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I suspect you have a misfire--perhaps a bad coil or problems in the wiring from coil to the ECM. Perhaps even a bad camshaft sensor. Also a bad injector is a possibility.
recalls:
'04 Suzuki Forenza Recalls
Recall ID # 03V426000 - AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Recall Date: OCT 29, 2003
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Model Affected: FORENZA
Potential Units Affected: 7797
Recall ID # 05V022000 - EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
Recall Date: JAN 28, 2005
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
Model Affected: FORENZA
Potential Units Affected: 37796
Recall ID # 07V452000 - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Recall Date: SEP 25, 2007
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Model Affected: FORENZA
Potential Units Affected: 93963
Recall ID # 67665 - SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Recall Date JUL 24, 2007
Component SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Model Affected Forenza
Potential Units Affected 75697
Recall ID # 69219 - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Recall Date SEP 25, 2007
Component EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Model Affected Forenza
Potential Units Affected 93963
Starting with the oldest model of 2004 Suzuki Forenza, there were three major Suzuki Forenza recalls that were issued for the vehicle. The first one was related to the frontal airbags and it affected around 8000 vehicles that were in use at that time. The next one to hit the Suzuki Forenza in 2004 was about exterior lighting and brake lights. More than 100,000 vehicles were affected by this Suzuki Forenza recall and immediate solution was provided by Suzuki. Coming to the 2005 Suzuki Forenza model, there was a single recall that was issued for this model. The recall was related to exterior lighting again and it affected around 90,000 vehicles at that time. Next, 2006 Suzuki Forenza saw around two major recalls which were carried out for this model. The problem was with exterior lighting again and the second Suzuki Forenza recall was due to seat belt buckle assembly. Finally, the 2007 Suzuki Forenza was impacted by a seat belt buckle assembly recall and around 76,000 cars were affected by this activity.
This doesn't even cover the countless owners having to deal with leaking valve covers,warped heads,leaking head gaskets, bad sensors,idles rough,stalls,can't adjust seat belt and the list goes on. We have had to replace valve cover gaskets twice due to leaks filling up the spark plug ports, this last time after fixed by dealer I went to do a tune up and found oil back in the ports this time it was due to loose valve cover bolts. I don't normally complain about a vehicle but this should be against the law. I could of bought a Vega or Chevy Chevette or a 3 cylinder metro with better luck. Why as Humans Consumers do we put up with this crap? 8 years is not a long time countless repairs for the same should not be happening. Are you people not tired of the high cost of bad service? One good thing about the forenza is with the gas prices rising I won't have to filler-up as the piece of junk will be parked or junked 900 bucks for a 13,000 in only 8 years.
So, given the low purchase price of the car, and given that it was merely ok transportation but hardly quality stuff, and given that your cars are now 6 years old, you may want to think about cutting your losses and buying something else used to replace it. Lots of people still have fairly trouble-free Forenzas, but if you have trouble, that is problematic on many levels.
Some people, unfortunately, were suckered into paying more than these cars were worth when they bought them used. My mother bought a low mileage 2007 Forenza still under some warranty over two years ago, and only paid a bit over $6K for it. Other than an intermittent engine light, she has had no trouble with it yet. However, if she does, my advice would be to dump it.
Also, Suzuki makes good vehicles (they no longer sell Daewoos), but they are faltering badly in the US marketplace, and may have to pull out entirely. Fighting the company may not be worth the effort. Your call.
I have read so much about this car, and I cannot believe that I purchased it. I had no idea at the time what I was getting into. All I know is that someday down the road, I will say that I have learned from this, and when I get another car, I will do my HOMEWORK.
Oh, and I tried to possibly do another trade in since I am now terrified of this car, but I owe too much negative equity to do so, so I am stuck with it for awhile. And according to kelly blue book, I paid more for the car than what it is really worth.
Again, I have only owned this car for 5 months - this is completely insane.
I had a new engine put in this car at 50,000 miles. There has just been one thing after another. I just want to get rid of this car. Nothing but trouble!!!! Piece of junk!!!! Beware!!1
Unfortunately, when you do have CEL problems on modern cars, the sensors or other problems are not inexpensive to replace. That is all cars, not just well-used Forenzas. Of course, a loose or improper gas cap can also trigger the CEL.
Your car is going on 7 years old, and you don't know how it was driven or serviced before you got it. My mother's 2007 Forenza has had the CEL on most of the time she has owned it, but she has gotten good service from it, despite that. CEL does not always mean a serious problem, at least not with an older car where it may not make sense to pour lots of money into it. THe CEL indicates a code error, not necessarily a hazardous condition. However, when the CEL flashes, rather than burns steady, you need to pay attention, even in an old car. It may only mean that you have two error codes, rather than one, OR it could mean STOP RIGHT NOW, or your engine may be toast. You don't know. But yours is not flashing.
So, rather than putting hundreds into a new throttle body, check the thing over yourself, or have a reasonable, not expensive, mechanic do so. Is the coolant ok? Has the oil been changed recently? Are the components under the hood fairly clean, and unfrayed? Do all hoses, vacuum and otherwise, seem to be in reasonable condition, and connected? Is anything leaking?
If it is dirty, clean it up. Run a fuel injector cleaner through the gas, and use carb cleaner to get any grease or oil off the underhood components. You will then be able to see if anything is leaking (there should be no leaks and no spots on your driveway). Some of this you can do yourself.
What you want to avoid is imminent breakdowns, and/or take care of developing problems. If the computer thinks your car is not being completely smog-free, according to the standards of 2006, it will light the CEL. However, it may or may not mean much in terms of the actual operation.
You have only had this car for 5 months and you already have a lot of money into it. Cut your losses, figure out if you can get some more miles and months or years out of it, even if the CEL comes on adn stays on. You can chase a CEL-free existence when maybe all you need is to use better gas and get your injectors cleaned. A little care and a little observation of what is under your hood can go a long way.
I've had to replace interior door handles, the lid to the console, the release lever for the hood, the blower motor and switch (burned out one hot day when my husband was on the way back from a doctor's appt 4 hours away - smoke was rolling into the cab from under the dash), and the lights switch (which did not fix my DRLs, and now my high beams only come on when I pull the handle forward to flash, not when I lock it back for brights - but I think that may be a burned out connection behind the instrument panel). Which really isn't bad, considering most of this happened after 100,000 miles (currently it's at 142,467). Hubby ordered the light switch and blower motor through the nearest dealership (115 miles away), but the door handles and other items were ordered from suzukicarparts.com.
Now, when the CEL comes on, I check the temperature - if it's a hot day (over 90*F), I ignore it. If it gets 'stuck' on for awhile, I have my hubby clear the code, then I go about my business.
We've had other issues with the car - but at least this is just an annoying non-issue.
I then called the auto safety hotline 888-327-4236
Everyone having a trans. sensor problem should call them! They were VERY interested in what I had to say. they need to be recalled!!!