I’m taking ownership of my mom car a2012 Suzuki SX4 it has around 75,000 miles on it. She did not drive it much. 2020 was the last time se drove it regularly. She drove it one time in 2021 where it quiet on her. It started back later. She later took it to a local shop who said she needs a new engine. She did not tell me what he major problems is. So it sat until I needed a vehicle to get around. Needed to replace a new battery that did not get used. I looked for the problem she told me about and that was smoke out the exhaust. There where some smoke but nothing to me to be too concerned about. That is when Monday I was parked on gravel and I gave the car a little too much gas to back up tires spawn an the exhaust let out a tone of smoke and died. Waited a few minutes and it started up. Smoke came out like an army M56 Coyote smoke generator. It lasted for a few minutes then went away. It happened on Tuesday when I tried to get onto the highway. I tried giving it a lot of gas only to stall and cover the highway with smoke.
Now when I drive it slowly and slowly build my speed up I have no problems even when I’m on the highway.
Do I need a replacement engine or can I get by with a replacement gasket.
I plain to use this vehicle it’s one of three with problems I can’t trade it right now so I need to fix it. I know to work on cars, but I don’t know how to diagnose vehicle problems especially one this major. Any help will be appreciated.
I can’t trade it right now
Why not? Try your luck at a Carmax and see what happens.
Do I need a replacement engine or can I get by with a replacement gasket
I’d honestly look for another running vehicle.
It’s one thing if it was a Honda or Toyota with a thousand used engines in junkyards to gamble on. But on a rare SX4, if might be throwing good money after bad.
There's a problem you don't know what's going on until you pull the head off the engine and look at it to see if it is a blown head gasket. Or if the head is cracked or warp or if the block is cracked or what. You'd have to invest money pulling the head off and trusting the machine shop to tell you the truth.
