Where can I find an expert suzuki mechanic in Toronto?
My 6 year old Suzuki Swift has performed flawlessly until now.  In the
last three months, it has begun to not start.  The engine turns over
but does not catch.  After being towed to the dealer (three times), it
starts.  Seems to me something in the towing process jars whatever
isn't working so it does work!
Now, it won't work every morning, but often, by late afternoon it will
start.
The dealership has had it for up to 10 days looking for the problem &
has come up empty.  I need help!

eefde,

Before I begin this answer, I’d like to point you to this Canadian
(Ontario) website that does a very good job of defining consumers
rights and the garage’s responsibility for car repairs.
 http://www.pulse24.com/News_Features/AutoShop/20010213-001/page.asp

Toward the bottom of the page, there is a “Gotta Question” section,
where you can e-mail or fax questions to their expert mechanics. I
e-mailed your problem to them immediately, and was pleasantly
surprised with this prompt response:
~~~~~~~~
    Don't know a Suzuki expert, but our Eli Melnick of Start Auto
Electric is an
    expert in these problems. Call him at 416- 868-1727 and be sure to
tell him
    we sent you. 

    Phil Raby

    Producer

    CP24 AutoShop

 autoshop@pulse24.com

~~~~~~~~~

This Totonto based website also has excellent consumer auto-related
information.
http://www.carhelpcanada.com/
On this site, I linked to their “Master mechanic” Alan Gelman, a Class
“A” mechanic, who is on various television shows as an automotive
expert:
 http://www.carhelpcanada.com/network.htm
The GLENNALAN MOTORS LIMITED garage is located 65 Brisbane Road, North
York, Ontario M3J 2K3 416 665-6230
Which according to this map, is not too far from Toronto:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?zoom=3&mapdata=nGCyq1371PjNzPXz6yX4I01ORTcP5PzNQMA58gkCRANELdP9X5SvGPa13E1qjhQWwl4arPzn2onvTfrkze71SvLtDn8iZeFXnSErgatH7NC1J%2fx7B5IojhDPFm%2fEMF%2feqTICpCvWNEaM5qRm%2fEwTa4Vnz721NEQumfTwyXAaEJ2LCNproLs3%2bIXhYO6Z8hKI%2f8ywEvmOOm3302Xfgn8RogEXuum2OJ0c5B66x6mthPbcaUW7Mp8EVlWC0iGfpfp6xiReAflLOeb5%2bLu5X8qsZ2RvwdDIUkuq


My daughter is an auto mechanic, and she said this problem would be
impossible to diagnose without seeing the car, but from the symptoms,
could be anythin. According to  my mechanic, lots of folks come into
the mechanic with a problem that disappears upon the  mechanic’s
inspection. Happens all the time---hence the name “intermittent”. No
one knows why the problem becomes invisible to the mechanic!

 She did suggest that there could be a broken cold solder joint
somewhere in the electronics that when cold, will not complete the
circuit. When it is warm, it expands, causing the joint to expand and
making contact, but she warns me it could be anything.
She did say to look for a certified mechanic (Passed all ASE exams in
the US), although that does not necessarily guarantee you will get the
problem fixed. She says the best way to find a good mechanic is
through word of mouth. (Off the record she told me that many mechanics
call cars with apparently undiagnosable problems “POS” cars. You will
have to unsramble the acronym).


Other than dealers, which you have already tried, I could find no
garages that were specifically Suzuki mechanics.This is what I found,
but I must say the e-mail recommendation sounds pretty good, eh?


This garage boasts all certified mechanics, and is open to the public,
not just fleet cars as the name implies. If they live up to their
claims, they could be a reliable source for your car repairs:
http://www.fleetservices.ca/

This garage specializes in engine rebuilds, but mentions they also
specialize in Japanese engines, and perform diagnostics. Perhaps they
can help to at least diagnose the problem.
http://www.crosstownengines.com/CrosstownEnginesWho.htm


This garage offers some mechanic-choosing tips, and says it has honest
prices  and reliable service:
http://www.wdb-biz.com/xcellautomotive/


This shop passed the Automobile Protection Agency Mystery test:
Greenwood Auto Centre  (near the bottom of the page)
331 Samson Ave
 Toronto
http://www.apa.ca/template.asp?docID=57
The above site also lists several shops that passed and failed. Most
of the shops seem to be tire shops that do general mechanic work also.
They have done several “Mystery Tests”. Here is another list of those
that passed and failed:
http://www.apa.ca/template.asp?docID=17


From “Toronto:Find it in Canada” a list of garages, none rated:
http://www.finditintoronto.com/app/search/cat-11016/


These two garages were found on a listing, but no information, good or
bad is to be had:

Beacon Motors
1463 Dupont St
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 533-8251

C.A.R.S.
210 Silvr Star Blvd., Unit 801
Scarborough, Ontario
(416) 298-7289

Thruway Muffler 
Thruway Muffler Centre 
Thruway Muffler Centre	101 Bennett St E	519-524-4200
http://www.town.goderich.on.ca/businessdir.html
Installation and repair of automative exhaust systems to domestic cars
and light trucks
Richard(905) 430-1633

A blurb about one of their mechanics.
http://www.mochasofa.ca/work/program/expert/01october01a.asp

There are more garages than Thruway on the same site:
http://www.town.goderich.on.ca/businessdir.html



This site is an auto-problem forum where people like you and me can
post problems, as well as answers. Generally I don’t point folks to
websites with annoying pop-up ads, but in this case, I thought the
content merited the bother. There seem to be lots of fairly well
written questions and answers about your car here. (While drilling
through the posts, did not find your exact problem, but there seems to
be lots of other valuable tips here)
http://cartalk.cars.com/Survey/Results/Demographics/Comments/Suzuki/Swift-1995.html


The Car Talk Show, from the Tapit Brothers, Click & Clack have a
Suzuki Index, where you can read what other Suzuki owners have to say:
http://cartalk.cars.com/Survey/Results/Demographics/Comments/Suzuki/Swift-1995.html


Here is the address for Suzuki, should you ever need to contact them:
Suzuki
American Suzuki Motor Corporation
Automotive Customer Service
Headquarters
Brea CA 92821
U.S.A. 
Toll Free: 1-800-650-4445
Web Site: http://www.suzuki.ca
An interesting read, and a possible source of
information:http://www.motoringtv.com/aboutus/bios.html

I’ve about run out of gas for now. If there is anything that is not
clear, please ask for an answer clarification before rating.

Good luck with your gas-saver-good-for-the-environment Suzuki!
crabcakes

In October I wrote you about a problem with intermittent non-starting of
my Suzuki Swift.  You did a great deal of research for me.   I apologize
for not writing sooner to thank you.  I used the addresses of the Suzuki
CEOs, and sent them the details of my problem and its lack of resolution.
Imagine my surprise when about three weeks later, I received a call from
someone at head office in Richmond Hill who had a copy of the Japanese
CEO's letter in his hand, telling me they had a fix for my problem!  Two
weeks later the dealership had the part in stock and I had a "fuel
injector harness" replaced in the car.
It's worked like a charm ever since!  The spokesperson said that all the
dealers had a CD ROM with this info on it, but that it was obviously not
being used as it should be.
So, thanks again.  Perseverance pays off.