'97 Geo Tracker won't idle after head rebuild

[DisturbedMXer8]

Alright guys, I need your help. I've posted about this on two Suzuki forums in hopes I'll find something, but this site has helped me more than anything else, so I figured I'd post this here, too. About 5 months ago, my sister's 1997 Geo Tracker 1.6L severely overheated, causing a warped head and blown head gasket. Just finished re-assembly today, and here's what's happening:

When I went to start it up for the first time, it immediately started, ran, and idled at approx 800 rpm. That's not having been run in almost 5 months. Pretty sure it should be around 11-1500, no? Anyways, everything looked ok and I couldn't see anything wrong, so we took it for a test drive. Drove great, had full power, nice and smooth, warmed up ok... then started to idle at around 500 rpm once it was fully warmed up. Seemed like it was barely keeping itself running. Turned it off to check the fluids and coolant level and everything, and when I tried to start it again, it wouldn't even idle anymore. Will fire up and die immediately, maybe stumbling for just a second. It will run and idle if I keep my foot on the gas, but won't idle on it's own. Haven't had the chance to let it cool completely down and try again, but I feel I may have just overlooked or missed something upon re-assembly, even though I can't see anything.

I am getting two trouble codes:
P1035 (which I believe is the O2 heater circuit)
and P0751

Again, I don't see anything wrong our out of place, no leaks, no misfire, everything seems fine (aside from the codes). Just won't idle. Any ideas? It's my sisters car and it's a few cities away now, but what should I check for when I go back tomorrow?

Thanks, guys. Any and all help is much appreciated.

 

[87xlranger]

Here are some diagnostic aids.....

 

[87xlranger]

Wow, I figured that someone else would have chimed in... Hey OP what's the status?

Troy.

 

[DisturbedMXer8]

Haha, sorry man, totally forgot about this post. Just remembered that I hadn't updated here. We did get it working fine. The P0751 code went away after we drove it around for a bit, and the low idle ended up being ignition timing off by a bit. Set the timing per the procedure, and she's good as new =]. I appreciate you asking though, haha. Not too many people know much about the Tracker/Sidekick, so I was glad to see at least someone in here. If you're bored, heres a video of the first start up: Video Clicky

 

[Mark_88]

Good to hear you fixed it...I completely missed this thread...not that I know anything about them...but I had a 95 with the 8 valve 1.6 with the same problem...needed a head due to crack around #2 piston...and I didn't try to fix mine because it is an interference engine and I could see myself putting it just out of timing and doing more damage...

Great little trucks... and good job on the rebuild...

 

[DisturbedMXer8]

Haha, thanks, I appreciate the kind words. Yeah, it's an awesome little car, my sister really loves it, and I definitely don't mind working on it. It was definitely a big job, though. Took a lot more than what most head gasket jobs call for. Or so it seemed, at least =P.

 

[topnotchoffroad]

Trackers are cool, i had one w/5" of lift 5.12 gears 4to1 gears locked front and rear.