[bazookathesuzi]

Hi all,

Big reader, first time poster.

I have a 2010 GV J24B 2.4l with about 142k on the clock, build September 2010. Huge fan of it. When I was doing my research for the car, I read about the prevalent head and block issues on the 08-09 manufactured GVs and duly avoided them.

Recently while researching tyre, lift and light mods, I came across a few people saying the block issues could extend beyond mid-09 models. In fact, every man and his dog seems to have a different opinion of when Suzuki reinforced the engine block.

Before I start pouring money into mods and taking the Bazooka (as my mates call it) camping in the sand islands, I'm hoping to work out whether I'm sitting on a bomb. If I am, I'll reluctantly sell and upgrade.

Does anyone have anything relatively solid to base their opinion on when the JB24 engine block issue was rectified? And does anyone have access to the affected VINs/Engine numbers provided to Suzuki workshops?

So far I've heard from different sources:
- The faulty blocks and heads were 08-mid 09 (per the technical bulletins and US extended warrantee)
- The blocks were fixed "late" 2010 (I'm not sure exactly what late means)
- All blocks up to the 2012 facelift are faulty

I would hugely appreciate the knowledge from anyone with inside info on the issue - I feel like it is one of those topics where the rumor mill is rife.

[My speculation: The GV was released mid-08, the technical bulletin references mid-09, and the facelift was mid-2012. So it seems that the GV followed a mid-year update cycle. Considering there are a few reported cases from 2010 but not as many as 08-09, I wonder whether the issue was rectified during a mid-2010 iteration. This is, however, only a theory and completely unsubstantiated.]

Appreciate any help! I have my Dobinsons 40mm lift kit sitting next to the Bazooka in the garage. Need to work out whether to install or sell

Cheers,

Andy

[atari4x4]

[bazookathesuzi]

Hi Arati,

Thanks - I have seen those before. Unfortunately that only applies to the US. There's no such extended warranty in Australia.

I also suspect the years quoted there (2009-2010) are US model years, which don't necessarily line up with build years. In Australia the build year/compliance year is most commonly used. Our GVs only had MY09 and MY13, unlike the annual model year in the US.

Cheers

[atari4x4]

I wouldn't buy a pre-facelift NGV, way too many horror stories. I have a 2018 so I should be ok.

[bazookathesuzi]

Alright, through way too much research, I think I've somewhat cracked the Da Vinci Code. I'll post my findings here to save the next person the effort.

For NGVs with the J24B, the VINs start with JSAJT[D/A]A4V00 - with the D/A depending on whether its the SWB or LWB. I'll use the LWB version here but I believe it applies to both.

Now for *most* cars rolling off the production line, the VINs and production dates correspond to:
08 to mid-09: JSAJTDA4V0010XXXX - JSAJTDA4V0020XXXX
mid-09 to mid-10: JSAJTDA4V0020XXXX - JSAJTDA4V0021XXXX
mid-10 - on: JSAJTDA4V0021XXXX -

There are engine numbers that match the VINs, and both in the same chronological order.

While the build date is the month the car comes off the production line, the Compliance Date is when it arrives in Australia. I've noticed for the common base models on the east coast of Australia, this is generally 1-3 months after the build date.

There are a few exceptions, however.
1. In WA and less commonly in queensland, there seems to be a much bigger lag between build date and compliance date. Many examples of 6+ months.
2. Prestige models. For some reason, there are big discrepancies here. The build year stamped on the compliance plate is often up to 12+ months behind the build date suggested by the VINs and Engine No.'s. What this means, is that you could purchase a car that has a build date of 2010, but the engine was actually manufactured in early 2009 (the particularly problematic time). My suspicion is that the engine and chasis were fitted, but then the cars hung around a long time at the factory until they were upholstered for orders and shipping etc. The build date was then stamped when completed.

I've seen one example with a Prestige model with an early 2009 VIN & Engine No., a build date marked as 2010, and a compliance date of 2011. This means some poor person has purchase a "new" car in 2011 with the problematic engine from early 2009.

Anyway, what does this mean? Well judging by the frequency of reports of engine failures, I would suggest that at the latest cars with a VIN after JSAJTDA4V0021XXXX have the improved engine. The corresponding Engine No. is J24B-1084361 onwards. I expect the occasional engine cracks found in cars with build dates after mid-10 are custom orders, Prestige models and other cars that hung around the factory with VINs before JSAJTDA4V0021XXXX.

As a side note - J24B Engine Numbers after J24B-1109752 were being sold as the 2011 Model NGV in the USA. The US technical bulletin references 2009 and 2010 model cars as prone to cracks, so I persume it's fair to assume Engine No's after that are safe.

For anyone purchasing a second hand Prestige J24B, I would check the VIN carefully and make sure its past the problematic range. For me - I'll keep my late 2010 build car which, looking at the above, seems to be OK.

I hope this might one day help somebody, someday!

[Willnz]

Hi man!

So based on your hypothesis, i am currently after GV with a vin number of
JSAJTDA4V00210815 and engine number J24B-1088358

It has now 220k km on it and seems to be in good condition the engine.

This one should all right, shouldn't it?

[Danros]

bazookathesuzi wrote:

I hope this might one day help somebody, someday!

'

It may have helped me a LOT in my pre-purchase research! Thanks!

[MightGetDirty]

bazookathesuzi wrote:

Alright, through way too much research, I think I've somewhat cracked the Da Vinci Code. I'll post my findings here to save the next person the effort.

For NGVs with the J24B, the VINs start with JSAJT[D/A]A4V00 - with the D/A depending on whether its the SWB or LWB. I'll use the LWB version here but I believe it applies to both.

Now for *most* cars rolling off the production line, the VINs and production dates correspond to:
08 to mid-09: JSAJTDA4V0010XXXX - JSAJTDA4V0020XXXX
mid-09 to mid-10: JSAJTDA4V0020XXXX - JSAJTDA4V0021XXXX
mid-10 - on: JSAJTDA4V0021XXXX -

There are engine numbers that match the VINs, and both in the same chronological order.

[...]

As a side note - J24B Engine Numbers after J24B-1109752 were being sold as the 2011 Model NGV in the USA. The US technical bulletin references 2009 and 2010 model cars as prone to cracks, so I persume it's fair to assume Engine No's after that are safe.

Dunno whether you are still lurking around to see this but I'd like to say thanks for all your efforts.

It would be good for folks (as they stumble upon this thread) add on and share their own VIN info, so that prospective buyers know how how early they can go before one starts risking having a dud engine - I'll go.. second I guess?

I've got a pre-facelift 5-door. I was told it was an ex-demo and the service manual shows it being purchased in March 2011. I don't know how long dealerships use a demo car for before passing them on, but I presume the turnover is fairly quick.

VIN in the lower JSAJTDA4V0022XXXX, Engine number J24B-114XXXX. I am fairly confident my GV is alright as comparing this info, it seems like we in Australia were further down the global order queue and might have got a bunch of later batch engines while US got first cut (no surprises there). I do have low kms for the age though at ~150kkms, so I will be quietly monitoring just in case.