up Suzuki and see what they recommend or just let them deal with it when I turn in the lease in 3 months. Wish there was someway to get my tow charge back - seems excessive even for 86 miles

[Ronzuki]

Involve them now. Print out the thread I referenced above and bring it with you. These cars are too few and far between for most service centers (ex-dealers) to have seen, heard of or care about the issues we talk about here daily.

afaik, you are responsible for maintenance through out the lease. They could nail you for neglecting critical service. Let them deal with it now and provide you with a loaner. It's likely to leave you stranded somewhere w/o warning. If Suzuki were still selling in the country I'd say you'd have had a better than average chance of getting reimbursed at the point in time they decide to finally swap the trans out.

btw, where are you located? If you're anywhere near Philadelphia (PA,NJ,NY,DE,MD), I can highly recommend the dealer I use for my Suzukis.

[tarheelmt]

Had exact same problem, I posted what they said in my post, check it out and see if it sounds similar...?